duncan228
02-06-2008, 02:42 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA020508.SpursMailbag.en.922a9725.html
Spurs Mailbag: Down memory lane with Stoudamire
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
We’ll open this week’s edition of the Mailbag in untraditional fashion. With a question.
In regards to the newest addition to the Spurs’ roster, Cecily Cassidy from San Antonio writes: “Isn’t Damon Stoudamire the guy who said in 1999 that the Spurs could never win a championship with Avery Johnson as the point guard?”
The answer: Why, yes. Yes, he is.
Playing for Portland back in ’99, Stoudamire did indeed fire that shot across Johnson’s bow. Johnson, of course, got the last laugh – helping the Spurs win the title that season, and going through Stoudamire’s Trail Blazers to do it.
Johnson’s jumper in Game 5 against the Knicks in that year’s NBA Finals turned out to be the series clincher.
Stoudamire, of course, was reminded of those comments earlier this week, when he signed a free-agent deal to join the Spurs. He smiled when a member of the media brought the moment up.
“As you get older, you learn that you can’t win with you guys,” Stoudamire said. “You just keep your mouth shut and let it play out.”
Stoudamire was more verbose when it came to discussing a different memory from that postseason.
The Memorial Day Miracle.
You remember the shot. Sean Elliott tiptoeing the sideline at the Alamodome, burying a corner 3-pointer to help the cap the Spurs’ comeback from 18 points down to beat Portland in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
“I think about it sometimes,” Stoudamire said. “Who knows? If that shot doesn’t go in on that day, maybe we go to the Finals.”
Instead, the Spurs went. And Johnson ultimately proved Stoudamire wrong.
Elliott, who like Stoudamire played his college ball at Arizona, is now a TV broadcaster for the Spurs. No doubt the two will head down memory lane again at some point on this road trip.
Stoudamire made it clear this week he harbors no hard feelings about anything that happened last decade.
“I can’t be mad at Sean,” Stoudamire said. “He’s a Wildcat.”
And Stoudamire is now a Spur. Spurs fans will just have to learn to forgive and forget.
Now,on to more questions …
How can the spurs go as far as any finals this season with bad players like Bonner, Oberto, and even Elson?
-- Lemon Oldman, Germany
Last we checked, all those players had NBA championship rings from last season. So we’d say it’s still possible to win with those guys on the roster.
How in the WORLD did the Lakers get Pau Gasol (a stud) for Kwame Brown (a dud)? It is preposterous!! I know there were some other elements involved (draft picks/deep bench players) but this is the most lopsided trade since Babe Ruth left Boston or Kareem left Milwaukee. If it was so easy to acquire Gasol, how come the SPURS didn't trade a bag of rocks like Oberto or a bag of rocks like Elson for Gasol. Those guys are both better than the $9-million man (Kwame Brown).
-- Bob, Los Angeles
Let’s get something straight up front. The Lakers did not deal Kwame Brown to Memphis. They dealt Kwame Brown’s expiring contract to Memphis. The fact that he was so vastly overpaid only made him more valuable to the Grizzlies in the context of this trade. Brown’s large contract made the deal work under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, and he will be off the Grizzlies' books at the end of the season.
The Spurs, meanwhile, don’t have anyone with an expiring contract as large as Brown’s. As such, it would have been difficult for them to land Gasol without parting with one of their Big Three, which obviously is not going to happen.
Will the Spurs go after an athletic type person like Jim Jackson to match up on both ends of the court with players like Kobe, Josh Howard, Carmelo and T-Mac?
-- Godfrey, New Orleans
It depends. Does Jim Jackson come with a flux capacitor? Because that’s the only way he’s going to be able to keep up with any of the players you mentioned at his age.
Does Pop EVER get after Tim about having butterfingers?
-- Jodi Harris, Tucson, Ariz.
Yes. Sometimes he encourages Duncan to have a Zagnut.
This may have been asked before but I was wondering whether or not the Spurs possibly regret letting Beno Udrih go considering he seems to be doing pretty well out in Sacramento?
-- John, Boston
It depends upon how well Damon Stoudamire plays. Had Udrih stayed in San Antonio, the Spurs almost certainly wouldn’t have felt the need to make a move for Stoudamire.
If Stoudamire shines, jettisoning Udrih will look like a stroke of genius. If Stoudamire flops, get ready for the “We want Beno” chants at the AT&T Center. Well, maybe not.
Please discuss the merits of retaining Stoudamire, a 34-year-old on the downside of his career, to taking a chance on someone like Darius Washington, who showed some upside potential in his brief stint with the Spurs.
-- Charlie, San Antonio
See answer above and insert the word “Washington” for “Udrih.”
Do you think Elson will help the Spurs? He seems to have regressed from last season.
-- Willie A. McCants, Boston
In the preseason, Elson seemed a prime candidate to make a “second-year leap” for the Spurs. Then, the games started counting, and Elson basically vanished.
He appears to be the odd man out in the Spurs’ big man rotation behind Duncan, Oberto, Horry and, possibly, Matt Bonner. He’s going to have to fight an uphill battle for playing time in the months to come.
How come the Spurs can beat a fully staffed Phoenix Suns team, and lose to a very weak and young Seattle team?
-- Paul Atkinson, Salt Lake City
Simple. The Spurs own the Suns. Robert Sarver might as well fax the deed over right now.
Spurs Mailbag: Down memory lane with Stoudamire
Jeff McDonald
San Antonio Express-News
We’ll open this week’s edition of the Mailbag in untraditional fashion. With a question.
In regards to the newest addition to the Spurs’ roster, Cecily Cassidy from San Antonio writes: “Isn’t Damon Stoudamire the guy who said in 1999 that the Spurs could never win a championship with Avery Johnson as the point guard?”
The answer: Why, yes. Yes, he is.
Playing for Portland back in ’99, Stoudamire did indeed fire that shot across Johnson’s bow. Johnson, of course, got the last laugh – helping the Spurs win the title that season, and going through Stoudamire’s Trail Blazers to do it.
Johnson’s jumper in Game 5 against the Knicks in that year’s NBA Finals turned out to be the series clincher.
Stoudamire, of course, was reminded of those comments earlier this week, when he signed a free-agent deal to join the Spurs. He smiled when a member of the media brought the moment up.
“As you get older, you learn that you can’t win with you guys,” Stoudamire said. “You just keep your mouth shut and let it play out.”
Stoudamire was more verbose when it came to discussing a different memory from that postseason.
The Memorial Day Miracle.
You remember the shot. Sean Elliott tiptoeing the sideline at the Alamodome, burying a corner 3-pointer to help the cap the Spurs’ comeback from 18 points down to beat Portland in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
“I think about it sometimes,” Stoudamire said. “Who knows? If that shot doesn’t go in on that day, maybe we go to the Finals.”
Instead, the Spurs went. And Johnson ultimately proved Stoudamire wrong.
Elliott, who like Stoudamire played his college ball at Arizona, is now a TV broadcaster for the Spurs. No doubt the two will head down memory lane again at some point on this road trip.
Stoudamire made it clear this week he harbors no hard feelings about anything that happened last decade.
“I can’t be mad at Sean,” Stoudamire said. “He’s a Wildcat.”
And Stoudamire is now a Spur. Spurs fans will just have to learn to forgive and forget.
Now,on to more questions …
How can the spurs go as far as any finals this season with bad players like Bonner, Oberto, and even Elson?
-- Lemon Oldman, Germany
Last we checked, all those players had NBA championship rings from last season. So we’d say it’s still possible to win with those guys on the roster.
How in the WORLD did the Lakers get Pau Gasol (a stud) for Kwame Brown (a dud)? It is preposterous!! I know there were some other elements involved (draft picks/deep bench players) but this is the most lopsided trade since Babe Ruth left Boston or Kareem left Milwaukee. If it was so easy to acquire Gasol, how come the SPURS didn't trade a bag of rocks like Oberto or a bag of rocks like Elson for Gasol. Those guys are both better than the $9-million man (Kwame Brown).
-- Bob, Los Angeles
Let’s get something straight up front. The Lakers did not deal Kwame Brown to Memphis. They dealt Kwame Brown’s expiring contract to Memphis. The fact that he was so vastly overpaid only made him more valuable to the Grizzlies in the context of this trade. Brown’s large contract made the deal work under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, and he will be off the Grizzlies' books at the end of the season.
The Spurs, meanwhile, don’t have anyone with an expiring contract as large as Brown’s. As such, it would have been difficult for them to land Gasol without parting with one of their Big Three, which obviously is not going to happen.
Will the Spurs go after an athletic type person like Jim Jackson to match up on both ends of the court with players like Kobe, Josh Howard, Carmelo and T-Mac?
-- Godfrey, New Orleans
It depends. Does Jim Jackson come with a flux capacitor? Because that’s the only way he’s going to be able to keep up with any of the players you mentioned at his age.
Does Pop EVER get after Tim about having butterfingers?
-- Jodi Harris, Tucson, Ariz.
Yes. Sometimes he encourages Duncan to have a Zagnut.
This may have been asked before but I was wondering whether or not the Spurs possibly regret letting Beno Udrih go considering he seems to be doing pretty well out in Sacramento?
-- John, Boston
It depends upon how well Damon Stoudamire plays. Had Udrih stayed in San Antonio, the Spurs almost certainly wouldn’t have felt the need to make a move for Stoudamire.
If Stoudamire shines, jettisoning Udrih will look like a stroke of genius. If Stoudamire flops, get ready for the “We want Beno” chants at the AT&T Center. Well, maybe not.
Please discuss the merits of retaining Stoudamire, a 34-year-old on the downside of his career, to taking a chance on someone like Darius Washington, who showed some upside potential in his brief stint with the Spurs.
-- Charlie, San Antonio
See answer above and insert the word “Washington” for “Udrih.”
Do you think Elson will help the Spurs? He seems to have regressed from last season.
-- Willie A. McCants, Boston
In the preseason, Elson seemed a prime candidate to make a “second-year leap” for the Spurs. Then, the games started counting, and Elson basically vanished.
He appears to be the odd man out in the Spurs’ big man rotation behind Duncan, Oberto, Horry and, possibly, Matt Bonner. He’s going to have to fight an uphill battle for playing time in the months to come.
How come the Spurs can beat a fully staffed Phoenix Suns team, and lose to a very weak and young Seattle team?
-- Paul Atkinson, Salt Lake City
Simple. The Spurs own the Suns. Robert Sarver might as well fax the deed over right now.