Ludden: Howard once again making Spurs pay

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

By Johnny Ludden, Yahoo! Sports

DALLAS – Another draft had come and gone, and the night was beginning to give way to morning as San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford finally emerged from the team’s conference room.

Buford and the Spurs had targeted French swingman Boris Diaw only to see the Atlanta Hawks take him ahead of them. So, hoping to preserve as much salary-cap room as possible for their free-agent pursuit of Jason Kidd, they traded their pick.

On his way out the door, someone asked Buford if he was pleased with how the draft had played out, given that Diaw was unavailable. He nodded, then laughed.

“But if Josh Howard ever becomes a player,” Buford said, “Pop is going to kill me.”

Nearly six years later, Buford is still breathing. His Spurs, however, have flatlined, and credit for that goes to the same Josh Howard. Once again, the Spurs had no answer for him as he scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half to push the Dallas Mavericks to a 99-90 victory Saturday and a 3-1 series lead.

It’s been a rough few days for the Spurs. They scored their fewest points ever in a playoff game when the Mavs embarrassed them on Thursday. On Friday, they watched as Luis Scola, whose draft rights they traded a couple summers ago to save money, powered the Houston Rockets past the Portland Trail Blazers. Then came Saturday afternoon and Howard.

That’s the curse of these Spurs. Buford and Gregg Popovich helped build them into the NBA’s greatest franchise over the past decade, and now people ask what happened to championships No. 5 and 6. Buford likes to joke that his tombstone will one day feature the names of both Howard and Scola. Never mind he’s also the same GM who discovered Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili has spent these playoffs in a sports jacket, and both teams likely would agree the series would be different if he were healthy enough to play. Parker went for 43 points, the third most ever in a playoff game for the Spurs, then took his place at the podium and admitted the obvious: “They have a lot more weapons.”

Howard has often detonated against the Spurs, and the fallout from passing on him continues to hang in the air some six years later. He helped beat them in the teams’ epic seven-game, second-round series in 2006, and now he’s close to doing it again, despite playing on only one good ankle.

About the only thing that figures to save the Spurs now is if Howard skips Tuesday’s Game 5 to hold his 29th birthday party. After losing Game 4 of last season’s first-round series with the New Orleans Hornets to fall behind 3-1, the Mavericks walked into the locker room to find fliers advertising a party that night, which also happened to be Howard’s birthday.

Howard has since denied the party was his, but this much is true: He and a couple other teammates attended it – after then-coach Avery Johnson ordered the team to curb most forms of nightlife. This also came one game after Howard went on Michael Irvin’s radio show and defended his fondness for weed.

The Mavericks went on to lose in five games, Johnson was fired and Howard’s summer got worse from there. He was arrested for drag racing and made national headlines when a YouTube video surfaced of him declaring he doesn’t celebrate the national anthem because he’s black.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban publicly defended Howard. Privately, Cuban made it clear to Howard that he had tired of the negative publicity he was drawing to the team.

“He let his mental judgment go a little bit,” former Mavs guard Devin Harris told Yahoo! Sports earlier this season. “ … Josh is a free spirit. He’s going to do what Josh wants. You just try to give him the best advice you can and hopefully he listens.”

Howard wasn’t thrilled when the Mavs traded Harris, his closest friend on the team, to the New Jersey Nets for Kidd. And while he chaffed under Johnson, Howard also hasn’t been a big supporter of new coach Rick Carlisle.

More than a few other Mavs aren’t fans of Carlisle, either, but when Howard’s attitude began to affect his play this season, he angered teammates and coaches alike. One reason the Mavs made Darrell Armstrong a midseason addition to their coaching staff was because he had a good relationship with Howard from his days as a player.

Howard’s biggest struggle this season, however, was not with Carlisle, but his own body. He missed 30 games because of injuries to his left wrist and left ankle. The ankle continues to bother him – he was hurting even during Saturday’s performance – and he’ll need surgery in the offseason, he said, “to get all that junk out of there from college.”

“For me to do what I did this year on a hurt ankle or a bad wrist,” Howard said, “all I can say is I wish I was healthy.”

Howard’s goal is to “get back to the same old Josh again,” which means elevating his game to the level that made him an All-Star two seasons ago. He’s made strides in that direction during these playoffs, scoring 25 points during the Mavericks’ Game 1 victory, then sparking their Game 3 rout with his baseline-to-baseline hustle in the opening quarter.

“What he brings to our team is irreplaceable,” Carlisle said.

The time Howard spent on the bench nursing his injuries this season allowed him to better assess what his team needed from him. He’s delivered all that and more since returning at the start of the month. On Saturday, the Spurs limited Dirk Nowitzki to 12 points and Jason Terry to 10, yet they still lost.

That’s because Howard, Parker said, “once again had a big game against us.”

The Spurs have been searching for an athletic swingman ever since Stephen Jackson left following the 2003 championship. That’s the same summer Howard dropped to the 28th pick in the draft, where the Mavericks took him, one pick after the Spurs passed. The Spurs had their reasons: Re-signing Jackson was still a possibility, albeit a slight one, and Howard’s attitude and character issues also created some concern.

On the night of the draft, Popovich suggested Howard as an option – he went to Wake Forest, Duncan’s alma mater, after all – but he obviously didn’t make a big push, in part, because he was on board with the decision to pursue Kidd.

Redo the 2003 draft today, and Howard might go as high as No. 6.

“I thought I was going to go higher than I did,” he said. “I still don’t understand why I didn’t. But that’s all in the past. Look at me now.”

Skipping over Howard didn’t exactly implode the Spurs. After failing to land Kidd, they went on to win two more championships over the next four seasons. But it’s also clear that Howard, like Scola, would have likely fit well among these Spurs. As for any character concerns: They won a title while starting Jackson, the self-described “Anti-Spur.”

Now, the Spurs stand one loss from going out in the first round for the first time ever with Duncan in uniform, and their issues run deeper than Ginobili’s bad ankle and Duncan’s sore knees. On Saturday, the team went a staggering 28 minutes and 39 seconds of game time with no one other than Parker or Duncan making a shot. The Spurs’ best performer off the bench was rookie guard George Hill, who threw in a couple of pressure-packed 3-pointers after Popovich had been reluctant to use him.

“This playoff probably isn’t for him,” Popovich said of Hill before the series began.

As it turns out, these playoffs also don’t appear to be for Matt Bonner or Roger Mason. Aside from the Spurs’ Game 2 victory, neither has provided much support.

Howard, meanwhile, has done more than help. He’s starred. On Saturday, he joked about being “old,” and it’s clear he’s had to do some growing up.

“Just being a better person,” he said. “Just being a better person.”

He’ll turn 29 on Tuesday, the same day the Mavs will try to close out the Spurs. Is a party in the works?

“No, no, no, no!” he said. “You remember what happened last year?”

Everyone remembers, but as Howard said: Look at him now.

The Spurs?

They only wish they had seen then what they see today.

2001 first round pick : Spurs drafted Tony Parker.
2003 first round pick : Spurs wanted Boris Diaw.
2005 first round pick : Spurs drafted Ian Mahinmi.
2008 first round pick : Spurs wanted Nicolas Batum.

:smokin

Beautiful article.


Yeah, RC is never going to live down his overruling both Pop and Duncan on Howard or his mind boggling Scola trade. Those two moves in a middle of a championship run are inexcusable.

Oh well. Hopefully he can make up for it with some more magic .... soon.

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Originally Posted by Bruno

2008 first round pick : Spurs wanted Nicolas Batum.

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Too bad the Spurs didn't land Batum. If they did, they'd have an impressive monopoly of the most worthless role players of the 2009 NBA playoffs.

1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in three starts for Batum in the playoffs. He's making Bonner look like Larry Bird :wow

This article stings...badly.

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Originally Posted by timvp

1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in three starts for Batum in the playoffs. He's making Bonner look like Larry Bird :wow

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But at least Batum can play D
:depressed

Mike Monroe of the Express News told me years ago that when it came time to make a decision to draft Howard, the Spurs front office had one lone hold out dissenter. By agreement if there was one lone holdout, then that player was not drafted. Monroe refused to tell me who it was. I always thought it was Pop since it was his idea to chase Jason Kidd that summer.

Now with the Spurs crumbling names are getting named and should be. Why Peter Holt cannot see what an over rated GM Buffod is baffles me. Now Holt can watch the value of his team, attendence , revenue, etc tumble due to the actions chiefly of R.C. Bufford.

As we stand here about to fall over the cliff into the sea of mediocrity, I guess it's natural to look back and think what might have been.

Kinda painful though...it's as if the old mistakes, long forgotten and repressed, have been born again.

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So, hoping to preserve as much salary-cap room as possible for their free-agent pursuit of Jason Kidd, they traded their pick.

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Considering we had just won a championship, this factoid really hurts.

I suppose one could say that it's all 20-20 hindsight, but recall how many folks objected to the Kidd mania, and with the Scola trade on this forum.

We made some very poor basketball decisions that cost us championships.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

Beautiful article.


Yeah, RC is never going to live down his overruling both Pop and Duncan on Howard or his mind boggling Scola trade. Those two moves in a middle of a championship run are inexcusable.

Oh well. Hopefully he can make up for it with some more magic .... soon.

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he's got not choice, our bench blows.

Howard's an ass and I'm glad he's not on our team. He's talented but he's also a punk. He's not a winner and he's not a good character guy. He'll never win jack sh*t. He's a perfect Maverick just like Jason Terry.

Scola on the other hand....dude just plays hard and wants to win.

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“But if Josh Howard ever becomes a player,” Buford said, “Pop is going to kill me.”

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Great job R.C

The truth is never an easy thing to admit. Say what you want, but Ludden is definitely on point here. Howard is the gift that keeps on giving - giving the Spurs a pain in the posterior for reminding them of what they missed out on and a nightmare to cover on the court.

I said it then and will say again, passing on Howard was undoubtedly THE single, biggest blunder of the RC/POP era. It made absolutely NO sense at all. As much as Pop claims that watching Scola produce for Houston gives him a feeling of "puking" in his mouth, I get the same feeling from watching Howard do the same in a Mavs uniform.

Drafts are iffy cause you never know what you have so Screw the Howard error, we actually had Scola, the best forward in Europe, and the money and spent it on Bonner. That's a bigger error.

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Originally Posted by wildbill2u

Drafts are iffy cause you never know what you have so Screw the Howard error, we actually had Scola, the best forward in Europe, and the money and spent it on Bonner. That's a bigger error.

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Not in my book. If Splitter becomes a Spurs in 2010, then that more that helps mitigate the loss of Scola. This Howard blunder has kicked the Spurs in the ass for 6 straight years. As a result, the 3 position has and still is one of the weakest positions on this team. Ever since JAX left the building, there's been a void there. It's not even close.

its not a big deal if don't have howard .. he won't fit in spurs roster .. he will never have chemistry with the other spurs .. just like jason terry .. his arrogant .. the real lost is luis scola .. the guy is a team player .. his a hard worker and accepts his role .. just like MANU and oberto .. scola has made a big difference in houston .. man if we had him .. he will be a great help to duncan .. :flag:

Damn, if it pains me so much as a fan, I could only imagine what it does to RC, Pop and Holt. Scola and Howard decisions will continue to kick us in the balls until the FO makes up for it. If we sign Splitter that may be the start of the turnaround we so desperately need.

howard at the 3 would have been nice. he can hit the 3, got the midrange game and can slash. i think he's an ass but he definitely would have helped this team

Nice to see some posters here back at their favorite hobby: bitching. :tu

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Originally Posted by Bruno

Nice to see some posters here back at their favorite hobby: bitching. :tu

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Don't forget acting like they are smarter than the ENTIRE NBA front offices combined.

I agree with those who would not want Howard on the Spurs. IMO take away the mistakes with the current roster...i.e. the failed Mason PG experiment and subsequent benching of Hill, Bowen's casting aside, lack of development of younger players...ona dnd on, and the Spurs would be the number two seed and not even playing the Mavericks.

Nice to see some posters still viewing the Spurs talent landscape behind their rose-colored, Mr. Magoo-type glasses.

Fuck Josh Howard... what has he won???

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Originally Posted by urunobili

Fuck Josh Howard... what has he won???

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I smell bitter tears. At least you can find solace in the face that if the Spurs had Howard, they wouldn't be getting put out of the 1st round this year :bking

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Originally Posted by Bruno

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

As it turns out, these playoffs also don’t appear to be for Matt Bonner or Roger Mason.

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ouch! take that pop.

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Originally Posted by urunobili

Fuck Josh Howard... what has he won???

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the opportunity to lead the Mavs to defeating the spurs in the first round for the first time in a decade. no accalades for that but in can boost his confidence for future match ups.

I don't understand this talk about Josh Howard or how the Spurs "missed out".

The Spurs have won 3 championships in the time that Howard has been in the league. Looks like they're doing fine without him.

Howard on the other hand is useless for Dallas outside of games vs. the Spurs.

All you need to do is look at the Spurs 3 position. If you feel good about, great. If not, you've got the answer to your question.

The 3 Chamnpionships notwithstanding, it's about extending your championship window as long as possible, when you have an all-world franchise player like Tim Duncan. An 18 and 7 guy is another weapon.

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Originally Posted by dirk4mvp

I smell bitter tears. At least you can find solace in the face that if the Spurs had Howard, they wouldn't be getting put out of the 1st round this year :bking

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until he actually wins something he is still another NBA player from the bunch

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

Not in my book. If Splitter becomes a Spurs in 2010, then that more that helps mitigate the loss of Scola. This Howard blunder has kicked the Spurs in the ass for 6 straight years. As a result, the 3 position has and still is one of the weakest positions on this team. Ever since JAX left the building, there's been a void there. It's not even close.

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Agreed. But I would like to have thought that he would have come over this year rather than waiting for 2010. If Splitter comes then the loss of Scola is considerably lessened but as pointed out the 3 position has been our Achilles heel for the last 6 years. If we had Howard then I believe that we take the Mavs in '06 without having to go to a game 7 and witness Manu's tragic lapse in judgement. Then on to ring # 4 at the time since I really can't conceive of the Heat beating us in the Finals. Heck we probably don't go after Hedo in '04 which ultimately turned out to be a bust for us, too. In other words if we draft Howard then our options over the last 6 years change and we then concentrate on getting a better 5 and a backup pg.

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Originally Posted by Texas 2 Step

We have sucked at the 3 for years. I think this summer it will be addressed for sure either by trade or FA.

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Hopefully. Maybe with Gist getting PT in Europe and Hairston/Williams progressing then we might have something to plug into that slot next year. Another year with Finley there is going to be hard to take.

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Originally Posted by SpursDynasty

I don't understand this talk about Josh Howard or how the Spurs "missed out".

The Spurs have won 3 championships in the time that Howard has been in the league. Looks like they're doing fine without him.

Howard on the other hand is useless for Dallas outside of games vs. the Spurs.

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As stated before 6 years w/o a 3 capable of playing that position with any consistency. If we had Howard we might/probably would have more rings. And IIRC I believe that Buford stated or was reported to have said that Howard was a Manu clone or something to that effect and therefore wasn't needed. Wonder what he thinks now?

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Originally Posted by SenorSpur

All you need to do is look at the Spurs 3 position. If you feel good about, great. If not, you've got the answer to your question.

The 3 Chamnpionships notwithstanding, it's about extending your championship window as long as possible, when you have an all-world franchise player like Tim Duncan. An 18 and 7 guy is another weapon.

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Imagine Howard being the starting 3 for the last 6 years. If he is a Manu clone wouldn't that be in the best interst of the Spurs? Howard goes out and Manu comes in with the second unit. I kinda like that scenario.

How does Splitter possibly coming three years later make up for trading Scola? The Spurs could have had BOTH and been better set not only for the rest of Duncan's era but for the future after it.

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Originally Posted by SpursDynasty

I don't understand this talk about Josh Howard or how the Spurs "missed out".

The Spurs have won 3 championships in the time that Howard has been in the league. Looks like they're doing fine without him.

Howard on the other hand is useless for Dallas outside of games vs. the Spurs.

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You don't understand how to wipe your own ass, so it's not shocking...

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Originally Posted by ploto

How does Splitter possibly coming three years later make up for trading Scola? The Spurs could have had BOTH and been better set not only for the rest of Duncan's era but for the future after it.

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That would've made too much sense. By now, you should now there was no way that Holt was going to fork over the cash needed to sign both those guys.