NBA Breakout Rookies

Sportsillustrated is listing Oberto sixth in its Breakout Rookies section for the upcoming season. Nice to see that despite our lack of high draft choices, we can still bring in highly regarded talent. If he does breakout and does it early enough, we might see some action around the trade deadline.

SI.com - NBA Breakout Rookies

6. Fabricio Oberto
San Antonio Spurs
Coach Gregg Popovich is high on the free-agent acquisition, and if Oberto's anything like fellow Argentinean Manu Ginobili, why shouldn't Pop be excited? Oberto is expected to share time with Nazr Mohammed and -- if he's willing to do the little things -- could have a big impact on the Spurs' chances at another title.

Who are all those other scrubs ahead of Oberto? With the exception of Salim Stoudemire, I don't expect any of them to make much noise. I think Oberto could contend for ROY, except he won't get the minutes Bogut will.

EDITED: OK, sorry - I was scrolling the wrong way. The scrubs were BEHIND Oberto in the ranking. That makes more sense.

i expect Sarunas to be the ROY.

Don't want to sound like a homer but McCants is the reason i'm so excited about this season. The dude can straight out light it up. He's been nailing long range contested threes, J's, and taking it to the hole in preseason. Not only that but the guy is going to get VERY good PT, probably a starter VERY early in the year for a team that desprately needs a scorer. He's easily already considered the most polished scorer coming into the league. Not only that but i think even if his defense is lackluster, if the wolves could cover for Sam, there ten times more likely to be able to cover for McCants because he's quicker and there more defensive orientated this year. Meanwhile guys like Bogut who is still considered a toss up if he'll be able to start at center for the bucks is ahead of him?

Offensive stats make or break a rookie. No one was readdy to proclaim Ariza or Pietrus breakout players becasue they can defned very well.

I don't know how much you can take from an article that says he'll be coming off the bench because troy hudson is going to start? WTF? Troy is a PG, most liekly coming off the bench. McCants will be at SG, behind either Wally or trenton, whichever doen'st start at SF to start the season.

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Originally Posted by sickdsm

Don't want to sound like a homer but McCants is the reason i'm so excited about this season. The dude can straight out light it up. He's been nailing long range contested threes, J's, and taking it to the hole in preseason. Not only that but the guy is going to get VERY good PT, probably a starter VERY early in the year for a team that desprately needs a scorer. He's easily already considered the most polished scorer coming into the league. Not only that but i think even if his defense is lackluster, if the wolves could cover for Sam, there ten times more likely to be able to cover for McCants because he's quicker and there more defensive orientated this year. Meanwhile guys like Bogut who is still considered a toss up if he'll be able to start at center for the bucks is ahead of him?

Offensive stats make or break a rookie. No one was readdy to proclaim Ariza or Pietrus breakout players becasue they can defned very well.

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So will you change your line to McCants > Parker soon?

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Originally Posted by sickdsm

I don't know how much you can take from an article that says he'll be coming off the bench because troy hudson is going to start? WTF? Troy is a PG, most liekly coming off the bench. McCants will be at SG, behind either Wally or trenton, whichever doen'st start at SF to start the season.

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If he wants to average 10 assists a game, I don't think he would do that from the SG position. Have you seen the TWolves use him at the PG at all? Who has he been coming in for during the preseason?

Dam you guys have a fing SOLIDDDDDD team.

Danny Granger should be on that list.

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Originally Posted by Notorious H.O.P.

If he wants to average 10 assists a game, I don't think he would do that from the SG position. Have you seen the TWolves use him at the PG at all? Who has he been coming in for during the preseason?

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It was more of a "I want to be a team player quote". They asked him about what's his goals this year. 15 PPG, etc...? He said the 10 assists to try to show people he's not interested in getting his. I don't buy that at all but thats all that means. He's been a SG, the guys a scorer, thats his M.O.

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Originally Posted by ambchang

So will you change your line to McCants > Parker soon?

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A good comparison would be to Ben Gordon, IMO.

Wheres Hakim Warrick on the list

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

Who are all those other scrubs ahead of Oberto? With the exception of Salim Stoudemire, I don't expect any of them to make much noise. I think Oberto could contend for ROY, except he won't get the minutes Bogut will.

EDITED: OK, sorry - I was scrolling the wrong way. The scrubs were BEHIND Oberto in the ranking. That makes more sense.

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The "other scubs":
7. Saras Jasikevicius - should make plenty of noise. He's a true playmaker and showed that the other night in Indy. He is one of the top players in Europe and helped Maccabi to be the first team in 14 years to win back-to-back Euroleague Championships in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

8. Raymond Felton - if you watched the NCAA Tournament Final Four, you know who Felton is and what he can do as a PG, leading North Carolina to the NCAA Championship.

9. Hakim Warrick - if you watched the NCAA Tournament the past few years, you know who Warrick is and what he can do as an athletic, long SF & shot-blocking specialist. He and Carmelo Anthony helped lead Syracuse in winning the Championship in 2003.

10. Rashad McCants - if you watched the NCAA Tournament Final Four, you know who McCants is and what he can do athletically. He helped lead North Carolina to the NCAA Championship.

Notice the only reason they talk about Oberto is Pop's other finds.

Personally I think Oberto is just going to be a decent solid back up.

Nothing spectacular.

If Saurunus Jasikivicus gets rookie of the year this season I'll finally shut up about him.

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Originally Posted by BishopRyan

+1

:rolleyes

I've beening screaming this all along Oberto is a nice addition but he is not going to have Parker or Ginobili type impact. This guy is not going to have a huge enough impact to change the face of the Team. Decent backup 12 to 14 min. at best. Nothing special great find but nothing special.

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i agree. but he'll be a Malik Rose type player, but better.

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Originally Posted by Geno Billy

The "other scubs":
7. Saras Jasikevicius - should make plenty of noise. He's a true playmaker and showed that the other night in Indy. He is one of the top players in Europe and helped Maccabi to be the first team in 14 years to win back-to-back Euroleague Championships in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

8. Raymond Felton - if you watched the NCAA Tournament Final Four, you know who Felton is and what he can do as a PG, leading North Carolina to the NCAA Championship.

9. Hakim Warrick - if you watched the NCAA Tournament the past few years, you know who Warrick is and what he can do as an athletic, long SF & shot-blocking specialist. He and Carmelo Anthony helped lead Syracuse in winning the Championship in 2003.

10. Rashad McCants - if you watched the NCAA Tournament Final Four, you know who McCants is and what he can do athletically. He helped lead North Carolina to the NCAA Championship.

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But NCAA success does not translate into NBA success, necessarily. In the NBA they have to play defense, unless they're on the Suns or the Mavs.

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Originally Posted by BishopRyan

+1

:rolleyes

I've beening screaming this all along Oberto is a nice addition but he is not going to have Parker or Ginobili type impact. This guy is not going to have a huge enough impact to change the face of the Team. Decent backup 12 to 14 min. at best. Nothing special great find but nothing special.

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A Bishop talkin' about a Rook. Hahaha.

Somebody's been saying Oberto is going to have Parker and Ginobili type impact? Where's that ? Does his mom post in here or something?

Deron Williams > Chris Paul & Martell Webster

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Originally Posted by romsey31

Danny Granger should be on that list.

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That's my Dawg!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

But NCAA success does not translate into NBA success, necessarily. In the NBA they have to play defense, unless they're on the Suns or the Mavs.

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They don't play defense in the NCAA? You may be mixing up your NCAA and Euro ideas.

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Originally Posted by Supergirl

But NCAA success does not translate into NBA success, necessarily. In the NBA they have to play defense, unless they're on the Suns or the Mavs.

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Hey that's true. I thought you asked who are all those other scrubs?

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Originally Posted by Geno Billy

A Bishop talkin' about a Rook. Hahaha.

Somebody's been saying Oberto is going to have Parker and Ginobili type impact? Where's that ? Does his mom post in here or something?

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:lol

Deron Williams for ROY!

Oberto is not going to be playing center. Have people watched the pre-season games? Last game he played alongside Rasho and then with Nazr. He will back-up Tim. And, yes, I know where he played for his national team, as well as in Europe, but his role on the Spurs is to spell Tim and to limit Horry's minutes.

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Originally Posted by ploto

Oberto is not going to be playing center. Have people watched the pre-season games? Last game he played alongside Rasho and then with Nazr. He will back-up Tim. And, yes, I know where he played for his national team, as well as in Europe, but his role on the Spurs is to spell Tim and to limit Horry's minutes.

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Yes, I watched the Miami game (the only one Fabri's played in that was televised). Oberto came in for Nazr and was the first sub in that game. Oberto played and defended the center position. He got injured fronting Shaq. The center and PF positions are basically interchangeable for the Spurs in many cases. Oberto probably won't do jump balls, but he'll play both post positions.

I responded to this in the other thread. The Spurs only played him on Shaq for the experience of it all- they have even said that they would not use him that way in the regular season. The recent game is much more indicative of how he would be regularly used. And he is listed as an F on the Spur's own website. :) Marks, Duncan, and even Horry are listed at F-C.

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Originally Posted by ploto

And he is listed as an F on the Spur's own website. :) Marks, Duncan, and even Horry are listed at F-C.

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Now that isn't very convincing. I'd like to be more convinced of your point as to why Oberto will only play Forward on offense.

Well, none of our bigs did crap against Shaq in the preseason game. Rasho has the occasional decent game against him (not often lately with all the fronting and "siding" defenses that only worked for half a game two seasons ago) -- the same might be said for Nazr, but I doubt it ever could for Oberto or Marks.

So we're kind of boned RE: Shaq either way. I suppose it would be best to let him have his and try to clamp down on the others a la Amare and the Suns.

Oberto will play both positions depending on the matchups and game situations. If we wanted to get anal about the F-C designation then Sharrod Ford needs it too.

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Originally Posted by fonzy16

i expect Sarunas to be the ROY.

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I know they hand out this award before the Finals.... but if Saras is in the running for this award, you can count on the Pacers reaching the finals....

Bogut is the truth period and will easily win ROY.

My pick for the ROY is either Diogu or Paul.

I'm so sick of this Nate Robinson talk. He's an exciting player, but he's a 5-7 SG that can't shoot consistantly and plays outta control.

Look out for Channing Frye and Sean May. These two will start slow, then explode. Both are top-10 material, for sure...

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Originally Posted by Horry For 3!

Deron Williams > Chris Paul & Martell Webster

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Deron Williams doesn't translate right now. He's an average passer, average ball-handler, average-shooter and has average athleticism.

He benefitted at Illinois from having two other PG's in the starting lineup alongside of him. He's a good prospect, but needs way too much work for immediate success.

He's this year's Devin Harris.

Chris Paul is taylor-made for immediate impact because he can pass, has a great first step and can shoot from 10 feet on out. He'll be the best this year, but will be passed by Felton and Williams eventually.

Martell is a stud. He can shoot and rebound as well as any vet in the League, RIGHT NOW, at his position. He can float from the SG to SF spots, so PT isn't a question and should benefit from all the open looks players like Randolph, Telfair and Jack create.

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Originally Posted by hegamboa

I know they hand out this award before the Finals.... but if Saras is in the running for this award, you can count on the Pacers reaching the finals....

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Actually i would put them in front of Detroit and Heat as favorites on the East, if it werent for the unpredictable artest factor.