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I'm not sure if this article has already been posted. Sorry, if I'm repeating a previous one.
http://www.7days.ae/showstory.php?id=55642
Spurs could suffer as they see Scola shine with the Rockets
Last Updated : Monday 30 Jul, 2007 -
There’s a very good chance the San Antonio Spurs will live to regret their decision to trade the rights to Argentina sensation Luis Scola to their Texas rivals, Houston. The Spurs drafted in 27-year-old Scola in the second round five years ago but failed to pry him away from Spanish giants Tau Ceramica because of the transfer fee.
The Spurs believed they simply could not afford him. But letting Scola go could come back to haunt them. San Antonio have allowed a 6ft 9in superstar, arguably the finest and classiest player in Europe for the past several years, slip through their fingers. He’s a great passer, and is forever attacking the basket.
And what’s more he’s humble. Scola has not arrived in Houston beating his chest and proclaiming himself to be the best player in the world. He’ll be more than happy to feed off the scraps that will come his way on misses from Houston’s NBA all stars, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
“I’m sure they’re going to help me much more than I’m going to help them,” Scola said. “They’re superstars. They’re going to make basketball easier. I have to take this chance and use it.” Rockets fans will get a sneak preview of Scola this summer, when unlike most of the Argentinians in the NBA, he’ll play in Las Vegas for his country at the FIBA Americas Championship.
Houston can’t wait for him to put on their Rockets uniform. “He has size and experience and he's been a winner at every level,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “He’s someone that we think can come in and contribute right away to the team. “He’s going to be a great attribute to Yao,” said new coach Rick Adelman. “The more passers and more scorers that you have on the floor, the harder you are to defend. I just think it’s going to be easy for him. I showed him a tape earlier of what we like to do and he fits right in there.”
Scola is philosophical about finally making a move to the NBA. “I would have loved to have played for the Spurs and to have been a part of all their championships and all their success all these years, but things didn’t work out and I’m here, now,” Scola said. “But I still have a chance to play for a winning team.”
He’s a no nonsense player. “What I want to do is fight in every game, every practice,” Scola said, “to try and help these players who have been here much longer, to bring more success.” Scola was asked what his good friend and compatriot, Manu Ginobili of San Antonio, had told him.
“He knows it’s not going to be easy, it’s a new country, a new language, a new coach, everything - the referees, the rules, everything is different,” Scola said. “It’s not going to be easy, but you have to deal with it sooner or later, and better sooner than later.” There’s a good chance Spurs fans, and management, will cringe when they see Scola begin to “deal with it” later this year.
I'm not sure if this article has already been posted. Sorry, if I'm repeating a previous one.
tell us something we didn't know already...
That's a good hype for HRockets crew. I'm sure that they love the PR, any PR, to distance themselves from a coach's firing, a semis loss and a long hot rainy summer.
Scola is the outsider at this point and seeks to find his place on that Houston team and his place in the culture of the city.
Read Manu Ginobili's diary, fall of 2002, to gain some insight into the efforts it takes as an outsider to feel comfortable and productive. Scola to his credit at this point doesn't have issues with injuries like Manu did back in 02, so he is ahead of the game when you compare how the 2 Argentinians take to the NBA experience.
Good God, are we still talking about this guy?
It had already gotten to the point that I was sick of even seeing his name. Scola this, Scola that, Scola, Scola, Scola, Scola.
I'm just happy they finally did something with him.
anyone else groan when you see the name scola?
A in men......
Luis Scola!
Holy ... I hope Luis get success, but man ... what if Luis goes close to be Rocket's Manu
It will be interesting to compare the play of the two I10 combatants as the months progress. Manu got good press from the Chronicle for many years, they admire him for his success.Holy ... I hope Luis get success, but man ... what if Luis goes close to be Rocket's Manu
IMO over there in H Town Scola will "hear" the name "Manu" over and over again, just like over here when we hear ScloaScloaScloaScloaScloa about every .5 posts made.
And Scola will get sick of that too
There's a very good chance the San Antonio Spurs will never regret their decision to trade the rights to Argentina sensation Luis Scola to their Texas rivals, Houston.
Me again, just also thought about what motivation Scola will be for new '07 Champ Fabricio Oberto. I mean, with the Finals being Fabb's coming out party just after his drama-filled trip to blue code land a few months before, Oberto is not going to just hand over that portion of the spotlight he appeared in with Manu to a newbie Argie with a similiar game philosophy of playing aggressively, countrymen be damned.
Despite all the hype about the Rockets getting the PF they needed (and the Spurs ostensibly helping a division rival improve), does anyone really believe that Scola is going to be that much (or any) better than Juwan Howard?
I'm surprised noone has dropped into this thread yet to toss out the obligatory "...worst trade in Spurs history" line.
nobody seems to remember that the main reason this guy didnt come to the Spurs is his agent and Scola himself didnt want to buyout the Spanish contract to play behind Duncan. He wanted a starting spot.
so what made him change his mind and agree to play for Houston for what amounts to $500k this season???
Luis Scola!
Scola goes into a very good situation in Houston because they were weak at PF. He may be a good fit for Houston and may start there.
He wasn't a good fit here because no 21 is going to get all the minutes he wants.
Y'all will hate me for this post, because this is such a tired topic. Anyway, Scola could have fit in our rotation. Replace Bonner with Scola, and give him some of Horry's minutes. Scola is the low post threat when Duncan rests, and sometimes Duncan/Scola on the court at the same time.
Oh Well, that is fantasy land. At least we do have Bonner!!!! Maybe he will have a break-out season.
Bottom line- Spurs didn't want Scola, and I'm sure they had good reasons. I think he will do well with the Rockets.
He's gonna pull a Lebron and put his nuts in Duncan's moufff
I'm on record as saying that I don't see this guy becoming the big NBA superstar that everyone seems to think. Wake me up when he becomes an consistent contributor for the Rockets.
Bottom line is that Scola signed a really bad contract all by himself.....
It was the financial drawbacks from that contract that kept him out of the NBA for so many years....
The pity in all of this is that we literally traded him away for nothing.
scola=no jump shot, bad FT%.
the only other guy that attacks the basket as much as him is amare.
TimVP had to run some errands and will return in a few hours, and Marcus Bryant had an appointment with his psychiatrist.......
Be patient.
Scola > Bonner, Elson, Coyote and Dancing Usher.
you say that like its a bad thing.........jvg gone = Aaron Brooks getting signed and a chance to play, getting bonzi wells back and motivated due to RA, getting Mike James back for juwan howard, getting Steve Francis back, getting Scola.......even if the new gm would have still made these moves jvg would have been unable to manage this talent......minus wells because he would not have returned.
rain.....wow, like it has not rained for weeks on end in San Antonio presuming you live there.
Semis loss? you mean first round, you gotta go thru the tough times before you can win
scola is the man.......yes b4 a single game played......he is the man......book it.
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