Reply With Quote
SIGH.,..enough with Batum. We didnt get him. PERIOD
Long but gone, and Spurs see the loss
Buck Harvey -
Had the 2008 draft gone differently, Bruce Bowen would still be starting.
At least another game.
Just as Gregg Popovich went with a French teenager named Tony Parker just five games into his career, Popovich would be inclined to do the same with another.
Had the 2008 draft gone differently.
As it is, Bowen has as many points as the Spurs have wins this season. He played less than 22 minutes against both the Suns in the opener and in Portland on Friday night, and the end-game situation against the Blazers was telling. Then, when the Spurs needed to slow Brandon Roy, they went with other defenders.
That doesn't mean Bowen is finished; he's shown similar senior moments in the past two seasons and has recovered. Knowing the respect Popovich has for him, Bowen will get extended chances.
Still, the equation would be far different today if the Spurs had gotten what they wanted last June. Then they tried everything they could — from smokescreen e-mails to medical subterfuge — to draft a 19-year-old Frenchman, Nicolas Batum.
He's smooth and athletic, and he showed that Friday night against the Spurs. Batum dunked on a fast break and threw in a 3-pointer on his way to a dozen points.
But it's his defense that impresses, and one word describes this 6-foot-8 swingman. Long. He combines quick feet with a wingspan that would cover what Kurt Thomas and Michael Finley can't reach.
outh, speed, length — isn't a European Tayshaun Prince precisely what the Spurs need?
Other teams saw his potential last summer, too, and most listed him as a mid-first round pick. But in the days leading up to the draft he underwent a treadmill test for the Nets and Raptors, and the results raised fears about his heart.
The stuff was scary, as well as confusing. Batum's father had died at a young age, and, because of cir stance and because too many years had passed, teams had difficulty finding if there was a link.
Toronto, drafting at No. 17, had seen enough. The Raptors removed Batum from their board.
Batum went through a series of thorough tests in Cleveland, and R.C. Buford was there for them. Afterward Bouna Ndiaye, Batum's agent, announced his client had passed; teams were to get a full medical report the next day, a Tuesday, two days before the draft.
That's also when Batum went to San Antonio for a workout. But the medical reports were never released, and Batum never talked to another team.
A draft site wrote this: “Some teams are openly wondering whether San Antonio gave Batum a promise and asked him to not distribute his physical around the league, which would make him very likely to slip to 26.”
Draft day brought another curious move. The Spurs sent out e-mails to all 29 teams inviting them to bid on their No. 26 draft pick.
Everyone assumed the Spurs had Batum's medical report. Were they now suggesting by their e-mail they weren't satisfied with what they had seen? Or did they just want everyone to think that?
So Batum began to fall during the draft, and Portland didn't care. Kevin Pritchard, the Blazers general manager, had pushed his owner to buy the No. 27 pick from New Orleans, and his announced target was Serge Ibaka, a 6-10 player from the Congo.
Oklahoma City, however, took Ibaka at No. 24. Needing someone for this recently purchased pick, not exactly sure what was the best option, Pritchard was in a position to gamble on both Batum's medical questions and rumors that the Spurs were still interested. He traded up with Houston, moving a slot ahead of the Spurs, and took Batum.
Reports that night said the Spurs cheered when Batum was selected, because that meant George Hill had fallen to them. That's not accurate.
The Spurs were sincerely pleased to get Hill, and they still like him. But Hill plays behind Parker.
Given what Batum showed the Spurs on Friday, given another game or two, there's a chance Batum wouldn't play behind anyone in San Antonio.
[email protected]
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...ethe_loss.html
SIGH.,..enough with Batum. We didnt get him. PERIOD
Good to see Buck Harvey still reads SpursTalk
But I'd find it damn hard to believe Pop would bench Bowen for Batum. As good as Batum looks like he'll be down the line, Bowen would have to play more than two bad games to get benched after all he's done. Batum would be in the rotation but more likely taking Udoka's minutes than anyone else.
My reliable source tells me that Manu and Oberto had a hand in this. They couldn't bear the thought of being outnumbered 3-2 by Frenchmen, so they handled the situation discretely. However, if the Spurs had signed Scola last year, then it wouldn't have been an issue, and both Scola and Batum would be wearing silver and black today.
Imagine that...
Stupid, worthless article. We didn't draft him, end of story. And no, he would not start in front of Bowen this year. Leave it to Buck to offer up woulda, coulda, shoulda crap.
I tend to agree that Pop wouldn't bench Bowen for Batum, but if (and I don't think he is, and am praying he hasn't) Bowen's going the way of Avery?(different cir stance, but you can catch my drift)Good to see Buck Harvey still reads SpursTalk
But I'd find it damn hard to believe Pop would bench Bowen for Batum. As good as Batum looks like he'll be down the line, Bowen would have to play more than two bad games to get benched after all he's done. Batum would be in the rotation but more likely taking Udoka's minutes than anyone else.
I guess it's not inconceivable that a 19yr. old frenchman could supplant the vet.
Gist...
Reports that night said the Spurs cheered when Batum was selected, because that meant George Hill had fallen to them. That's not accurate.
The Spurs were sincerely pleased to get Hill, and they still like him. But Hill plays behind Parker.
Given what Batum showed the Spurs on Friday, given another game or two, there's a chance Batum wouldn't play behind anyone in San Antonio.
[email protected]
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...ethe_loss.html
It's annoying that Harvey would state that they didn't cheer but not explain how he claims to know this.
It's also annoying that after one game, Batum is a superstar in the making. You'd think after watching basketball for many years, he'd be a little more sensible and let things develop before making monumental claims... remember when Harold Miner was the new Jordan, Lloyd Daniels was the new Magic, and Andrew Bogut was better than Chris Paul and Deron Williams? Remember when Loren Woods had a great summer league and was the next great shot blocking center in the NBA? Remember Keith Closs??
Last edited by Tully365; 11-02-2008 at 01:46 AM.
Yeah, I wondered about that too. I tried to do a search, but it keeps crapping out and then I have to wait 60 seconds to try again.
This forum requires that you wait 60 seconds between searches. Please try again in 1 seconds.
It's been reported in multiple stories about the Spurs cheering the pick, so he's either just rehashing, has insider knowledge, or was smart enough to call Ludden. (In which case McDonald could learn a thing from Buck)
It seems as if Harvey is taking my P.O.V. and running with it. It's okay. I won't charge him for it.
I think you have to be pretty gullible to believe the nonsense the Spurs are spreading about cheering when Batum was picked just before their pick. Unless cheering sounds like a loud collective groan...
It's hard to believe any of the Spurs' incredible successes of the last decade, because they are so far-reaching, but it is in fact all true. I can understand the envy.
Not surprising that Tlong is stupid, but Buck should probably consult with the guys that report the news at his own paper.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.45117fe.html
Mike Monroe's Instant Analysis
Express-News staff writer Mike Monroe breaks down the Spurs' draft.
All you need to know about George Hill, the player the Spurs drafted in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft, is this: There was a celebration in the Spurs' draft night war room when the Houston Rockets made Frenchman Nicolas Batum the 25th selection of the first round, leaving Hill to the Spurs.
Anyone within a mile or two of the Spurs' practice facility, where the basketball operations staff gathered to make the picks, would have heard the groaning and cursing had the Rockets snatched the guard from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis from the Spurs' draft night grasp.
Hill, you see, is no loaf of bread. The Spurs have a recent history of picking first-rounders they have no intention of signing for a season or two. Popovich likens this to baking these prospects in an oven to make sure they're ready for the NBA.
Hill, who recently turned 22, requires no additional heat. Popovich, a discerning gourmet, believes his newest player is a perfectly risen soufflé.
Unless you are a fan of small college basketball, you probably hadn't heard of Hill when NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Spurs had picked him. But Hill will get a chance to be point guard Tony Parker's backup, and right away.
The term “impact player” is overused each draft season. The Spurs haven't even hinted they had drafted in impact player for the past seven years. The last pick they believed capable of making an immediate difference: Parker, in 2001.
Now, Popovich promises that Hill will make the Spurs better next season.
Methinks that you're underestimating how talented this kid is and just how much Bowen has declined.Good to see Buck Harvey still reads SpursTalk
But I'd find it damn hard to believe Pop would bench Bowen for Batum. As good as Batum looks like he'll be down the line, Bowen would have to play more than two bad games to get benched after all he's done. Batum would be in the rotation but more likely taking Udoka's minutes than anyone else.
From what we saw on Friday night, Batum also doesn't require any extra baking. Remember, much like Tony, he's been playing at the professional Euro level for some time.
You won't get any argument from me on that point. The kid looks amazing, and I'd love to have him on the roster. It's too soon to say if I'd rather have him than Hill, but Hill's going to have to show me something.
The reason I posted the item is because there are reports that Pop didn't actually want Hill at that spot, and Buck said that the celebration in the war room thing was bull , but his own newspaper reported it as it happened. Again, if Buck knows something everyone else doesn't it seems like he'd actually explain it.
The original French interview with Batum on draft night said that Pop told him that he'd get minutes in anticipation of taking over the spot within the next couple of years. If he were a Spur and were playing that well I'd consider starting him at the 4 until Oberto comes back.Good to see Buck Harvey still reads SpursTalk
But I'd find it damn hard to believe Pop would bench Bowen for Batum. As good as Batum looks like he'll be down the line, Bowen would have to play more than two bad games to get benched after all he's done. Batum would be in the rotation but more likely taking Udoka's minutes than anyone else.
They don't allow reporters in the war room. I'm sure they told the reporter that and it appears he may have been gullible enough to believe it.
To you? Facts have never stopped you before. Why should they now?
this is stupid. Bowen will get tons of minutes vs. teams with a great perimeter player. LA, Boston, NO, etc, etc.
regardless of who we drafted. we just happened to play 2 teams with no great perimeter players the first 2 games.
I believed it wasn't true long before I ever read Harvey's column. Think about it. You're going to believe the Spurs' warroom started cheering when a projected backup point guard from a small school whom every other team felt was a 2nd round pick fell to them? Really?? I mean REALLY?To you? Facts have never stopped you before. Why should they now?
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
