Doing it in behalf of duncan228:
Gooden could make smooth transition to Spurs
By Mike Monroe - Express-News
Nobody in the Spurs organization is saying anything on the record about Drew Gooden, the 6-foot-10 power forward cut loose by the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, in time to be added to the playoff roster of any team that might pick him up.
But others around the league call a Gooden-to-the-Spurs signing nearly a done deal, as soon as he clears waivers.
At the least, the Spurs appear highly interested in a player who started for the Cleveland Cavaliers when the Spurs played them in the 2007 NBA Finals.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged that the Spurs approached Sunday's waiver wire news “professionally.”
In addition to Gooden's release, Oklahoma City negotiated a deal to buy out Joe Smith's contract and Stromile Smith was waived by the Nets.
“We've got to do our work, just like everybody else,” Popovich said. “So when there's a trade deadline, or waiver wires, we pay attention to it, like any other team would, because you're always trying to upgrade your team if you think you can.”
Popovich did a masterful job of dodging questions calculated to make him tip his hand about his team's interest in Gooden, who played in Cleveland for coach Mike Brown, whose defensive system is closely akin to that of Popovich, whom he served as an assistant.
Asked if any player already schooled in the rudiments of the Spurs' defensive scheme would have a leg up on making a smooth transition, Popovich cut off a questioner.
“I'm not even going there,” he said, chuckling. “That's very clever.”
Adding players this late, he said, always carries some risk.
“It's just logic that the later in a season a team might add a player, the more difficult it could be, but that depends on the player's intelligence and experience,” he said.
In any case, none of the waived players can sign with any team before Wednesday, 48 hours after their releases.
Popovich wouldn't talk about Gooden, but Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy gave an analysis of what he could do for the Spurs.
Calling starting Spurs center Matt Bonner a dangerous offensive player who can be exploited by bigger players on the other end of the court, Dunleavy said Gooden would give the Spurs options against playoff opponents with big front lines.
“Now, it gives them a bigger, better rebounder and a physical guy, so they can mix and match, based on who they're playing a little bit better for sure.”
Sobering news: Spurs guard Roger Mason Jr., who enjoys summertime deep sea fishing outings, has been sobered by the news of a boating accident involving a pair of NFL players.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper and Detroit Lions free-agent safety Corey Smith, remain missing after an accident Saturday in waters off Clearwater, Fla.
“We have been out in some choppy conditions,” Mason said of going out with his brother, “and I've been told a couple of times that we couldn't go out. We had to cancel a couple of trips, much to my chagrin. I didn't want to cancel, but they said the weather could pick up.
“It's scary, and I'm praying for those guys.”
obviously a pop veteran reporter.Asked if any player already schooled in the rudiments of the Spurs' defensive scheme would have a leg up on making a smooth transition, Popovich cut off a questioner.
“I'm not even going there,” he said, chuckling. “That's very clever.”
Gooden SUCKS balls...no wonder every team he plays for always cut him off...
Pathetic spurm fans and their pathetic hopes ...
Here comes "the big drizzle"
Pathetic hopes? I think you were talking about the Suns le hopes?
It's not your fault. It's not your fault kid, it's not your fault.
As opposed to the Phoenix Suns realistic hopes of ever winning a championship...right...
Go troll somewhere else
And always remember Spurs own you!
I think Gooden is a solid pick-up.. I actually find it kinda surprising the Kings dropped him so quick. And this article might shut up some of the naysayers who say he doesn't play D.
Where does it say there that he plays good defense?
It just says he played under a similar defensive style....
Since duncan can make almost anybody look good when playing with him, let's hope it stays true with gooden if ever he get signed.
Gooden would be a good addition. He may not play the best D, but the Spurs play TEAM D & that would help him. The other thing is that he can rebound.
The down side of it is, if it's true, he has a sports hernia. I don't know if there's any truth to it, but it's something I heard or read somewhere.
More than likely his aquisition will break Bonner's focus and get him looking over his shoulder(insert comment about what a wuss Bonner is here) causing him to shoot worse...leaving us with 2 ty offensive and defensive forwards.
No one ever thinks of these sorts of things...despite the fact that we've had about 5 years now of a SG glut impacting the peformance of every 2guard but Manu Ginobili(the only one of them that knows he's going to get minutes) at that position....plus there was that Horry Malik thing...then the Rasho Nazr thing. We had the Barry, Brown, Finley, Udoka thing...the Beno Vaughn thing...
I don't know why Pop thinks creating these suvival of the fittest compe ions is the best way to get production out of limited players...what he creates is a situation where the guy who sucks least out of the compe ion for minutes gets to play. I mean it's not like he's pitting Magic against Jordan...he's usually pitting two guys with shaky confidence against one anotehr...
Sometimes guys just want to know that they're the one he's going with. Bonner got that and I'd say he just about maximzed his potential...and now that's not good enough, and now we want better from a guy that's not going to give us better really.
Same as it ever was.
Last edited by whottt; 03-03-2009 at 02:50 AM.
i think matt has gotten past that.
He's a 6'10" vet who is practically free and has no contractual obligations beyond this season... what is there to lose? The absolute worst case scenario is he doesn't fit in well and only plays 10 mpg in the playoffs, which would still be helpful. The best case scenario is that he fits in nicely and improves team rebounding and team free throw attempts significantly, both weak spots. Another issue: should the Spurs risk going into the playoffs with a lack of frontcourt depth? Everyone knows it's over if Tim badly sprains an ankle in the playoffs, but should the Spurs risk giving up their hopes for a 5th championship if Matt Bonner sprains an ankle?
Yes, because Matt Bonner oozes natural confidence...that's something you get "past".
Sure seemed like he stepped up his game when Pop was looking to have Tolliver unseat him.
Hmm, just had to re-read what I typed, and yep, I never said he played good D.. But you have to be crazy to think that any player is going to come to the Spurs and not work his tail off out there and attempt to play good team D. It's what Pop and the coaching staff preach, and the minute he doesn't play D, is the minute he's pulled off the court. Simple.
Yeah well, Tolliver a green player, and Bonner knows that.
Yes it is something someone can get past. even a "pathetic" matt bonner.
what blackjack said. matt knows his role and he does a decent and sometimes spectacular job at it. he knows a lot of nights he will me over matched on the defensive end but it hasn't failed him to give good effort nonetheless.
You are the one implying with this post that Bonner is a wuss-- no one else has raised the objection that the Spurs shouldn't get Gooden because it would "break Matt's focus." Using this argument, I guess the Spurs should never attempt to secure more frontline depth.... ridiculous.
Whott brings up some good points.
However, I have no idea what Pop plans to do with Gooden. If he gives him the Ely treatment and stick him on the end of the bench then the whole experiment is a waste, especially because we all know Gooden has zero interest or chance of sticking around here next year.
And even weirder, Gooden seems to have very little traits to be a "Spur". I can imagine Pop getting sick of him really, really quick.
For this to work, Pop is going to have to swallow his pride and endure Gooden's shortcomings, which is something I have a hard time imagining.
This whole thing is such a mystery.
Yeah and so many guys that play for the Spurs get past it. Like...um...I can't think of one. Matt Bonner starts because every other experienced big on the team is in their mid 30's or later.
Truth is...if he put Duncan, Parker or Manu in that situation they'd probably perform similarly to Udoka, Finley, and all the other former good players and even All Stars that didn't play well when he put them in that situation. He never truly put Duncan, Manu or Parker in that situation.
I want you to tell me what you have seen in Matt Bonner's Spurs career that lets you know this isn't going to impact the incredibly high level at which he's shot the ball this season.
So I guess he's got a little confidence?
Look, I completely understand the skepticism towards Bonner (I've personally always believed he's better suited coming off the bench and being somewhat of an energizer) but Bonner isn't the choke artist or meek dude so many make him out to be.
Yeah, He's a bit of a spaz by nature, but he's also much tougher physically and mentally then he's given credit for.
Once you get past a certain point in self belief you don't go back.
You might be born with low confidence... but it's one of those experiences that once you've been there you, go to the next rank, the next level in your progression, you advance from there or plateau.
You may play bad, but its not going to be worse than your best at the previous level of skill.
How can you lose confidence when you've had it in your realiity that you are good.
Imagine you a pull a fine woman, a 9 piece out of 10. From that point on you know the cailbre of woman you can pick up.
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