Yahoo.com: Drew Gooden on the Spurs, It could Work

[Solid D]

Odd, backhanded article that somehow comes out trying to be positive in a sea of demeaning quips.

Bottom line, if he misses many assignments, he won't play.

(and the only time Matt should play the 3 is when Lamar Odom is playing with 2 other Bigs and the Spurs want to draw Odom out of the paint)

[NRHector]

If you or I or anyone in here was forced to play for the Bulls or Kings, you would have a Groin Injury too.

[Manu-of-steel]

Shouldn't these people actually have to watch the games before writing articles like this?

1. All the 20 footers clanging and clanging? He's put up 13.8 FGA/36 this season. Last season he put up 14.0, and his career average is 13.1. Doesn't look like he's been a shot-hog this season.

2. The horrible, low-percentage shots? His FG% this season is .460. Last season it was .449, and his career FG% is .470. Doesn't look like he is shooting a lot worse this season. It's possible to miss all your 20-footers, but make up the shooting percentage near the basket. But not without a lot more attempts. See #1 above.

3. He never got to the free throw line? His FTA/36 this season is 3.8. Last season it was 3.6, and the season before it was 3.2. His career average is 4.0 FTA/36. Doesn't look like he has had trouble getting to the line this season. Oh, and by the way... his FT% this season is .869, compared to his career average of .730.

It's funny - all of Gooden's numbers are at, or slightly above his career averages. Meanwhile, back in Chicago: Joakim Noah's numbers are off. Luol Deng's numbers are off. Nocioni's numbers were off. Ben Gordon's scoring is down. Salmons' numbers have taken a hit since he went to Chicago. I wonder if any of the problems in Chicago might be related to having a rookie point guard, and that self-absorbed headcase Noah in the middle?
When the writer can't get the obvious stuff right, it makes me question the rest. I know he has his troubles defensively, but he's also played on several crappy teams. And even though Cleveland is a good team with LBJ, Mike Brown isn't exactly the defensive mastermind that Pop is. We'll see what Gooden can do in a defensive system. I have my doubts, but not because of this dip article.

noah is a beast today. 12 points, 15 rebs, 3 blocksand still a quarter left. he's very unpredictable.

[MateoNeygro]

I'm sorry this article was re ed.

[Avitus1]

Well I hope it all works out...

[ehz33satx]

Exactly. People in here want Gooden to be a 20-10 guy by shooting mid-range shots and by slashing to the basket to dunk. The Spurs don't need him to be that. He needs to go after the rebounds and score when open or score off of putbacks. Nothing more. Yes his defense is suspect, but then again Orberto, Bonner, Nazr, aren't or weren't that good to begin with.

I am happy with Gooden giving a consistant 8 to 12 points with 6 to 8 rebounds. That would be enough to really help the Spurs out.

[50Bestspurever]

What a dumbass article. You know what else might help the spurs this year? How about a healthy Manu. The spurs only went to the WESTERN CON. FINALS last year. My kingdom for informed writers.

[raspsa]

this article is condescending. the author is essentially saying "poor gooden, he wants to help so much but he just can't figure it out." gooden can become like odom next to duncan. without gasol, odom always struggled as the second scoring option on the lakers. but with gasol, he becomes a rebounding machine that scores when needed. gooden has always been the primary low post scoring option. now that gooden has duncan, he can remove the pressure from himself and fit into a better role.

I agree. Gooden can focus on what he does well which is rebounding. Like all Spurs, he'll have to defend if he wants time on the court but i don't think this is beyond his capabilities. I don't expect him to average 20 points/game and he doesn't need to.. I'd settle for 10/10 per game.

[thOOdee]

i feel good about gooden..... IT JUST MAY BE ENOUGH!

[raspsa]

i feel good about gooden..... IT JUST MAY BE ENOUGH!

he looks like he spent a bit too much time in the sun..