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excellent response Gooden.
Gooden's wings could give Spurs flight
Mike Finger
This is how you know Drew Gooden is serious about becoming a real Spur: he is not afraid of contact.
“You've got to draw blood,” Gooden says. “It's a ceremonial thing.”
But this is why you doubt him: he apparently has never met his head coach. When talking Friday about his offensive repertoire, the Spurs' boisterous power forward described a freedom that suggested he either hallucinated through his first discussion with Gregg Popovich or has spent the past six weeks avoiding him altogether.
“Coach Pop lets me spread my wings,” Gooden says.
Under normal cir stances, that sentence would sound ludicrous. Popovich hasn't cleared any flying object for takeoff since his days at Air Force, and even back then he presumably encouraged his fellow airmen to pass twice and clear out for Timmy before they made any sudden moves.
But thanks to the fragility of an Argentine ankle and the porousness of a once-airtight defense, these aren't normal cir stances. So maybe Gooden really is speaking about Popovich when he explains how his new coach is encouraging him to extend his feathers, shoot and create. And maybe Popovich's most loyal disciple, Tim Duncan, really is complimenting his new teammate when he points out Gooden occasionally focuses on something other than shutting down his opponent.
“He's very offensive-minded,” Duncan says, “and that's something we needed.”
Now, it seems, more than ever. Sure, if the Spurs have any hope of making an extended run this postseason they'll have to do it with defense, just like they always have. But this group isn't going to suffocate opposing offenses like it used to. To win games against the Mavericks, and against anyone else if they make it past the first round, the Spurs will need about 95 points a night to do it. And even if Tony Parker gets his 30 and Duncan gets his 25, there's still plenty left over.
With one-third of the Big Three stuck in a sports coat for the duration of the postseason, the Spurs need someone to come off the bench and provide some scoring punch. Instead of a slender, balding, acrobatic magician, they'll have to settle for a burly, head-shaven bruiser with a jump shot, one who's played in 67 fewer playoff games than Manu Ginobili and never won a gold medal or an NBA championship.
In fact, 19 games into a Spurs career that began when Sacramento waived him and allowed him to sign with his sixth team in seven NBA seasons, Gooden admits there are still times when Popovich or Parker will call a play he's never heard of.
But he's already drawn blood, and he's spreading his wings. And when he was asked if he might be the key to making up for the loss of Ginobili and his 15.5 points per game, Gooden's answer is telling.
“You don't have to score all 16,” he says. “Maybe you score eight, and then take eight away on defense.”
And this is how you know he might be a real Spur after all.
excellent response Gooden.
I like his mindset.
What's Brown doing in the Cavs?!
Given the choice between an aggressive Gooden vs a tentative Gooden, I'd pick the former every time.
Defend, rebound, score.
In that F&#&*^ing order
you really hate that guy
drew gooden's at ude could not be better.
Drew has been nothing short of good for us when we've needed him. Hopefully he steps up and earns a new contract in these playoffs.
How long did it take you to make that?
15 minutes?
How long did it take you to make that?
Photoshop is easy if you find the parts quickly (google image search):
http://www.iartist.co.cc/wp-content/...ll_texture.png
http://chicago.timeout.com/chicago/r...ette.L-001.jpg
And the font is only an approximation.
Is there anyway i can get the balla power without experiencing the weird facial hair?
Is there any way you can take a few minutes and not be a toolbox when it comes to Gooden? Would you rather be stuck with Oberto getting all his minutes in the playoffs?
Gooden is what he is. He is a scorer. Score...rebound...and at least keep you man from completely abusing you while staying out of foul trouble...in that order.
Gooden could be huge for us if Pop just gives him the minutes. I don't want to see gooden get 15-20 and Bonner over 30 anymore. Matt has his role, but Gooden can really help us. He has at ude, brawn, and confidence.
I seem to recall he did a pretty good job in the finals two years ago (defending) on a certain Tim Duncan. I really don't think that we need worry about this guy's ability. ST was crying big man and front office delivered. Let's see what the man can do, the more time he gets the more comfortable he must be.
First of all, Slomo, that pic is awesome.
Ok, now for Gooden. He seems to have the right at ude, which is awesome. I love the production he's given us so far, and I agree that Gooden should be getting a few of Bonner's minutes. I love Bonner, but giving him 30 minutes a game is not going to help this team.
It's almost as stupid as letting Mason run the point over Hill....ok, maybe not THAT stupid, but you know what I'm sayin.
We don't have any choice except to have Gooden have a great playoffs all the way through. As well as Mason.
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