Mahinmi and Scola to meet

[Kori Ellis]

BTW, Garbajosa isn't bigger than Scola. I even think that Scola is maybe 1" taller than Garbajosa.

Even if that's true, Garbajosa hasn't done well.

[AFBlue]

Udonis Haslem but he is not at all the same kind of player than Scola.

My concern about Scola is : can a 6'8" player who isn't really strong, athletic or quick be an efficient low post scorer in nba ?

Why do people insist that Scola is a statue? While he lacks superior athleticism, strength, or speed, he is at least average in those categories. Yes, there are some interior defenders that will have their way with Scola athletically, but I doubt he's offensively inept against all PF/C in this league.

Also consider this. With most teams running "small-ball" lineups for longer periods on the floor, Scola shouldn't have as huge a disadvantage on size/strength as some people seem to think. It's not like every team has two crazy-athletic 7 footers on their front line....

Am I wrong?

[MmP]

In a FIBA court ArgSpursFan, a smaller court. Can't compare to NBA court.

[timvp]

Boris Diaw.

Small forward. If you want to list him as a power forward, he'd pass Garbajosa as the worst rebounding big in the league.

[ArgSpursFan]

The thing with smallers european PFs is that you never get to see them playing the PF position on NBA.
they got so good dribling and out side shooting that their NBA coaches move them to the 3 spot TIMVP.
examples:Nocioni,Dirk,Diaw,etc etc

[timvp]

The thing with smallers european PFs is that you never get to see them playing the PF position on NBA.
they got so good dribling and out side shooting that their NBA coaches move them to the 3 spot TIMVP.
examples:Nocioni,Dirk,Diaw,etc etc

So can Scola play small forward in the NBA?

[AFBlue]

Even if that's true, Garbajosa hasn't done well.

Because he doesn't know his limitations (equals "not smart"). From what I hear, Scola is an intelligent player and though he may go through an adjustment period, I think the Spurs could use his scoring ability.

[Bruno]

Udonis Haslem the Euro

Like Michael Wright.

[Dartherus]

Where do you get the 800K info? Not that I don't believe you, I've just never seen it in print.

it was info posted in the former Baskonia (Tau Ceramica's original name) forum, and in www.acb.com at his moment.

Anyway, Even if the 800 K number can't be confirmed, just think about it, after the end of this season , there will only be ONE SEASON of contract(that is confirmed) , if Tau doen't take any offer, Scola would go for free the next year.

Check this new, Tau offered an extension of his current contract until 2011, with a lot more salary, and HE REFUSED, in the new below doesn't say it, but I'll try to find the exact day it was in the spanish newspaper about the explanation of the abrupt decrease of the buyout.

http://www.deportistadigital.com/bal...econtrato.html

As soon as I find more info, I'll post it.

[Bruno]

Even if that's true, Garbajosa hasn't done well.

I have never said that Garbajosa was good in nba (in fact I agree with timvp that he has been quite bad in nba). I just say that you can't put Scola in the "small" category if you don't consider Garbajosa small.

[timvp]

Because he doesn't know his limitations (equals "not smart"). From what I hear, Scola is an intelligent player and though he may go through an adjustment period, I think the Spurs could use his scoring ability.

When Garbajosa was signed, his number one talent was supposedly being a "smart bigman who knows how to play the game".

[timvp]

Like Michael Wright.

I brought up Michael Wright as an example of a guy who isn't even good enough to do much in the NBDL, yet can go to Europe and flourish because that's what short power forwards do in Europe.

[AFBlue]

When Garbajosa was signed, his number one talent was supposedly being a "smart bigman who knows how to play the game".

Ouch...

But I still haven't heard about an alternative?

Or a response to teams going more "smallball" and not trotting out 7'0 260lb frontlines....what say you?

[Bruno]

First, Scola is a legit 6'9", Ben Wallace, who's listed 6'9" in NBA seemed at least one inch shorter in the games they faced each other. ¿Why people keep stating that' he's 6'8" why they don't say anything about small NBA players listed taller than they really are?

So we should consider Scola as a legit 6'9" player because some heights in nba aren't accurate. Wallace is far from being 6'9" and everybody know it.

Why do people insist that Scola is a statue? While he lacks superior athleticism, strength, or speed, he is at least average in those categories. Yes, there are some interior defenders that will have their way with Scola athletically, but I doubt he's offensively inept against all PF/C in this league.

I have never said he is a statue. Scola needs to be a good scorer in nba to be successfull and I don't know if he can be one without dominating in the post like he does in europe.

[Dartherus]

Huh?

I said name a small (little, pequeno) power forward who has done well in the NBA. Garbajosa isn't small and isn't doing well. Nocioni isn't a power forward. Dirk and Gasol are like 7-foot-2.

Garbajosa and Scola were in the same team in different times of their career, and their heights were meassured in the same place (Tau Ceramica's camp), Garbajosa was 2.05 and Scola was 2.06, 1 cm of edge in favor of Scola. ¿where do you get the 'fact' that Garbajosa is taller?

About the 'mvp' he got, he got because his team won the playoff in spanish league, but year after year, Scola's performance was celarly above Garbajosa, last season he was injured, and the perimeters player sof Tau were awful in the finals.

Ask Tim how hard it can be, even for the most dominant inside players, when a zone defense won't let the ball get into your hands while your perimeter won't get even the most open shots.

Anyway, despite not being his best season at all, he was in the starting five of both Spanish League and Euroleague (Garbajosa dind't make it to the Euroleague starting 5, not even at the second team).

BTW, not saying Garbajosa is doing great, saying how HE GET MINUTES ABOVE THE TOP PICK OF THE NBA DRAFT, he's a starter. Same with Oberto.
Scola has similar height, is faster, stronger and more athletic than those 2.

What I'm saying that IT'S IMPOSSIBLE that Scola would 2 worse than those 2, I'm just showing THE WORST PERFORMANCE POSSIBLE for Scola playing in the NBA.

[ArgSpursFan]

When was the last time Scola played agaisnt Dirk ?

2 years ago,I recall
But I think they played last year a friendly game before the world cup

[Maddog]

2 years ago,I recall
But I think they played last year a friendly game before the world cup

Dirk has improved significantly the last two years- but enough of this
When are the games?

[Mr. Body]

Timvp has irrational hate against Scola. It doesn't matter what you say to him.

[AFBlue]

I have never said he is a statue. Scola needs to be a good scorer in nba to be successfull and I don't know if he can be one without dominating in the post like he does in europe.

I just sense some exaggeration on his lack of size/athleticism.

[ArgSpursFan]

So can Scola play small forward in the NBA?

He could,but he won´t be as efective as being a PF,in my opinion.

[AFBlue]

He could,but he won´t be as efective as being a PF,in my opinion.

Sorry, but he couldn't. He's not quick enough to guard 3's but not big enough to guard 5's. He's a PF, but that's what the Spurs are looking for, right?

[ploto]

Garbajosa not only shoots under 30% on threes, he averages 7 boards per 40 minutes. That's the worst rate for any bigman in the NBA who averages at least 25 minutes.

Yeah, I'm sure the Raptors are thrilled with a $12M bigman three-point shooter who is shooting at a Beno level from beyond the arc and is the worst rebounding big in the league.

Garbo plays the 3, even though it isn't his best position, because the team needs him to. His rebounding numbers look a lot better than the Spurs starting SF (who averages 4 per 48). And I would say his selection as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December indicates that some appreciate what he does. He also was rather sick for a while and lost about 10 or 15 pounds. He is just now getting back to full strength.

[AFBlue]

Garbo plays the 3, even though it isn't his best position, because the team needs him to. His rebounding numbers look a lot better than the Spurs starting SF (who averages 4 per 48). And I would say his selection as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December indicates that some appreciate what he does. He also was rather sick for a while and lost about 10 or 15 pounds. He is just now getting back to full strength.

He also spends the majority of his time out on the perimeter...tough to rack up boards unless you're underneath.

I know this is not one of Scola's strengths though, so I won't harp on the issue...

[ArgSpursFan]

Garbo plays the 3, even though it isn't his best position, because the team needs him to. His rebounding numbers look a lot better than the Spurs starting SF (who averages 4 per 48). And I would say his selection as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December indicates that some appreciate what he does. He also was rather sick for a while and lost about 10 or 15 pounds. He is just now getting back to full strength.

And its gonna take him some time to get used to it.That´s why i said before that many europeans PF come to the NBA and their coaches move them to the 3 spot.

[Dartherus]

He also spends the majority of his time out on the perimeter...tough to rack up boards unless you're underneath.

I know this is not one of Scola's strengths though, so I won't harp on the issue...

What I'd add is, if some GM issued a 12 mill/3year contract on Garbajosa, why some Spurs fans say a player better suited for NBA like Scola (better scorer, faster, stronger and more athletic, and 3 years younger) is not worth of a 10 mill/3year contract....or how Scola is a more risky option than Garbajosa , a player able to get the rookie of the month as soon as he was at full shape ...¿could somebody explain?