McDonald: Gooden Plenty For Spurs?

[TheTruth]

you gotta be kidding me

We could always use some extra girth. And you can never have too much meat. Ask Whott....ttt

[sananspursfan21]

i've always liked gooden. hope he sets em over the top

[wisnub]

Gooden plenty for Spurs?
Jeff McDonald

OKLAHOMA CITY — Drew Gooden still has a lasting souvenir from the 15 whirlwind days he spent employed by the Sacramento Kings.

“I've still got a couple of playbooks left I ain't never returned,” Gooden said.

He could use them for bathroom reading. Or, had he recently moved to climes colder than South Texas, kindling. He could sell them on eBay to other Western Conference teams, but it's not like anybody needs a crib sheet to beat the Kings these days.

Gooden has no use for his Sacramento mementos anymore. Now that he's joined the Spurs, and is living out of a suitcase, they are extra baggage he doesn't need.

Signed March 5 after the Kings bought out his contract — which came barely two weeks after he was traded to Sacramento from Chicago — Gooden is just trying to figure out which end of his newest new playbook is up. Tonight's game at Oklahoma City will mark just his third in a Spurs uniform.

“I feel comfortable, considering I had to learn two systems in a week and a half,” Gooden said.

The Spurs signed the 6-foot-10 Gooden, and gave him every penny left in their budget — roughly $1.41 million for the rest of the season — in hopes that he could be the missing piece to catapult them past the Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs.

It is too early to tell if that money was well-spent, but so far Gooden has provided the Spurs with some positive signs.

In Saturday night's victory at Houston, his second with the Spurs, Gooden played a shade over 15 minutes in reserve and scored 13 points. His presence in that game afforded the Spurs something they haven't had in a long while: A post-up threat when Tim Duncan goes to the bench.

“This is probably the first time we've called a post-up play for someone other than myself,” Duncan said.

Duncan doesn't hesitate when asked how long it's been since the Spurs have had another player with that capability.

“Not since David, probably,” Duncan said.

Let the record show that David Robinson retired in 2003.

Unlike Robinson, Gooden is not on his way to the Hall of Fame any time soon. He does, however, provide something that the Rasho Nesterovics, Nazr Mohammeds and Francisco Elsons of the world could not.

Scouts have wondered about Gooden's basketball IQ, a reason he has played for six teams in seven years. Had he kept all his playbooks from his previous stops, Gooden could start a Time-Life series.

And he continues to be injury prone, as the giant bag of ice resting on his sore groin after Saturday's game will attest.

Still, the Spurs believe Gooden, once comfortable in his new surroundings, can fill a long-standing void in terms of rebounding and low-post scoring.

“He adds some girth and some meat out there,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He's going to be a good addition for us.”

For now, Gooden could use some time to catch his breath. It has been a bizarre season and a head-spinning month.

“Fortunately, I'm not married, and I don't have any kids,” Gooden said. “I'm like a vagabond. I can just pick up my stuff and go to the next city.”

As he begins to get settled in San Antonio, Gooden is hoping he won't have to move again for some time. At 28, his goal with the Spurs is to be more than just a stretch-run mercenary.

The last thing Gooden wants is to add another unnecessary NBA playbook to his growing collection.

“I was looking for something long-term,” Gooden said. “It's not where I just wanted to get in a winning situation and leave during the offseason. I wanted to find a home.”

This is a Good (en) article. He find himself a home and he bring good things to Spurs. First time Spurs put a post up play other tahn Duncan? thats amazing. If Manu comes back full strength and Gooden becomes fully accustomeD then I know we got ring in our hand

[Manufan909]

“This is probably the first time we've called a post-up play for someone other than myself,” Duncan said.

Duncan doesn't hesitate when asked how long it's been since the Spurs have had another player with that capability.

“Not since David, probably,” Duncan said.

+ 1 billion

And at harlem implying he didn't blow his load after seeing Gooden grabbing boards and creating for himself in the paint, WHILE drawing fouls. Didn't be ashamed, everyone did the same except for those who jacked off/had sex before Gooden checked into the game.

[TDMVPDPOY]

this guy is a huge upgrade over what we had sign in the pass with limited resources

[Spursfan092120]

We could always use some extra girth. And you can never have too much meat. Ask Whott....ttt

wow

[GervinGirl]

Gooden plenty for Spurs?
Jeff McDonald



“He adds some girth and some meat out there,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.



“Fortunately, I'm not married, and I don't have any kids,” Gooden said. “I'm like a vagabond. I can just pick up my stuff and go to the next city.”

Interesting......

[Manufan909]

Another awesome game from Gooden, with not enough minutes. I hope he plays 20 tomo.

[duncan228]

Gooden Appreciates the Welcome
by Bill Schoening

When newly acquired power forward Drew Gooden took the floor last Thursday for a brief stint against the L.A. Lakers, Spurs fans gave him a very warm South Texas welcome.

Two nights later, on the road in Houston, fans wearing Silver and Black were also enthusiastic when #90 checked in.

Gooden says the Spurs coaching staff and his new teammates have also helped make his transition smoother. While he admits he still has much to learn about the Spurs' offensive and defensive sets, he's getting lots of direction.

"The guys have been great and it helps to have such a professional veteran team here" says Gooden, who looked sharp against the Rockets, knocking down five field goals and grabbing four rebounds in 15 minutes, giving Spurs fans a glimpse of what he may be able to provide down the stretch and in the playoffs.

[GSH]

Gooden Appreciates the Welcome
by Bill Schoening

When newly acquired power forward Drew Gooden took the floor last Thursday for a brief stint against the L.A. Lakers, Spurs fans gave him a very warm South Texas welcome.

Two nights later, on the road in Houston, fans wearing Silver and Black were also enthusiastic when #90 checked in.

Gooden says the Spurs coaching staff and his new teammates have also helped make his transition smoother. While he admits he still has much to learn about the Spurs' offensive and defensive sets, he's getting lots of direction.

"The guys have been great and it helps to have such a professional veteran team here" says Gooden, who looked sharp against the Rockets, knocking down five field goals and grabbing four rebounds in 15 minutes, giving Spurs fans a glimpse of what he may be able to provide down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Do you think he was wondering why he wasn't in the game? How could he not? When they got him the ball, he was effective.

[Spursfan092120]

Do you think he was wondering why he wasn't in the game? How could he not? When they got him the ball, he was effective.

pisses me the f*** off. How is he not in the game over Bonner at the end? That was ridiculous. I don't care if he just got on the team. Bonner was playing like a D Leaguer. Ridiculous. Gooden is one of the only players on our team that creates his own shots..on the block. We needed that at the end of the game.