Spurs showcase newcomers Van Exel, Finley, Oberto

[Chris]

Rasho pwns you!

[Solid D]

All coaches and GMs spin things. Why ignore the obvious, though? Nazr has missed a lot of time with the birth of the baby and now his wife's health. A lot of critical practice time that Nazr needs to absorb and practice the schemes. Being on the sidelines due to injury is one thing, but being totally away from practice and out of earshot or eyesight is clearly another.

Nazr needs to keep his teammates trust on his defensive assignments and he needs to improve his ability to catch even the easiest of passes on the first try.

You don't need reasons to jettison a guy if you can replace him with better skills or abilities.

[Slomo]

All coaches and GMs spin things. Why ignore the obvious, though? Nazr has missed a lot of time with the birth of the baby and now his wife's health. A lot of critical practice time that Nazr needs to absorb and practice the schemes. Being on the sidelines due to injury is one thing, but being totally away from practice and out of earshot or eyesight is clearly another.

Nazr needs to keep his teammates trust on his defensive assignments and he needs to improve his ability to catch even the easiest of passes on the first try.

You don't need reasons to jettison a guy if you can replace him with better skills or abilities.

And this has always been the standard to which others (Rasho) have been held in this forum, so why not Nazr?

And just to avoid future misunderstandings - if Nazr comes back strong and shows on the floor he deserves to start, then he should start. As for the spin conspiracy, even if it's true (which I doubt), does anybody here thinks it would be done for any other reason than the benefit of the team/club?

[Marcus Bryant]

So we have a guy whose wife had a baby and is ill and he's a chump because he's missed some of training camp? Come on.

Yes, the Spurs are spinning like clockwork. Why can't they just come out and say, 'hey, we want Oberto to start because his contract is a fraction of Radoslav's and what Mohammed's will be'? This isn't hard. That never seems to be enough for Pop. He has to make the guy sound bad to the public.

[boutons]

"for any other reason than the benefit of the team/club"

no. I think Pop's "invisible hand" in improving the club is as honest as it is ruthless, but it's not perfect.

Malik would still be here if the hustling, spark-plug Malik of 02/03 had repeated, maybe even improved, himself in 03/04/05. He didn't, so he's gone.

[Slomo]

As for the spin conspiracy, even if it's true (which I doubt), does anybody here thinks it would be done for any other reason than the benefit of the team/club?

That never seems to be enough for Pop. He has to make the guy sound bad to the public.

I guess I shouldn't have asked...

[Carie]

So we have a guy whose wife had a baby and is ill and he's a chump because he's missed some of training camp? Come on.

Did I miss where anyone called him a chump?

[ploto]

Shouldn't fans of the team be happy to see Rasho playing well- or do you dislike him so much that you want him to play poorly so you can be right?

He has come in and shown he wants to play, he wants to contribute, and he has worked hard to try to win his starting job back while still having the team first, I will do whatever the coach asks me at ude he has always had. He hasn't had a chip on his shoulder and acted pissed about the summer of trade rumors. An aggresive Rasho who plays to the best of his abilties will always be better than Nazr for this team. As for Pop's comments about Nazr, they are simply truthful. He hasn't looked particulary stellar even before he missed the time. He got clearly outplayed by both Rasho and Fabricio in the scrimmage at the end of the week in the Virgin Islands. I think it is funny- people thought it was great that maybe Oberto would come in here and replace Rasho for a cheaper price, but are up in arms at the thought that he could instead replace Nazr at a cheaper price.

[Solid D]

So we have a guy whose wife had a baby and is ill and he's a chump because he's missed some of training camp? Come on.

Yes, the Spurs are spinning like clockwork. Why can't they just come out and say, 'hey, we want Oberto to start because his contract is a fraction of Radoslav's and what Mohammed's will be'? This isn't hard. That never seems to be enough for Pop. He has to make the guy sound bad to the public.

Who said he's a chump? A baby, wife's illness, or even Ramadan hunger are all things that coach Pop understands are life things that need appropriate attention. Nazr hasn't made bad decisions but these things have kept him from learning the system the right way. Now he's behind.

Nazr needs to put in extra time to catch up now or the Spurs will need to get someone in there who can do a good job. Nazr may still get a 2nd ring, don't worry.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The part about Nazr is very interesting to me. It seems like Rasho might be back as the starter once again.

Rasho starts and gets traded within a month, tops.

Mark it down.

[Marcus Bryant]

Mohammed and Radoslav are gone within a year. Mark that down.

[Marcus Bryant]

And this has always been the standard to which others (Rasho) have been held in this forum, so why not Nazr?

And just to avoid future misunderstandings - if Nazr comes back strong and shows on the floor he deserves to start, then he should start. As for the spin conspiracy, even if it's true (which I doubt), does anybody here thinks it would be done for any other reason than the benefit of the team/club?

Again, the team will jettison a player because of his contract and try to make him out to be a malcontent in the process. This isn't a conspiracy, it's reality.

[Solid D]

Again, the team will jettison a player because of his contract and try to make him out to be a malcontent in the process. This isn't a conspiracy, it's reality.

Maybe or maybe not. Malik wasn't made out to be a malcontent, was he? Yes, the salary commitment was part of the decision and Malik didn't always stay on Pop's good side, but he wasn't a malcontent in Pop's eyes.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....e4178275.html

Though the trade also sheds more than $21 million in future payroll for the Spurs, Popovich called the decision to part with Rose his toughest in the 11 years since he took over as the franchise's general manager.

"I have a big empty spot down there right now," Popovich said. "It was odd coming to practice without him. I'll always miss him.

[Spurs16212]

Seems like Oberto had a good night. Maybe the Spurs should start with Rasho and give Nazr more time to get accustom to the system the Spurs run since he has been out for family issues. Oberto seems like a solid back up but we are going to need Nazr this season. Next season maybe Nazr will sign with another team and we can bring in Luis Scola. Trading Rasho right now is out of the question.

[Solid D]

Oberto isn't as long as Nazr or Rasho, but he is really skilled, really smart and he can do many positive things as one of the Bigs. He has a certain flair and creativity in the post. It's a luxury to have so many different types of Bigs, good for different looks on the floor.

[ploto]

Rasho starts and gets traded within a month, tops.

Mark it down.

Spurs don't make trades in November.

[ploto]

Again, the team will jettison a player because of his contract and try to make him out to be a malcontent in the process. This isn't a conspiracy, it's reality.

The Spurs never once tried to make Rasho out to be a malcontent- actually, there are some who wished he would get a little pissed off.

[Mr. Body]

Spurs don't make trades in November.

Actually, nobody makes trades in November. It's practically unheard-of.

[T Park]

Pop said hes missed time and had an up and down camp.

How is that "spinning" its the truth.

[Slomo]

Mohammed and Radoslav are gone within a year. Mark that down.

I don't entirely disagree with your point. I don't like it, but it's definitely possible.

I do disagree with the idea of making the player to be a malcontent just for some pervert pleasure that Pop or anybody else gets out of it. They will spin informations in the media, but for a purpose (motivate a player, make his price drop, make him sign with the team isntead than wiht a compe or....) - and as much as I (or you) dislike that, you have to agree that it's usually advantageous to the team.

[pache100]

Also, with the additions of NVE, Finley, and Oberto, the Spurs need guys on the floor who know the system and Rasho definitely does.... Rasho is playing well.

How will they ever learn "the system" if they are not on the floor for considerable periods of time? Rasho did not learn "the system" by sitting on the bench for long stretches.

Having said that, I do agree with you that he is playing better right now than he did during the second half of the season last year. Wonder what's up with that? (Fear of being traded?)

[easjer]

Wow, this thread is great reading for an old X-files fan. . .

I don't know about the conspiracy theories - I do know that the Spurs can't afford to keep Rasho and Nazr. And that they've tried shopping Rasho, with no success, and that it seems Nazr's value is going to be too high unless they ship Rasho and someone else (appears it would have to be Barry - but I don't think they intend to lose Barry). And Nazr needed a training camp, and has missed a lot of it (due to things outside his control - I think Pop acknowledged that). So they are going to have to look at moving Nazr, since they can't afford him.

[wildbill2u]

Maybe just a ploy to try to get his trade value up?

Or downplaying NASR might be CIA Pop's ploy to bring his valued down so the Spurs can sign him when his contract comes up....or NASR is so dumb it really takes some work in preseason to get him to know where to stand...or...

Or...(this is after I read all the posts and realized conspiracy was in the air) did anyone notice the dreaded word "Showcase" in the le of this thread?

In journalese, when teams "showcase" a player, that means they're trying to pump up their trade value, doesn't it?

Hmmm...so the Spurs are 'showcasing' the three new additions, Oberto, NVE, and Finley so they can be traded immediately.

Come clean, Kori, the Spurs told you they wanna trade them, right.

[easjer]

^

[Marcus Bryant]

The Spurs never once tried to make Rasho out to be a malcontent- actually, there are some who wished he would get a little pissed off.

Yeah, they made him out to be a big fat pussy. "Malcontent" is probably the wrong term to use to describe what the Spurs do to players they don't want to pay. 'Defective' might be the best descriptor.