Ludden - Spurs Mailbag: Oberto's fine play bodes well for Scola's future

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Lame justification for keeping Duncan in.

Here’s what I also like: By leaving Tim out there, Pop is essentially saying, “If we’re going down, we’re going down with our best player on the court, free throws be damned.” He’s letting Tim know that he’s The Guy, and The Guy, sooner or later, better be able to come through at the line.

Gee, Phil won a couple of rings with Shaq (his best player on the Lakers) and in the same situations pulled him from the game. That sure seemed to work out okay.

Typical Express-News suck up job to Pop.

[ShoogarBear]

I agree. Who better to send J. Ludden a stupid question than some of the people on this forum.

I can only guess why Ludden is printing all the stupid questions, instead of holding them out like 99% of all the other writers:
1. He really believes they're funny.
2. He really hates doing the mailbag and wants to embarass his editors into stopping it.
3. He wants to show Spur fans are mostly a bunch of dumb hicks.

[timvp]

I would be open to a Scola signing. I was impressed with his play versus the US in the world championships this summer. In the first quarter, he was the best player on the court. Although, 3-years, $9M is pretty steep for a 2nd round draft pick with no leverage.

[coopdogg3]

Wasn't Oberto's deal 3 year/$7.5 million? He wasn't drafted I know, but Scola should be worth 3-year/$9 million. Everything I've read indicates that Scola should be a better pro than Oberto.

[timvp]

Pop’s not dumb. A lot of times when Tim’s on the court in those situations, he makes him the inbounder, which essentially removes him from the play.

Uh, Duncan has never inbounded the ball in that type of situation. The only time you see Duncan inbounding the ball is under the opponent's basket after a score.

99% of the time for the Spurs under Pop, the power forward inbounds under the opponent's basket, the small forward inbounds at midcourt and the point guard inbounds under their own basket.

You would think after all these years Ludden would have noticed that pattern.

[timvp]

Wasn't Oberto's deal 3 year/$7.5 million? He wasn't drafted I know, but Scola should be worth 3-year/$9 million. Everything I've read indicates that Scola should be a better pro than Oberto.

Oberto had leverage inside the NBA and in Europe. Scola has no leverage at all.

[Solid D]

Uh, Duncan has never inbounded the ball in that type of situation. The only time you see Duncan inbounding the ball is under the opponent's basket after a score.

99% of the time for the Spurs under Pop, the power forward inbounds under the opponent's basket, the small forward inbounds at midcourt and the point guard inbounds under their own basket.

You would think after all these years Ludden would have noticed that pattern.

What about when Robert Horry does the honors on side-out-of-bounds plays?

[timvp]

What about when Robert Horry does the honors on side-out-of-bounds plays?

That's part of the 1%. Ferry would also inbound from side at the power forward spot some. I remember Manu a couple times earlier in his career. But Duncan has never inbounded from the side.

[ALVAREZ6]

Ludden is a jackass.

[AFBlue]

I think Scola coming over to the NBA is helped by Oberto's success, but I think Oberto's success actually makes it less likely that he'll be with the Spurs when he does come over. Oberto's success, and that of Elson for that matter, Big Shot's decision at the end of the year, JB's development, and Bonner's long-term situation with the team will all play a role in whether he is a member of this team next season. We'll just have to see how things flesh out, but I think right now he is more valuable on this squad than he is as a trade chip.

[tlongII]

I can only guess why Ludden is printing all the stupid questions, instead of holding them out like 99% of all the other writers:
1. He really believes they're funny.
2. He really hates doing the mailbag and wants to embarass his editors into stopping it.
3. He wants to show Spur fans are mostly a bunch of dumb hicks.

I vote for #3.

[SenorSpur]

I'd rather see the Spurs use Scola as a bargaining chip to parlay into something better. IMO, they don't need him.

[Solid D]

Ludden is a jackass.

Now why in the world would you say that? Johnny does a great job reporting on the Spurs goings-on and he does a excellent job of keeping up with the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement and what that means for contract and Cap ramifications. I've never known Johnny to be anything other than a decent guy and a friend of Spurstalk.

[maddnezz]

We all know Pop wants to sign the whole Argintine team! What a great practice that would be!!!

[ducks]

if players from Argintine can only play well 2 years then I do not want their whole team
manu played well 2 years and is not even close to his old self this season