I agree, but what other option is there-
Oberto- who even in postion doesn't offer much, Horry nearing AARP eligible etc.
Elson has had very limited time with the team- let him play and see if he "gets it down"
Nazr never did, Rasho did (not advocating his return), at this point I don't see a lot of options.
It's definitely a thought, but one that I doubt the Spurs entertain. The biggest clue that it won't happen: Even with Matt Bonner injured, Pop lets Williams suit up over Butler. If Butler can't even dress out for a game, how likely do you think it is that he gets PT.
It sucks, but it's the facts.
Jackie Butler looks really slow and uncoordinated when I've seen him in-game. He's not going to help at all. The way it looks right now, I think the Spurs only shot in of having a warm body at center is to take on a bad contract and ship out their ending deals.
Before this thought goes any further....
26 MINUTES IN 5 GAMES!
How the can anyone make an assessment on that?!?
Last edited by AFBlue; 02-01-2007 at 04:43 PM.
Butler's appearances so far to date haven't left me clamoring to see more of him. I know he can play a lot better, but he's looked like a complete stiff out there with the Spurs. I think Pop told him not to expect to play much this year and Butler took him at his word and...isn't expecting to play this year.
He has not looked good with us, and he did look really good with the Knicks at times last year. Keep in mind he's a young kid still at the league's hardest position to learn, and he still doesn't have much experience outside of playing in blowouts.
I don't think Elson has played as bad as some think he has, but there's no doubt he played like crap against Utah. No hustle whatsoever and seemed content to stay completely out of the action. I think he didn't want to get in there and scrum against Milsap, Okur and Kirilenko. Okur in particular. And I think I figured out why he didn't get much PT with George Karl, inspute of his obvious athletic abilities.
Getting in there against Dirk is one thing...but those Utah guys don't screw around in the paint. I was also impressed with Duncan's performance against them and the patented Utah triple+ team in the paint.
Anyway, I think we need to figure out a way to use Elson against lighter players that aren't going to bang him around. We can call him a pussy or whatever, like we always do our C's, but I'd rather figure out a way to get something out of him...putting him on smaller players like SF's may be a way to accomplish that.
At the Clippers game I went to, I saw him play the last 5:00 or so, and he looked pretty lethargic out there.
And had you been at the New Orleans game where he put up 4pts and 2rebs in 7mins on 2/3 shooting....what would you have thought then?
My point is that you, Whott, or anyone else is fooling themselves if they think they can accurately predict how this kid is gonna play if given...say 10MPG and a spot in the rotation.
I'm not saying the Spurs should do it, and I'm 99.9% sure they won't, but I don't think 25 minutes is an accurate predictor of someone's ability.
I personally think Butler could be a regular rotation player for at least 10 teams in this league right now.
Butler looking bad has a lot to do with Pop's poor conditioning of him. You get a 21 year old coming from the haphazard NY Knicks and tell him first thing that you aren't going to get any minutes. Then you sit him down on the bench on IR an entire season, give him sporadic minutes in blowout games and expect him to produce?
iF HE'S FAT AND OUT OF SHAPE, YOU TELL HIM THAT IF HE GETS IN SHAPE, HE'LL GET MINUTES, YOU NEED to give young players motivation and Pop doesn't know how to do that. It only worked with Parker because that's his personality, look what happened to beno? now same thing is happening to butler before he's even given a chance. You need to groom ur young players by conditioning them and giving them a chance to play in real games and teach them as they go along...that's what he did to parker didnt he?
What exactly has Butler down to deserve a rotation spot?
Testing has zero clue on the situation oBviously.
The Spurs will probably call up Greg Ostertag out of retirement before giving time to a guy who has reportedly shown nothing in practice. I like Butler but that's how this team works.
It's just too bad this kid isn't d-league eligible...he'd be tearing it up and people would stop doubting his ability based on lack of production in the extremely limited he's been given.
If that's Pop's plan then he has even less imagination than I thought possible.I've given up on Butler playing this season. The way the contracts are arranged, the Spurs are going milk what they can out of Oberto, Elson and Horry over the next two seasons.
Then next summer, Oberto, Elson and Horry come off the books ... while Butler will have one more year and Scola will be a free agent. Mahinmi will also then be brought over.
That's the Spurs' plan. I don't think they would change the plan even if they flame out in the playoffs this year.
He's 21 years old and he's got a dowagers hump. Not a good sign for NBA big men.
I like Elson. He's the best Dutch center the Spurs have had since Swen Nater.
In a game where its kinda of a slow tempo and the Spurs are getting banged around by the other team on the boards, I wouldnt mind seeing Butler out there. Maybe he can throw his big ass body into someone and get a rebound.
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