Elson out tonight

[BeerIsGood!]

So I guess Elson's last game vs Detroit wasn't good.

I guess that game vs Phoenix where he got 10 boards and was agressive with a blocked shot doesnt count as a good one.

Interesting.

He's good sporadically, but being inconsistent in the playoffs gets you bounced. He's going to have to be a consistent performer on both ends (especially D and boards), and he hasn't yet shown consistency.

[timvp]

So I guess Elson's last game vs Detroit wasn't good.

I guess that game vs Phoenix where he got 10 boards and was agressive with a blocked shot doesnt count as a good one.

Interesting.

You generally want NBA starters to have more than one good game every six weeks.

[sribb43]

He must be resting to guard Dirk on sunday

[Ishta]

He must be resting to guard Dirk on sunday

[td4mvp21]

So I guess Elson's last game vs Detroit wasn't good.

I guess that game vs Phoenix where he got 10 boards and was agressive with a blocked shot doesnt count as a good one.

Interesting.

Those are 2 games out of 82. Nice.

[Bruno]

If Fabrisco Obelson can average something close to a double/double (like he did during the regular season) for the playoff, Spurs will be fine.

[T Park]

Those are 2 games out of 82. Nice

bull crap, hes had alot more good games than that so dont go all drama queen wah wah on us.

[td4mvp21]

bull crap, hes had alot more good games than that so dont go all drama queen wah wah on us.

He's had maybe 10-15 good games this season, but out of 82? That's not even good.

[T Park]

more than 10 15.

Theres been games where the numbers werent great but hte defense was good.

We can't count them?

We do with Bowen.

[ggoose25]

i have to agree with tpark. elson hasn't been spectacular, but he's not horse .

he's had decent games, with a few bad ones and good ones mixed in.

plus, like some others have said, he keeps us from going small

[AFBlue]

When Elson isn't commiting a foul per minute and manages to stay on the floor, I like what he gives on both ends. I think he's a better option than Oberto, though both should probably go on splitting minutes.

[AFBlue]

Perhaps James White can get some minutes at center?

I know you're making a joke, but I seriously wonder if James White is the active player with Pop playing him some regular minutes in small-ball sets with Finley at the 4....I wouldn't put it past Pop.

Still, I think it'll be Butler.

[AFBlue]

I think we should start Butler tonight just for the of it, it's not like he's going to be much worse than Elson.

And Elson makes me worried for the playoffs, we are really only going to have one rebounder AGAIN in Duncan.

Pop likes Oberto enough that he or Horry will start. We'll be lucky to see Butler for more than 5 minutes in this one...

[ggoose25]

free melvin!

[td4mvp21]

more than 10 15.

Theres been games where the numbers werent great but hte defense was good.

We can't count them?

We do with Bowen.

Ok, I'll give you that. I do like his defense when its at his best (although it's still nothing special), but he rarely does anything else besides that. If Pop wants him to score, I think he should set up some baseline j's for Elson, he seems to be best at those.

[Gummi]

Since day one, I've had issues with Elson. Why? He's got worse hands then Nazr, he makes way too many mistakes on the defensive end, and he's probably the most inconsistant player in the league.

Elson is servicable player against Dirk and that's it IMO. I'd rather start Oberto then Elson and to tell the truth, I kinda miss Rasho's presence in the middle and his great team defense.

[T Park]

Since day one, I've had issues with Elson. Why? He's got worse hands then Nazr, he makes way too many mistakes on the defensive end, and he's probably the most inconsistant player in the league.

that last statement is a huge overstatement, worse hands than Nazr? Uh no.

[Samr]

He's got worse hands then Nazr

That's like saying you walk slower than the late Christopher Reeves. Quiet please. It ain't possible.

[timvp]

This season has followed pretty much the same ebb and flow as last, only the names have been changed. Bear with me.

Will do.

The season started with a slow, but smart, white guy starting at center (Rasho/Oberto).

First of all, is Oberto white?

Second of all, I wouldn't consider Rasho an overly smart player. He just does what he's told -- there's a difference.

Oberto is a smart basketball player, but neither one of them are anywhere close to Robert Horry smart. Horry blows every bigman the Spurs have had since Tim and David out of the water in terms of basketball IQ.

The Spurs were doing fine in November and December, but everyone thought the center should be better. People clamored, "We need to give the more athletic guy a chance. He is the guy we need for the play-offs- for Phoenix and Dallas."

Uh, the Spurs were 8-9 in the last 17 games Oberto started. A change was needed.

Rasho lost his job last year because he was playing horrible. He was averaging something like three points and three rebounds while playing more minutes than Elson before Pop went with Nazr.

So, sure enough around February the slow white guy went to the bench, and the more athletic player (Nazr/Elson) was handed the starting job.

Nazr wasn't athletic. That's why Pop had to sit him against Dallas. Nazr is a below average NBA center athlete.

Now people tried to say that this guy was not so smart- did not seem to have the defense down at all, but fans continued to say, "Give him more time. Let him play with the starters. You will see."

The problem with Elson isn't smarts. He knows what to do. He's just not a very good basketball player.

But just like last year, the player this year had one really good game- late Feb or early March, and everyone got excited and said, "See, I told you!" Then, whoever that player was disappeared- never to be seen again. That Nazr of the Phoenix game March 2006 is still MIA.

What about this year's white guy versus Phoenix? When did Rasho ever have his comparable game last year?

So, the head coach gets irritated with said new starting center. Yells at him alot; his teammates get annoyed with his being in the wrong spot- and sure enough, he starts getting pulled from games sooner and sooner.

The coaches and players don't really yell too much at Elson anymore. Earlier in the season perhaps but for a couple months now he knows where to be.

Now the slow white guy took some time, but as the season ended he started to develop a good role off the bench. He was playing well with the bench guys.

Oberto and Rasho are both good backup centers. Neither one should be starting, though.

But the problem became- how much longer will the head coach be able to put up with this starter! So, sure enough, as the play-offs start, this guy will start, but Pop wil have a quick hook- play him less and less- put Oberto in the starting line-up for one game and make him the scapegoat when the Spurs lose

So you are saying Pop made Rasho the scapegoat? I must have missed that last year.

- pull out Horry expecting him to perform miracles when he has none left- and in the end, Pop will say- none of the big men played well, and Finley will become the starting center.

I agree with you most here. Horry is going to be huge in the playoffs. If he can at least stay on the court, that'll allow the Spurs to stay big. If not, it'll be Finley time.

The only pattern regarding those four centers you talked about is that none of them are that good. All should be backup centers yet the Spurs start them. That's where the troubles begin and why Pop goes away from it when the chips are down.

Regular season wise, of the four, Rasho helps wins the most games. But when it comes to the playoffs, Rasho would be the last on my list. He's just not built to do anything in the NBA playoffs.

Nazr would top the list right now for what he did in '05, but I'm holding out hope that Oberto ups his play in the playoffs (like he does with the Arg NT) or Elson surprises me.