ESPN notes on Scola

[pad300]

I do,and more tham one.Here they are:
1-Horry retires next year.
2-Bonner ain´t playing at all in the playoffs,probably wont be resigned.
3-Ely aint playing at all.Gone at the end of the season too.
4-Elson is not meeting the espectations(don´t know whats gonna happen to the Geico)
5-Not even ONE good PF in the draft this year.
6-Mahinmi aint meeting the spurs espectations in Europe.

Those are all the scenarios that put Scola closer and closer to be in a Spurs Uniform next year.

Either you've got a very different eye for talent, or 5 is right out...

[timvp]

What sucks is that Scola chokes and lays an egg when the whole NBA is watching. It might not have effected what the Spurs think of him, but for 99% of NBA teams in attendance, his value plummeted to zero.

There's now no chance that the Spurs are able to trade him unless they basically just give him away. No team is going to give up more than like an early second rounder for a guy who struggles in Europe versus good compe ion and has a multi-million dollar buyout.

For a reasonable deal, I'd like to see what Scola can do with the Spurs. But with performances like this, it's becoming more and more obvious that the Spurs can't justify making him the richest second round draft pick of all-time.

[ArgSpursFan]

Either you've got a very different eye for talent, or 5 is right out...

I was going by the spurs draft picks for this year,don´t mean there´s no good PFs on this year´s draft

[ChumpDumper]

You mean you're backtracking.

[ChumpDumper]

5-Not even ONE good PF in the draft this year.

[ArgSpursFan]

What sucks is that Scola chokes and lays an egg when the whole NBA is watching. It might not have effected what the Spurs think of him, but for 99% of NBA teams in attendance, his value plummeted to zero.

There's now no chance that the Spurs are able to trade him unless they basically just give him away. No team is going to give up more than like an early second rounder for a guy who struggles in Europe versus good compe ion and has a multi-million dollar buyout.

For a reasonable deal, I'd like to see what Scola can do with the Spurs. But with performances like this, it's becoming more and more obvious that the Spurs can't justify making him the richest second round draft pick of all-time.

You know what ? I don´t like you,and you don´t like me eather,but I have to say you are right.On other hands you can kill a guy for having ONE BAD GAME, cause remembe that in Eurolegue they don´t play best of 5 or 7 series like in the NBA,it s just one game.This is an Euroleague reg season MVP candidate we are talking about,lets not forget that.

[ArgSpursFan]

You mean you're backtracking.

NO,you are good at backtraking not me.

[ChumpDumper]

NO,you are good at backtraking not me.

I didn't say you were good at it.

[conqueso]

Either you've got a very different eye for talent, or 5 is right out...

I think he meant a PF available to the Spurs. Obviously you can't look at someone like Durant, who plays PF, and say there is no talent at that spot.

EDIT: He beat me to the punch

[conqueso]

I mean, Spurs aren't really looking to draft a big this year anyway with so many impending holes in the backcourt with Finley's imminent decline, Barry's current decline, Bowen's aging past full effectiveness, and the lack of any type of decent backup point guard.

That being said, I don't think the Spurs will get rid of Ely or Butler. They weren't signed to play this year, they were signed as long term projects. Unless one of them really screws the pooch, I don't see the Spurs bailing on them after one year. They've kept Beno on as a project for 3 years, for chrissakes. I don't see Elson leaving either, even if he hasn't been very effective in the playoffs, since he's still under contract and doesn't really have any trade value unless packaged with Barry and/or Beno. Bonner might be gone, but he's definitely the type of player that Pop likes, even if he doesn't ever really get much PT (a la Barry; he's effective sometimes against some opponents, but not most of the time).

I would like to see Scola as a Spur just because there's been so much ing hype I'm curious to find out what he can do. But I won't lose any sleep over him staying with Ceramica or being traded.

[clubalien]

I would rather sign argantinas center (OBerto) then their 4 in scola

[GrandeDavid]

Dude's gonna be friggin 30 by the time the Spurs get wit it.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I think they should just bring him over already. He's useless overseas if they keep sitting on him regardless if they're looking to use him in a deal. With each passing year, his production and value will go down.

[GrandeDavid]

What were his game stats?

[mountainballer]

Scola in the 2004 Olympics: 17.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.5 bpg, 66% fg. Final game vs. Italy: 25 pts, 11 rebs.

that's right and I just to add some more informations about this player Scola, who "struggles" in big games.

Tau has been one of the top teams in Europe for some years.
they were not able to win it all, sometimes unlucky, sometimes because other teams were just this little bit better.
was it Scola, who failed at those moments? not at all. not even a bit.

2006: Tau loses the semifinals against Maccabi.
Scola was Tau's best player (17 points / 8-15 FG, 11 rebounds, 5 assists)

2005: Tau loses the finals against Maccabi.
Scola was Tau's best player (21 points / 7-11 FG, 9 rebounds, 4 assits)

2004 (no playoff round, only the winners of the 4 top 16 groups advance to the final 4): Tau very unlucky loses the 2 games against CSKA with 2 and 3 points difference. Scola's lines: 20pts/8reb/7ass and 12pts/9reb/3ass.

2003 Tau is eliminated in the top 16 round. Scola (then still only 22) is Tau's top scorer in the 6 top 16 games.(16.3 at 55%)

2002 Tau is eliminated in the top 16 round. Scola is Tau's top scorer in the 6 top 16 games (14.6 at ridiculous 75% FG)

2001 Tau advances to the Euroleague finals (back the a best of 5 series) and loses to Manu's team Bologna in a classic 5 games series. it is Scola's first Euroleague season (during the finals he just turned 21) he averages (as a bench player) 8 points and 4 rebounds (in some 17 minutes).
(just a sidenote for all who point out that Ian is just 21. back then the "unathletic" Scola was about 100 times better than Ian is at the same age)

is this the record of a player, who is constantly failing in big games?
(and I just used his Euroleague record)

to doubt Scola's ability to perform in big games, because of one bad game he played last week against Panathinaikos, is some of the most stupid and least informed stuff I have ever read about him.
no player with an above average career and consequently many big games under his belt has a perfect record. not even Tim. (remember 2004)

I'm also not happy about the Scola situation.
but downplaying Scola's abilities doesn't help and also doesn't change anything. we still have his rights and Spurs still just used a no.56 pick on him. it's still a win situation for the Spurs. it's not that they had used a high 1st rounder on him (like Magic on Vazquez for example).

Scola might never be a Spur. Scola might never ever play in the NBA. Scola might also fail in the NBA, if he joins the Spurs or another team. we just can't know it.
but nothing is changing the fact, that this player Scola is constantly contributing on a very high level in any significant compe ion outside the NBA. and he has proved to have the ability to step up big time in big games.
to claim the opposite is just a false allegation.

[Bruno]

@ people who can't even read posts and who start insulting people (poor timvp and Chumpdumper )

I will back up with facts what I've said in my first post :

For more than one year, Scola has always struggled in big games.

Euroleague 06 :
Tau and Scola owned in the semifinal against Maccabi. Maccabi destroyed Scola/Prigioni PnR. Scola finished with a good 17 pts and 11 rbds but you shouldn't forget that almost all the second half was garbage time.
Scola was average in the game for the third place but I don't blame him for that because he wasn't very focused (his fahter was at teh hospital with a heart problem).

ACB final 06 :
Tau swept (3-0) by Malaga. Scola was a non factor (11/6, 8/6, 14/3).Hhe was in foul trouble in almost all games and was badly outplayed by Garbajosa.

WC in Japan :
Scola was a non factor in the big game (the semifinal against Spain) : 8 points, 8 rebounds. Scola played well against a non motivted US team.

Copa del rey 07 :
Scola was very average in the semifinal loss against Madrid : 15 points, 5 rebounds and fouled out in 25 minutes.

Euroleague 07 :
6 points, 7 rebounds and fouled out in 25 minutes against Pana in Semifinal.
14 points, 5 rebounds and owned in the clutch by Pietrus in the loss against a Malaga team plagued by injuries.

And I know Scola has been slowed by a PF last year but he isn't better this year in big games. I've never said that Scola was a choker or that he has done nothing good in his carreer but FACTS are here : Scola struggles in europe during games that are the most nba relevant. You had to wonder if Scola is only a great player against euro big stiff or if he can be good in nba where he will face athletic players.

[Spurs Brazil]

@ people who can't even read posts and who start insulting people (poor timvp and Chumpdumper )

I will back up with facts what I've said in my first post :


Euroleague 06 :
Tau and Scola owned in the semifinal against Maccabi. Maccabi destroyed Scola/Prigioni PnR. Scola finished with a good 17 pts and 11 rbds but you shouldn't forget that almost all the second half was garbage time.
Scola was average in the game for the third place but I don't blame him for that because he wasn't very focused (his fahter was at teh hospital with a heart problem).

ACB final 06 :
Tau swept (3-0) by Malaga. Scola was a non factor (11/6, 8/6, 14/3).Hhe was in foul trouble in almost all games and was badly outplayed by Garbajosa.

WC in Japan :
Scola was a non factor in the big game (the semifinal against Spain) : 8 points, 8 rebounds. Scola played well against a non motivted US team.

Copa del rey 07 :
Scola was very average in the semifinal loss against Madrid : 15 points, 5 rebounds and fouled out in 25 minutes.

Euroleague 07 :
6 points, 7 rebounds and fouled out in 25 minutes against Pana in Semifinal.
14 points, 5 rebounds and owned in the clutch by Pietrus in the loss against a Malaga team plagued by injuries.

And I know Scola has been slowed by a PF last year but he isn't better this year in big games. I've never said that Scola was a choker or that he has done nothing good in his carreer but FACTS are here : Scola struggles in europe during games that are the most nba relevant. You had to wonder if Scola is only a great player against euro big stiff or if he can be good in nba where he will face athletic players.

I agree with that but in the Olympic game final he played well

[ArgSpursFan]

The thing with Bruno is that,He is in love with Mahinmi,that´s why He downplays Scola every time He gets a chance.Too bad Mahinmi is gonna have to wait until He grows some hair on his balls,and Scola will finally make it next year.

[thousandth]

I agree with that but in the Olympic game final he played well

Olympic games? 2.004.
2005-2.006-2007? Scola have troubles in big games.

[Bruno]

The thing with Bruno is that,He is in love with Mahinmi,that´s why He downplays Scola every time He gets a chance.

There are no links between Scola and Mahinmi.
If Mahinmi sign with Spurs, it will be as the 6th PF/C aka the PF/C who spend the year on the inactive list.
If Scola sign with Spurs , it will be as the 3rd, 4th or 5th PF/C.
The choice for SA isn't between Scola or Mahinmi, it's more between Scola or Bonner.

Too bad Mahinmi is gonna have to wait until He grows some hair on his balls,and Scola will finally make it next year.

What you and I think is meaningless. What is important is what Spurs will do. Like it or hate it but it looks like Spurs will sign Mahinmi this summer.

[ArgSpursFan]

There are no links between Scola and Mahinmi.
If Mahinmi sign with Spurs, it will be as the 6th PF/C aka the PF/C who spend the year on the inactive list.
If Scola sign with Spurs , it will be as the 3rd, 4th or 5th PF/C.
The choice for SA isn't between Scola or Mahinmi, it's more between Scola or Bonner.



What you and I think is meaningless. What is important is what Spurs will do. Like it or hate it but it looks like Spurs will sign Mahinmi this summer.

Here is where I´m coming from:If they sign Mahinmi to put him in the inactive players list or send him to the Dleague,they could use that money to sing a player who can jump to the floor and play next year.Mahinmi can wait another year in Europe,and will get more experience there tham in the Dleague,to keep on developing his game.The Dleague is just gonna keep him where He is right now BBwise.

[Mr. Body]

Scorecard: mountainballer.

Sorry, Bruno, you got beat. His statlines in losses look pretty much fine.

I don't know why timvp flies off the handle when players perform poorly. Sure, it's not the best when a guy underperforms when scouts are there, but this is hardly the first time American scouts have seen Scola play. This is like when Brent started playing poorly around the New Year - team executives have long memories, banks of games on videotape, and a single game or hiccup in performance is not going to sway a major decision. Affect it, sure, but it's not like interest in his has just been torpedoed. Last I looked, he's doled out for years, thick and thin, and last I looked, this draft and this free agency market are thin on post scorers.

[Bruno]

Here is where I´m coming from:If they sign Mahinmi to put him in the inactive players list or send him to the Dleague,they could use that money to sing a player who can jump to the floor and play next year.

Even money wise, it's not Scola or Mahinmi.
Mahinmi is a late first round pick, his salary is defined by the CBA and is low (less than $1M per year).
Money wise, Spurs will have to decide to spend the MLE on Scola or on other free agents.

[ArgSpursFan]

I don´t see the need of another center.There´s Elson,Oberto,Duncan(PF/C)Butler and now Mahinmi.
And honestly,by this playoffs games so far:Oberto>Mahinmi

[Mavs<Spurs]

There are no links between Scola and Mahinmi.
If Mahinmi sign with Spurs, it will be as the 6th PF/C aka the PF/C who spend the year on the inactive list.
If Scola sign with Spurs , it will be as the 3rd, 4th or 5th PF/C.
The choice for SA isn't between Scola or Mahinmi, it's more between Scola or Bonner.




What you and I think is meaningless. What is important is what Spurs will do. Like it or hate it but it looks like Spurs will sign Mahinmi this summer.

Bruno, how do you know that the Spurs will sign Mahinmi this summer - or what are the signs that this will take place. I thought that he still had way too much development to do prior to coming to the NBA.

If he did come, would we send him to the D League ?