Harvey: Spurs lose Scola; they aren't alone

[SenorSpur]

who? jvg aint the coach no longer and his system like himself just got thrown out of the building.

but yeah scola!

Damn, I forgot about that. Thanks for keeping me honest.

[Bruno]

I hope we will know one day the real reason why Spurs haven't signed Scola because it's a little mystery.
In 2005 his buyout was maybe too high (or maybe not) but Spurs could have signed him for about $10M last summer or this summer but they decided to go after other PF/C like Mourning, Przybilla, Elson, Butler, Bonner or Amir Johnson.

Spurs were looking for upgrades at PF/C and they didn't even try to sign Scola.
Why ?
Scola too expensive ? No, Spurs were ready to spend more on other players.
Bad fit with Spurs ? Unlikely when you see that Spurs have PF/C with very different profiles.
Not enough nba experience ? No, they have signed Butler and tried to sign Amir Johnson.
Bad blood ? It doesn't seem to be the case.

The only answer that make half of sense is that Spurs were really low on Scola and didn't think that he was worth a $10M try. Spurs have scouted Scola for more than 5 years and they were confident enough about their evaluation on Scola to finally trade him to a division rival.

One thing is sure : if Scola become a good nba player, Spurs FO will really look bad. Doing a mistake with a draft pick is understandable but making a double mistake (not signing him + trading him to a conference rival) with a 27 years old player heavily scouted will be inexcusable.

[nfg3]

[QUOTE=Dex]Buck actually raises a valid point, for a change.

It's not like this guy was a third-pick or some diamond in the rough.

Every front office in the league knew he was a big gun for Argentina. They knew he was a capable big-man and a dependable scorer. Otherwise, they just haven't been looking over their freaking scouting reports.

We took this guy with the 56th freaking pick 5 years ago, in a draft where we didn't even have a first round pick (traded to Sixers). That's 55 chances other teams gave up on him, not to mention the past two years we've been shopping his trade rights around.

I don't see why this is such a big coup for Houston when nearly every team in the league, including the Spurs, has passed on this guy.
QUOTE]

Excellent point - He's a known commodity and the Spurs couldn't get any takers? What were the other FO's looking at? Maybe this from Harvey helps shed some light on the situation:

The Spurs have been openly shopping Scola for over a year, hoping for a prize in return, and nothing developed. The European Final Four the last three years didn't help the Spurs. Then Scola faced bigger and better players, and he struggled against compe ion that is more like the NBA.

The consensus: His game won't translate to America.

Though his game seems to have improved against tougher compe on since those last three Final Fours the question is: Will his game translate to the NBA? This needs to be answered. The answer will determine the impact of the trade to Houston and the Spurs draft of Splitter.

[wildbill2u]

It looks to me like the Spurs received a Market Offer from the Rockets, eg, the best offer that any team made for the player.

Now you can argue that the offer was too low and they should have rejected it, but the facts are that was his market value price. The option of keeping him on a string in Europe wouldn't have solved the problem of his low market value to other clubs. Who knows why no one else wanted to step up and pay more?

[J.T.]

If you call Scola a scrub and your really mean it you should stop watching basketball because you dont understand it.

In contrast to the camp that's acting like Scola is going to miraculously turn Houston into le Town, I wonder who really doesn't understand anything here.

[ShoogarBear]

Shane Heal

[Supergirl]

Ironic to compare Scola to Rodman, since the one area where everyone seems to agree Scola lacks (and a big part of the reason the Spurs were willing to let him go) is REBOUNDING.

He may be a better scorer than Oberto or Splitter, but he's not gonna get much opportunity for that in Houston, playing with McGrady and Yao. And he's weak defensively and a weak rebounder, so playing alongside Tim Duncan, the Spurs don't really have a role for him. The Spurs need a role player who can rebound and play good D at their C position. Oberto actually fits that better, and from what I've heard, so does Splitter, who's 4 or 5 years younger than Scola.

[Martin R]

Today, Scola is better rebounder than Oberto.

[ChumpDumper]

Really? Because Oberto rebounded at a rate higher than that of Dirk Nowitzki and Elton Brand last season. I think he and to a lesser extent Elson are a bit underrated as rebounders.

[byrontx]

I am not nearly as savvy as many posters on this board but the Scola thing is a mystery. Could it be that with some of the moaning and groaning he did that he failed the Spurs character test?

The way he was dumped seemed like he pissed someone (Holt?) off.

[Mr. Body]

Stupid, stupid, stupid. The Scola trade was stupid to epic proportions. There was no sense to it and the Spurs blew the entire situation for the last two years. They can absorb it because the team is obviously still very solid, but this whole ordeal was just insane.

[smeagol]

Really? Because Oberto rebounded at a rate higher than that of Dirk Nowitzki and Elton Brand last season. I think he and to a lesser extent Elson are a bit underrated as rebounders.

Oberto is a great "tipper".

Do those count as rebounds in the NBA?

[wildbill2u]

Oberto is a great "tipper".

Do those count as rebounds in the NBA?

Good point! Oberto saved a lot of possessions last year by tipping or knocking the ball out to a teammate. I'm not sure why he does this instead of actually rebounding, but it seems to work for him.

[dbestpro]

Scola did not generate interest in the NBA because he is slow and short and has an average outside shot. In euro play he can bang with older players and do his post thing without much trouble. Most of the young athletic players have trouble getting floor time in the Euro. They just don't let them play. FIBA showed he can score as the go to guy, but how will he do as a role player the position that every NBA team except Minnesota would want him to play. His game is not suited for a role. His most difficult time will come playing defense against the other low post scorers in the league. Yao will be able to cover for him some but Scola will be a defensive liablity. He probably could be compared to Brian Cardinal with no three shot. Houston should be happy if they can get juman Howard's numbers of 9.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg.

[smrattler]

^^ I'll add to slow, short and plays below the rim. But so does Oberto, right, with his layups and finger rolls and I don't hold that against Oberto. But I think that lack of size and presence scares NBA teams. He could be the weak link in the frontcourt on defense.

Ok, conspiracy theorists PLEASE answer...

Is it possible they got some feedback from Manu and Oberto? Here me out. The Spurs and the whole world have seen Scola play and what he does/doesn't do well. They can guesstimate how he would physically matchup in the NBA and probably have their theories on that. But if you were Spurs management, wouldn't it make sense to ask for brutal honest (and anonymous) feedback from two guys on your roster that have played with him for years and have gotten after it with him in practice for years? To get an idea of what they think he would struggle with in the NBA (or to what degree)? And if the Spurs had a theory that he might struggle physically, hearing something even close to that from these two guys might close their door on him.

Just a far-fethched theory thought I'd throw out. No need to bash.

[whottt]

Oberto is a great "tipper".

Do those count as rebounds in the NBA?

Those tips are awesome. Better than not touching the ball at all.

[whottt]

^^ I'll add to slow, short and plays below the rim. But so does Oberto, right, with his layups and finger rolls and I don't hold that against Oberto. But I think that lack of size and presence scares NBA teams. He could be the weak link in the frontcourt on defense.

Ok, conspiracy theorists PLEASE answer...

Is it possible they got some feedback from Manu and Oberto? Here me out. The Spurs and the whole world have seen Scola play and what he does/doesn't do well. They can guesstimate how he would physically matchup in the NBA and probably have their theories on that. But if you were Spurs management, wouldn't it make sense to ask for brutal honest (and anonymous) feedback from two guys on your roster that have played with him for years and have gotten after it with him in practice for years? To get an idea of what they think he would struggle with in the NBA (or to what degree)? And if the Spurs had a theory that he might struggle physically, hearing something even close to that from these two guys might close their door on him.

Just a far-fethched theory thought I'd throw out. No need to bash.

All that is possible...

You know what else?



It's also possible that Scola didn't want to play in Manu's shadow...

He already has to be overshadowed by Manu on Team Argentina...would he want that all year round?




I mean...did Scola name his child Manu?


No he didn't.





To me it's pretty obvious that the Spurs drafted Scola, either because they liked him, or because they thought he'd have eventual trade value...


But it's also pretty obvious to anyone that's been a Spurfan since Scola was drafted...that 4 out of the 5 years since drafting Scola...Scola hasn't wanted to be a Spur.


The one year he said the right things was two years ago, after we won a le...other than that...nothing. He's never been positive about it.


Revisionists can spin Scola as a victim of misquotes...but I saw the interview with him during the Olympics...his words were pretty clear...but more clear was the sneer that came across his face at the mere mention of playing for the Spurs.



Scola resented the Spurs for drafting him because of his stupid buyout...he thinks he could have been in the NBA a long time ago if he hadn't been drafted(he's wrong)...but more than that, he's never been excited about the thought of playing with Manu...he considers Manu an obstacle to his being considered the best Argie player.

[smeagol]

Those tips are awesome. Better than not touching the ball at all.

Answer my question, please.

Are they counted as rebounds?

Back to the subject of Scola, I think it was clear from the games in Vegas that he has listened to the Spurs' FO because the guy's rebounding has gotten better.

[ducks]

scola losses playing on the spurs not the other way around

[ducks]

Answer my question, please.

Are they counted as rebounds?

Back to the subject of Scola, I think it was clear from the games in Vegas that he has listened to the Spurs' FO because the guy's rebounding has gotten better.

really he listens by therowing a fit like a two year old

[smeagol]

scola losses playing on the spurs not the other way around

I agree.

Would've been so beautiful . . .

[ShoogarBear]

Answer my question, please.

Are they counted as rebounds?

I think it's a judgment call.

If the scorer thinks he clearly has control of the ball, then they may give the rebound to him.

If he's fighting somebody for the rebound, it probably goes to whoever gets absolute possession.

My guess would be that the majority of the time he doesn't get credit for his tips.

[whottt]

Answer my question, please.

Are they counted as rebounds?

Yes...how you think Dennis Rodman averaged so many rebounds?

He'd do 4 or 5 tips to himself every time he touched the ball...but it still was important, because he usually came down with the ball. Just like Oberto's tips usually go right to where he wants them to..one of his teamates.

Back to the subject of Scola, I think it was clear from the games in Vegas that he has listened to the Spurs' FO because the guy's rebounding has gotten better.

He's also suddenly stopped saying stupid stuff in the media miraculously, and being the poor misunderstood victimg of misquotes...my guess is he learned that lesson the hardway too...and was taking the advice of either the Spurs, or his agent.


Bottom line is that if Scola hadn't signed a stupid contract with Tau...he'd have been in the NBA sooner(but not as soon as he thinks)...and he wouldn't have ever had to put up with being drafted by the Spurs....because he'd have been drafted long before they got a chance to draft him.


Scola and his agent are responsible for Scola's problems. No one else...the fact that Scola blames everyone but he and his agent is a huge character flaw that makes me not want him on this team.


I am glad that over-rated whiner is in Houston...with another over-rated ing whiner named TMac...being coached by yet another over-rated whiner named Rick.


That's what RC and Pop are laughing to themselves about behind closed doors...the supreme poetic justice of it all.

[whottt]

I think it's a judgment call.

If the scorer thinks he clearly has control of the ball, then they may give the rebound to him.

If he's fighting somebody for the rebound, it probably goes to whoever gets absolute possession.

My guess would be that the majority of the time he doesn't get credit for his tips.

The tips smeagol is referring to count as rebounds...the ones where Oberto tips it back to a teamate.



All great rebounders get their share of tips though...it's not like they just count them for Oberto.

[ShoogarBear]

The tips smeagol is referring to count as rebounds...the ones where Oberto tips it back to a teamate.



All great rebounders get their share of tips though...it's not like they just count them for Oberto.

Yeah, but sometimes he tips them and they don't go to a teammate. and sometimes he's just fighting somebody for the rebound and it gets into the hands of a teammate. In neither of those cases does he get credit for the rebound, so there has to be a judgment call by the scorer.