I expect Pop to play them according to their continuing performance leavened with some attention to the matchups.
Of all the coaches in the league I think Pop really means it when he says playing time depends on who is playing best. Since he really means it, the players respect his decisions more than some coaches who only give lip service to the players relative ability and at ude.
I expect Fabricio has earned the starters spot based on his Playoff contribution.
We know Pop doesn't like to change the starting lineup, so any change is a big change. I expect Fabricio will start next month and keep starting for probably all season. Fab plays smarter, which wins over Francisco's better athleticism.
If only we could put Fab's head on Fran's body.
Ok, I know this is easily going to be the dumbest question of the day.... but I must know the answer, if even just to put an end to my dreams.....
Can Mahinmi, in a big lineup, play a large/long SF?
For some perspective, Spurs.com lists Mahinmi as 6'11" and 230 lbs. Andrei Kirilenko is listed as 6'9" and 227 lbs.
I doubt it. He can probably play decent SF if he worked at it but the only way I see him being put in the game as a SF is if he develops a 3-point shot.
Elson's status will be up in the air well into next summer, but really all he has to do to solidify it is to improve his defensive rotations. He was an adequate rebounder last season and his speed puts tremendous pressure on defenses in transition. We probably should get him back to jump shooting more.
Ian is never going to be a three. He has zero perimeter skills.
Elson's last year? Yes
Playing time? 12 min/game
Elson = Nazr
Both have been befuddled by Oberto.
As of now he seems likely to be moving on due to the numbers game, unless he is content to ride the pine as the 6th PF/C. Of course, this assumes that Mahinmi doesn't need more development in Austin in 2008-09.
Still, if he could improve defensively he'd be a nice part of the frontcourt rotation, especially with his length and athleticism.
I agree. I think it depends on matchups, but I kinda like the idea of Fabb in the starting lineup.
Elson - Maybe a cheap version of Mikki Moore. Utility player.
Mike Moore have the outside shot, Elson not. Mikki Moore>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Elson.
Dirt cheap version...
small bump...
Maybe Elson's uninspiring play of late can be blamed on the mask....
Or maybe he's just not a good player. (I vote this way)
Either way, if he doesn't improve the way the Spurs FO thinks he should, there's no way he's back next season. Mahinmi will learn how not to foul and Splitter will come across the pond next season. Once that happens, there will be no need for this guy.
Let me be the first to say....Thank God.
Elson can knock down the outside jumpshot. He's knocked down a few this season. The ability is there when needed. Personally, I would much rather have Elson than Mikkey Moore. Elson is good. He just needs to become more aware, both offensively and defensively. I think Fabi picked up on the system real quick, which is why he won the starting spot. I feel Fabi has a good feel for both ends of the floor. His value is truely underrated. Fabi's game is completely different than Elson. Like Brent said, be like the Ameboia. Elson's abilities fit with the needs of our team, so if his services are relatively cheap, we're keeping him. We just need to get that B-ball IQ a little higher.
Mike Moore have the outside shot, Elson not. Mikki Moore>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Elson.
Dirt cheap version...
Another dose of the Rodeo Road Trip should help.
Splitter is Elson just with more upside!??!?!
I can't believe TIMVP posted this...
splitter has more upside > mahinmi
give splitter the starting job....
What's wrong with it? That's about as true as it gets. Right now, Splitter and Elson are pretty much the same. The difference is Splitter is almost a decade younger.
While Elson and Splitter are both athletic bigs that can run the floor, I can see where T Park questioned the comparison.
Though we won't know until he comes over here, it appears that Splitter is....
- More fundamentally sound defensively and understands the game on defense better than Elson.
- More skilled in the post offensively and understands the game on offense better than Elson.
- Capable of developing his game and taking it to another level.
I guess the complaint is that a comparison to Elson sells Splitter short. Elson is a third-string F/C and always has been, while Splitter has the ability to be the starting C for this team down the line.
Perhaps the better long-term comparison is a combination of Elson and Oberto....an athletic big that runs the floor and is always there to make the smart play.
I don't disagree with you often, LJ. But I can't say I really get this one either.
From what I've seen of a Splitter, he seemed like a very raw but typical low-post center. A lot of his work was done on putbacks and on the boards, and he usually went to work on offense posting up.
Elson ain't so bad on the boards, but unless he's got a breakaway dunk, he's not banging the ball into the paint.
Also, he seemed very Anti-Francisco in that his one saving grace seems to be his basketball IQ. While not yet athletically primed or experienced, he seemed to have a good understanding of the national game and I thought he showed a knack for finding the right spots and making the smart plays. I don't think anyone is going to try to talk up Elson's court smarts.
where is the chorus of "elson is a proven nba quality player, splitter's stats in fiba basketball dont mean anything in this league" ?
for the record, i think splitter will be good for us because he is physical and used to be a role playing defensive big, not because he has an amazing feel for the game or anything beyond average offensive ability. he has very little in common with elson, which should be a good thing.
Except that in 5 seasons, Elson hasn't proven crap. He only got PT in Denver because their bigs are ALWAYS injured. And when they weren't, he didn't play.
The Spurs FO seems to think he should've been all-world and they continue to marvel at his speed/quickness. But the guy just flat-out doesn't have the ability/competency to turn that athleticism into consistent production on offense or defense.
Bottom Line: It's hard to be worse than Elson...even if Splitter has never set foot on an NBA court.
Does Elson remind anyone of NAZR? Occasional flashes of talent eclipsed by average to sub-par play the rest of the time?
I'd like to see him do well this year, just for the team if not for himself. Otherwise, he'll become excess baggage next year.
Look guys, if Elson can half-ass defend Dirk in the playoffs, i don't care if he doesn't score or do anything during the regular season. I still believe he has the atheleticism, quickness, and length to bother Dirk so that we don't have to constantaly double-team Dirk and leave JHoward, JET and Stackhouse to kill us with the 3's. I still believe that Elson was signed primarily to guard tall 4/5 who can hit jumpers like Dirk because the 2005-2006 Spurs didn't have anyone who could stop Dirk (one of the reasons why we lost).
I'd love to see Elson's FG% on that 18-footer, because it gets talked up like it's automatic. Truth is, he doesn't take it or make it enough to make up for his defensive shortcomings, IMO.
Elson does provide a different skill set from any other player on this team THIS YEAR, but that should not be the case next year.
Both Splitter and Mahinmi can run the court effectively and will most likely play more capable defense than Elson does. The only thing they'll be lacking is the 18ft shot that Elson pulls out once every few games.
Bottom Line: Most of what Elson brings can easily be duplicated by cheaper players already on this team. And what cannot be immediately duplicated is NOT worth $3M/yr...because I seriously doubt Elson comes back for less.
This is not necessarily a thread about how crappy Elson is, though I happen to think he's worthless and that your hopes of him being some sort of "dirk stopper" are foolish.
This is about whether he'll be around here next year, and I just can't see it being the case. Using your logic, Mahinmi should be just as effective if not more effective on Dirk as he is equally as long, quick, and athletic.
Bottom Line: Any notion that Elson is a "dirk stopper" should be stopped, as should any thought that Mahinmi and/or Splitter would be less effective in that regard.
Last edited by AFBlue; 11-26-2007 at 01:43 PM.
who did guard Dirk last Mavs-Pacers?
really, the guy did a great job on D (not, Jermaine not)
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