McDonald: Stoudamire getting the message

[Amuseddaysleeper]

So do you.

[nfg3]

Hopefully he can get his shots in the flow of the O. He does bring better O to the game but JV is a better defender IMO. Imagine if Damon gets the open looks that JV got in the last game against Phoenix on a regular basis. I don't think many will be disappointed if he gets on a roll. But that is the $64 question isn't it? Damon is a streaky shooter that can get hot. If so then so much the better for us. We'll see how this fits over time.

[timvp]

Stoudamire main edge above Vaughn is that he is a better scorer.
If Stoudamire plays pass first, this edge disappears and there are no reasons to play Stoudamire over Vaughn.

I don't agree. Vaughn isn't really a pass first type of guard because he rarely creates shots for others. Stoudamire can actually create shots for others off the dribble or even in the half court set by just making the right pass. Vaughn's version of creating a shot is handing it off to Manu.

Stoudamire also has a better feel for the game. He makes quick decisions with the ball in his hand while Vaughn turns into a dribbling machine if he does anything other than hand the ball to Manu.

I think Pop is right at asking Stoudamire to score more. We will see if he able to do it in a efficient way.

Stoudamire hasn't been an efficient scorer since 1996. I don't plan on that changing now.

JV takes open jumpers, why shouldn't Damon?

Stoudamire has been shooting open jumpers since he's joined the team. That's not what Pop is talking about. Pop wants Stoudamire to take people off the dribble and create his own shots.

Pop is simply hoping to open the court up more for Duncan (as well as Manu's and Parker's drives) when the real games arrive.

Yeah, Pop is trying to find some offense firepower in the second unit. Especially if Manu is starting, the bench lacks players who can create their own shots. If Stoudamire comes in gunning, that'd relieve some of the pressure in terms of grinding out possessions offensively with the bench unit in.

We'll see if Pop's ploy is successful. Right now, Stoudamire is shooting close to 30% as a Spur. If Stoudamire can't turn into the gunner Pop wants him to be, he'll go back to Vaughn ... which might have been his plan all along.

[ShoogarBear]

[SouthernFried]

I don't agree. Vaughn isn't really a pass first type of guard because he rarely creates shots for others. Stoudamire can actually create shots for others off the dribble or even in the half court set by just making the right pass. Vaughn's version of creating a shot is handing it off to Manu.

Stoudamire also has a better feel for the game. He makes quick decisions with the ball in his hand while Vaughn turns into a dribbling machine if he does anything other than hand the ball to Manu.

Stoudamire hasn't been an efficient scorer since 1996. I don't plan on that changing now.

Stoudamire has been shooting open jumpers since he's joined the team. That's not what Pop is talking about. Pop wants Stoudamire to take people off the dribble and create his own shots.

Yeah, Pop is trying to find some offense firepower in the second unit. Especially if Manu is starting, the bench lacks players who can create their own shots. If Stoudamire comes in gunning, that'd relieve some of the pressure in terms of grinding out possessions offensively with the bench unit in.

We'll see if Pop's ploy is successful. Right now, Stoudamire is shooting close to 30% as a Spur. If Stoudamire can't turn into the gunner Pop wants him to be, he'll go back to Vaughn ... which might have been his plan all along.

Pretty much right on.

My concern is, if Damon doesn't turn into a better scorer and Pop benches him...will he turn back to Jacque? Cuz, even when not scoring, Damon is better at distributing the ball than Vaughn...for all the reasons you mentioned. He's not just a scoring option...or shouldn't be, imho.