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Elson was matched up with a SG tonight because Bowen was guarding their power forward (CButler).
I'd like to see him put up numbers in a couple games playing against an actual front court player before we all start loving him again.
Tonight shows how important Francisco Elson is to the Spurs. 8 rebounds 3 blocks and solid Defense. Tim Duncan made an effort to get him involved in the game and it paid dividends. We absoluty have to have another big man have at least 8 rebounds a game. In the Spurs championship years and even last year, we always had someone beyiond duncan with over 8 rebounds a game. This year is been few and far between. Elson needs to be getting the bulk of the minutes so he can gain confidence in working with this first group. TO split their minutes is just making each feel inadeqate in their play. I see Oberto is feeling it now. Hopefully, Elson will use this game to launch his real game.........and i do mean hopefully. To sum up, Elson is the X factor.
Yoda
Elson was matched up with a SG tonight because Bowen was guarding their power forward (CButler).
I'd like to see him put up numbers in a couple games playing against an actual front court player before we all start loving him again.
We can hope cant we??? Stealing Elsons thunder not gonna help his confidence.
Yoda
The Spurs salvation lies in the Big 3 and some of the key bench shooters making their shots. Fransisco Elson is going to be completely marginalized in the playoffs.
Sure. Hope all you want.
And I don't think he's reading this so I don't think it will hurt his confidence.
But yes, he looked better than normal tonight. It just wasn't that impressive.
Definitly better then normal, and if we have to live on just the big 3 and noone else, we might as well call it a year now. Not saying Elson is the key, but it sure would be a good start.
Yoda
ill take elsons performance tonight anyday over obertos zero rebound game against utah
2 bodies, 1 shadow
Elson was matched up with a SG tonight because Bowen was guarding their power forward (CButler).
I'd like to see him put up numbers in a couple games playing against an actual front court player before we all start loving him again.
Somehow I feel you have a slight bias against Elson. Or do you still think Oberto is the better center to start? I myself think Elson has surpassed Oberto in the development department. Oberto has been with the Spurs an entire season longer than Elson yet Elson has progressed much faster. Sorry, but I just don't think Oberto has progressed consistently as much as Elson.
By the end of the regular season, I think it will be more clear that Elson is the better center to start for the Spurs.
Kori issues a dose of reality...Elson was matched up with a SG tonight because Bowen was guarding their power forward (CButler).
I'd like to see him put up numbers in a couple games playing against an actual front court player before we all start loving him again.
I think he played a great game despite of what others say. It was a lot better than 0 points and 0 rebounds in 23 minutes as someone mentioned. His three blocks were good.
Fransico Elson might not be one of the "big 3" in San Antonio, but I think he could be the difference maker for the Spurs.
It's been well do ented that the Spurs, while better of late, have not been the dominate defensive force they've been in years past. The reason most commonly given for this is the lack of a second shot blocker. The thing is... I think we've got one (another one, that is).
Elson will never be David Robinson, but he IS a shot blocker. No, not in the sense the Dikembe Mutumbo or Marcus Camby are shot blockers... but he does average better than 2 blocks (and 13 rebounds) per 48 minutes.
Even when he's not blocking shots, having a second 7-footer on the floor can certainly alter them to achieve the same result. And perhaps most importantly... he has the quickness and athleticism to stay with guys like Stoudemire and Nowitski. That menas we shouldn't have to watch Michael Finley at Power Forward this spring.
Elson's acclimation process in San Antonio hit a speed bump with the shoulder injury, but his progression definitely seemed to be back in high gear last night.
Offensively, the Spurs will be fine. They've still got Duncan in the post, Ginobili and Parker carving up the paint, and plenty of long-range bombers. It's the Spurs defensive iden y that must be re-established.
In the end, Fransisco Elson will be the key ingredient in a return to suffocating, intimidating Spurs defense... one that can remain in tact against the likes of Dallas or Phoenix.
Not a good idea to pimp the guy with a stat at which he is 61st in the league.
I have said repeatedly in the past few weeks that Elson should start because he's taller and faster. But that doesn't mean I think he's good.
Last night he looked good, but he should have looked good. He was matched up against Jarvis Hayes because of Bowen guarding their PF (C. Butler). I hope with all my heart that Elson improves, but last night's game didn't show that he has.
every team would love to have a player like Elson.... as their 3rd string center.
if he is the back-up for your starter, it should be ok.
if Elson is your starting center, the team obviously has a problem.
a decent game now and then doesn't change this fact.
it is also no offense to Elson, who is a hard working guy.
but his limits are significant and turning 31 this month, we won't see a surprising developement from Elson.
calling him a "difference maker" is just naive.
People are talking as though the Spurs defensive issues started this season. Actually, it started against the Mavs during the playoffs.
SA didn't have another big man on the floor other than Duncan, so Dallas went to the basket at will. I had never seen the Spurs allow that much in the paint. It was hard to watch.
The Spurs defense has always been about funneling people to their shot blockers. But without a second big man on the floor, the Spurs defensive scheme was thrown completely out of whack. Dallas purposely went right at Duncan, who was the only shot blocker, in an effort to get him into foul trouble. And it worked more than once. Things will be different in that regard when the post-season rolls around.
Not only will Elson not be marginalized in the playoffs, but that is actually when he will be of greatest value to this team. Elson allows San Antonio to play SPURS defense, which is predicated on having 2 shot blockers on the floor as often as possible.
Unlike Mohammed or Nesterovic... Elson has the quickness and athleticism to stay with guys like Nowitski and Stoudemire. And that makes him one of the 4 or 5 most valuable players on this team.
Kori, Elson is averaging better than 2 blocks and 13 rebounds per 48 minutes. If he were playing, say... 35-40 minutes a game, he would average 10 boards and nearly 2 blocks per game. That'll do it. He just needs to stay on the floor and continue improving his team defense.
I agree with all that about the Mavs and not having a big on the floor etc. But so far this season, Elson has been horrible defensively. Really horrible. He is slow to rotate, in the wrong place, etc.
I think right now they are going to go with him and see if he catches on to the D (and hopefully he does). But if he doesn't (and he hasn't so far this season) then the Spurs will be right back to where they started from - going small, getting outrebounded, and having other teams own the paint.
Please don't use rebounds per 48 as an indicator of anything. Oberto averages 12.5 rebounds per 48 too. Do you think he's a good rebounder?
It's not a great indicator when guys have so many other shortcomings that keep them off the floor.
Mountainballer, Elson is not a "difference maker" because of his level of play, but simply because of the type of player he is. He's exactly what the Spurs need... a big man who can block shots and rebound, yet has the speed and atheleticism to keep the Spurs from having to go small against the run-and-gun teams. Going small is what turned the Spurs into a merely above average defensive team against the Mavs.
The "difference maker" is the Spurs ability to remain big and play Spurs defense (funnel opposing players into their shot blockers)... and Elson is the piece that allows them to do that.
Aside from the fact that he was guarding an SF, how was overall defense last night? I didn't catch enough of the game to see whether or not he was making his rotations etc....and that's most people's gripe with him.
If Elson can play like he did in Game 1 of the season...then he can be considered an X Factor.
Until he learns to play average/good defensively, he's just another Nazr/Rasho to the team.
Kori, haven't other players (especially those coming from non-defensive-minded teams) taken a while to acclimate to the Spur's defensive system? It seems to me that Elson is not alone in that regard.
That's why I am hopeful that if Pop keeps Elson on the floor, that his team defense will improve.
Elson is not a world-class shot blocker, nor is he Dennis Rodman on the glass... but he's above average in both categories. He also has the length to alter shots and the agility to guard power forwards.
If his team defense improves, he will be just what the doctor ordered.
I still have hope Elson will learn the system by the end of the season. This would put us in great position in the playoffs. A decent starting center? wow
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