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some highlights from the game @ seattle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eMmMZPQ2ZI
watch the pass to yao between the legs of a sonic player
Oct. 21, 2007, 11:40PM
COMMENTARY
Scola knows he has work ahead of him
By STEVE CAMPBELL
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Luis Scola wants everybody to understand: He and Manu Ginobili are just friends.
Scola and Ginobili have Argentine passports. They collaborated in 2004 to bring Argentina its first Olympic gold medal in basketball. They came to the NBA to see how good they can be. They touch base, they socialize, they wish each other well.
And are not joined at the hip.
They're countrymen, not clones. The fate of one is not tied to the other.
Ginobili has a five-year NBA head start on Scola, who has been throwing himself into his work since he arrived at the Rockets' training camp. Ginobili has leaped and lunged and lurched and, on occasion, flopped his way to three NBA championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs.
He's presuming nothing
Despite the path Ginobili blazed to establish himself as a premium player on a defending championship team, Scola doesn't presume similar success for himself. Unen bered by an American sense of en lement, the only assumption Scola makes is that he has work to do and dues to pay. He'll have to make his own way as a Southwest Division rival of Ginobili, no less.
"Manu's my friend, but it's on me," Scola said. "He's just my friend. We may talk, we may get dinner sometimes, we may go to his house, he may come to my house like a friend. But he's not going to work for me. I have to do the work."
Scola, 27, hasn't played a single NBA game that counts. Just where Scola fits into the playing rotation of Rockets coach Rick Adelman isn't exactly clear. What the Rockets have seen, though, is enough to make them trust that Scola will find his niche sooner than later.
"I understand how he has been as successful as he has been," said Rockets assistant coach Jack Sikma, a former All-Star. "He's always thinking ahead, always looking to the next play. When he makes a mistake, there's always some analysis. He's ready to find solutions."
Role really doesn't matter
On one hand, the 6-9, 245-pound Scola has a more rounded game than Chuck Hayes, the in bent starter at power forward. On the other hand, the Rockets' starting five had the highest plus-minus ranking in the NBA last season. Really, though, whether Scola fits in best as a starter or coming off the bench is immaterial. Ginobili, after all, has served the Spurs well coming off the bench.
The Rockets didn't acquire Scola with stars in their eyes. They were looking for somebody to lighten the load of the resident stars, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.
"We thought he was a very good player, but offensively he's better than I thought," Adelman said. "He can do more things. He makes the open jumper. He's very active. He runs the floor. He's very opportunistic. He's one guy who's gotten better since we started camp."
NBA teams that have championship aspirations usually are loath to have rookies around for anything but decorative purposes. Scola, though, is a rookie only by technicality. He made the Argentine national team at age 17 and was a three-time European League Most Valuable Player.
Forget international ways
The flip side to all that experience is Scola has a lot to unlearn about the international game. Scola must adjust to a wider 3-point line, a different key, a more physical style of play. The NBA game lasts longer and moves quicker. While Scola is on the move, he has to remember different rules about illegal defenses and moving picks.
"It's just different," Scola said. "Everything is different."
One thing Scola knows is he won't get the benefit of many doubts from NBA referees. During a recent exhibition game against the Dallas Mavericks, Scola picked up four fouls in his first 4:32 on the court. Ask Scola about all the adjustments he has to make, on the court and off, and he'll shrug dismissively. What difference does it make? He has to deal with it all, period.
"There's a real strong positive self-image he must have of himself," Sikma said. "Because when you correct something, his reaction is, 'Great, I want to be a better player. I understand you're helping me.' He's got the ego in the right place. He really wants to excel."
Rambis? Iavaroni? Maybe
Sikma predicts Scola can do for the Rockets what Kurt Rambis once did for the Lakers and Marc Iavaroni did for the 76ers. And then some.
With Scola's blue-collar ethic comes a European All-Star's skills. Yao, for one, would like to personally invite opponents to leave Scola wide-open.
"He's not very athletic, but he's a very, very smart player," Yao said. "He knows when he has to sacrifice his body to make a charge, box out. He doesn't fear contact."
And if Ginobili happens to be heading to the basket with the ball, well, he and Scola are just friends.
They're not joined at the hip, though Scola isn't above delivering a subtle hip check. Scola might be a stranger in these parts, but he's not inclined to offer much by way of an introduction.
"It's very hard to talk about yourself," Scola said. "Everybody will have a chance to see me play all season. They'll find out."
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some highlights from the game @ seattle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eMmMZPQ2ZI
watch the pass to yao between the legs of a sonic player
I don't think it's going to take very long for Scola to adjust at all. He has cut down on his mistakes drastically every game. It will be sweet to see teams pay for doubling down on Yao in the post. Chuck Hayes has a lot of hustle and is a good rebounder but thats about it. Scola can start for most teams in the NBA he is that good. He is a good passer with a nice shooting touch from about fifteen feet. The surprising thing is he is a better defender than i thought he would be, and he seems to love to take the charge. I think Rick Adelmans system fits his style of play very well. This is going to be a good year.
Yeah its gonna be great until mcgrady turns into Montgomery Burns with his back and Yao somehow finds another bone that no one knew about to break in his foot and or leg.
T Mac only missed seven games last year, and with the talent we have now i can live with that. Yao is not the injury prone player people make him out to be either. The toenail issue was fixed after surgery and the broken leg was a freak accident. I understand your feelings though. A healthy Yao and Mcgrady with a deep supporting cast is a scary proposition for every team.
It's completely ridiculous that... etc.
I can't wait until Scola scores over 20 and grabs more than 10 rebounds. Someone is going to come in here and start a thread saying, "Told You Spurs Should Have Kept Scola." I can't wait. < sarcasm
Gracias SAS!
Muy Bien Luis!
4-7FG 8Pts 7Rbs 3Ast 1stl 23min
8-10FG 17Pts 6Rbs 2Ast 2Stl 26min
2-4FG 4Pts 5Rbs 1Ast 1stl 22min
4-6FG 10Pts 9Rbs 3Ast 1stl 23min
That's 66%FG 9.75Pts 6.75Rbs 2Ast 1.25Ast in 23mins.
T Park goes yard!
Someone who averaged 6.8Pts 6.7Rbs 47.6%FG and 61%FT is asking for more than 9mil+ right now.
T Park goes yard!
What is wrong with Rocket writer? He NEVER 3 time European MVP.
These Rocket writer are the worst I ever see.
Yeah. He was the Spanish League MVP twice but not the 3 time European MVP. They should get their straight as professionals before writing it.
Not very athletic and that's why he's picking up fouls IMO. PF Guys like Boozer and Odom and Timmy are gonna feast on him.
80% of his fouls are from moving picks, hand checking or blocking fouls.... still adjusting to the rules.
Scola will adapt to the rules over time. He will be a nice pickup for the Rockets. Whether he puts them "over the top" is questionable. Though I don't think most are saying that. As for the health of McGrady and Yao that also remains to be seen. Lets face it they have both been injury prone these last couple of years, regardless of how freakish those injuries may seem. Injuries happen and some peolple get more than others. As for McGrady and his back that's a tough one. Backs go out at any time. I should know since I slipped the 5th in my lower back. Really sucks. Never know when (not if) it will go out again. Lower back pain needs constant care and treatment. That is not a good sign if you're a pro athlete.
Why wait for Scola to have a 20-10 game before someone posts we should have kept him?? It's Obvious the guy can play and would have been a great addition to the roster. And before I hear that "well.... what gives you the right to question the best front office in the NBA..." three quick answers that come to mind are Rasho, The Malik Rose extension, and the Derek Anderson contract offer ( that goodness he didn't sign).
He sure isn't going to put them over the top, but with their offseason they should at least win a playoff round. I could care less about the Rockets.. But the Spurs could have used them this season and most certainly in the future.
Wow, such a terrible at ude. I can now finally see Scola for the asshole some visionaries made him out to be. Great call!
Thread!
How much of that work was done against guys that WILL be on NBA rosters this year? How many that will start? How many that are all-stars?
TD, Boozer, Amare, KG, etc... you can forget about it. He is going to get eaten alive.
Bass, a guy the Mavs picked up for nothing, was abusing him physically. Oh man... a lot of good those nifty passing skills are gonna do on the bench with foul trouble.
Honestly, so far, to me, he looks like one of those guys that will give up twice as he puts up on his end. Good skills, passing, can hit an open jumper, IQ, etc. But he may turn out to be so physically overmatched... will be fun to watch anyway.
I don't expect Luis will make a real impact soon, is another sport ARG's guys demands 1 year or so; anyhow is good to see Houston running, but Scolas in that jerseys hurts
Well you get to see him against Timmy friday night so hold that thought.
Sorry but no. YOU ARE!
or in a line ... to be tradedSomeone who averaged 6.8Pts 6.7Rbs 47.6%FG and 61%FT is asking for more than 9mil+ right now.
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