[Chron] Luis Scola Officially Bought Out From Tau Ceramica

I don't think he is 6'8". I have heard 6'9" w/o shoes. Either way he is at least 6'9"+ in shoes so that is not undersized. Also, you say "Euro power forward (Argentine, I know, but still)". I'm not sure what the "but still" comment is because he is Argentinian which makes a huge difference and they are much tougher than most of the European big men out there. All the players from Argentina in the NBA are hard nosed, smart BBall players with high motors and Scola fits this description as well. He has shown this time and time again in the Olympics against top NBA talent.

Look, he is not the "answer" for the great PF's in this league but the way I look at it is who is the other team's "answer" for Yao and Tmac. Every team has weaknesses and the PF position will most likely be our weakness but we do have two PF's who will give everything they have on both ends of the court, both are tough, smart, and above all else winners. They know how to make winning plays at every level of basketball they have been in. I think Scola will be able to translate that to the NBA as well. I expect about 23-26 mins. of play from Scola and between 8-10 pts. and 4-5 rebs. per game. It won't be great but it will be solid enough. There will be times where he does very well and times when he struggles but you can not disagree with the fact that we got the best available PF at the right price. We do not need him to be the answer, just a solid contributing player that is good enough to hang and bang with the elite players in this league.

 

Sorry, should have been more clear - the 'but still' is not in reference to where he came from, but to the level of competition against which he has been playing for so long, which is 'Euro'.

That's all I meant.

I agree with you on your points. I expect he will be smart, will hustle, and will generally be a net positive.

I just remember how shocked I was when we got Swift, and when we finally saw him here, and he turned out to not even be as big as TMac, and he was supposed to be our new power forward?

Does anyone have any photos of him in competition against NBA players, maybe from the Olympics, which would show him standing next to some NBA players we know, so we can truly judge his size? I would love for him to be playing at 6'10" instead of 6'8", but players always seem to come in as shorter than what they have bee advertised.

 

Check this out...

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=133250&page=2&pp=20

 

Yeah, I figured that is what you meant. I was just wanting to make sure people realize how much of a difference that makes of him being from Argentina. I have been impressed with all of the players from there in this league. None of them back down from a challenge and it is a shame if anyone compares Scola to other failures that have come over here from Europe(Vspan) because he is nothing like any of them. A lot has to do with his age though.

 

NBA style flops on Athens stage
Many excuses, but missing fundamentals are key



Carlos Boozer, left, and Lamar Odom of the U.S. can't handle
the loose ball as Argentina's Luis Alberto Scola grapples
during their semifinal game Friday.

 

I was wondering about this. I'm very glad to see it done.

For pictures, go to www.viewimages.com and search "luis scola usa." The fifth picture (with Shawn Marion, listed at 6'7) is probably the best to gauge his height off of. Looks like there's a legit 3-4" difference, so somewhere between 6'10 and 6'11 sounds about right.

 

there is a great video on youtube of him blocking jermaine oneal. also another one of him towering over boozer. although boozer is made of some denser matter non-human. but boozer, nor any other dream teamer had their way with the argentinian paint. low scoring game and usa lost.


your reservations are based on sound reason, no doubt. but also, his scouting report notes his upper body strength as a plus. will that plus evaporate in the NBA? maybe not, given his broad shoulders and the rockets' pro, NBA strength-training specialists. look at what the NBA has done to yao. granted yao's ethic had lots to do with that also.

 

It took a little treasure hunting but your right he almost looks huge compared to marion.

 

Actually he doesnt look that much bigger maybe 2 or 3 inches. Good enough though.

By the way i found this pic and its titled ginobilli. It does look like him but he has a throwback nsync haircut

<img src="http://content.clearchannel.com/Photos/sports_photos/Olympics/Summer_Olympics/2004/Basketball/emanuel_ginobili_GI.jpg">

 

typical

Scola will never fold under pressure, it's what makes him. the guy comes through in crunchtime. Next time Derek fisher pushes off yao and gets a steal, scola will accidently land an elbow on fisher's hip. Scola is tough with an Nba body and range.

 

It looks like 2 or 3 inches with Marion straight and Scola hunched down, so 3 to 4 inches seems about right to me, which matches other indications that he is 6-10 to 6-11 in shoes.

 

He is not going to dominate Tim Duncan, but I expect solid minutes night in, night out. I predict he is going to be a pleasant surprise, rather than a disappointment, but it may take a few months. He may be not be the Manu, but he is our Manu.

 

You're saying Luis is good for a tip on the hip? Yep -- then he's NBA-ready.

 

worst case scenario: eduardo najera

best case scenario: troy murphy

in my dreams: pau gasol

either way, i think it's a solid 4th or 5th option. nice addition.

 

It looks like a regular haircut with a laurel wreath.

 

Eh, I suspect he's much more mobile then Gasol.

 

Thats Hugo Sconochini, the starting SF of the Argentine team in the 2002 World Championships, and a reserve in the 2004 Athens Olympics, after Nocioni took the starting role. He has already retired from pro basketball.

 

Scola is taller than the basket and showing off his skills.


Scola looks more like 6'8".

 

No, I'd say 6'8 and 5/8ths.

 

Even if he is 6' 8'',it won't matter much if he plays tough.