I'm not afraid in the least about Scola's low post game. As you mentioned, Scola plays with Yao and will not be utilized very often in the low post.
I'd love to know the reason why you are worried about Scola's low post game, from what I've seen the guy's great, he plays differently in the low post from most NBA players. He's not the most athletic player in the world, but neither is Ginobili, yet they are able to use techniques to compensate.
dude, after the playoffs, i just want a CAPABLE offensive player in ANY position outside of tmac and yao that can finish, create their own shot when need be... and scola is that. walton praised scola during the US-PR game saying how amare and howard should learn from him in how he plays offense and the pivot and he's right. scola won't be as dominant as them on the NBA level b/c i don't think he's as athletic or as strong. but i think he can handle his own. now i REALLY think scola should be our 3rd option, not francis or james. scola is just that good.
That just won't happen his first year in the NBA. Using Manu and Oberto as examples, Scola isn't gonna set the league on fire next season. He will have to adjust to the NBA talent level, refereeing and 82 game grind. Scola isn't your average rookie, but to expect him to become the third option just isn't realistic. He's got to gauge himself on what works in the NBA, defenses will adjust to stopping him from doing what he does best, etc. Don't heap too many expectations on the guy or you will be disappointed. Plus, with Yao and Tracy on the same team regardless of who the coach is, the 3rd option is going to be a perimeter player in the backcourt. This is why Rafer killed us last season. He wasn't up to the task. We have 3 scoring PGs on our team (including AB) and they, more than Scola, will have scoring opportunities galore. One expectation I'll put on Scola is he should have a high FG% on the limited number of shots he gets.
if u watch the qualifying tournament, scola has a legit jumper from the ft line. howard got A LOT of his shots either from tmac's pick and roll like that. so those same shots that howard got, he'll get. plus now when teams double yao, yao can simply pass out to scola for that jumper. or he'll go in for the layup. it's fine to think like that but scola is a 27 year old player. i'm sure he'll adjust pretty fast. he's not a guy that needs the ball (unlike vspan or ginobili). he might not be our 3rd option early, but he will be late. that doesn't mean he'll create shots for ppl like francis or james, but he'll be the finisher. u gotta remember, we ran a lot of plays for howard when he was in the game for us last yr. and we ran the howard-tmac pick and roll quite often. those same plays will be run for scola. and his passing is phenomenal. his passing will be utilized. trust me, by the all-star break, scola will be our 3rd best player. he isn't like vspan where he teased us w/ one game. scola has played well in EVERY game. why? he knows his strengths and plays to that.
its on fox sports right now. if you need to stream here: mms://a1973.l2743431972.c27434.n.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1973/27434/v0001/reflector:31972 31972&akcp=27434&akserial=1973&fp=v001 -
i like scola's game, but we all have to admit that he whines to the refs alot! nba refs aren't going to let him *itch and moan all game long - he will get t'd up!
man scola is competitive. wow i'm impressed by him all the time. this is a blowout and u can still see the intensity.
