yup I think he probably sucks and I'm confident that I'm right because slow 31-year old minor league players generally do. See, e.g. reality.
So, you think that you know better than teams that have been after him for the last couple of years. Teams like: The Lakers The Heat The Mavericks The Pistons And a host of others..... Good to know. DD
From what is saying, he has probably got some advices from VSpan and if that is so, I don't think VSpan will give him good references to him. Hence, I think the Rockets are probably not on his list.
Don't misrepresent stats DaDa. He shot 50%, yes, but he shot an atrocious 20+% from the international 3-point line. If he can't even make an international 3, he most probably can't make a 25-feet NBA 3. And if he can't make those open 3s at a decent clip, he's gonna stink in any NBA offense once teams start taking away the paint from him. Heck, I don't think I've ever shot as bad as he did from the international 3-point line in my competitions. The fact that he's 31, and mainly uses his athleticism against inferior athletes doesn't bode well for him either. Yes, he can pass, but really, that only strength of his is gonna go if he can't score in this league, and it's gonna go fast. Some team desperate for PG help will sign him to the full MLE. But mark my words, I don't think he will amount to anything much here. Plus, will any team seriously just hand him the reigns to their offense the moment he signs? Hell no. And all the more not on THIS Rockets team with Tmac needing the ball in his hands as much as he does.
Fair enough comments, but at his size and skill level he can probably still get into the paint in the NBA too... Lots of PGs can not shoot the 3 ball, that doesn't bother me, it depends on what you are looking for.... I like him off the bench to give the team an entirely different look than Rafer provides.....more PnR...with Scola and Landry etc... DD
Today, but many teams have been after this 31 year old player. It may be too late for him, and he is making too much money playing fewer games, but if he is interested, he is worth a look. DD
And why do you feel this guy is better equipped to play the point? Taller = quicker and more heady? No one questioned Jasikevicus as a point in international play - his major downfall was coming here and being exposed as not having a quarter of the footspeed to stay with his man or get around him. Didn't V-Span's stats look pretty good overseas as well? ...overseas. How that translates here is a major question mark. Look at Bargnani. Very few international players have been able to come over and play as well as they did before. Scola is one shining example which we can be excited about. But it's not automatic; he shot 48% over there, and came over here shooting 47% against NBA teams. Foreign point guards in particular have had a low success rate playing in the NBA. Most have to be switched to the 2 or a combo guard role (Barbosa). I'm not saying that means Theo would be a bust. I AM saying it would be foolish to write him in as an answer to our PG issues. I'd look at him as a scoring backup swingman first - which is also what I think V-Span should have been (John Starks role). Size gets you into the paint? Not quickness and ability to change directions sharply? Does this guy routinely face NBA-quick opposing guards? Again, this was the major downfall of guys like Jasikevicus and Jaric. Their Size and skill wasn't a question, and Jasikevicus murdered international teams with his ability to get into the paint off pick and rolls. Joined the Pacers, and it became clear he couldn't get around ANYONE or set up his own shot without P&Rs or screens. That's actually the same exact reason that JJ Redick has been an absolute bust. Shooting is only part of the equation - it's worthless if you are unable to get open looks. That's a new one.... Evan
Many teams have been after all kinds of crap players - in fact the vast majority of players that teams scout or even sign turn out to be crap players. Many of those crap players go on to the minor leagues, where they are not as crappy.
So, DD et al: you're Rick Adelman. You will now describe the perfect RA Point Guard for the RA 'system'. BTW - is it Bibby? Is it Billups? Is it Starbury? Is it CP3? Is it Rafer? Can some erudite, insightful individual finally tell me what the prototypical Adelman 1 is? After I finally understand exactly what I am looking for then I can look for him. Thank you.
Sure, just ask the immortal Jiri Welsch! myth reality, he was vastly overmatched at PG in the NBA and had to be moved to SG/SF: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jiri_welsch/
I think that obviously CP3 or DWill are the type of guys you want, but those guys do not grow on trees. So you get the best you can and take advantage of their positives and minimize their negatives. So, IMHO, Rick Adelman could get by with 2 type of PGs that would improve the Rockets. 1. A PG that can shoot really well, and is safe with the ball - basically a better version of Rafer, not really a creator but is someone that can hit an outside shot and protect the ball. or. 2. A PG that is very good at passing/cutting and setting up his teamates for easy baskets, a penetrating, driving type of PG that may not be the best outside shooter but is adequate out there, but still makes an impact by putting pressure on the defense through his passing. Obviously you would like a player that can do everything but IMHO, if you can find either of the options above, I think Rick can make it work for the betterment of the team. DD
Sam, tons of players never live up to their expectations, in fact the vast majority don't....... Why do you have a bias against Euro players, or players that come from the Euro leagues? Plenty of them are in the NBA as major success stories, and have even been major contributors to championship teams. The bust versus contributor argument can be used against anyone in the draft, it is not Euro centric as you are keen on implying. Kwame Brown anyone? DD
knew it was only a matter of time before Sam Fisher posted. Also knew it was going to be at best several Eurohater post. Since Scola played in the minor Euroleague then by this logic it means that Scola sucks. I know this is true because Scola played in the Euroleague with the Tau Ceramica minor league team which by the way uses a slightly more upgraded version of barn ball. I know this is true because Scola still doesn't have the court vision to play in an NBA quality arena and sucked with the Rockets. He's obviously too slow and can't rebound because you know, he played in those darn barn leagues in Europe. Oh and don't forget that he didn't play with real players, he played against goats and sheeps.
As have: Parker Ginobli Nowitski Gasol Peja Divac Calderon Kirlenko Ilgauskas Turkoglu An article talking about international players From that article : "NBA teams are realizing it's less risky to draft internationals because they're more coachable, more socialized, have no posses and have not been Americanized," says former college coach George Raveling, Nike's director of global basketball. Raveling's prediction: International players will comprise 50% of the NBA by 2010. The NBA execs know what they are doing. Sam is just a Van Gundy guy, he stays in line with his man....however, JVG loved Scola, that must be quite a quandry for the VanGundleberries. DD
Scola is a fine player - a nice role player. Not a superstar but a solid player. He's outmatched by most of the top PFs in the league but he still can be a valuable contributor. Honestly that proves the point - he was the best European player not in the NBA last year. This year he comes into the NBA and is a good role player. Good for him, I didn't expect much more, and if you did you were crazy - but that shows what happens when you go from the minor leagues to the major leagues. The fact that DaDakota gives a nice warm crack waxing to every international player is inconsequential to all this - he has his favorites, he assings them a stereotype, (Tony Parker! He's Tony Parker! Manu - it's the next MANU!!!!" He overhypes his playrs to hell, and then it blows up in his face (spanoulis) and he conveniently forgets that for every Tony Parker, there's a substantial nubmer of mediocrities that wouldn't make the cut.). Is this also true with domestic players? Of course. But then I don't run around looking at every bald 6-6 american player and call him the next Jordan.
But it was his rookie year, or are you saying he has peaked as a player? If that is so, I could see your point more clearly, that he is a good servicable starting PF, but hardly an all star. However, I think Luis can improve and move up to say 16-9 per game, and those are borderline all star numbers. DD
I don't understand how you equate me not being the permanent fluffer for international players with hating them. "More NBA-ready than Sam Cassell!" "Best perimeter defender on the team' you really should hide your pudgy self in shame on this topic.
