Luis Scola: All I Want in the NBA All Stars is to Win

pryuen · Feb 15, 2008

Haven't seen this posted yet. If posted already, please delete or lock.

I think I'm getting to like Luis Scola more and more cos he seemed to be just the same kind of player like Yao Ming. As Yao Ming always said he felt himself a mis-fit in all this very flashy showtime basketball of the NBA All Stars, and all he always cares is to win in basketball games.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5543951.html

Feb. 14, 2008, 11:16PM
Scola a fish out of water as All-Star rookie
Rockets forward would rather win than razzle-dazzle

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Amid the spectacle and silliness that is All-Star Weekend, and especially tonight's game in New Orleans pitting NBA rookies and second-year players, Luis Scola can be allowed a moment to look around and wonder what strange force has brought him to this stage.

It is not odd to be a rookie game player from Buenos Aires via the Spanish League, given how the NBA has embraced globalization. And it is not that Scola is one of the few members of his rookie team who can legally buy a beer on Bourbon Street after the game, though after seven years with Spanish power Tau Ceramica and in international events around the world, he does laugh at the term rookie.

More than all that, when the game becomes, as it usually does, a barely glorified combination of Saturday's Three-point Shootout, Skills Challenge and Slam Dunk Contest, Scola will unashamedly seem as out of place as if he were in the waiting line at Hair Club for Men.

"I don't think I could even make a dunk in that game," said Scola, who has warmed up with his first two NBA dunks this week. "I don't think I'm the kind of player for that game. I don't block (shots). I don't shoot 3s. I don't do crossovers. My idea is to just play basketball. I think that's the best show we can give."

Takes pressure off Yao

This, however, is exactly what the Rockets want from Scola. He wins.

In his eight starts at power forward (after filling in at center in the game Yao Ming missed), the Rockets are 8-0.

There are other factors. The Rockets are 17-3 in their past 20 games, their best 20-game run since the 1996-97 season and their best ever heading into the All-Star break.

Scola hasn't, however, been merely going along for the ride. In his nine games as a starter, he has made 59.7 percent of his shots, averaging 11.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The threat of his scoring, demonstrated early in most games, has slowed the frontcourt swarms to Yao and allowed the Rockets' offense to determine some of what defenses must do, instead of the other way around.

"He's very active," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "He can hurt the other team. They really concentrate on Yao so much, we have to have somebody there they can worry about. The other thing Luis does is he runs the floor. He's constant energy.

"It's at the point now he's seen guys play, he's seen other teams play, and he's more comfortable defending than he was. Early in the year, I don't think he could have played people in the post and stayed out of foul trouble. Now he is more experienced about understanding our league and what you're allowed and not allowed to do."

Other than in Wednesday's 89-87 victory over Sacramento, Scola has generally avoided the quick fouls that slowed him early in the season. His playing style, however, has remained as intense.

"He gives us a lot of extra possessions, some loose balls, some extra rebounds," Yao said. "He is not very athletic, but he wants to go get it."

Glad to be invited

Those descriptions would not seem to fit with the style of tonight's game. As out of place as Scola might feel, he said he was pleased to be involved in the weekend's opening night.

"I did not think about it too much," Scola said. "It's really good. It's a good recognition. I'm happy to be there."

He has a plan for his first NBA All-Star experience. He is not likely to block shots and is less likely to dunk. Dancing would seem more improbable still. Instead, he will do what he has been doing with the intention of getting a victory.

"It pretty much is how the players take the game," Scola said of snapping the sophomores' five-game win streak. "I think we've got to take the game seriously. Play to win."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com
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Jelle · Feb 15, 2008

Thanks for the article, much props.

Man, we should feel really glad we got Scola. He's big part of the Rockets' success right now and i love his hustle. He's a great shooting touch, great moves on the post and he can shoot the 18 footer easily. Can't wait for the rookie game, they're going to show it right here in Holland

Northside Storm · Feb 15, 2008

Scola will pull a David Lee and win that MVP.

20-20 for 40 points? Not hard in the Rook-Soph game.

seaweed · Feb 15, 2008

The title makes me worry: would he put too much energy into all star games while we definetely need him to conserve the energy for our team?

Hayesfan · Feb 15, 2008

seaweed said:

The title makes me worry: would he put too much energy into all star games while we definetely need him to conserve the energy for our team?
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LOL I hope you were joking!

pryuen · Feb 15, 2008

seaweed said:

The title makes me worry: would he put too much energy into all star games while we definetely need him to conserve the energy for our team?
Click to expand...

Naaaaaah, he is not even starting. He probably needs to split play minutes with Yi Jianlian at position 4.

You'd better worry about the other Rockets not going to the All Stars as they will go on vacation insteads of resting and keep training/playing basketball.

Tracy Mcgrady is going to Mexico with his wife and kids, while Shane Battier is going to Florida with his wife.

Yaozer · Feb 15, 2008

pryuen said:

You'd better worry about the other Rockets not going to the All Stars as they will go on vacation insteads of resting and keep training/playing basketball.

Tracy Mcgrady is going to Mexico with his wife and kids, while Shane Battier is going to Florida with his wife.
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I think it's good that some of our players are going out with the family/wife and get their minds off of basketball. Sometimes they need to rest mentally too. As long as Tmac doesn't drink any tap water there or injure his knee at the beach.

f_chowd0696 · Feb 15, 2008

Yaozer said:

I think it's good that some of our players are going out with the family/wife and get their minds off of basketball. Sometimes they need to rest mentally too. As long as Tmac doesn't drink any tap water there or injure his knee at the beach.
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I hope he doest strain his back lifting beach balls.

rrj_gamz · Feb 15, 2008

I feel a Tomahawk dunk coming...Luis is just a gamer...Gotta love it...

ibm · Feb 15, 2008

i love the guy. like yao, he is unique and different from a lot of nba-ers we're been accutomed to seeing.

i hope he makes it to the allstar squad one day. but then, he'd probably study the tapes of the previous 10 allstar games and "play to win", lol.

magnetik · Feb 15, 2008

someone also needs to tell Luis him that flopping won't work in the A/S game since there is no defense and refs prob aren't gonna give him the call.

IamKhan · Feb 15, 2008

lol, i think he's going to 'ruin' the game with his hustle plays.

GRENDEL · Feb 15, 2008

bought a luis scola authentic jersey at the home opener, the fact that i was weighing the pluses and minues of getting his or mike james' jersey is downright laughable now, glad I made the right choice.

Esp. since he's the type of player I love, hustle heart and desire. The guy just bring so much to the floor!

abc2007 · Feb 15, 2008

Will Scola start? I think he deserves it.

Easy · Feb 15, 2008

I thank God everyday that we mugged San Antonio for Scola.

Jelle · Feb 15, 2008

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Houstonrsquos_McGrady_and_Ya-254221-34.html

Just read through this and it's pretty amazing that Battier and Scola are number 6 & 8 respectively among voted to be in the All Star Game. Isn't this pretty rare for a rookie of Scola's caliber to be 8th ? Picture what he can do after he's a few years in the league. Battier can definetly make it to the ASG one day if he starts to enjoy scoring more and dunk like in his college days. Too bad none of the Rockets are in the three point shootout since we have three great ones: Novak, Brooks & Battier.

wekko368 · Feb 15, 2008

Jelle said:

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Houstonrsquos_McGrady_and_Ya-254221-34.html

Just read through this and it's pretty amazing that Battier and Scola are number 6 & 8 respectively among voted to be in the All Star Game. Isn't this pretty rare for a rookie of Scola's caliber to be 8th ?
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With Scola's history and experience, its not surprising. He's not a typical rookie.

Hilltopper · Feb 15, 2008

Aznoob · Feb 15, 2008

Hey, to anyone that knows...

Will the Rooks-Sophs game be streaming here?

As in, will Demon77 or Raptorsnation.net have it streaming?

engr chris · Feb 15, 2008

I really like Scola`s attitude. Big reason why we`re winning right now. Damn! I cant still believe we got him for Vspan!

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