Agree, bball skill wise and bball IQ wise, Scola is way better, the guy is skillful and smart, nuff said.
Scola's game is in another dimension compared to KT. Kenny was a good rebounder, could hit that jumper, slash a little bit. When he got in shape and lost weight, he looked more like a small forward than a power forward. What Scola has is a repertoire of moves that Kenny never had. Scola has a vast array of pump fakes, jukes, spins, up and unders that Kenny never had. Scola can also pass better. Luis is also more physical and a better finisher near the basket. He usually thinks two or three steps ahead. IMO he has the highest basketball team IQ on the Rockets right now. What I really like about him is that he is a very crafty player and he knows the nuances of the game. Scola is a veteran of the game of basketball. You might look at the stats but really you've got to look at their games and see that Scola knows the game of basketball better than Kenny Thomas.
I agree that a change in the starting lineup was inevitable, but let's not get carried away with his defense. I'd say his D is a bit below average at the moment, but as long as he keeps producing on the offensive end, I'll let it slide. My biggest complaint (and I guess it still is) when it comes to Scola is that he doesn't finish STRONG. Hopefully, with dunks in his last 2 games, he is starting to learn to throw it down instead of just flipping the ball up there.
I think someone also posted in another thread about Manu Ginobilli writing in his blog that Scola has not shown 100% of his capabilities yet in the NBA, he has merely shown about half of that! Man, if this is Scola at 50% strength, I can't wait to see how he is at 100% strength!
You took words out of my mouth. It's ludicurious to say Kenny and Scola are the same based on stats. Kenny the black hole Thomas shoots jumpers 80% of the time. Dont remember he has any post moves. Luis operates much more efficiently and within team flow. If Luis wants to be the black hole, I bet he can post 20 points easily every game.
Scola is simply awesome. I love his incredible moves in the paint and he has decent shooting ability. Having a threat like this in combination with Yao and T-Mac will give the team much better shooting opportunities since we were getting destroyed earlier in the season when they were simply double teaming Yao and T-Mac. However with Scola in the lineup, and with him growing more comfortable in the NBA, teams will not be able to afford allowing him an open shot. I really wish he was getting more playing time though. It seems Scola gets a lot of time in the first quarter, but as the game progresses he doesn't play as much and we lose ground that we had previously gained due to Scola because when I've seen him start these past few games, we've had a great first quarter. Maybe I'm just imagining things, though.
He is indeed the Passion Assassin, the way he plays with fire and emotion fires up the whole team. DD
Recently I've been thinking that the best thing the Rockets can do early in the first quarter is get Scola rolling. Once other teams realize they have to cover him it opens up the floor for Yao and T-Mac. I'm wondering if Scola's going to be a magic numbers guy for the Rockets, a bellwether guy who pretty much guarantees a win for his team when he gets X number of points or rebounds.
I think Scola's defense is underrated. He's a very tall 6'9" and his arms are long. He studies game film and takes away a players best move. Plus he rebounds and hustles all night long. His offensive game requires attention by the other PFs' to play him away from the basket. His pump fakes, makes me laugh as other PF's go flying by him.
IM Colombian so i sort of understand the Argentinan culture. and I knew Scola would become the starter and succeed. Argentinans are relentless. But yeah Scola is amazing. to me him along with Battier are the heart and soul of the team.. they are positive hard working blue colar players and its really good to watch them play
I agree. I mean lets not forget that he was the MVP of the second toughest basketball league in the world.. the MVP.. In the Hawks game in the start of the second half when the Hawks made there move and the ROckets usually give up the lead, they didnt, and the reason they did was bc of Scola. he scored and he just gave the team a lift psycologicaly with his huslte and deisre to win.. so yeah.. go scola go rockets!!
Thats cause Rick Adelman does not play him nearly enough. Scola played more minutes when he came off the bench, or about the same. I don't get it. I guess we gotta feel sorry for Hayes and Wells and get them PF spot minutes I'm waiting for Adelman to get with the program and unleash Scola for good.
Scola reminds me of Kevin McHale.The footwork (and as much as I hate the Celtics,it was awesome) and BBIQ are very close.Scola is more mobile than KM IMO though.Yes,he doesn't play with that legendary frontline,probably doesn't have the Frankenstein reach and his defense isn't as good,but he makes up for a lot with his hustle and drive.There's a reason he's long been considered the greatest player not in the NBA for years.
