I like how writers mention nocioni and ginobli but the man of the game for argentina SCOLA is left out. He had like 28 points and was a big part of their 22 point run. And why isn't there a thread about this game? He put a scare into redeem team.
Scola tore bosh apart. he is hustle and heart personafied. i think it's safe to say luis has really improved alot from the jazz series. if you notice he has become alot better finisher around the rim. he dosent miss those gimmies anymore. also he's ball skills look alot more improved. he looks alot more confident when he puts the ball on the floor. i had him as a borderline top twenty PF, but after destroying AK and now bosh, i see him maybe a topten . in my opinion he is right up there with gasol now. we've got a great season coming up. our team will be deadly. the big four of scola-yao-tmac-artest is as good as anyone. and there is battier and alston and barry in the wings. were crazy loaded.
Scola is now borderline AS. I'll take a free starter from any team any day. Without Scola, our PF position is rather weak [even with not yet signed Landry]. He gave us what we need for cheap.
He's been doing that in international play for awhile, it's not all of a sudden he put it all together this summer. He still needs to be consistent during the regular season and at the same time we need to look for him more on offense.
Well in international play hes as good as anyone, seeing as how he won the MVP in the Worlds last year despite losing
No doubt. but i see alot more improvements in he's game from last season as i stated earlier. he's obviosly that he needed to work on finishing better around the rim and worked on it. just the little things like picking and choosing he's timing on defense. learning how to alter shots without jumping.
Scrubola needs to prove that he can make a layup consistently; otherwise, he will always be a scrubola.
scola is a solid starter, not an all-star. as far as him finishing around the basket, it's obvious to anyone who has played organized ball that he was missing a lot last year because he was trying to get acclimated to the NBA's athleticism and speed. any time you go up a level there's an adjustment period... whether it's JR to SR high or high school to college... guys are simply bigger and faster and what used to work doesn't necessarily get it done any longer. scola missed crap around the rim because he was trying not to get blocked and trying new things to see what worked. he's not suddenly gotten better in the international game obviously but the learning curve is huge in the NBA and Scola is a fast learner. Assuming he gets 25mmp like last year, Scola will average in the ballpark of 5 more ppg simply from adjusting to the speed of the NBA. he'll do 14-15 a game up from 10 ppg (off the top of my head) last year
Oh, and hitting free throws would be good too. Last year, he was about 50% from 3 feet away and 60% from the line ... truly scrubola class numbers.
If Scola was on a team that needed more scoring from him, I firmly believe he would be an all star player. He may not be flashy, but if he was the primary or secondary option, he could be a solid 17-18ppg and 9-10 rpg....which is good enough to make the all star game. DD
That's not good enough to be an All-star if your team sucks. And if Scola is the primary or secondary scoring option, frankly his team probably will suck.
I would have to agree with Durv here. There or at least 5 better PF's in the West. Right off the top of my head I would say Duncan, Boozer, D.West, Nowitzki, Gasol and Aldridge would be ahead of him on any all star ballot. WHich makes it highly unlikely. I still love this guy and think he is the perfect kind of player who gets the most out of his talent and puts winning ahead of personal fame.
You assume he would be out West...I said that if he were the 2nd option on another team he could be an all star player. I think he is capable of putting up 18-10....and that is gonna get you into the All star game more often than not. Who really knows, but Scola is a very good player.....and we are lucky to have him. DD
Okay who does he beat out of Brand, Bosh, Garnett. You are not going to pick 4 pf on an all star team. ANd I didn't even mention Jamison (21-10 and Marion 15-10). I do agree we are lucky to have him. Thanks JVG. Yes he is the one who made Vspans life so miserable he wanted to leave.
I agree, certainly not on the Rockets.....I am saying if he was on a team like say...the Cavs.....he could really put up some numbers there. And probably at least get a sniff at an All star nod. I don't know but if he puts up 18-10, he would certainly be in the conversation, right? Heck, with the way he is playing in China, maybe he can get some Chinese UMPH to get him up in votes this year. DD
Yeah that Chinese connection will give him a real edge if he deserves it. They have to believe he deserves it. SEE Tmac. Who knows 18-10 might get it done in Houston.
He would have to get voted to start if the chinese were to matter. And over Tim Duncan/Nowitzki? No chance.
Depends really... if he had a few other 15ppg scorers to balance the load, then the team probably wouldn't suck. Scola is probably good enough to be a second option - and now that he's not a rookie, he'll probably get a few more calls - that's how the NBA works, earn your respect (unless your name is Lebron James) and then you get the calls! [you could argue Lebron earned his respect in high school and from the hype machines... but that's a whole other story!]
