When this guy is at his best it's as if he's always played in this league and isn't just the MVP of the Goodwill games but a potential one in the NBA. But then again there are times Scola is lost on defensive assignments or gives up on offense and differs to Yao but the pass gets picked off in a turn over.
But taking a look at this guy, he is hustle crafty unlike any 4 in the NBA game. Certain passes and screens to get the rebound while hustling after the loose ball in plays that seem almost impossible even for a KG or Tim Duncan, Scola can do. I don't know guys but you know what I'm talking about. This guy has done some intangible things I've seen nobody else being able to do. What will it take to bring out the best in Scola on a consistent basis? He's got all the tools to be one of the best 4s in this league.
And looking at what we have in the paint, it's way better than previous years. We got 3 legit post up guys in the paint offensively. Yao, Scola, and Landry. I still think Landry is undersized and how much longer can he play like he's 6'9"?
What Scola does that even the best PF won't do.
What Scola does that even the best PF won't do.
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CuttingEdge
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BaYBaller
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Scola is basically the PF version of Battier. Can't explain it better than that. His only major weakness is his post defense and perhaps FT shooting (though he said that's just a mental thing). But he does not have "all the tools to be one of the best 4s in this league" because yes he hustles and is crafty with a high bball IQ but he still is not much of an athlete. Like I said a PF version of Battier, you know what you're going to get from him and that's a solid rotation player.
Also Landry does not have any kind of post up game. He is more of a mid-range jumpshooter and slasher and can finish around the basket. We don't really need him to have a back to the basket game anyway.
Also Landry does not have any kind of post up game. He is more of a mid-range jumpshooter and slasher and can finish around the basket. We don't really need him to have a back to the basket game anyway.
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CuttingEdge
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BaYBaller wrote:Scola is basically the PF version of Battier. Can't explain it better than that. His only major weakness is his post defense and perhaps FT shooting (though he said that's just a mental thing). But he does not have "all the tools to be one of the best 4s in this league" because yes he hustles and is crafty with a high bball IQ but he still is not much of an athlete. Like I said a PF version of Battier, you know what you're going to get from him and that's a solid rotation player.
Also Landry does not have any kind of post up game. He is more of a mid-range jumpshooter and slasher and can finish around the basket. We don't really need him to have a back to the basket game anyway.
Are you going to base everything you know about Scola on a transitioning performance to NBA rules? I guess you never saw him play elsewhere. Is T. Duncan the most atheletic? Scola would have gotten loose balls and rebounds Duncan would have injured himself going after. Give it the rest of the season and then some. Was Manu as good as he is now from off the bat when he transitioned into the NBA? No.
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Alex_De_Large
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BaYBaller
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Manu came in when he was younger, thus he had more potential. Scola is 27, he's in his prime. He doesn't have much potential to improve. He will adjust more to the NBA, but that's more in terms of fouls, defensive rules, etc. etc. His basketball skills are what they are, regardless of international bball or the NBA it's still bball.
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nbaolajuwon34
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BaYBaller wrote:Scola is basically the PF version of Battier. Can't explain it better than that. His only major weakness is his post defense and perhaps FT shooting (though he said that's just a mental thing). But he does not have "all the tools to be one of the best 4s in this league" because yes he hustles and is crafty with a high bball IQ but he still is not much of an athlete. Like I said a PF version of Battier, you know what you're going to get from him and that's a solid rotation player.
Also Landry does not have any kind of post up game. He is more of a mid-range jumpshooter and slasher and can finish around the basket. We don't really need him to have a back to the basket game anyway.
Are you kidding me? Scola is totally different than Battier. Have you seen him before coming to the NBA? In europe he was the best offensive player in the paint BY FAR. Tell me 10 NBA power forwards with his offensive skills (5 being generous). he has earned the starting spot, and with time he'll show what he is capable of.
I'm very proud or our rotation at PF. Landy and Scola should share all the minutes
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CuttingEdge
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nbaolajuwon34 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Are you kidding me? Scola is totally different than Battier. Have you seen him before coming to the NBA? In europe he was the best offensive player in the paint BY FAR. Tell me 10 NBA power forwards with his offensive skills (5 being generous). he has earned the starting spot, and with time he'll show what he is capable of.
I'm very proud or our rotation at PF. Landy and Scola should share all the minutes
I love those guys too but it might not be enough. You can't teach size and we need bigs to deflect and block against a Bynum-Gasol-Odom line up. That's too big for our bigs to handle and remember Suns will have O'neal and 6'10" Amare in the paint.
It's weird, because we used to think we were too big with Yao and Cato in the paint but now we just aren't big enough. It's not like Yao can shrink down to 7'3" and make Scola 7'0 with a borrowed 3".
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BaYBaller
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nbaolajuwon34 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Are you kidding me? Scola is totally different than Battier. Have you seen him before coming to the NBA? In europe he was the best offensive player in the paint BY FAR. Tell me 10 NBA power forwards with his offensive skills (5 being generous). he has earned the starting spot, and with time he'll show what he is capable of.
I'm very proud or our rotation at PF. Landy and Scola should share all the minutes
They are similar in their hustle, their energy, and their build (fairly big for their position, but also fairly unathletic). Yes their skillsets are different obviously. Being a top offensive player in Europe is great, except it's known they lack the athleticism of the NBA.
Do I really have to list off PFs? Really?
Brand
Garnett
Boozer
West
Bosh
Dirk
Duncan (if you want to count him as a PF)
Rasheed (when he wants to be)
Those are the elite guys, I can even go further and start hitting the players who don't have the skillset but are better overall players anyway like Josh Smith or Gerald Wallace:
Or hell even 2nd tier players like Jamison or Wilcox.
So... how many did you want me to list?
