Luis Scola's role on offense

[Mr. Savage]

Does anyone think that Luis Scola should have more of a playmaking role on offense ?

Seeing Houston Rockets games, I realise that Luis Scola scores most of his points by putbacks and by dishes from other players.

He scores pretty well, considering that he does not have any plays run for him, where he can create for himself.

Now that Yao is out, T-Mac is basically the sole playmaker on this team. He still manages to involve his teammates very well. But since he isn't nearly as explosive and has an erratic jumpshot, he struggles to score efficiently. He also struggles to go to the FT line, which in my opinion puts him a tier below Kobe, Lebron and maybe even Dwyane Wade.

Back to my original point, Having seen Scola play in Vitoria and on the national team, I know his offensive abilities. In my opinion he has a top 10 back-to-basket game in the NBA. He posseses great agility, ball handling, court vision and touch around the basket. It is hard to compare him to any current NBA player, because he plays in a very unique way.

Currently, his role on the Rockets does not perfectly suits his abilities. He is basically a finisher and garbage man. Considering that this is a totally new role for him, I am very suprised and satisfied that he is able to as good as he does.

Especially with Yao Ming out, I'd definitely propose that Scola should have more plays for him where he can operate one on one in the high or lowpost and be a playmaker from this position and find the open or cutting player.

With TMac, shooters like BJax, Battier and Head and finishers like Landry around Scola, he could operate one on one in the post and if he gets doubled he is easily able to punish them with his abilty to pass it to the above mentioned guys.

But this hardly happens, which I think has to change, if this team wants to make run in the playoffs especially with Yao out.

[TMU]

It appears to me that playmaking is one of his roles, but lately he hasn't been getting a lot of touches as a playmaker. Recently, I have noticed that McGrady has been dominating the ball more than he had during the 22 game winning streak. As a result, we have not seen Scola making a bounce back or a pass to the back door cutter because he's not getting the ball that he needs to. Maybe RA changed it up a little.

But you are right, Scola is one of the better passing big men in this league and as a team the Rockets have to utilize to their own benefit.

[tisbee]

Part may be Scola adapting to faster,longer players getting in passing lanes. In early practices he may have been turning ball over too much for Adelman to trust him. Plus early in season he was too often in foul trouble to get any rhythym or build chemistry w/teammates.
Part is the Rockets were not a team ideally suited for a motion offense,where Scola's passing would come into play. Yao is not the swiftest of players,McGrady has shown a remarkable reluctance to move constantly,Battier seemed content to save his energy by hanging on the 3pt line. Yao did not work out at the high-post and his return to low-post meant Scola couldn't set up there.
Adelman didn't start the off-season w/the Rockets so he had to learn the team as well as put in his system. I believe Adelman was putting his early focus on figuring out what to do w/Yao and Tracy. I think he also bought into the "Yao is a great passer" hype and spent too much time on trying to use that and neglected the abilities of some of his other players.
W/a yr of NBA experience,a summer working on NBA-type moves and a better understanding between him and coaching staff,I fully expect Scola to be much better next yr. And I would not be too suprised next yr to see Scola in the high post passing when McGrady's resting or setting up down low when Yao's resting.

[Jugoplastika89-90-91]

You don`t use Scola`s best weapons, pick`n`roll, and finishing around the rim(1on1). It is not strange because you have T-Mac and Yao killing opponents... And Scola is still very good in his new role, mid range open shots, buckets, and hustling...

You lack an experienced international PG, bacause Scola (and Yao, too) could make a lot more damage with great pick`n`roll PG with nice shoot for 3 and average defense...