Scola

[MigrainePatrol]

It's not like he can't play but there's no way this guy can progress if he doesn't learn how to jump. For as many accolades as Scola has in European / International play, he should have been able to hold the paint down as the primary post up option when Yao goes down but can't. Even Malone, who is known for this flaw, had could jump much better than Scola. Yao can't jump neither and it sometimes results in blocks but can get away with it for obvious reasons. But Scola has the ability to make post moves like Yao but doesn't have he opportunity to execute because he gets blocked one too many times which makes him inconsistent and thus not even attempt to develop a great back to the basket game. Even Scola's spot up shots are flat-footed. I have a feeling, because his extreme hustle, Scola would be somewhere in the Boozer or Brand class if not better. There's almost no way to be a great post player in this day in age if you can't jump when you're only 6'9".

[BaYBaller]

Yes, Scola has no hops. That fact doesn't shed any light on the point of this thread however.

[MigrainePatrol]

Yes, Scola has no hops. That fact doesn't shed any light on the point of this thread however.

It does because, the NBA Scola can't progress and develop a better game without it. He's a legit 6'9" unlike Landry but simply can't jump. I notice he gets up for rebounds when he gets position to do it before his defender or an opposing post player can. How effective would Scola be if he had David Lee or Carlos Boozer's vertical game given his hustle is never in question. I think Houston would be in the WCF playing the Nuggets as we speak.

[BaYBaller]

And what if Yao didn't move like molasses? HOU would probably conquer the universe.

Sarcasm aside though, Scola is 29 already. Why you discuss him as though he has the upside of a normal NBA sophomore is what I don't really understand. Luckily for us he's pretty good as is (and about a gazillion times better than the likes of Juwan Howard).

[MigrainePatrol]

There's still no excuse why this guy can barely jump. It's really embarrassing to behold. He can work on his vertical game and get over an extra foot and attempt to execute a jump shot. If you notice when he does his set shots his feet never leave the ground.

[wushui]

There's still no excuse why this guy can barely jump. It's really embarrassing to behold. He can work on his vertical game and get over an extra foot and attempt to execute a jump shot. If you notice when he does his set shots his feet never leave the ground.

Yea there is, and it's called genes. There's only so much a guy like Scola can do to improve their vertical leap when their bodies aren't built for 30-40+ inch jumps. If all it took to jump higher was effort and training, then I assure you, Scola would be doing windmills left and right.

[ShaY]

There's still no excuse why this guy can barely jump. It's really embarrassing to behold. He can work on his vertical game and get over an extra foot and attempt to execute a jump shot. If you notice when he does his set shots his feet never leave the ground.

Yea there is, and it's called genes. There's only so much a guy like Scola can do to improve their vertical leap when their bodies aren't built for 30-40+ inch jumps. If all it took to jump higher was effort and training, then I assure you, Scola would be doing windmills left and right.

This.

[tisbee]

MigrainePatrol,
This yrs Rocket team had problems passing the ball inside-see numerous posts on why Yao couldn't get the ball/get as many shots,etc.
The Lakers packed the paint and in the LA games nobody was hitting outside shots to open up the D.

Last yr when Yao went down Scola was routinely getting 20pt games. The diff-McGrady was tall enough and more importantly skilled enough to feed the low post.

If Scola could really jump,the Spurs wouldn't have let him go A classic case of seeing what a player can't do,instead of what he can.
Scola is a solid starting PF in the NBA. Adelman wants his bigs to play outside and Scola spent last summer working on his J. He's learned the NBA is starting to figure out his post moves so he added that little bank-hook shot late in season that is very effective. He's a player who improves in the off-season and is someone the Rockets can rely on.

[moofs]

Jumping is not a requirement to be good in the NBA. As was pointed out, I don't know how far you want him to progress when he's already 29 and will be 30 next year. He's not a primary option sort of player, we've just had to call on him for that the last two years, and in my opinion he's done a GREAT job. It's not his fault our primary option can't be a primary option, that our secondary option can't be our secondary option, and that our "third option"'s brain is made out of straw and oscar meyer weiners.

We covered Scola's omg-I'm-not-perfect nature after last season. Look at what he IS, not what he isn't. He's worth 7-9m easy, and we've got him for 3.

[rocketsballin]

ya you dont need to jump to be a baller.

sucks that scola cant block shots, but when you're an undersized big, like wat scola is, YOU ARE NOT SPOSED TO BLCOK SHOTS. the fact that he can get 14/8 is good enough.

6'9 height is not gonna man the paint. it can w/ help like ben wallace had rasheed, 6'11. but 6'9 as ur biggest frontcourt player, your inside defense wont be the best. you need height to hold the paint down,

[PocketRockets]

WTH....Imma start creating threads on what I ate for breakfast and how big my doo-doo was....

What exactly is the point/reason for making this thread? Even if it was b/c you were on coke and PCP....wtf do u wanna be on here high for?? =/ Maybe you think the mods aren't around cuz we're not in the playoffs anymore, but please have some intelligence when making threads...especially dumb/pointless ones like this.

[KWSN-Men]

Scola was a 14/5 player in the Euroleague. He's never been known to be a a great scorer or anything. Yes, on Argentina's national team he's been able to do it, but that's just for a few games, maybe 2-3 big games like that where he could carry his team offensively during a tournament. Just like in the NBA playoffs he can do it for 2-3 games, but you can't expect him to just always do it. He's not Yao Ming. He's always been known for his hustle, his energy, his skills, his heart, etc. He's never been known as a guy that a team could just run an entire offense through. Please give the guy some credit and stop demanding too much of him.

[hackle]

You are asking too much from him. The guy has great foot work, he is relentless and always provdies good hustle, he is experienced, he is consistent, of course a bit more hop will make him perfect, but hey how much is HOU paying him?

[Munchlaxatives]

I love what we get for him night in and night out, especially in the playoffs. He's one of those guys that kills you softly. Imagine what this team would be with Maurice Taylor instead of Scola, then you'd see the value he brings.

[stockmarketgod]

It's not like he can't play but there's no way this guy can progress if he doesn't learn how to jump. For as many accolades as Scola has in European / International play, he should have been able to hold the paint down as the primary post up option when Yao goes down but can't. Even Malone, who is known for this flaw, had could jump much better than Scola. Yao can't jump neither and it sometimes results in blocks but can get away with it for obvious reasons. But Scola has the ability to make post moves like Yao but doesn't have he opportunity to execute because he gets blocked one too many times which makes him inconsistent and thus not even attempt to develop a great back to the basket game. Even Scola's spot up shots are flat-footed. I have a feeling, because his extreme hustle, Scola would be somewhere in the Boozer or Brand class if not better. There's almost no way to be a great post player in this day in age if you can't jump when you're only 6'9".

he was doing fine, untill Yao went down... then LA got wise to him... and if you noticed especially in game 7 he got doubled as soon as he got the ball. very few people were able to stop Scola one on one this year, and the few times I saw him get shut down, it was with double teams. but then very few people can go up against double teams and come out on top.

but bottom line is, its his job is to feed off the mismatches he gets when Yao is on court...

he is doing fine... with Yao in the middle next year Scola and Landry should be just eating up the teams they come up against...

[langer]

Scola is a perfect fit for playing beside Yao, and he is the most consistent player in this team.
For 3m, you just cant ask anything more, man! Thanks the spurs once more!

[T-Wack]

Are you **** kidding me? So he can't jump. It's one of the few flaws in his game, and at his age, that footwork and those post moves are far more valuable than jumping ability. The guy deserves an appreciation thread after what he did in the playoffs. He's the last guy we need to be worried about on this roster.

[TMACFORMVP]

Are you **** kidding me? So he can't jump. It's one of the few flaws in his game, and at his age, that footwork and those post moves are far more valuable than jumping ability. The guy deserves an appreciation thread after what he did in the playoffs. He's the last guy we need to be worried about on this roster.

Yeah agreed, there's much more to the game than how high your "vertical" is.

[Jugoplastika89-90-91]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzC51w8 ... re=related

Actually he can jump!!

[glydersid]

his strong point is the midrange jumper, not posting up. thats yao's job. dont judge him after yao was out as he was playing at a position he wasnt used to. but think about this, for someone who cant jump he averages 9 rebounds a game. thats pretty impressive.