- In Istanbul, there is a man playing the best basketball in the world. Well, he’s scoring a lot of points anyway. Primarily against one of the NBA’s best post defenders in Anderson Varejao, Luis Scola channeled the divine and poured 37 points upon the heads of the weary Brazilians, who watched the lumbering power forward hit every shot he took in the fourth quarter. The Scolaratti certainly have had their arguments in favor of the Divine Argentine’s contract validated by his ridiculously impressive showing in the World Championship, but a few have noted that the incredibly high usage rate of Scola by his national team may leave his energy depleted going into the season (although Daryl Morey seems to think he’s doing just fine). Regardless of contract talk, Scola’s brilliance in this tournament cannot be denied, and as he flourishes in his prime, ESPN’s Chris Sheridan notes that almost nothing can go wrong for Scola right now: “Scola then was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play with 1.2 seconds left (in the game), made the first free throw and tried to intentionally miss the second in order to let the clock run out. Instead, it banked off the glass and went in to provide the final 4-point margin.”
- While Scola had the Internet going nuts yesterday, he was being clearly juxtaposed with new San Antonio addition Tiago Splitter, who threw in 10 points and 5 rebounds of his own. While Splitter seems like a lovely addition to a splendid team, he’s not Luis Scola, the last major San Antonio foreign prospect to excite the Riverwalkers. Scola was, of course, dealt to Houston in a deal for cash, a second round pick and the Disgruntled One, Vassilis Spanoulis; while another obvious notch in Morey’s belt, it has left some who hadn’t examined the trade at the time to wonder whether it is one of the most lopsided ever. HoopsWorld‘s Yannis Koutroupis ponders the deal’s thievery in comparison to the Lakers’ acquisition of gangling superstar Pau Gasol: “Coach Popovich suggested forming a trade committee that could veto lopsided deals when the Memphis Grizzlies traded All-Star power forward Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers. But in that deal Memphis landed Marc Gasol who has developed into a very solid starting center and the cap space to trade for Zach Randolph, who had an All-Star year for them in 09-10. All the Spurs got for Scola, an ideal player to put alongside Tim Duncan inside, was some cash and two players who will never see the court with Duncan. Looking back there’s no question which deal was more uneven and today just helped further illustrate that.”
- In one of the stranger developments in the spend-happy free agency of 2010, replete with contracts awarding playoff success that will certainly make the spending parties look inane in months, Louis Amundson still does not have a job. Finally, the New Orleans Hornets seem poised to sign the hustle machine whom no one can seem to believe is American-born. Considering the fact that C.J. Watson, Jamaal Magloire and Earl Boykins have all had their contract situations straightened out for a month or so, I have to wonder how such a “character” guy has been off the radars of contenders looking for men of glue that can hold their disparate strands of talent in place. It all leads me to wonder, is Louis Amundson a locker room problem? Almost certainly not, but this summer has revealed much stranger things.
- Adrian Griffin was always one of Scott Skiles’ favorites, a player who became one of his “guys” in Chicago as most do: with tenacity and gobs of defense. So, when Griffin retired, Skiles offered him a behind-the-bench coaching gig in his new digs, Milwaukee. The Bucks signed him, and the crowd went wild, as if Holyfield had just won the fight. Well, Griffin apparently interviews well, as he already has received a new job as the newest bench coach of the Bulls, under incoming defensive guru Tom Thibodeau. While I still have Shane Battier penciled in as the head coach in 15-16, we can only hope he’ll be half as gracious if he decides to leave like Griffin: “Now, two years later, Griffin has beaten the odds again. Monday, he was on the verge of being hired as a bench coach for new Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. At 36, Griffin will become one of the youngest bench coaches in the NBA. ‘I am very fortunate,’ Griffin said. ‘I was just a player two years ago and now I’m a coach. It’s very competitive to make an NBA team as a player, but it’s even more competitive to become an NBA coach. There are only a few of them (usually five) on each team. ”God has been good to me.”’
- So as it turns out, when looking at the numbers, Aaron Brooks’ defense looks just as bad as it does in person. Unsurprisingly, Brooks allowed shooters he was guarding to go off for 40% of their spot-up shots, essentially turning anyone he “guarded” into Ray Allen simply by virtue of being defended by the miniature game manager. While Morey may not have a problem with making up for a bad defender if his offensive production offsets his sieve-like tendencies on D, Brooks will need to make his value clear (again) early on this year if he doesn’t want to be looking for apartments in February.
- Rookie Patrick Patterson thought the police officers in Pirhana 3D fulfilled their duties. If people want to be eaten by hyper-violent South American fish, so be it.
- If Argentina and our hirsute hero continue on their war path toward a World Championship, they will likely meet Team USA, setting up a fantastic matchup of two of the best scorers in this tournament, Scola and out-of-position Kevin Durant. NBA Fanhouse‘s Tom Ziller thinks it will define what superiority means in international ball: “In that prospective matchup, Scola would line up across from Kevin Durant, his chief tournament MVP rival. Durant isn’t a power forward anywhere but here (or the Goodman League, I suppose). By the same token, the odds of Scola being able to check KD without several layers of help are minimal. It sets up as a terrific scoring battle, maybe a close game and a rousing back-and-forth and hopefully, should it actually happen, an event even those bored with FIBA ball can enjoy. Maybe if Scola outguns Durant we can come to consensus about what individual FIBA success means in the grand scheme.”
- We here at Red94 still lack for a video contributor. While we’re very grateful to those who’ve already added their name to the pile, contact Rahat Huq if you’re interested in the position. He almost certainly won’t be busy eating a sandwich, so get to him while available.
-ESPN Houston Rockets Affiliate- Rahat Huq - founder, editor email: rahathuq@red94.net
Nothing or something?
Morey was asked in a short interview on 610 who had impressed by how good they had looked in off-season workouts. First answer was Lowry,then Morey pointed out Lowry had been working in Philly and Vegas(but obviously the Rockets are keeping tabs). Then Martin,then Bud and Taylor in Houston,continued w/Hill and Patterson,then finished w/saying how good Chuck looked.
Asked who he had asked to work on something that was doing so,only mentioned Martin and how Morey had told him he really needed to work on his D.
Trade chatter in League very quiet,while wanting to improve was happy w/the roster as is.
Via The Dream Shake
http://www.thedreamshake.com/2010/9/8/1677588/dary...
Interesting first thought/response was Lowry. Have to decide for yourself if omission of Brooks-who's been in Hou-was simply oversight,message to Brooks or indicative of something else.
Emphasis on Martin and his D is good sign the Rockets are serious about D this coming season.
As to Gasol trade,Memphis was a bad team and hit the Trifecta on their end-2 quality prospects,2 Firsts and major cap room. The fact they blew the rebuilding that the trade cleared the way for doesn't make the trade itself bad.(And trading a star for just good players/prospects rarely works. Minn has ended up w/very little from trading KG,Orl got nothing out of the players they traded McGrady for,the Lakers ended up trading away 1/2 the players they got for Shaq and then trading away those before they recovered and the Nets are hardly better off after trading Kidd and then Vince.)
The Grizz could be fielding a team this yr of Tyreke Evans,Courtney Lee,Rudy Gay,Zach Randolph,Marc Gasol and a bench of Lowry,Navarro,Outlaw and Anthony Randolph/Robin Lopez/whichever PF/C they liked at the #13 in 2008 plus 2 rookie from 2010 Draft. Give them a good coach and you're looking at a next yrs OKC.
(In 2008,they trade the #5 to Portland for the #13,one of Portland's Seconds,cash and the right to swap 2010 Laker and Portland picks. Pick whichever PF they like.
In 2008 they offer Mike Miller,Cardinal,their #28,to Cavs for Cavs #19,cash,Wally Szerbiak and maybe a future Second .Think Cavs wouldn't have jumped all over that? Draft Lee.
In 2009,they likely end up w/one of top 5 picks and draft Evans.
W/Evans as PG they send Conley to Port for Outlaw,cash.
Made big pitch to Navarro to keep him,and may even take a chance on Rubio w/Gasol and Navarro on the team.)
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