Spurs Mailbag: Ely only here to add depth
Web Posted: 02/26/2007 08:52 PM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
Onto this week’s questions:
[b]I am much relieved to see this mini streak that we’ve put together but I can’t help wondering when Pop is going to send in our potential season savior for a test run. (I loved the trade, low-risk/high potential, I would have loved Maggette even more, but it was so impossible).
Speaking of trades, do you think something like Delonte West for Udrih and future pick/Butler/rights to one of the Euro player would have worked? Just because I’ve loved his game since he came in the league and I think he would have added some needed athleticism and spunk.
Also, on the subject of athleticism, I cannot keep my finger off the replay button when I am watching Gerald Wallace, whether it be dunking over three guys or swatting a shot out of nowhere. The kid is so talented.
I don’t know what his contract is like with Charlotte but what are the possibilities of us acquiring this versatile beast in the future and enlightening him with some Spurs discipline? [/b] –Kaz, New York
I would hesitate to call Melvin Ely (if that, indeed, is who you are referring to) a potential savior. The Spurs acquired him to add some depth.The only thing I expect him to save for the Spurs is some money.
I don’t know enough about Boston’s wants/needs to know whether that trade was plausible, but I’m suspecting it wasn’t. But West sure looked good when he was lighting up the Spurs at the end of their last meeting.
I also like Wallace’s athleticism. The problem with this “versatile beast,” as you call him, is that he doesn’t shoot the 3-pointer well, which could make it a little difficult for him to play with Tim, Tony and Manu. Teams could just sag off him and clog the lane.
Still, he’ll be a free agent after this season. So I’d be surprised if the Spurs don’t at least inquire about him.
If Scottie Pippen gets signed, when will he start? –Andre, Orlando.
I’m not expecting the Spurs to sign Pippen. And in the unlikely event they did, I’m certainly not expecting them to start him.
Why is Ginobili not starting? –James, Africa
Pop moved him to the bench to give the reserve unit some more scoring. Manu’s done that and more, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him put back into the starting lineup. For one thing, it seems to me, that it’s harder to play Manu the minutes he deserves to play when he’s coming off the bench.
What kind of impact will Ely make with the Spurs this season? –Gary Hunt, San Antonio
He’ll lessen the luxury-tax penalty the team has to pay.
As for his on-court contributions, that remains to be seen. The Spurs would like to give Mel a chance to play a little to see what they have, but if Francisco Elson continues to perform up to his potential and Matt Bonner lands a spot in the rotation, there won’t be many minutes available.
The Spurs acquired Mel as an insurance policy in case another of their big men went down with an injury. The coaches didn’t think Eric Williams was a good fit for the system, and if you’re going to have someone sitting on the end of the bench, the thinking goes, it’s probably better to have a tall someone.
Mel isn’t particularly athletic and hasn’t shown to be a consistent rebounder or defender. But he is a good low-post scorer, capable of shooting a nice hook with either hand.
The problem? Low-post scoring isn’t one of the Spurs’ most-pressing needs. That’s Tim Duncan’s strength and Tim’s minutes are likely going to increase once the playoffs begin.
I don’t have any problems with the trade unless moving Williams’ expiring contract prevented the Spurs from making a better deal on deadline day. And I don’t have any evidence that was the case.
It’s never bad to have another big available, particularly if Jackie Butler isn’t ready to contribute. And Mel’s contract also is up after the season, which means there’s a slight chance the Spurs could use him in a sign-and-trade deal this summer.
For now, though, I’d hold off labeling Ely an impact player. Or a potential savior.
[b]I was wondering if you knew who holds the NBA record for points scored in a row. Manu’s 24 is a franchise record and my friend and I have had a hard time trying to find out what the NBA record is. –Logan, San Antonio
You wrote that Ginobili broke the Spurs’ record of 23 consecutive points set by the Ice Man. I’m curious, who holds the NBA record for consecutive points in a game?[/b] –Steven Solis, San Antonio
This was a popular question after Manu’s 40-point performance in Atlanta last week. The answer: No one.
According to Spurs officials, the NBA doesn’t consider consecutive points scored an official record. For one thing, the league formerly didn’t keep play-by-play charts of its games. Which means there’s no official way of telling how many points in a row Wilt Chamberlain might have scored during his historic 100-point night.
The Philadelphia 76ers media guide has Charles Barkley scoring 31 consecutive against the Spurs on March 24, 1989. Barkley apparently went 10 for 10 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and 9 for 9 from the foul line during the stretch.
The 76ers also have Larry Costello scoring 32 in a row against Boston on Dec. 8, 1961.
So, unofficially, Manu is at least no higher than third.
It’s the second half of the season. Now it’s time for the Spurs to make a run for it, so tell Duncan to take over and Parker and Manu should join him. Also tell the role players to step it up. –Sherene, Jamaica
Will do.
Well, how about we give a nickname to (Brent) Barry? He has been doing really good lately. He has been knocking down 3-pointers since the beginning of the season. So, why didn’t he get invited to the 3-point contest at the All-Star game? He deserves Bomb’n Barry. Sounds good, huh? Let’s put it out there so people can spread it out. –Joe, Beeville
You can officially consider “Bomb’n Barry” out there. But I’m not expecting it to spread any farther than Beeville’s city limits.
What has happened to Sean Elliott? I miss him and sure hope he is OK. –Vera Craig, San Antonio
Sean is doing just fine. He was only on vacation for a couple of weeks.
This is one of the perks of being a TV analyst. The other, of course, is that you get paid ridiculously well to work three hours a day. And no one asks you to blog.
[b]How can the NBA commissioner explain why he didn’t select Manu Ginobili as an All-Star reserve?
He just showed us that the Spurs and Ginobili are not given the credit they deserve. Manu, you are an All-Star to all Spurs fans, and have been ever since you were a rookie. Keep it up, Manu! You rock!!![/b] –Josie Campa, Lytle
I have a shirt that has Manu with the caption saying “Obi Wan Ginobili.” After last night against the Hawks, my question is, “How come he wasn’t on the All-Star team?” –Michael Gardner, San Antonio
If nothing else, at least you now know that being pictured as a Jedi Master doesn’t guarantee one’s berth on the All-Star team.
It would have been hard to imagine the Spurs landing three players on the Western Conference All-Star team when Dallas received only two, and one of those (Josh Howard) was an injury replacement. I think Manu was at least as deserving as Tony, but opposing coaches are pretty fearful of Tony’s speed and it what it can do to their defense.
What would it take for Manu to become an MVP-caliber player? –Jose, Saginaw
In my book, Manu should already have one MVP trophy on his mantle. I voted him MVP of the 2005 Finals, but he fell one vote shy of sharing the award with Tim Duncan.
Blame for this injustice, naturally, falls on the shoulders of Mike Monroe. He picked Tim. It was a fair choice, mind you, but also evidence that Mike was sleeping through much of the series.
I can’t imagine Manu ever winning the regular-season MVP award. He doesn’t play enough minutes to hike his stats to MVP levels. He’ll also probably always be overshadowed by Tim.
But while the NBA doesn’t give an award for this, there’s no question, in my opinion, that Manu is the heart of the team.
[b]With the trade deadline coming up, I think the Spurs should trade Udrih, Bonner and Butler for Andrei Kirilenko and (Derek) Fisher. I think that Fisher gives the Spurs a strong veteran presence behind Tony Parker.
Andrei, I think, would be a great fit starting in place of Bowen. Bowen could also come in as the small forward while Andrei plays power when playing against Dirk & Co. Not only that but Andrei can score, steal, rebound, pass, and defend.
However, don’t get me wrong Bowen is great but I just feel that the Spurs could use a more younger and all around kind of a guy like AK 47.[/b] –Paul D., Los Angeles
The trade deadline has passed, but I decided to include this question in hopes of warding off similar ones when we play this game again next season.
For starters, this trade isn’t even close to working under the NBA’s salary-cap rules: a team can take back only 125 percent of the player salaries it is trading, plus $100,000.
Then there’s also this little question: Why would Utah want to trade two of its starters for three guys deep on the Spurs’ bench, two of whom aren’t even playing.
If you can’t think of a single reason why the other team would want to make a trade, chances are neither can the team.