Holy Scola Batman!
Luis Scola made a pretty convincing case that it is he, not Kevin Durant, who has been the best player at the FIBA World Championships. Tuesday Scola had a stunning performance. Even the shots he tried to miss went in.
Scola dropped in 37 points, shooting 13 of 19 inside the arc, and had 9 rebounds leading Argentina to a dramatic 93-89 win. Lest you think this was a one-time thing, he leads the tournament averaging 30.3 a game.
Look at his play down the stretch Tuesday:
* 3:00 left and Argentina up two he runs a pretty little pick-and-pop with Pablo Prigioni and drains the open 17 footer.
* 2:18 left he spots up alone on the weakside elbow extended, and when Brazil overloads the strong side he gets a cross-court pass. Scola sees Anderson Varejao charging at out, so he pump fakes him, drives the right side of the lane and puts up a high arching floating layup that he banks in over seven-foot Tiago Splitter.
* 1:04 left he gets the ball on the right block with Anderson Varejao playing him physicall, but Scola bumps his way into the middle of the court and hits a 15-foot turnaround fade away over him. Beautiful shot.
* Next Brazil possession they run a pick-and-roll with Toronto’s Leandro Barbosa handling the ball and Varejao setting the pick. Scola show out hard to slow down Barbosa and when Barbosa tries to blow by him Scola steals the ball with some quick hands.
* :25 seconds left (this is the possession after his steal) and after letting some time run off the clock Argentina runs that same little pick-an-pop play from the left side and despite the shot being contested this time Scola knocks down the 18 footer.
* :01.2 seconds left and Scola is fouled, Argentina up two (this was an intentional foul by Brazil). Scola hits the first to make it a three point game, then tries to miss the second so Brazil have to try a desperation heave (players in FIBA ball cannot call a timeout). Scola’s shot hit the backboard and went in anyway.
That’s 10 points and a crucial steal in the final three minutes.
Scola has never had to breakout and lead the Houston Rockets the way he has Argentina. But you watch this play and you realize why he is so valuable to Houston -- this is a guy who can quietly do a lot and can perform under pressure.
And with apologies to Durant, so far Scola is the FIBA World Championships MVP. But there are some big games ahead to finalize that decision.