Luis Scola Finding His Comfort Zone

Many people believe that one of the most “under the radar” moves during the NBA off-season was the Pacers’ acquisition of Luis Scola. The sixth-year big man could start for most teams in the league, yet he is excited about his role with this Indiana team.

Scola knows he is in a great situation, and admitted that perhaps he was trying a little too hard to make a positive impact in the first few preseason games. It appears as though he is getting comfortable, just one week before the regular season opener against Orlando on October 30. After the team’s preseason win in Atlanta on Tuesday night, Luis said that this was the type of success he envisioned when he came to Indiana.

Scola averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game last season for the Suns. He logged 27 minutes per game, and played in all 82 games for Phoenix. It didn’t stop there for Scola, as he competed in the FIBA Americas Tournament over the summer, where he dazzled. In the consolation game, he was 10-19 shooting, scoring 23 points in a win over the Dominican Republic. He was solid throughout the entire tournament, and showed that he is capable of handling a larger role if needed.

Looking at Scola’s last five games, he has been fairly consistent. He scored in double figures in 4 of those 5 games, with the best of those Tuesday night in Atlanta when he put in 20 points on 10-15 shooting from the floor. He has averaged 19.4 minutes per contest in these last 5 games, which is going to be something the Pacers are counting on from him this year. They will need his stamina and health to stay in tact so they can give David West more rest throughout the regular season.

What does Luis bring to the table? We know he is a high-percentage shooter that can rebound, and is very crafty in the paint. His obvious weakness is defense, but the Pacers believe they can keep that from being exposed with the help of his teammates. He will most likely be paired with either Roy Hibbert or Ian Mahinmi when he is on the court. Scola is an underrated passer, and his basketball IQ is very high. His game is similar to West’s, which really helps Frank Vogel’s game plan. It also provides the rest of the team with some familiarity, no matter if he is playing with the starters, or the reserves.

The hot button discussion about this Indiana team over the past few months is the question of who their fifth starter will be. Will Danny Granger return to that role, or has Lance Stephenson earned his spot? The idea of Granger playing with the second unit is intriguing, especially with his offensive prowess. Still, it might be Scola who ends up being this team’s sixth man, providing valuable minutes, scoring, and leadership in the locker room. He has shown no signs of slowing down, and relishes his role with the team.

Scola is the type of player with a big appetite for winning. He wants to play for a contender, and he knows this team is capable of reaching the NBA Finals. Now at the age of 33, he knows that his opportunity to win a title is getting smaller. Perhaps being in Indianapolis will allow him to turn his dreams into reality. After all, it was here in 2002 where he won a Silver medal with the Argentina team in the FIBA World Championships.