OT Why I loved Rodman and why the Blazers "chemistry" means nothing

exactly....with an undersized center to boot!

 

It's very hard for me to think of Ben Wallace as "undersized." Maybe "under-tall," but he was so fucking strong and so mobile at the height of his powers.

 

About half-way through listening to this, and so far the biggest take-away is that back then players HATED each other - these days they're ALL friends and want to team up together, rather than beat each other. And that's why today's NBA sucks compared to the way it use to be. The top players aren't nearly as competitive as yesteryear's top players.

 

Did those Detroit Pistons have great chemistry? I don't recall hearing much about their relationships, positive or negative.

If you mean on-court chemistry, a great meshing of skills, then yeah--that kind of chemistry is great.

 

he had an unusual wingspan like Aminu has...but was only 6'9.....I really loved that Pistons team...

 

Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas used to kiss.

Jordan and Barkley were best friends and frequent golfing and poker buddies, even during the season.

I have very little doubt that if Jordan and Barkley had the freedom to move around that current players do, they'd have loved teaming up.

 

yes they did....All those guys are still close today...Sheed visited the Pistons practices regularly after he retired from the Celtics...Chauncey talks about how close they are

 

Ah cool.

 

But, by and large, on the court they wanted to rip each others hearts out. That just doesn't happen these days - it's all smiles, hugs, and high-fives.

I do know Barkley wanted to get traded to Portland to play with Clyde/Terry - so I have no doubt he would have loved to do the same with MJ. Not sure MJ ever cared who was on the court with him. Maybe it was because player movement was more restricted back then, but I think there was more pride/competitiveness/animosity that was at play too. I recall reading interviews with players from the 90s talking about how they wanted to beat each other rather than team up like guys do today. Maybe it's BS, but it sure seems like they were cut from a different cloth back then. Of course it helps that there were TONS of great duos/trios across the league, so guys didn't have to go hunting for help. These days the talent pool just isn't there to create bitter rivalries.

 

Sheed did a really good job guarding Shaq ...Sheed and Big Ben were a great front court duo

 

For all the flak Sabonis took about how he looked soft against Shaq, he was actually a really good primary defender on Shaq. He was massive and hard to move. Sabonis guarding Shaq with Sheed and Pippen darting in on double-teams often made life tough for Shaq.

 

There's no one in the league like Ben now. Sad.

 

also- Barkley, Drexler, and Olajuwon did form a super team in Houston. Beaten by a Stockton three.

 

Chemistry on the court is very different then Chemistry off the court and it doesn't always translate. Sure Rodman hated Pippen and Jordan and vice versa but they played really well together on the court and thats what matters.
You can look at Durant and Westbrook who were supposed great friends off the court but on the court it never really clicked like it should have and you can really see that come to life in the final few minutes of close games.

 

I thought Larry Sanders would replace Ben as that guy but he's an artist now without an NBA contract

 

Holy shit! That had to sting a bit! HAHAHA

 

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were best friends off the court and Wilt stayed with Russell when he was in Boston. That didn't stop Bill from trying to tear Wilt's head off when they played. Yet Babe Ruth and Louis Gehrig couldn't stand each other. And they are linked forever in history and won plenty of championships. Chemistry has nothing to do with TALENT. You get more talent on this team and you can have all the team bonding moments you want. Right now that means thing.

 

When did Malone/Payton join the Lakers? That's the year the NBA died, IMO.