Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" Cassell is one of the most underrated NBA players in league history. This guy has ALWAYS been a winner. In his rookie season/Sophmore season with the Houston Rockets he won 2 NBA championships. Sure he was brought into a good situation playing with Hakeem Olajuwon and company but he played a major role in there championship run. Not only did he bring instant energy and effiency off the bench, he hit some MAJOR clutch shots in the playoffs and the NBA finals. Remember the back breaking shot he hit against New York in the finals? To hit such a major shot is a rookie is amazing in my book. He came up huge for Houston. I am actually going to go out on the limb and say Houston would NOT have beat New York in 94 to win the title without Cassell on the roster. He ended up winning 2 championships with the Rockets. Gets traded to Phoenix in the Barkley deal. Then journeys to Dallas. I am not going to go into depth about his play in Dallas/Phoenix because he spent less than 30 games with Dallas and Phoenix combined. He didn't play enough games to make an impact. 1996 comes around Sam Cassell is a New Jersey Net. He got traded midway through the season, didn't really have time to adjust to the Nets system so the Nets miss the playoffs by a few games. However they were still vastly improved. 1997 rolls around Sam Cassell gets a chance to play a full season with New Jersey team and he takes them to the playoffs. He carried a bad team to the playoffs and a 2nd place seed in there division. That is amazing considering the players he had around him. Not to mention coach John Calipari is a pretty bad coach. That team was full with underachievers like Keith Van Horn,Kerry Kittles, Chris Catling,Jayson Williams, ect. Sure he lost to the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs but who hasen't lose to the Bulls? NJ ships him over to Milwaukee. The year before Cassell arrived they made the playoffs. However, it was during the shortened season and they were only 28-22. Not that impressive of a record. Cassell takes them to the playoffs and keeps them with the tough Indiana Pacers for 5 games. He hit some major shots throughout that whole series. Im sure Reggie Miller would remember, right Reggie? The very next season. His first full season as a Buck he takes them to the Eastern Conference Finals to play the great 76ers team that went on to beat the Lakers in game 1 of the NBA finals. The Bucks pushed the 76ers to the full 7 games. You can make the case that Ray Allen was the leader of this team but if you watched the finals you would know why I am saying this. Sam Cassell is the only reason the Bucks pushed the 76ers the first 7 games. He hit 5-6 huge 4th quarter shots just in that series alone. They miss the playoffs the following season. They come back strong then to lose to the eventual East champs. Again Cassell is the reason they gave the Nets a tough first round series. Gets shipped over to Minnesota. Before he arrived the Timerwolves have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for 7-8 straight seasons! His FIRST season as a Timerwolve he not only leads them to the best record in the Western Conference, He takes them all the way to the Western Conference finals. Keep in mind the Wolves were always getting the early ticket in the playoffs. And this guy takes them to Finals his first season? That my fellow readers is amazing. The year is 2005, he signs with the LA Clippers. A team who before he arrived has been one of the worst NBA franchises in league history. They had not made the playoffs in over a decade. Cassell shows up and and all of a sudden the Clippers start winning games. They go from one of the worst teams in league history to first round playoff winners. He is the main reason for the Clippers steller season I am not jumping on the Elton Brand bandwagon I stick to my opinion that Sam Cassell is the reason for this teams sudden success. My main point for this entire article was to show that not only has Cassell always been a winner. He has led every team he has ever played for to a top seed. It's NOT a coincidence that when he arrived in NJ the horrible Nets make the playoffs. Its NOT a coincidence he led the previous Bucks team who had not made the playoffs the previous season before he arrived to the Eastern Conference finals. It is NOT a coincidence that he led a Minnesota team who has never been out of the first round of the playoffs to the Western conference finals and the best record in the league in his first season with the team. It is NOT a coincidence that he is leading the Clippers team who has not sniffed the playoffs in ages to a second round playoff contest. It is a shame this guy has only made one All star team his entire career. He has led some huge turnarounds in the NBA. Call him every name in the book. He gets paid millions of dollars to be a winner. Thats far more imporntant then his looks.
It's funny what winning will do. Last year, he was one of the most maligned players in the league. He started out the season complaining about his contract, and he was largely injured throughout the season and wasn't as effective. So, people lumped him with in Latrell Sprewell. I thought it was wrong at the time. Sam's production when he was on the court was still well ahead of what Sprewell was doing. And he was a leader too. While Sprewell was nothing but a headcase. Now he goes to a new team, still isn't too happy about his financial situation, but he's winning. Same player. Same leadership. But now he's a hero.
Hey! did you guys hear a new alien movie is coming out! Sam Cassel is the lead role! hahaha ok I'm done...
just found this post....I HATED when Sam left Houston.......Sam is THAT guy that every winning team needs
Yes hes a winner but dont get it twisted, the Clippers most important player is Brand. He had a breakout season last year, alot of that had to do with Cassell, but moreso had to do with his work ethic. He and Brand were deadly on their pick and pop 2man game. Cassell makes any team better that much is certain. The Clippers were in the playoff hunt the last couple of years and had it not been for key injuries and being forced to start journeymen PG for most of the season they wouldve made it the year before too. Cassell is a stud, but Brand is the Clippers MVP
Sam is one of the most underrated players of all-time and deserves a spot in every all-time top 10 PG list. I dont need to repeat his history as a player....hes an all-time great and theres just no disputing it.
<div class="quote_poster">Chronz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Cassell is a stud, but Brand is the Clippers MVP</div> I would say the reverse. Brand is a stud, but SAM is the MVP.
I never like Sam Casell. But I have to admit, the guy can play. But he's location has helped his career more than anything else. In Houston, he had Olajuwon, Minnesotta, he had Garnet, now he has Brand. With the Bucks, Nets, Dallas and Phoenix it simply a case of not having a legitimate star with him. Casell is a solid player, but I wouldn't say he is an "overlooked hero".
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BALLAHOLLIC:</div><div class="quote_post">The very next season. His first full season as a Buck he takes them to the Eastern Conference Finals to play the great 76ers team that went on to beat the Lakers in game 1 of the NBA finals.</div> HaHaHa you forgot to end with they won 1 but lost 4 in a row . Very creative that you actually remember to add Game 1 in there, otherwise Lakers' fan will be all over you now. You brought up a very good memory of uncle Sam. He was indeed a forgotten hero or winner. I believed if it wasn't for so many great PGs in every decade, Sam could or should have been in the Allstar games a lot more than just 1. Probably his injury played a role in it. However I believed the reason people didn't give Sam more credit than he already deserved was because he never proved he could carry a team on his own. I mean he was never a first option guy. He played huge on the final stage, but it was the other franchise guys like Hakeem, Ray Allen, KG, Elton Brand who were the one that brought the team to that big moment. Sam just cleans up the plate that other guys left over. In general he is a very good player, a definition of a winner but I dont' think he's a superstar. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Fiasco:</div><div class="quote_post">Sam is one of the most underrated players of all-time and deserves a spot in every all-time top 10 PG list. I dont need to repeat his history as a player....hes an all-time great and theres just no disputing it.</div> I don't know about this...it is a bit exagerating to say Sam is an all-time top 10 PG. I mean who in this list would you take out? Magic Johnson Oscar Robinson John Stockton Isiah Thomas Walt Frazier Bod Cousy Steve Nash Jason Kidd Gary Payton Tiny Archibald Most of these guys are legendary and change the standard of being a true PG. Other guys like Earl Monroe, Maurice Cheek, or Mark Jackson are still above Sam Cassel imo.
I'll be darned if Sam doesn't make the Hall of Fame. The guy's been nothing but a winner every where he plays, and is probably the biggest reason for the Clippers' turnaround last year and playoff appearance. I'd have a hard time leaving Sam Cassell out of my top 10 PGs. Not a lot of players are better at the pull-up jumper than Sam is.
<div class="quote_poster">Char Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'll be darned if Sam doesn't make the Hall of Fame. The guy's been nothing but a winner every where he plays, and is probably the biggest reason for the Clippers' turnaround last year and playoff appearance. I'd have a hard time leaving Sam Cassell out of my top 10 PGs. Not a lot of players are better at the pull-up jumper than Sam is.</div> He'll probably get a nomination, but I don't think he will get the nod. And as for Casell being in the top 10 pg, seriously, who would you take out of the list that Kobe4life had? There are a number of pg's outside of the list who are better than Casell.
IMO Cassell has gone form underrated to WAY overrated. He got alot of the credit for the Clippers making the playoffs but people ignore the major improvements in Kaman and Elton Brand's play as well as the addition of Cuttino Mobely and the appearance of Ross. Not to say he wasn't important but I think Brand was by far the most important person on the team, Cassell is a distant second with Kaman right behind him.
<div class="quote_poster">Fiasco Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Sam ... deserves a spot in every all-time top 10 PG list.</div>
