Posted this in another thread thought it would be up for good debate so I will post it here as wellThis guy 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 Houston 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 runs. not only did he bring instanty energy and effiency off the bench he hit some MAJOR clutch shots in the playoffs and NBA finals. Remember the back breaking shot he hit against New York in the finals? 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. So he won 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 there because 1. I dont know to much about it. 2. He only spent less than 30 games with Dallas and Phoenix combined. He ddint play enough games there to make an impact.1996 comes around Sam Cassell is a Net. He gets traded mid season didnt really have time to adjust so the Nets miss the playoffs by a few games. 1997 rolls around Sam Cassell gets a chance to play a full se the ason with this team and he takes them to a seed in the playoffs. He led a bad team to the playoffs and a 2nd place seed in his division. That is amazing considering the players he had around him. Not forget to mention a coach who isnt very good. 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 doesnt lose to the Bulls?NJ ships him over to Milwaukee. The year before he arrived they made the playoffs. However, it was during the shortened season and they were only 28-22.They get Cassell he takes them to the playoffs and keeps them with the tough Indiana Pacers for 5 games.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.Anyways he takes them to the Eastern conference finals and pushes the 76ers to 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 next season. They come back strong then to lose to the eventual almost champ NJ Nets. 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 friends is amazing.Now he signs with the LA Clippers. A team who before he arrived has been one of the worst NBA franchises of all time. They had not made the playoffs in over a decade. Cassell shows and and all of a sudden the Clippers start winning games. They go from one of the worst teams in league history to having a top 6 seed in the tough Western Conference. He is the main reason for the Clippers steller season I am not jumping on the Elton Brand bandwagon I stick by my opinion that it is Sam Cassell that is the reason for this teams success.My main point for this entire posts 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. Its 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 top 6 seed in the West.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.Sam Cassell one of the most underrated NBA players in HISTORY.
True, he's very good at helping teams already with a star or two become contenders.He helped Olajuwon (and Drexler in 95) win.He helped Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson win.He helped KG and Sprewell win.He's helping Elton Brand (and Corey Maggete early on) win.
Scoop Jackson (ESPN, Slam) has been quoted as saying he would take Sam Cassell to start an NBA Franchise. The man has always been a winner, and if not for some issues in Minny, would be helping them get to the playoffs right noe
Well Scoop Jackson is an idiot though Sam Cassell is a nice player to have on a team. His midrange shot is money.
Cassell is the best player at creating his midrange shot in the NBA, no question. (Off the dribble I mean)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Mar 20 2006, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well Scoop Jackson is an idiot though Sam Cassell is a nice player to have on a team. His midrange shot is money.</div>No he is not. Many people including me, treasured him when he was with SLAM. He was such a good writer and he has his own views and points. He might say something stupid every once in a while but he knows the game very well.
i wish sam i am was on the knicks. i always loved his game because he is fearless and is capable of taking the big shot. also he is a winner and he is a big reason why the paper clips are good. he's got a great mid range jump shot.
Scoop Jackson predicted Mavs to finish 4th in the Southwest Division and out of the playoffs this year. On Cassell, he's a great player but his attitude holds him back. Also, he's not much of a defender.
Yeah and Scoop also predicted Avery would be the coach of the year. How do you become 4th in your division and Avery be coach of the year? Cassell's defense isn't that bad but it isn't one of his strengths.
I always liked Sam Cassell, smart player with a good jumper but to give him all this credit is a little silly. Sam Cassell never played much defense and was as much to do with the Bucks winning as Glenn or Ray. We all know he's been great for the Clippers but he's again a part. He's not leading his teams by himself, he's always had great players with him. Scoop Jackson is an idiot.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Mar 20 2006, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Scoop Jackson predicted Mavs to finish 4th in the Southwest Division and out of the playoffs this year. On Cassell, he's a great player but his attitude holds him back. Also, he's not much of a defender.</div>wow, did he really say that? what a retard!
For those who didn't see the Scoop prediction:Scoop Jackson ESPNPage 2 <span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">4</span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"> 10</span>The beginning of the downfall. Avery Johnson will still get consideration as Coach of the Year.The 4 means division rank, 10 means conference.Full article pasted here:http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/lm...highlight=scoop
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>We all know he's been great for the Clippers but he's again a part. He's not leading his teams by himself, he's always had great players with him.</div>Brand has been a Clipper for quite some time now. He had major talent around him still never made the playoffs. They add Cassell and they are currently a 5th seed.Thats not a coincidence that he never won anything until they added Cassell on the roster. He actually had a much more talented team before Cassell arrived.KG never got out of the first round and he played with some decent players. Why did he wait for Cassell to not only get out of the first round but make the WCF?Ray Allen was there leader but Cassell had to be there captain. Without Cassell that Bucks team is nothing.
He's a part of that team, obviously with him getting 17 a game it takes pressure off of other players and they wouldn't be winning as much without him. But Cuttino Mobley and Chris Kamen deserve some credit. I watched this guy every other night for 4 years, he's a good PG I wouldn't go as far as Poop Jackson.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He's a part of that team, obviously with him getting 17 a game it takes pressure off of other players and they wouldn't be winning as much without him. But Cuttino Mobley and Chris Kamen deserve some credit.</div>Yes true. But Brand had Andre Miller,Keyon Dooling,Lamar Odom,Darius Miles,Marko Jaric,Quentin Richardson, ectAll those guys took scoring loads off him. However, He couldn't win with those guys on the roster.
