Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" I got rid of our articles section so I will post this hereWritten by: BALLAHOLLICCassell 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.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" Yeah that is all true, this guy is amazing to watch and a future hall of famer. His stats in his two seasons with houston are over looked. He may have had 9-10 points a game, but he came off the bench and was explosive. He knew when he needed to step up or give the ball to someone else who is having the greatest game of his life.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" VEry good article, I've never underrated him, but I know many who do when the subject pops up, and this really shows how great of a player he was. I really like the impact he put on the T'wolves.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" I love Sam I Am Cassell. I agree with everything you said Balla, and he is definitely underrated. He wins everywhere he goes, and yes, being in only 1 All-Star game for him is terrible. But the other thing about Sam is his personality. He has one of the leagues best personalities and is a very funny guy. He's also an incredible leader, and even if Sam doesn't return to the Clippers next season, this was big for Shaun Livingston.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" I like Cassel too, but I think his teams improvements have other things in common.In Houston, the Rockets were already a 55 win team before Cassell showed up. Again Cassel helped, but he wasn't the difference maker. He only averaged about 17 minutes a game during the Rockets first Championship. In Milwaukee George Karl became head coach and turned around the team, not Cassel. Karl's first year, when Cassel only played in 4 games, the Bucks had a turn around of 12% turnaround in winning percentage (it was the strike shortned year during Karl's first year). Cassell also played with the likes of Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson. Cassel helped, but I think Karl had more to do with the turnaround then ET did.In Minnesota, it wasn't just him that made the difference. Sprewell came aloing and played very well. Trenton Hassel joined the team and played close to shut down defense on the permiter. I would say Olawokandi came to the team and helped, but I was would only be kidding myself. It wasn't just Sam. I give credit to Sam though. He and Sprewell made them from perennial 1st round losers to a 1 year wonder. Both were on the team when they fell flat on their faces too.As for Clippers this year. They did add Mobley too. Plus Brand is playing much better all around basketball then he has all year. He is quicker, leaner and maybe smarter. Chris Kaman is growing into a very good center and has helped alot. Again, Sam has helped no doubt, but he isn't THE difference maker. In addition during the playoffs, Shaun Livingston has a much larger +/- then Cassell, who actually has a negative one which is surprising considering the demolished the Nuggets and the Suns in 1 out of 2 games.Cassel = very nice player. But I don't think he is the huge difference that I think people make him out to be.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" Cassell has always played on good teams throughout his career. He's played with a lot of good players and he's always been a big part of those teams don't get me wrong. Cassell has always been a great player, never averaged 20ppg or anything like but he always got the job done. Played on a few great Rockets teams, played well for the Nets, played on a talented Bucks team and now with a talented Clippers team. I really like his laid back style and how much fun it looked like he was having on the court.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" I read an article about him on SI.com the other day. I think he is a bit cocky. He said that he will only accept coming off the bench if there is an all star in front of him. Why not let the young guys play like Shaun Livingston?But yeah, he is in great shape for someone 36 even if he does look like a mutated bug. He has a great jumper, he takes over down the team and he is the one who leads that squad, not Elton Brand. He brings veteran leadership to the table, he has won before and he has shown the Clippers how to win now. He runs that offense well. All credit to him. I thought he was done after his run in Minny. Great pickup by Baylor there.
Re: Sam Cassell "The overlooked hero" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ May 12 2006, 09:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I read an article about him on SI.com the other day. I think he is a bit cocky. He said that he will only accept coming off the bench if there is an all star in front of him. Why not let the young guys play like Shaun Livingston?But yeah, he is in great shape for someone 36 even if he does look like a mutated bug. He has a great jumper, he takes over down the team and he is the one who leads that squad, not Elton Brand. He brings veteran leadership to the table, he has won before and he has shown the Clippers how to win now. He runs that offense well. All credit to him. I thought he was done after his run in Minny. Great pickup by Baylor there.</div> :HAHAHA: I always liked Sam Cassell and he is really cocky and always complained about being, 'the most underpaid player in the league.' He was famous for saying that.
