Basketball "enforcers" -- do you want one?

[VF21]

LPKingsFan - The closest thing to an enforcer in recent memory would have to be Corliss. Before that, I can't really point my finger at anyone who consistently played the part. At least not for a long, long time.

dude12 - Yes, you need to make adjustments for more physical play and I don't think many of us are actually objecting to that. But when you start bringing up Bruce Bowen and Danny Fortson, both of whom seem more interested in long-term damage than hard contact in the course of a game, you're stepping across a line I think really needs to be clarified.

 

[ESP47]

Ok well its obvious no one wants a guy thats out to cause career threatening injuries. Stuff like Bowen putting his feet under a shooters legs while he's landing is dumb. But if Bowen wants to jump kick a guy in the face once in a while, im all for it

 

[VF21]

But if Bowen wants to jump kick a guy in the face once in a while, im all for it

Seeing that picture, even after all this time, just renders me speechless. How the league ever looked past that is beyond explanation. I wonder if Wally still sees shoes flying at him in his nightmares?

 

[DocHolliday]

Yes! My only proviso would be it's not someone like Danny Fortson, who not only resembles a cabbage patch kid doll but has approximately the same IQ. You can have an "enforcer" without them becoming nothing more than physical bully with no real appreciation for the game.

I agree not a Fortson type, I'm not a fan. That's why I didn't put a name, I think the people were attaching unfavorable names with the term enforcer, and therfore thinking of an enforcer in a negative way. I think a REAL enforcer that actually has talent is a very very good thing to have.

 

['89 Kings Fan]

When I think of Thug's I think of the failed Tony Massenburg experiment. Physical players yes, unskilled thugs no. They tend to be more of a distraction than a help. I also hope there is only one Bruce 'Lee' Bowen and will be very glad when he is gone.

 

[fnordius]

I agree not a Fortson type, I'm not a fan. That's why I didn't put a name, I think the people were attaching unfavorable names with the term enforcer, and therfore thinking of an enforcer in a negative way. I think a REAL enforcer that actually has talent is a very very good thing to have.

Maybe I blew it, then, by using the term "enforcer." I hoped that the examples would make it clear what I meant to ask about. But I'm happy to have it discussed, regardless. If people think that Ron Artest or Corliss Williamson are "enforcer" types, then it just changes the meaning of the results a bit.

 

[TheFifthMookie]

Tough guys who play inside and mix it up? -yes-


Guys who do stupid stuff, attempt to purposely injure players, or initiated unnecessary physicality? -no-

All of the argument in this thread is really about the definition of "Enforcer". Seems that we all have our own definition.