Rasheed Wallace commentary
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Sheed is one of my favorite players but I had to laugh at some of the things like:
The guy sounds like a HATER. Oh well, all players have haters. If you're a fan of an EC playoff team you probably hate Sheed because he's always talking/mouthing off. I think it's pretty entertaining though. Sheed's like a big bully to them.
BTW if the pistons lose to the cavs any chance the pistons break up the starting five? Chauncey's a free agent in 07 and Ben's a free agent this year. Maybe we could get Sheed...
The guy sounds like a HATER. Oh well, all players have haters. If you're a fan of an EC playoff team you probably hate Sheed because he's always talking/mouthing off. I think it's pretty entertaining though. Sheed's like a big bully to them.
BTW if the pistons lose to the cavs any chance the pistons break up the starting five? Chauncey's a free agent in 07 and Ben's a free agent this year. Maybe we could get Sheed...
Those of you who think this writer is a "hater" or simply a sore loser must not have heard Sheed's latest blatherings:
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1147774240120390.xml&coll=1
Rasheed credits Cavs (sort of), vows to win series
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely
CLEVELAND -- To Rasheed Wallace's credit, he gave the Cleveland Cavaliers some credit for making him eat his words after he guaranteed a Pistons win on Monday.
However, the way the Detroit Pistons forward sees this playoff series -- even after the Cavaliers tied it at two wins apiece following Monday's 74-72 win -- hasn't changed.
"They won tonight. Can't take nothing away from them," said Wallace, who left the game briefly in the second quarter with a right ankle sprain. "Even the sun shines on a dog's ***.
"Ain't no way in hell they're going to beat us in no damn series. Like I said, they (won) tonight, which is good for them. That's something they needed to do. They took care of home. But nah, they're not going to beat us in no series."
Monday's loss was the first time the Pistons were defeated in a playoff game (five of them) in which Wallace -- he had seven points while making just 3 of 13 shots from the field -- guaranteed a victory.
"First time for everything," said Pistons guard Chauncey Billups.
The Cavs were certainly pleased to make Wallace eat his words.
"We won the game," said Cleveland guard Eric Snow. "That is the only statement you can make. That is the best thing you can do when someone makes a statement like that."
One of the few bright spots for the Pistons was the play of Maurice Evans. He scored only three points in 10 minutes, but he was one of the reasons Detroit had a chance to win in the final seconds.
Because of Wallace's sprained right ankle, Evans was on the floor in the final minutes with the other starters.
Wallace said he had no problem with Evans playing in his place at that point.
"I still have confidence in my teammates; still had confidence in Maurice when (Pistons coach) Flip (Saunders) made that sub," Wallace said. "That's what we're all about. If I felt as though I didn't have confidence in him, then I would have definitely said something to Flip."
Richard Hamilton didn't get a single vote from league coaches when they selected the NBA's All-Defensive teams, but he continues to prove his worth as a defender.
Hamilton spent much of the first three quarters guarding LeBron James, who had only 15 points going into the final quarter. Hamilton spent most of the third quarter guarding the Cavs star, holding James scoreless during that time.
Saunders, who usually has Tayshaun Prince guard James, decided to go with a different look.
"Tay guards with length, Rip guards a little bit with a little bit more pressure," Saunders said. "I thought he was getting a little too comfortable with Tay's length all the time."
Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes, who has been with his family in St. Louis following the death of his brother, 20-year-old Justin Hughes, last week, is questionable for Game 5 on Wednesday. Hughes, Cleveland's second-leading scorer in the playoffs, did not play in Games 3 and 4. . . . Billups missed a free throw in the first half, snapping a string of 41 consecutive shots from the line. . . . Pistons reserve Antonio McDyess was held scoreless on Monday for the first time in this series.
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1147774240120390.xml&coll=1
Rasheed credits Cavs (sort of), vows to win series
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely
CLEVELAND -- To Rasheed Wallace's credit, he gave the Cleveland Cavaliers some credit for making him eat his words after he guaranteed a Pistons win on Monday.
However, the way the Detroit Pistons forward sees this playoff series -- even after the Cavaliers tied it at two wins apiece following Monday's 74-72 win -- hasn't changed.
"They won tonight. Can't take nothing away from them," said Wallace, who left the game briefly in the second quarter with a right ankle sprain. "Even the sun shines on a dog's ***.
"Ain't no way in hell they're going to beat us in no damn series. Like I said, they (won) tonight, which is good for them. That's something they needed to do. They took care of home. But nah, they're not going to beat us in no series."
Monday's loss was the first time the Pistons were defeated in a playoff game (five of them) in which Wallace -- he had seven points while making just 3 of 13 shots from the field -- guaranteed a victory.
"First time for everything," said Pistons guard Chauncey Billups.
The Cavs were certainly pleased to make Wallace eat his words.
"We won the game," said Cleveland guard Eric Snow. "That is the only statement you can make. That is the best thing you can do when someone makes a statement like that."
One of the few bright spots for the Pistons was the play of Maurice Evans. He scored only three points in 10 minutes, but he was one of the reasons Detroit had a chance to win in the final seconds.
Because of Wallace's sprained right ankle, Evans was on the floor in the final minutes with the other starters.
Wallace said he had no problem with Evans playing in his place at that point.
"I still have confidence in my teammates; still had confidence in Maurice when (Pistons coach) Flip (Saunders) made that sub," Wallace said. "That's what we're all about. If I felt as though I didn't have confidence in him, then I would have definitely said something to Flip."
Richard Hamilton didn't get a single vote from league coaches when they selected the NBA's All-Defensive teams, but he continues to prove his worth as a defender.
Hamilton spent much of the first three quarters guarding LeBron James, who had only 15 points going into the final quarter. Hamilton spent most of the third quarter guarding the Cavs star, holding James scoreless during that time.
Saunders, who usually has Tayshaun Prince guard James, decided to go with a different look.
"Tay guards with length, Rip guards a little bit with a little bit more pressure," Saunders said. "I thought he was getting a little too comfortable with Tay's length all the time."
Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes, who has been with his family in St. Louis following the death of his brother, 20-year-old Justin Hughes, last week, is questionable for Game 5 on Wednesday. Hughes, Cleveland's second-leading scorer in the playoffs, did not play in Games 3 and 4. . . . Billups missed a free throw in the first half, snapping a string of 41 consecutive shots from the line. . . . Pistons reserve Antonio McDyess was held scoreless on Monday for the first time in this series.
We don't want 'Sheed.
Not a terribly good rebounder, average defender, great in the post but infatuated with the perimeter, headcase, getting old.
I like him as a player (despite the previous paragraph), but I don't want him on my team. And even if I did, he doesn't fit it.
Which is why I don't really want Ben. I would take him, but wouldn't lobby for him.
Not a terribly good rebounder, average defender, great in the post but infatuated with the perimeter, headcase, getting old.
I like him as a player (despite the previous paragraph), but I don't want him on my team. And even if I did, he doesn't fit it.
Which is why I don't really want Ben. I would take him, but wouldn't lobby for him.
We'll just have to agree to disagree. The writer gave Sheed the props for his basketball talent, even calling him "a very talented basketball player."
What he's expressing, and I admit it is from a Pacer fan, is the rest of the package. Sheed is technical prone anyway. When you add his lip to the equation, you get a player who can actually cause his team more harm than good by not just keeping his mouth shut and playing the game...
What he's expressing, and I admit it is from a Pacer fan, is the rest of the package. Sheed is technical prone anyway. When you add his lip to the equation, you get a player who can actually cause his team more harm than good by not just keeping his mouth shut and playing the game...
If he's just talking about Sheed's game on the court (and off with his talk of victories and what not), I guess it's no big deal. I just didn't really like the following sentence in the article:
"If there is a spectrum of bad to good things in sports, with 1 being bad and 10 being good, we'll put Rasheed Wallace at about a 0.5. A world of potential, marvelous ability, brain-dead, and selfish."
Again, if he's just talking about Sheed's abilities on the court and his guarantees, then whatever. But he's crossing a line if he's talking about Sheed as a person (and not just a basketball player), and is making a mistaken generalization, at least imho. Don't know how much it counts for, but Sheed was just recognized for his work in the community by the NBA (see link).
http://www.nba.com/pistons/community/communityassist_060517.html
That would seem to at least get him up into the 3 or 4 range on this writer's scale, at least if he could let the grudge go.
"If there is a spectrum of bad to good things in sports, with 1 being bad and 10 being good, we'll put Rasheed Wallace at about a 0.5. A world of potential, marvelous ability, brain-dead, and selfish."
Again, if he's just talking about Sheed's abilities on the court and his guarantees, then whatever. But he's crossing a line if he's talking about Sheed as a person (and not just a basketball player), and is making a mistaken generalization, at least imho. Don't know how much it counts for, but Sheed was just recognized for his work in the community by the NBA (see link).
http://www.nba.com/pistons/community/communityassist_060517.html
That would seem to at least get him up into the 3 or 4 range on this writer's scale, at least if he could let the grudge go.
I agree man. Maybe this guy should be asking why "brain dead" players like Rasheed have a ring as opposed to any of those brainiac Pacer teams he covered? Sounds like another bitter journalist. He should be on The Sports Reporters or Around the Horn. He and Mariotti could talk about how every athlete is a stupid jerk. Well, except for any of the Pacers I guess.
I am awed by Dave Schultz' perceptive denigration of Rasheed Wallace's mind, and I can't wait to get a more complete look at Schultz' no doubt stellar insights into life, the universe, and everything.
The guy accused Rasheed of being illiterate; it's hard to imagine that as anything other than personal.
Rasheed's mouth--sometimes interesting, usually outrageous, often tedious--has certainly got him into a lot of trouble recently. It's hard to criticize his mouth at one level, though. When he didn't want to talk ("Both teams played hard"), he was fined; if he didn't talk, Mr. Schultz wouldn't have a subject to write about, and there would be less reason for sportswriters to have a job.
I find it funny, too, that there's a dominant narrative in sports that says that a championship determines the value of your career/character, yet if you don't like a player, you don't count his rings. My hatred of Kobe Bryant is occasionally such that I ignore his championships. You see this in some discussions of Wallace, etc., even some coaches.
The guy accused Rasheed of being illiterate; it's hard to imagine that as anything other than personal.
Rasheed's mouth--sometimes interesting, usually outrageous, often tedious--has certainly got him into a lot of trouble recently. It's hard to criticize his mouth at one level, though. When he didn't want to talk ("Both teams played hard"), he was fined; if he didn't talk, Mr. Schultz wouldn't have a subject to write about, and there would be less reason for sportswriters to have a job.
I find it funny, too, that there's a dominant narrative in sports that says that a championship determines the value of your career/character, yet if you don't like a player, you don't count his rings. My hatred of Kobe Bryant is occasionally such that I ignore his championships. You see this in some discussions of Wallace, etc., even some coaches.
I said he's average. I didn't call him Brad Miller. Average is credit. But let's not mistake him for an NBA 1st Team defender. He's average.
Never been a great shot blocker for someone his height. Just over 1 block a game over his career. That's okay, but not above average for a 6'11" PF. He has okay hands for poking away loose balls. But before he came to the Pistons, he was never known for being a stand-out defender.
Never been a great shot blocker for someone his height. Just over 1 block a game over his career. That's okay, but not above average for a 6'11" PF. He has okay hands for poking away loose balls. But before he came to the Pistons, he was never known for being a stand-out defender.
I disagree.
Elton Brand took him for 30 twice, Dwight Howard averaged 21 and 10 against him in three games, Dirk averaged 24 and 10 against him in two games, Zach Randolph averaged 29 and 11 against him in two games, Chris Webber averaged 19 and 8 in three games.
He did an okay job on Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, stats-wise. And Jermaine O'Neal was hurt when the Pacers played the Pistons; he only played in two games, and didn't start in one of them.
I just don't see Rasheed Wallace as a "good" defender. I think average is fair.
I'll agree to disagree.
Elton Brand took him for 30 twice, Dwight Howard averaged 21 and 10 against him in three games, Dirk averaged 24 and 10 against him in two games, Zach Randolph averaged 29 and 11 against him in two games, Chris Webber averaged 19 and 8 in three games.
He did an okay job on Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, stats-wise. And Jermaine O'Neal was hurt when the Pacers played the Pistons; he only played in two games, and didn't start in one of them.
I just don't see Rasheed Wallace as a "good" defender. I think average is fair.
I'll agree to disagree.
Sure.
Elton Brand - 57%
Dwight Howard - 59%
Dirk - 43%
Randolph - 49%
Webber - 41%
Duncan - 43%
Garnett - 43%
O'Neal - 43%
That's an average of over 47%.
Of course, I should mention that these numbers don't prove anything either way. The only way you can really judge someone's defensive talent (which isn't really the question with Rasheed; it's more an issue of effort and how willing he is to defend with passion; I always thought that Chris Webber was a better defender than Rasheed Wallace, simply because he actually played hard on that end before he got hurt) is by watching them play. And I've watched a lot of Rasheed Wallace over his career. Never been impressed.
People say Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton are very good defenders, too. But that was never the case before they played with Ben Wallace, four time Defensive Player of the Year.
Elton Brand - 57%
Dwight Howard - 59%
Dirk - 43%
Randolph - 49%
Webber - 41%
Duncan - 43%
Garnett - 43%
O'Neal - 43%
That's an average of over 47%.
Of course, I should mention that these numbers don't prove anything either way. The only way you can really judge someone's defensive talent (which isn't really the question with Rasheed; it's more an issue of effort and how willing he is to defend with passion; I always thought that Chris Webber was a better defender than Rasheed Wallace, simply because he actually played hard on that end before he got hurt) is by watching them play. And I've watched a lot of Rasheed Wallace over his career. Never been impressed.
People say Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton are very good defenders, too. But that was never the case before they played with Ben Wallace, four time Defensive Player of the Year.