In Praise of Complementary Players
Complementary players are not those who sit at the end of the bench and say "nice shot" a lot (those would be complimentary players). No, we're talking about players whose skill sets complement the team's stars. They fill a niche, maybe two, without getting in the way. They add without subtracting. They accept their role, perhaps grudgingly, and pour their energy into it. They relinquesh, at least temporarily, their quest to be "the man". They don't win MVPs; they win championships.
Many complementaries are defensive specialists, because defense is additive. Playing tough D does not deprive a star of the opportunity to play D in the same way that shooting deprives him of the chance to shoot. But even defensive studs need at least one reliable offensive skill. Bruce Bowen was the archetype. He dominated games at the defensive end by harassing the opposing star to the point of distraction (sometimes to the point of ejection). On offense he pulled his defender out to the corner and let the other Spurs play 4 on 4. Occasionally his defender, frustrated with Tony and Manu's shredding or Timmy's up-and-undering, would leave Bruce to go lend a hand. What happened next was so predictable entire arenas full of opposing fans would see it coming and shriek "Nooooo" before the pass even reached Bruce's hands.
Fabricio Oberto was another classic complementary. On offense he'd stand quietly on the baseline, almost out of bounds and well out of the action, watching his defender's eyes. As soon as the opponent glanced over at Timmy, Fab was gone. The defender would look back to where Oberto used to be and "hey, where'd he go"? Oh there he is, under the basket making an unmolested reverse layup.
Complementaries work on the little things. Oberto couldn't elevate to block shots or snare offensive rebounds, so he wrestled and flopped and fouled and mastered the art of tipping missed shots out to a waiting guard. Do you remember Steve Kerr stepping out of the broadcast booth in game 6 of the 2003 Western Conference Finals to slay the Pretty Ponies with 4-4 shooting from behind the arc? Of course you do. Do you also remember Dallas isolating him repeatedly on defense, hoping to victimize his 37 year old legs? Steve used every trick in the book to hold his own against vastly superior athletes, even snagging a steal at one point. He added brilliantly, without subtracting, sparking a series-ending 23-0 run.
Can NBA megastars become complementary players? Many would say we already know The Answer. It's the only thing Michael Jordan ever failed to accomplish on the basketball court. David Robinson did it, but he's an exceptional human being. Let's just say it's very, very difficult.
Who are today's complementary Spurs? Having traded a few away does the team now suffer from a shortage? Matt Bonner complements Duncan and Parker on offense and just might be figuring out how to "not subtract" at the defensive end. Among the new additions Antonio McDyess is complementary but Richard Jefferson is a pure star and Dejuan Blair is pure beast, almost an anti-Oberto. George Hill is TP-lite on offense, most effective when attacking one-on-one. Keith Bogans may lack a reliable offensive skill and Ian Mahinmi clearly lacks a complementary player's savvy. Theo Ratliff? Marcus Haislip? Malik Hairston? Michael Finley's defense? Roger Mason's shooting percentage in limited minutes? The next 50 games are about answering such questions and experimenting to figure out who can best complement the stars. It will be interesting. It may not be much fun.
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What happened next was so predictable entire arenas full of opposing fans would see it coming and shriek “Nooooo” before the pass even reached Bruce’s hands.
Good times, good times.
Try the new PtR--now entirely BAT-FREE!
Great post. It is of utmost importance we find a way for all the players to complement each other, even if that means getting Rage the ball more. He’s not Bruce and we didn’t get him to sit in the corner and jack 3’s. It should take some time to figure this all out but I’m confident in Pop’s ability.
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -Willy Wonka
Loved this, doggy. Recced to RJ’s Odendunk.
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It’s similar to any organization: the pieces need to fit together well in order to be successful. On second thought, maybe it’s like a puzzle…
At first I read this as “maybe it’s like a pizza,” and I was trying to assign different roles to the players. . . . Pop is the dough for the crust, Timmy is the sauce, Tony is the mozzerella while Manu is the parmesan, do we want meat lovers’ or veggie? Make RJ the pepperoni or the mushrooms? And if Blair is onion, does that work with pepperoni? Plus, I hate olives. . . .
Then I got the “puzzle” part.
Try the new PtR--now entirely BAT-FREE!
Oh, and you can always make your pizzas half-and-half! So we could have Manu and Timmy on one half and TP and RJ on the other (Pizza bianca, maybe, if Tony is cheese and RJ is mushroom? With Bogans as a little thyme?)
Try the new PtR--now entirely BAT-FREE!
I’m guessing by that Lauri means the natural stuff.
I think you have plenty of hook-ups in Colorodo, Cap. You should be able to supply your own.
Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed. - CMoney
Now that I think about it, I remember a video with Reggie Miller’s all-time starting five, and another vid with his all-time role players, or something like that. I believe he had Horry and Rambis at the forwards, and I don’t remember who else he chose.
Here is a link that shows his list of role players. It looks like both his all-time starting five and his role players are based on the players he played against over the course of his career.
In addition to Horry and Rambis, he lists B.J. Armstrong, Michael Cooper and Bill “Teddy Bear” Laimbeer.
I think his all-time five had Magic, Michael, Bird, Hakeem shifted over to PF, and Kareem.
In-post survey...
All time roleplayer team, let’s make it. I nominate Craig Ehlo. He’ll be forever over shadowed by “The Shot.” And what’s worse than The Shot? “The Shot II.” Ehlo was tough as nails for the Cavs though, in the late 80s- early 90s. That Cleveland team would mop the floor with today’s line up.
"I'm not the best rapper in the NBA. Elton Brand is better than me. Stephen Jackson is better than me. Troy Hudson is nice. Troy Hudson has fire."
- Ron Artest
Craig Ehlo . Maybe he was a starter. I always thought he came off the bench. Hmm…
"I'm not the best rapper in the NBA. Elton Brand is better than me. Stephen Jackson is better than me. Troy Hudson is nice. Troy Hudson has fire."
- Ron Artest
He was still a role player. The Cavs from back in the day were a fun team to watch with Mark Price, Craig Ehlo, John “Hot Rod” Williams, Larry Nance, Brad Daugherty, Gerald Wilkins, Terrell Brandon, the late Bobby Phills, even our own Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry.
With the exception of Lebron, Cleveland was better at every position back then. Ron Harper was on for a season or two, as well. 1986-87 All-Rookie Team:
Brad Daugherty – Cavs
Ron Harper – Cavs
Chuck Person – Pacers
Roy Tarpley – Mavs
John Williams – Cavs
There was no All Rookie 2nd team until 88-89.
"I'm not the best rapper in the NBA. Elton Brand is better than me. Stephen Jackson is better than me. Troy Hudson is nice. Troy Hudson has fire."
- Ron Artest
Tommy Heinsohn is one of the greatest complementary players ever. He came off the bench and played only 15-20 minutes, mostly because he played like a maniac — dove for every loose ball, defended like crazy, sprinted up and down the floor, and he smoked a lot, too. Good times.
by silverandblack_davis on Nov 18, 2009 5:59 PM CST up reply actions
+1
Good write up. I was going to post something similar to this, but with pictures and not as well written. Anyway, I think your best point is that the finding out of who on this roster are complementary players may not be fun…there are going to be some losses due to our very new roster. It’ll be fun, just not AS fun as we may have thought.
I like Pop and the boys to get it figured out though.
Great stuff, ddw. And thanks for clarifying that bit about the difference between complementary and complimentary. I’m a noob.
by silverandblack_davis on Nov 17, 2009 7:43 PM CST reply actions
They don’t win MVPs; they win championships.
If Horry isn’t the best complementary player in recent memory, I don’t know who is.
The Worm? I don’t know.
At any rate, excellent post and recced.
"Yes, it's important that I have good numbers, and I'm well-respected as a player. But I think it's more important that I'm respected as a man." - Some Tall Guy Who Wore #50

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