JRW, I’m totally with you on this and I sincerely believe we were separated at birth.

Manu’s ability to change the tone of a game is what makes him the absolute X factor.

This might sound crazy, but the Nuggets may go for a Bonner/Kleiza trade. They could use a big man who can spread the floor.

I would take a healthy, in-his-prime Worthy over a healthy, in-his-prime Horry 6 days a week and twice on Sunday. No way you’re making this argument.

It’s incredible how players’ legends, even soon after they retire (or in Rob’s case, just aren’t picked up), balloon so much.

Actually, it’s funny you mention that.
1.) A guy named Jim Loscutoff from the ‘50s and ’60s tied Rob with 7 (also all gleaned from attaching himself to stars, IE Bill Russell), and didn’t make the Hall. He was known as a shooter and a defensive player too. Couldn’t find you any video on him though. Guess Rob wins.

2.) In addition, Thomas Ernest “Satch” Sanders won 8 rings, also with the great Celts dynasty of that era. He was a role-player/forward like Rob, but no Hall for him. I hear his family’s still holding out hope though. No video here either, so….dammit.

3.) Steve only has 5, but his window’s still open. He might even win several more as a GM. ( :: stifling hysterical laughter :: ) I’m holding out hope that he fails miserably just to re-enforce my position though.

It’s exciting to know that an option to enter the Hall is: “must have at least 7 rings and have played for multiple teams in acquiring them.” When “has a belt size of 34 and shoots above 25%” eventually comes to pass, I’m a first-ballot.

Oh I recognize, and love Rob. I’d even be willing to bet that I’m one of if not the only one on PtR who’s ever proudly sported a Rob/SPURS jersey. But I’m objective and fair too, and Rob simply wasn’t a Hall-of-Fame player. He was clutch and wonderful and kind and handsome and dreamy and talented, but not one of the best ever. And that’s what the Hall is, or at least should be.

Again, the simple fact that we’re discussing this (and that it’s been nationally discussed many times) is proof enough for me.

Horry could too hold Worthy’s jock.

In fact, I saw him do it once. And James said, “Thanks Rob. Nice work there.” And Horry said, “Would you like for me to fold it now?” And James said, “No. That’s fine. I’ll do that myself.” And then they went their separate ways.

I should be sleeping, jolly. I hate your guts for making me reply… I honestly was trying to create some controversy, because it’s not fun if everyone agrees. It’s the freakin’ offseason. But in any case, I do believe in Horry’s excellence. He had some of the most amazing basketball plays I’ve seen, and I feel those memories are slighted when people belittle his accomplishments.

This game in particular was incredible. I honestly have only seen a performance like that one a few other times, not many. In the highlights, you’ll see:

• 1st Horry 3 – Open
• 2nd Horry 3 – Right over Ben Wallace (DPOY), I think? That’s him, right? Quality’s poor, but that sure looks like his ’fro
• 3rd Horry 3 – Over ’Sheed, crazy shot
• Horry offensive rebound and putback
• Pump fakes Tayshaun, dribbles past ’Sheed, draws the foul on Hamilton and dunks the ball… …
• The Shot, 5 seconds left

To say this was a high pressure game is to severely understate it. This game defined high pressure. The ball wouldn’t go in, and both teams were excellent defenders. An open shot in this game, with the series and the championship on the line, is not a piece of cake. “Of course he was able to make big shots”. Are you kidding me? Last month none of the scrubs could buy a 3 for their lives, and that was in a random playoff game against the dregs of this league.

Who was on the floor for the Pistons in that play? Billups, Hamilton, ‘Sheed, Wallace and Prince, I imagine. Who among those could guard a tall guy like Rob? ’Sheed and Wallace. Was Duncan playing? Yes, he was. Could ’Sheed battle with Duncan on the post? No, he couldn’t. Could Ben cover the 3-point line effectively? No, that’s not him, either. Prince might’ve done the job, but he was on Ginobili. Was ’Sheed going to cover Manu? How?

So yes, ‘Sheed was going to end up defending Rob, and he committed a stupid mistake and left him open to try and trap Manu. But to say that the Pistons didn’t think much of Horry after he had dropped 21 points on them in less than one and a half quarters in disingenuous. I can assure you they knew Rob was playing, and Brown’s plan sure as hell wasn’t “leave him open, double the studs instead”. Whatever ‘Sheed did, he wasn’t thinking of “managing the risk” when he trapped Manu in a position where he couldn’t possible make a three – he was simply gambling for a game-winning defensive play, and he lost.

Of course the presence of Manu and Tim didn’t let the Pistons triple guard him, yeah, but by that reasoning just about every star that has an actual team surrounding him benefits from its presence. And for the record, I didn’t say that the Pistons tried their best to stop him on that final play – I meant in general. He hit some incredibly big shots, and then when he drove to the basket they couldn’t stop him without fouling him. “He was always the open man on the play”. Ridiculous.

And BTW, do you really think they were paying more attention to Tony than Rob in that game, C? Really?

And Chauncey doesn’t seem to be consistantly looking to play the blame game whenever things don’t work out. I’m with Cap 100% on her points; give Chauncey a greater body of work and I’d vote him in.

If I had to pick between Chauncey and Nash I would pick Chauncey. I just dont see how Nash is one-dimensional. He can shoot the three, jumpers, can get in the lane, get assists, shoot free throws, flop and turn the ball over. How is that one-dimensional. Basketball is not a 2D game because there are many skills required to play offense and defense.

I’m a big advocate of great players being good at both ends of the floor but I guess I’ll make an exception for Steve Nash. His unbelievable two seasons might be a product of D’Antoni’s offense, but you have to admit, offense WAS also their best defense at that time. Mike D’s system wouldn’t work so easily if you didn’t have a PG of Nash’s virtuoso talents (see: Knicks). Through his incredible passing and shooting, Steve made his teammates better – which I think is one big factor voters take into consideration when choosing the MVP.

And maybe – just maybe – the high-octane offense also motivated his teammates to play even a modicum of defense on the other end. Scoring can also motivate players to play harder, and for his two MVP seasons, nobody was better than Stevie Wonder in creating for his running mates.

Scary future.

Well, you were pretty much right. It should have been 3 straight ending in ’04 (and the case could even be made for ’05 too), but the “Stern conspiracy/anti-SA bias/pro-little-white-PG/underappreciation for truly how brilliant Timmy is” rolled into town and regulated things.

Definitely? Why? Pippen owns 1/3 of 6 Bulls championships.

No you don’t. Stop that. It’s disingenuous

I can see that this isn’t going to get old for a while.

But after Jordan, it was all Pippen across multiple teams. If His Airness wasn’t so alien, Pippen wouldn’t be second banana. Pippen at that time on any other team, I wouldn’t say he was secondary. Tony Kukoc, Luc longley, Worthy, younger athlectic pf I can’t remember name of etc where all second bananas.

Its like Stockton or Malone…who comes first and whose second banana? If His Airness had stockton instead of Pippen, would Stockton be any less. Its sort of like we say about DRob before his back injury. When has the league seen anyone like that, a center, who could lead the fast break and move around like a wing?
Since Pippen, I can’t think of anyone who had that many talents both on offense and defense. Pippen changed a lot of playoff games.

But if somebody can give us few names ahead of Pippen, it will be food for thought. Everything that anyone did since Jordan is diminished in value becoz the ceiling of excellence went where nobody can see it, forget reaching for it.