1995 POs: Spurs vs. Rockets

[ProfessorMurder]

I was just watching some highlights out of boredom... As we all know, Hakeem decimated Robinson in that series. We also know that Rodman was having big issues with the Spurs organization and players.

Can someone tell me why they never played Rodman on Hakeem though? I feel if Rodman was motivated to defend Hakeem straight up, after Hakeem abused Robinson in 1 or 2 games, Rodman would be motivated to play hard regardless of the situation with the Spurs.

Could they not see that Robinson going 1 on 1 with Hakeem was going terribly?

[NugzHeat3]

Rodman did guard him for bits when Robinson was out but I don't remember him having any sort of success. Off the top of my head, Rodman guarded him at least a couple of possessions in games 3, 5 and 6. JR Reid and Terry Cummings also guarded for a couple of minutes or so and the results were the same.

Its funny though. If Rodman really played hard, the Spurs could have possibly beat Houston despite Hakeem taking a large, steaming dump on Robinson. Houston had a major weakness in the rebounding department after they traded Thrope and Carl Herrera went down. One of the reasons the Spurs beat the Rockets by 20+ at Houston was Rodman's rebounding.

Also, don't buy into the myth propogated by Bob Hill that Hakeem was never double teamed that series. He just said that to save Robinson some embarassment. They often double teamed Hakeem and it wasn't working partly because their guards weren't that effective at doubling and Hakeem was able to pick them apart easily.

One of the best things in that series was how Bill Walton, in game 5, kept saying Robinson had Hakeem figured out because Hakeem had a bad shooting night the previous game and Rodman gave Robinson a few tips on how to guard him (tip was to stay on his feet no matter what). Hakeem came out and shit on Robinson from the perimeter and some textbook moves without any fancy stuff.

At the end of the game, Hakeem got a standing ovation.......... in San Antonio while Robinson pulled one of the best disappearing acts I have seen.

Also, to answer your question, nobody could have guarded Hakeem straight up in those playoffs. But I find it a bit strange Hakeem's worst series came against Joe Kleine and Danny Schayes. :oldlol: :oldlol: But to be fair, he was insanely clutch in that series.

[millwad]

Rodman could barely guard Horry in that series, Horry in that series had 3 games where he scored good. Horry in game 2 put up 21 points, game 3 he put up 17 points and finally in game 6 Horry got his game going and put up 22 points in the deciding game.

Rodman didn't play defense in that series, he let Horry shoot open 3's while going for the rebounds. If I recall correctly even his own teammates, I think it was Elliott who after the series called Rodman out for his crappy defense in that series while saying that he only went for the rebounds.

[Kobe_6/8]

Can someone tell me why they never played Rodman on Hakeem though? I feel if Rodman was motivated to defend Hakeem straight up, after Hakeem abused Robinson in 1 or 2 games, Rodman would be motivated to play hard regardless of the situation with the Spurs.

Could they not see that Robinson going 1 on 1 with Hakeem was going terribly?

Paraphrases from Rodman's biography:

They asked me to guard Hakeem, and I refused. Any coach will say you don't put your best defensive star on the opponent's offensive star in the first half. You put it all on the line in the second half.

They asked me to double Hakeem, and I refused. Our defense was set up so I couldn't get back down inside when my man was at the top of the key or out on the baseline. It didn't make sense, and I told Bob Hill that.

I finally got Bob Hill to agree with me and it worked. Robinson played Hakeem straight up and we stopped everybody else. We won those two games, and then Bob Hill went back to the original defensive plan. The Rockets beat us and I was pissed.

[Smoke117]

Rodman did guard him for bits when Robinson was out but I don't remember him having any sort of success. Off the top of my head, Rodman guarded him at least a couple of possessions in games 3, 5 and 6. JR Reid and Terry Cummings also guarded for a couple of minutes or so and the results were the same.

Its funny though. If Rodman really played hard, the Spurs could have possibly beat Houston despite Hakeem taking a large, steaming dump on Robinson. Houston had a major weakness in the rebounding department after they traded Thrope and Carl Herrera went down. One of the reasons the Spurs beat the Rockets by 20+ at Houston was Rodman's rebounding.

Also, don't buy into the myth propogated by Bob Hill that Hakeem was never double teamed that series. He just said that to save Robinson some embarassment. They often double teamed Hakeem and it wasn't working partly because their guards weren't that effective at doubling and Hakeem was able to pick them apart easily.

One of the best things in that series was how Bill Walton, in game 5, kept saying Robinson had Hakeem figured out because Hakeem had a bad shooting night the previous game and Rodman gave Robinson a few tips on how to guard him (tip was to stay on his feet no matter what). Hakeem came out and shit on Robinson from the perimeter and some textbook moves without any fancy stuff.

At the end of the game, Hakeem got a standing ovation.......... in San Antonio while Robinson pulled one of the best disappearing acts I have seen.

Also, to answer your question, nobody could have guarded Hakeem straight up in those playoffs. But I find it a bit strange Hakeem's worst series came against Joe Kleine and Danny Schayes. :oldlol: :oldlol: But to be fair, he was insanely clutch in that series.

...yawn, drink the kool aid. In every other instance Robinson got the best of Hakeem...except this series which people who dont know anything hold as some kind of moment?...right. An 7 game series vs an entire career of match ups...yup.

[Kobe_6/8]

...yawn, drink the kool aid. In every other instance Robinson got the best of Hakeem...except this series which people who dont know anything hold as some kind of moment?...right. An 7 game series vs an entire career of match ups...yup.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=robinda01&p2=olajuha01#stats_playoffs::none

Robinson vs Hakeem in playoffs (6 games)

Hakeem: 4 wins, 43.5mpg, 35.3/12.5/5.0 on 56%
Robinson: 4 losses, 41.7mpg, 23.8/11.3/2.7 on 44.9%

:biggums: D-Rob choked hard in the playoffs, he was the reigning MVP.