Great post. One of the players that is starting to fill that role is Anthony Parker from the Raptors. Great one on one defender who can shoot and plays within the team. It will be interesting to see if he develops into that player.
I agree with Steve Kerr at the # 1 position. Steve should also have won the All Star game MVP the last year Jordan won it. Steve was the diference in the game, not Jordan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by D-Town-Raised
There is always an abundance of talk about the top players of all time, the most overrated, the most underrated and the biggest busts. But what about those specialists that always seem to break the opposing fans heart? That guy you think is a nobody scrub that drops twenty on your team in game six? Or hits two wide open 3's in the last couple of minutes of the pivitol game five? Well here are those guys. Modern Era means players from 1980-2007. As it is difficult to determine the accomplishments of lesser known role players from the early eras.
1. Steve Kerr
Steve had no one on one game, he couldn't dribble, he couldn't play D, he could do one thing and one thing only. Hit wide open shots. That was his specialality and based on percentage he did it better then anybody in the history of the league. But it goes deeper then that. He hit the game clinching shot versus the Jazz. He torched the Mavs in the fourth quarter of the Western Conference Finals after playing virtually no minutes the entire playoffs on root to helping the Spurs to their second title. He played maybe 15 minutes a game for the Bulls yet he was always on the floor the last five minutes of close games. He would hit the wide open three and jumper on consecutive possessions to take that close five point playoff game to a comfortable ten point lead time and time again. It seemed he never failed. Anytime his number was called he came through.
2. Robert Horry
Now he didn't have the same efficiency as Steve and many times he would toss up bricks in the third and early fourth. But when it came to shots in the last minute of a game he always came through. From hitting clutch shots versus the Knicks, hitting them for the Spurs and breaking Sacramento fans hearts. In his prime he had a decent defensive and offensive game but not good enough to make him better then the fifth best player on the team.
3. Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson
Probably the most prolific scoring role player in NBA history. Nobody had the ability to go three games scoring ten points then erupt for thirty in a pivitol game. Sometimes going on streaks where he would score 15 in a row for his team. Top it all off by nailing the game winner verus the Blazers. Though the series only went five games this was a very close series and the Pistons just made all the plays at the right times stopping it from going seven.
4. John Paxon.
A pure jump shooter and darn good too. Micheal is on a quest for his first ring and is up against Magic. He is trying to get over the hump and prove he is an elite player. Problem is the Lakers took game one and the are relentless with the double and triple teams. Micheal was gonna have to pass and pass he did. Time and time again he passed it to Paxon and time and time again Paxon made virtually every jumper. What about those Suns fans? What about Barkley? What about game seven at home? Well thanks to John we will never know.
5. Danny Ainge
Screw how many you make. It's all about how many you take. Danny was a scorer and when he was on he could get you twenty. He was on the Celtic Championship teams playing a pivitol role. The Blazers make it to their third Finals and what do you know? There goes Danny shooting every time he touches the ball. A year later, a new team and the same result. There goes Danny with the Suns putting on a clutch performance in the Classic triple overtime win over the Bulls.
I agree with Steve Kerr at the # 1 position. Steve should also have won the All Star game MVP the last year Jordan won it. Steve was the diference in the game, not Jordan.
i'm fairly certain steve kerr has never played in an all-star game. i doubt he's ever averaged more than 25 minutes a game or 10 points. he's a 1 dimensional career backup. i'm not sure who you're thinking of, but it isn't kerr.
Your right I had the wrong guy, Mark Price was who I was thinking of.
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Originally Posted by dejordan
i'm fairly certain steve kerr has never played in an all-star game. i doubt he's ever averaged more than 25 minutes a game or 10 points. he's a 1 dimensional career backup. i'm not sure who you're thinking of, but it isn't kerr.
Bobby Jackson, could be a starter but came off the bench in Sac and won 6th man of the year honors and once averaged 15ppg as a reserve. The guy could go for 30 as a scoring threat every night, and he remains one of the best finishers around the basket IMO. He brought energy to the game and was an impact player. He also rebounds very well for a guy his size.
i would like to put in a good word for kurt rambis on the lakers in the 80s
he was a very important cog on that team chock full of all stars
rambis did all the dirty work-- getting great rebounds, setting solid picks, hustling for everything, playing hard nosed d, clogging the middle, protecting the superstars from other teams thugs
rambis never gets the props from people. but those who really understand the way the nba game is played, know how valuable he was
Re: Top 5 "Role Players" Of The Modern Era.
