We’re All Just Hypocrites in the End
I stumbled across an interesting little piece from the Orlando Sentinel yesterday. It was an article that assessed whether or not Rasheed Wallace would be a good fit with the Magic, if they were to sign him. As you may already know, Orlando-ites don’t exactly love Sheed (but who does?).
Regardless, in the amount of time it took for Magic fans to read the article, Rasheed did a complete 180 from a no-good cry baby to an impeccable team player and all-around great guy. Newly ordained Sheed-worshippers commented relentlessly, and 78% of the poll voters agreed that he would fit like a glove in Orlando’s system. He would put the Magic in a lock for the championship, they said. Despicable!
But wait. How many Pistons fans thought about Rasheed in the same manner before February 19, 2004? I’m willing to bet it was a good amount.
—
For many, when the Billups-Iverson trade was announced, A.I. was golden. Finally, an energetic superstar who could penetrate the lane and had the heart of a lion. He could do no wrong. We laughed when he made his press conference “practice” allusion and we couldn’t wait for Allen to take us to the next level.
By the end of the seaons, Allen Iverson was an old, greedy, washed-up NBA antique whom the Pistons should’ve stayed as far away from as possible. Many wanted Chauncey back.
—
Ever since Boston purchased their All Star team, I’ve despised the Big Three. Yes, I hate the way Ray Allen chews gum. Yes, I hate how good Paul Pierce is at mid-range fadeaways. And yes, I think Kevin Garnett needs to lower the dose of whatever medication he’s taking.
But the truth is, when the Celtics offered us Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, I was all over it. Rondo…a flopper? Never. He’s a future All-Star! Allen…a lucky shot-hog? Never. He’s a future Hall-of-Famer! I’ve always found it disturbing that Rajon Rondo ends up on the ground after every lay-up, but to be honest, I’d be happy to have him do it in a Pistons jersey. If the offer wasn’t so lopsided, many would have thought the same way.
Call it desperation if you will, the desire to have a team that’s on top again. But we’re all just hypocrites in the end…in the sports world at least.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
True Piston fans, especially those who understand the game love what Rasheed brings to the table. The bottom line is about who can play and who can’t. Rasheed can play. This season was very tough on Rasheed. We talk about how Prince and Rip were affected by the Chauncey trade. However, the way things played with who played in games, how long certin individuals played, who started and who can off the bench, etc., etc. A high basketball mind like Rasheed is affected worst than them all. Rookie decisions, whether it was Stuckey or Coach Curry, affects a great basketball mind more than your average player. Couple all of that with Rasheed being injured, not hurt, but injuried, it amounts to being more than just fustrated. Rasheed has never been used properly since he has been with Detroit. In years past the chemistry has covered for him getting less than 12 shots in most games. However, during a year when the chemistry was at it’s worst, coupled with losing leads and games in the fourth quarter, Rasheed’s fustration was elevated. Because he doesn’t complain about his players/ teammates, he complains to the refs. Maybe he should tell his teammates what he actually thinks about making silly passes, no passes, him not getting shots, etc.
We need Rasheed to make free agent acquisition work. No, he doesn’t teach with his temper. He does teach on the court and in practice. Without Rasheed, the total team IQ will go down considerably. If you think that they were lost without Chauncey, wait and see what happens without Rasheed.
That’s enough. If you don’t agree or can’t see what I have said thus far then I’ve hasted my time anyway.
See ya!
MJ
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I totally agree. Sheed is a team player who gives his team mates a chance to shoot and when the can’t he can take over and does.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think you may have misunderstood the article’s purpose.
This isn’t a knock on Sheed. I agree with you that Rasheed’s value to the Pistons is grossly underrated, even during times like these. I also agree that the gaping hole he will leave will be difficult to fill. Perhaps then, will fans realize what a foundation he was.
Conversely, the point of this post was really just to demonstrate how quickly we can come to love a player we’ve always hated. Not much more than that.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Leave your response!
Poll
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Categories
Blogroll
Unique Visitors
Visitor Map
Meta
Tag Cloud
Most Commented
Most Viewed