Five questions with Robert Horry

[lurker23]

(from this morning's Weekend Dime on ESPN.com)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-081122-23

Five questions with seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry:

Q: We miss you, Big Shot Rob. So can you tell us we're going to see you in a uniform again before the season is over?

A: To be honest with you, I doubt it. It's a trend in the NBA right now to go with youth. I don't think anybody is going to be going for a wily, 38-year-old veteran such as myself. … You never know. It would have to be something I really want for me to even think about it.


Q: What about the trend of signing veterans late in the season that Boston started with P.J. Brown? I hear that Sam Cassell is already trying to convince the Celtics to bring you in after the All-Star break.

A: Sam actually called me about a month ago. I was down in San Diego training, just trying to do something to stay in shape. Sam said: "I talked to Doc [Rivers]. He's thinking about bringing you in at the end of the season, so make sure you stay in shape." I said, "That's fine about Doc, but who is that GM in Boston?" I don't think that's gonna work out.

[Ed's note: Horry was obviously referring to longtime nemesis Danny Ainge.]


Q: Were you actively looking for a team in the summer and just couldn't find any takers?

A: I really wanted to keep playing. But for me it's kind of hard because I don't have an agent calling around for me. … I'm still trying to stay in shape the best I can. I'm shooting about once every three days. I do a lot of pool work to stay off my joints; I get out early in the morning with all the 60-year-old women. But once the holidays come, if I'm still around the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it might be time to just eat and enjoy life.


Q: If you really have played your last game, can we assume you're leaving happy with what you've accomplished?

A: It was a tremendous run. I'm kind of upset the way it ended having a DNP in my last playoff game. My very last game, I don't even get off the bench … it's not the way you really want to go out. But I guess I've had enough on-top moments, probably more than anybody in the league right now. If you told me I'd be able to get seven (rings), I've either been very lucky or I've done a great job helping these great players. I don't think there's been a luckier guy, not being a superstar or even a star.


Q: I know you're trying to downplay it here, so I'll say it: If this turns out to be the end, shouldn't you retiring be a bigger deal with a little more hoopla, even though you've always told us you're a low-key guy?

A: That's happened a lot of times. For as much as I accomplished, I think there's been times I got screwed over in some way, like the way I was treated by some of the refs. Even Nike. I've been a Nike guy for 16 years and once I looked at their website … I'm in the league and I didn't even know some of the guys who were on there instead of me. So looking back, I got screwed over sometimes as far as being recognized. But at the end of the day, you can ask any of the players that I played with or any of the coaches that I played for -- except Danny Ainge -- and I bet they say, "I loved that guy." Overall I didn't get some of the things I wanted to get recognition-wise, but I got the respect of my peers.


Q: What do you think of all of us experts who've anointed James Posey as the new Robert Horry?

A: No, no, no. He ain't no Robert Horry. Posey is a good friend of mine, I love him as a person. But he can't play as many positions as me. I think he plays D almost as good as me, even though he doesn't block shots like I did. He's a great player, but until he reaches that seven mark, he's no Robert Horry.

[Bender]

interesting interview.

... doin' the Rodney Dangerfield "I don't get any respect" thing...

[SpursFanFirst]

No, no, no. He ain't no Robert Horry. Posey is a good friend of mine, I love him as a person. But he can't play as many positions as me. I think he plays D almost as good as me, even though he doesn't block shots like I did. He's a great player, but until he reaches that seven mark, he's no Robert Horry.

:lol
I miss Horry, but whatcha gonna do?

[ploto]

I do a lot of pool work to stay off my joints; I get out early in the morning with all the 60-year-old women. But once the holidays come, if I'm still around the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it might be time to just eat and enjoy life.:toast


I'm kind of upset the way it ended having a DNP in my last playoff game. :depressed

[ShoogarBear]

I said, "That's fine about Doc, but who is that GM in Boston?" I don't think that's gonna work out.

:rollin

[Dex]

It was a tremendous run. I'm kind of upset the way it ended having a DNP in my last playoff game. My very last game, I don't even get off the bench … it's not the way you really want to go out. But I guess I've had enough on-top moments, probably more than anybody in the league right now. If you told me I'd be able to get seven (rings), I've either been very lucky or I've done a great job helping these great players. I don't think there's been a luckier guy, not being a superstar or even a star.


:(

[whottt]

Big Shot Rob will be just what Boston is missing come the post season.

Sorry Rob, but I kinda think Posey is the new Horry...I don't see him getting 7 rings, then again I don't really see anyone else getting that many either.

Nontheless...he did exactly for Boston what Horry has done for his teams throughout his career.

[whottt]

Yeah Pop DnPing him was pretty uncool, and there is no defending it...I don't blame Horry for being upset about it. He deserved better than that...even Steve Smith got some token minutes in 2003...Horry was much more deserving of getting some minutes than Smitty was at the end of that season.


Way to remember game 5 of the 2005 Finals Pop...........you know, your third ring, that Horry put on your finger completely unscripted.

[mrspurs]

Horrys just another 3 point shooter. I think we have plenty of them. Stick a fork in him already. Id like to see Horry goto the lakers or boston. Thats what he does best.

[HarlemHeat37]

Horry was one of my favorite players of all-time..I miss him on this team..we could really use 2005 and 2007 Horry on our current team..always an underrated defender, did everything from an intangibles perspective..and the clutch shots are obviously well-known..one of the best role players of all-time..

Horry is done though..he was horrible last year..he's still a pretty good defender, but he no longer has any offensive game..

[T Park]

Yeah Pop DnPing him was pretty uncool, and there is no defending it...I don't blame Horry for being upset about it. He deserved better than that...even Steve Smith got some token minutes in 2003...Horry was much more deserving of getting some minutes than Smitty was at the end of that season.


Way to remember game 5 of the 2005 Finals Pop...........you know, your third ring, that Horry put on your finger completely unscripted.


So he should've put him in for token minutes?

Even when he wasn't playing well at all?


Get off it.

[T Park]

Horrys just another 3 point shooter. I think we have plenty of them. Stick a fork in him already. Id like to see Horry goto the lakers or boston. Thats what he does best.

Yeah go to the Lakers, so they have another clutch player to kill the Spurs. Great idea :tu

[whottt]

So he should've put him in for token minutes?

Yes



Even when he wasn't playing well at all?

Yes



Get off it.

Maybe it's time you got off it....


PS: :sleep

[mrspurs]

Horry was one of my favorite players of all-time..I miss him on this team..we could really use 2005 and 2007 Horry on our current team..always an underrated defender, did everything from an intangibles perspective..and the clutch shots are obviously well-known..one of the best role players of all-time..

Horry is done though..he was horrible last year..he's still a pretty good defender, but he no longer has any offensive game..

Agreed with your earlier comment on Zo. If Zo can still play, he would be someone who wouldnt get pushed around, or backed down. Thats all we have beside Timmy. Bigs who get pushed around.

[MrChug]

Yes



Yes



Maybe it's time you got off it....


PS: :sleep

No, she's right...that was a pretty stupid ass take.

The very connotation of "token" is disrespect. It shows irrelavence. So...


Get off it. He hasn't done much for a while. I won't miss him. His time has passed.

[Allanon]

Horry's been great. I think he's got 1 big shot left in him.

I noticed that the Lakers purposely left 1 roster spot open, my guess it is to sign "a wily, 38-year-old veteran such as myself"

I'm not sure why Spur fans don't want Horry back...he couldn't be any worse than KT & Fabricio. I'd love to see him back for 1 last Playoff run on the Lakers and it would suck if the Celtics get their hands on him.

As for Posey, too bad (for him) that he signed with the Hornets, Say good bye to deep playoff runs James.

[my2sons]

Should he have gotten token minutes at the beginning or after the game got out of hand. Just wondering, most coaches show respect to their veteran players by not putting them in garbage time. Horry wasn't doing anything to warrant taking minutes away from any other player and I am sure the matchups had something to do with that. So if pop had put him in in garbage time then we might be reading that his last game was marred by playing garbage minutes and he's still dissapointed.

[my2sons]

I wouldn't mind horry coming back if he gets in shape and can still play. I am just wondering if he can get in shape and can still play.

[whottt]

No, she's right...that was a pretty stupid ass take.

Not as stupid as your take that TPark is a she.




The very connotation of "token" is disrespect. It shows irrelavence. So...

Not according to Horry it doesn't you presumptuous ass...according to Horry:


DNPCD in my last game

Is what was disappointing.



Get off it. He hasn't done much for a while. I won't miss him. His time has passed.


I guess you're right...if we'd let Horry on the court in that series...we might have lost.

[lefty]

I wouldn't mind having Horry back for the playoffs.

With the good surprises (Hill and Mason)+ TP and Manu back + the greatness of TD, you are talking about a bunch of guys attracting attention, and someone may leave Horry open....

you never know, we would have nothing to lose

[xtremesteven33]

Horry > Posey


no way does Posey even come close to all the CLutch moments that Robert Horry has had in his career. He didnt pull a John Sally and just play on a bunch of championship teams and win. He made phenomenal shots all his basketball life.....in case you forgot.....

aCRIyfF1vf0

[exstatic]

The DNP doesn't bother me. Pop went WAY out of his way to play him to make sure he got the All Time playoff games record, when his game probably didn't warrant that playing time. He was fucking horrible in the regular season and horrible in the playoffs. What Pop did playing him at all in the playoffs was the respect for years past, but Rob got the record, and the Spurs were fighting for their lives.

[WildcardManu]

Big Shot Rob wasn't an accidental nickname.

[Kindergarten Cop]

Not that it's a big deal, but why do they call it "Five questions with Robert Horry" when they ask him more than five questions?

[MrChug]

I'd say "WHOTT FAILURE", but that would be extremely redundant.

[baseline bum]

Horrys just another 3 point shooter. I think we have plenty of them. Stick a fork in him already. Id like to see Horry goto the lakers or boston. Thats what he does best.

Horry's more a jack of all trades who's only remembered for his three-point shooting. I'm pissed Finley was chosen over Rob, and I thought a lot of his family problems and his lack of a training camp contributed greatly to his disappointing season last year. It would be basically the same situation again if the Spurs brought him back now, so I'm not in favor of it anymore, but I would have been in favor of bringing him back had we got the deal done in the summer. I still don't get choosing Fin over Rob. Fin's good when he's hot, but he contributes nothing when he isn't. Rob on the other hand is a far more skilled player who draws charges, rebounds, makes good passes, and so on even when his shot is off. I don't think the Spurs get by NO without his contributions in game 7.

[ChumpDumper]

I never saw it as a Finley over Horry decision. Tolliver's summer league threes had more to do with the decision to drop Horry than Finley.

[timvp]

I don't think Pop has lost Horry's number just yet. Especially with Oberto and KT playing worse than expected thus far.

[ChumpDumper]

I don't think Pop has lost Horry's number just yet. Especially with Oberto and KT playing worse than expected thus far.Maybe, but is Horry even the type of player that could play their roles? The options out there are so skimpy, I guess there may not be a choice if it comes down to it.

[mrspurs]

Thats the scariest part of it all. With no position for a center on this roster. It wouldnt surprise me if Pop gave him a call. Heck Im not a Bonner fan. But I say, please keep hitting them 3s Bonner. The day we bring Horry back is the day, you can say the Spurs are done. Oh and please someone help Ian comeback, even if he doesnt play. Just dont let a roster spot open up for Big Brick Bob. Or like his last few season, Cheap Shot Bob.

[ChumpDumper]

Blake can be cut at any time. His contract isn't guaranteed until January.

Anyway, signing Horry any time before March would be a waste of time.

[boutons_]

Robert fails to see that age has ended career. He should enjoy his $Ms and think about the rest of his non-NBA life.

[Ice009]

I never saw it as a Finley over Horry decision. Tolliver's summer league threes had more to do with the decision to drop Horry than Finley.

I'm not happy with Tolliver's shooting at all. I've said it since the preseason, but he has got to start hitting some shots. Right now it looks like he tricked the Spurs front office with his shooting. At times he also just breaks the offense and chucks up a shot when he feels like it. Some of his misses haven't even been close.

His 3 point percentage is not really any better than Rob's last season.

Hopefully Tolliver can adjust to the NBA game and gets his shooting going soon.

[Slippy]

There's a reason Pop didn't play Horry and other NBA teams arn't calling. It's probably still fresh on their minds liks it is in mine. He was not the same Robert Horry. Not just in a physycal sense but just as much mental. Aside from the fact that he was dragging his feet on D, he was a nervous wreck on offense with zero confidence. That type of play sealed the deal once and for all. A veteran guy known for his clutchness was playing like a tentative rook. Horry needs to face up to it and call it quits.

I feel for the guy.. that a former Spur can't go out on his terms. That happens when you try to fight father time. I Just hope Pop doesn't go calling out of desperation.

[SenorSpur]

Just dont let a roster spot open up for Big Brick Bob. Or like his last few season, Cheap Shot Bob.

:lmao

[SenorSpur]

I never saw it as a Finley over Horry decision. Tolliver's summer league threes had more to do with the decision to drop Horry than Finley.

Amen!

[SenorSpur]

Horry's been great. I think he's got 1 big shot left in him.

Not. And especially not with him shooting every 3 days or so. GMAB.

I noticed that the Lakers purposely left 1 roster spot open, my guess it is to sign "a wily, 38-year-old veteran such as myself".
You're welcome to him.

I'm not sure why Spur fans don't want Horry back...he couldn't be any worse than KT & Fabricio. I'd love to see him back for 1 last Playoff run on the Lakers and it would suck if the Celtics get their hands on him.


No offense toward Big Shot Rob, but here's your answer:

He was fucking horrible in the regular season and horrible in the playoffs.


There's a reason Pop didn't play Horry and other NBA teams arn't calling. It's probably still fresh on their minds liks it is in mine. He was not the same Robert Horry. Not just in a physycal sense but just as much mental. Aside from the fact that he was dragging his feet on D, he was a nervous wreck on offense with zero confidence. That type of play sealed the deal once and for all. A veteran guy known for his clutchness was playing like a tentative rook. Horry needs to face up to it and call it quits..

:tu :tu
Rob has no reason to be bitter or ashamed. Declining skills happen to every athlete - especially if you play long enough. Good, solid career. Time to move on.

[bdictjames]

I'd much rather have Horry than Kurt Thomas.

[Kamnik]

got to love the guy

[ClingingMars]

Thats the scariest part of it all. With no position for a center on this roster. It wouldnt surprise me if Pop gave him a call. Heck Im not a Bonner fan. But I say, please keep hitting them 3s Bonner. The day we bring Horry back is the day, you can say the Spurs are done. Oh and please someone help Ian comeback, even if he doesnt play. Just dont let a roster spot open up for Big Brick Bob. Or like his last few season, Cheap Shot Bob.

get the FUCK out. NOW.

seriously, GTFO.

-Mars

[SpurSupremacist]

Robert Horry has been AWFUL the last 3 years. I don't know who he thinks he is, admittedly saying he takes the regular season off. That's what laughable to me, Shaq gets criticized for taking regular season games off, and it's just so funny when Horry does it. I guess because Horry is the better player. Silly me. That 30% field goal shooting is so worth it come playoff time.

[lefty]

Robert Horry has been AWFUL the last 3 years. I don't know who he thinks he is, admittedly saying he takes the regular season off. That's what laughable to me, Shaq gets criticized for taking regular season games off, and it's just so funny when Horry does it. I guess because Horry is the better player. Silly me. That 30% field goal shooting is so worth it come playoff time.

He still made some big shots TWICE vs Denver in 2007 playoffs

He was great defensively vs Cleveland in the first 2 games vs Cavs

Also, some big treys vs Hornets in game 7.

Awful

[SpurSupremacist]

He still made some big shots TWICE vs Denver in 2007 playoffs

He was great defensively vs Cleveland in the first 2 games vs Cavs

Also, some big treys vs Hornets in game 7.

Awful

Nevermind, it wasn't 30 percent. It was 19 percent. I concede -- I was wrong.