duncan228
09-08-2009, 12:01 PM
Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro recalls playing with David Robinson and guarding Michael Jordan, soon-to-be Hall of Famers (http://www.masslive.com/basketball-hall-of-fame/index.ssf/2009/09/vinny_del_negro_was_david_robi.html)
by The Republican Sports Desk
By Ron Chimelis
Vinny Del Negro remembers trying to guard Michael Jordan, the greatest offensive basketball force of his time.
The Springfield native also remembers one of the greatest offensive outbursts in NBA history. The second memory, involving David "The Admiral" Robinson, is much more pleasant.
"By the end of the first quarter, we were saying no one should attempt to shoot, just get the ball to David," Del Negro said, recalling April 24, 1994, when San Antonio teammate Robinson scored 71 points in the final game of the regular season.
Del Negro was a Spurs guard in that game, a 112-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
"By the second quarter, we weren't even running any plays, just coming down and throwing it to David," said Del Negro, the former Suffield Academy star who is now coach of Jordan's old team, the Chicago Bulls.
From 1992-98, he was Robinson's teammate at San Antonio. He was also among the myriad of NBA guards who covered Jordan and Utah's John Stockton.
Robinson, Jordan and Stockton will all be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday.
As coach of the Bulls, Del Negro said the legacy of Jordan's six titles is not a burden.
"They had a stretch that was arguably the best any pro team, in or out of basketball, has ever had," Del Negro said.
"The history they created is something I embrace. It's an honor to follow it."
Covering Jordan was not nearly so satisfying, the 13-year NBA veteran said.
"We would try to force him to a spot on the floor where we could double-team him. But with the Bulls' triangle offense, that was difficult because they had good spacing, and he could see it coming," Del Negro said.
Del Negro is flying with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf to enshrinement in Springfield. He will also catch up with Robinson.
"David was not as physical as Patrick Ewing or Hakeem Olajuwon. He was different than Tim Duncan in that he was not a pure post-up player," Del Negro said.
"But he had great athleticism, and he was most effective at the elbow (of the foul lane), where he could put the ball on the floor and drive past people," Del Negro said.
In the 71-point game, Robinson shot 26 for 41, made 18 of 25 free throws and hit a 3-pointer, one of 25 in his career.
Del Negro had six assists. He took only three shots and made one, deferring to Robinson, who edged Shaquille O'Neal for the NBA scoring title with that outburst.
With 71 points, Robinson shares eighth place with Elgin Baylor among the highest scoring games by an NBA player.
Wilt Chamberlain had five of the top seven, including the record with 100 in 1962.
Del Negro and Robinson were involved in another historic game. On February, 17, 1994, Robinson had 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocked shots, the most recent of four quadruple-doubles in NBA history.
Del Negro had 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in San Antonio's 115-96 victory over Detroit.
"I remember that much less than the 71-point game, though," he said.
The two future teammates were opponents in 1986. In the Tip-Off Classic at Springfield's Civic Center, Del Negro's North Carolina State team took an 86-84 thriller over Robinson and Navy.
"There's a picture of me, guarding David as part of a double-team in that game. It's pretty funny,' said Del Negro, who stands 6-4.
"I was fortunate to be his teammate in the prime of his career. You could gamble on defense, because you knew 'The Admiral' was back there to help."
by The Republican Sports Desk
By Ron Chimelis
Vinny Del Negro remembers trying to guard Michael Jordan, the greatest offensive basketball force of his time.
The Springfield native also remembers one of the greatest offensive outbursts in NBA history. The second memory, involving David "The Admiral" Robinson, is much more pleasant.
"By the end of the first quarter, we were saying no one should attempt to shoot, just get the ball to David," Del Negro said, recalling April 24, 1994, when San Antonio teammate Robinson scored 71 points in the final game of the regular season.
Del Negro was a Spurs guard in that game, a 112-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
"By the second quarter, we weren't even running any plays, just coming down and throwing it to David," said Del Negro, the former Suffield Academy star who is now coach of Jordan's old team, the Chicago Bulls.
From 1992-98, he was Robinson's teammate at San Antonio. He was also among the myriad of NBA guards who covered Jordan and Utah's John Stockton.
Robinson, Jordan and Stockton will all be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday.
As coach of the Bulls, Del Negro said the legacy of Jordan's six titles is not a burden.
"They had a stretch that was arguably the best any pro team, in or out of basketball, has ever had," Del Negro said.
"The history they created is something I embrace. It's an honor to follow it."
Covering Jordan was not nearly so satisfying, the 13-year NBA veteran said.
"We would try to force him to a spot on the floor where we could double-team him. But with the Bulls' triangle offense, that was difficult because they had good spacing, and he could see it coming," Del Negro said.
Del Negro is flying with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf to enshrinement in Springfield. He will also catch up with Robinson.
"David was not as physical as Patrick Ewing or Hakeem Olajuwon. He was different than Tim Duncan in that he was not a pure post-up player," Del Negro said.
"But he had great athleticism, and he was most effective at the elbow (of the foul lane), where he could put the ball on the floor and drive past people," Del Negro said.
In the 71-point game, Robinson shot 26 for 41, made 18 of 25 free throws and hit a 3-pointer, one of 25 in his career.
Del Negro had six assists. He took only three shots and made one, deferring to Robinson, who edged Shaquille O'Neal for the NBA scoring title with that outburst.
With 71 points, Robinson shares eighth place with Elgin Baylor among the highest scoring games by an NBA player.
Wilt Chamberlain had five of the top seven, including the record with 100 in 1962.
Del Negro and Robinson were involved in another historic game. On February, 17, 1994, Robinson had 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocked shots, the most recent of four quadruple-doubles in NBA history.
Del Negro had 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in San Antonio's 115-96 victory over Detroit.
"I remember that much less than the 71-point game, though," he said.
The two future teammates were opponents in 1986. In the Tip-Off Classic at Springfield's Civic Center, Del Negro's North Carolina State team took an 86-84 thriller over Robinson and Navy.
"There's a picture of me, guarding David as part of a double-team in that game. It's pretty funny,' said Del Negro, who stands 6-4.
"I was fortunate to be his teammate in the prime of his career. You could gamble on defense, because you knew 'The Admiral' was back there to help."