Kori Ellis
06-09-2005, 12:53 AM
Buck Harvey: Rasheed scares — still with the edge of an anti-Duncan
Web Posted: 06/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA060905.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2f64ccfef.html
San Antonio Express-News
Rarely have two men been so alike physically and so opposite emotionally. Rarely have two public figures had such similar opinions of the media and such dissimilar responses.
Rarely have two students attended universities in the same state and learned such diverse lessons. Rarely have such talented, 6-foot-11 stars had such opposing reputations.
And never has Rasheed Wallace been as close to Tim Duncan as he is tonight.
Spurs as favorites? Everyone — including Vegas — should rethink that.
The Pistons ought to be no worse than an even bet, and not just because of Rasheed. The Pistons have the long arms to counter both Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and Chauncey Billups gives Detroit something the Spurs don't have. Which is a point guard with a reliable jumper.
As for the Spurs scoring in the 100s against Phoenix — get ready for some nine-minute scoring droughts.
Little wonder a Spurs coach offers his assessment of the series by snapping his thumb under his forefinger. As if flipping a coin.
But that doesn't stop the national perception that the Spurs are clearly better. Duncan has a lot to do with that, as does Rasheed.
Rasheed doesn't mind the role. If anything, he invents enemies daily. Asked if he would like a few more on the Detroit bandwagon, Rasheed shook his head.
"Beat it," he said. "We don't want anyone coming on late."
That's been his public stance, complete with obscenities, and it was 10 years ago. Then he was at North Carolina and Duncan at Wake Forest, and they were part of a sensational sophomore class.
Duncan has seen them round by round this spring. Marcus Camby came first, then Ray Allen, now Rasheed and Antonio McDyess.
Duncan never had a sour rivalry with any of them. According to college friends, the only player that personally bothered Duncan then was Kentucky's Antoine Walker.
Duncan liked the challenge of Rasheed, and he liked pitting his calm against Rasheed's angst. In their last full game against each other, in Chapel Hill in 1995, Duncan outscored Rasheed 25-4 in a Wake victory.
Afterward Duncan said Rasheed "didn't keep his temper."
Scouts were already aware. While Jerry West was among the first to announce that an 18-year-old Duncan was the best of them all, another general manager said this about Rasheed: "His immaturity scares me."
It also scared the team that drafted him, Washington, into a trade. And even when Rasheed's Portland teams did well, he couldn't control himself.
The Spurs saw that in the 1999 Western Conference finals. Once Spurs coach Gregg Popovich subbed out Jerome Kersey, and Kersey reacted with some anger. He slammed the ball into the scorers' table.
Rasheed watched, then demanded a technical foul be called on Kersey. Refs don't call techs for players being upset with their coach, but they do for Rasheed-like craziness. Just when the Blazers put together some energy, Wallace put a Spur on the foul line.
Rasheed still shows some of the same, drawing a $20,000 fine this month for conspiracy lunacy. He can still disappear, too, as he did in Game 5 against Miami, scoring two points in 27 minutes.
But Rasheed is also the one who finished off the Heat, with offensive boards at the end, and he's supplied the edge the Pistons have now. Whether Larry Brown is coming or going, whether the Pistons face elimination, Rasheed plays us-against-them with a title belt slung over a shoulder.
"Rasheed is as good a player," Brown said recently, "as I've ever coached."
Rasheed has always had the talent, adding range to Duncan-like size. And he's never backed away. In Portland he often asked to defend Duncan without help.
He will get his turn now, too, and he will have help on his side whether he likes it or not. As one league exec said this week, Rasheed has some accountability.
"Because of who he's playing with," said the official, "and what he's playing for."
This is something that should scare the Spurs, just as Rasheed once scared scouts. He led the Pistons to an opening victory over the Heat on the road, and he arrives tonight with the same emotions in play.
Rarely has Duncan seen this.
Web Posted: 06/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA060905.1S.COL.BKNharvey.2f64ccfef.html
San Antonio Express-News
Rarely have two men been so alike physically and so opposite emotionally. Rarely have two public figures had such similar opinions of the media and such dissimilar responses.
Rarely have two students attended universities in the same state and learned such diverse lessons. Rarely have such talented, 6-foot-11 stars had such opposing reputations.
And never has Rasheed Wallace been as close to Tim Duncan as he is tonight.
Spurs as favorites? Everyone — including Vegas — should rethink that.
The Pistons ought to be no worse than an even bet, and not just because of Rasheed. The Pistons have the long arms to counter both Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and Chauncey Billups gives Detroit something the Spurs don't have. Which is a point guard with a reliable jumper.
As for the Spurs scoring in the 100s against Phoenix — get ready for some nine-minute scoring droughts.
Little wonder a Spurs coach offers his assessment of the series by snapping his thumb under his forefinger. As if flipping a coin.
But that doesn't stop the national perception that the Spurs are clearly better. Duncan has a lot to do with that, as does Rasheed.
Rasheed doesn't mind the role. If anything, he invents enemies daily. Asked if he would like a few more on the Detroit bandwagon, Rasheed shook his head.
"Beat it," he said. "We don't want anyone coming on late."
That's been his public stance, complete with obscenities, and it was 10 years ago. Then he was at North Carolina and Duncan at Wake Forest, and they were part of a sensational sophomore class.
Duncan has seen them round by round this spring. Marcus Camby came first, then Ray Allen, now Rasheed and Antonio McDyess.
Duncan never had a sour rivalry with any of them. According to college friends, the only player that personally bothered Duncan then was Kentucky's Antoine Walker.
Duncan liked the challenge of Rasheed, and he liked pitting his calm against Rasheed's angst. In their last full game against each other, in Chapel Hill in 1995, Duncan outscored Rasheed 25-4 in a Wake victory.
Afterward Duncan said Rasheed "didn't keep his temper."
Scouts were already aware. While Jerry West was among the first to announce that an 18-year-old Duncan was the best of them all, another general manager said this about Rasheed: "His immaturity scares me."
It also scared the team that drafted him, Washington, into a trade. And even when Rasheed's Portland teams did well, he couldn't control himself.
The Spurs saw that in the 1999 Western Conference finals. Once Spurs coach Gregg Popovich subbed out Jerome Kersey, and Kersey reacted with some anger. He slammed the ball into the scorers' table.
Rasheed watched, then demanded a technical foul be called on Kersey. Refs don't call techs for players being upset with their coach, but they do for Rasheed-like craziness. Just when the Blazers put together some energy, Wallace put a Spur on the foul line.
Rasheed still shows some of the same, drawing a $20,000 fine this month for conspiracy lunacy. He can still disappear, too, as he did in Game 5 against Miami, scoring two points in 27 minutes.
But Rasheed is also the one who finished off the Heat, with offensive boards at the end, and he's supplied the edge the Pistons have now. Whether Larry Brown is coming or going, whether the Pistons face elimination, Rasheed plays us-against-them with a title belt slung over a shoulder.
"Rasheed is as good a player," Brown said recently, "as I've ever coached."
Rasheed has always had the talent, adding range to Duncan-like size. And he's never backed away. In Portland he often asked to defend Duncan without help.
He will get his turn now, too, and he will have help on his side whether he likes it or not. As one league exec said this week, Rasheed has some accountability.
"Because of who he's playing with," said the official, "and what he's playing for."
This is something that should scare the Spurs, just as Rasheed once scared scouts. He led the Pistons to an opening victory over the Heat on the road, and he arrives tonight with the same emotions in play.
Rarely has Duncan seen this.