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Because I said so.
I just watched it yesterday, and was disappointed that they completely skipped over his years with the Spurs. It jumped from his time ending in Detroit, to him joining the Bulls. I wondered if it was a glitch or something. Any idea why his Spurs years weren't featured?
I really enjoyed watching him play for us, but feel that he made it all about himself rather than the team. I blame him more than anyone for our loss to the Rockets in 1995. If he had shown up on time for practice and games, and actually done what the coach asked him to do, we might've won our first championship four years earlier.
Regardless, Dennis was (and still is) a troubled soul. It's really sad. For those who watched it, what were your thoughts?
Because I said so.
ing ESPN trying to rewrite history. I was disgusted watching Rodman and Pippen on an ESPN clip earlier today and he was talking about how he busted his ass in San Antonio. Bull . Jacking up threes in the first quarter of a must win WCF game because you're in a pissing match with the coach and want him to bench you isn't busting your ass. San Antonio loved Rodman and he just took a wet all over his fans that WCF. I'll admit it, in 1995 I was a bigger Rodman fan than I was David or Sean until he pulled that crap in the WCF.
I saw it last week and the Spurs years were featured on there. They weren't as long as the bulls and pistons years but they did have a 7-10 minute segment on his time with the Spurs. David Robinson provided some good commentary about playing with him.
Dennis Rodman played hard and did what he was known for - rebounding the ball. He lost his way and threw childish tantrums at the end of the playoffs during his final year in San Antonio but make no mistake, he was amazing on the court and showed what sort of drive and talent he had. In the end, the coach couldn't control him (Not Pop). I don't think he was the biggest reason the Spurs lost in the WCF. Hakeem had more to do with that.
Rodman was a back stabber who’s childish antics cost the spurs a championship.
One of the most disappointing players the spurs had.
Thank Robinson and AJ for driving him away with all their bible thimping
Srsly, Hakeem’s punching bag invited him in a restaurant to brainwash him , ffs
No matter how many times you repeat this lie, it doesn't make it true.Thank Robinson and AJ for driving him away with all their bible thimping
Srsly, Hakeem’s punching bag invited him in a restaurant to brainwash him , ffs
Rodman only RETROACTIVELY criticized Robinson's beliefs after he felt vindicated in Chicago. BUT he was completely at fault for failing to show up mentally against the Rockets, and he was rightfully ostracized for doing so. His tantrums THAT series were incredibly disruptive. Let's recap:
Game 1 Spurs 93 / Rockets 94
Mario Elie sinks a dagger due to miscommunication between Rodman and Del Negro. Rodman doesn't return to cover his man on a switch everything scheme and Elie makes the Spurs pay. There is a huge altercation between the Spurs coaching staff and Rodman after the game.
Game 2 Spurs 96 / Rockets 106
Rodman still peeved at coach Hill for being publicly blamed for the defensive lapse that led to Elie's dagger in Game 1 - decides that he is now a 3-point specialist. He takes his first 3 a couple of minutes into the game, looks over at the coach does the MJ shrug, and jogs down the floor on defense (Sam Cassell makes a breakaway layup off of the long rebound). Hill yanks his hair in disbelief. After Rodman's next two 3 point attempts, he is yanked out of the game. Rodman takes off his shoes in disgust. The Rockets meanwhile have built a 15 point lead.
Game 3 Spurs 107 / Rockets 102
The Spurs win a critical Game 3 at HOUSTON in no large part because Rodman was disciplined by the coach and didn't play at all.
Game 4 Spurs 103 / Rockets 81
Rodman returns to the lineup and the Spurs win BIG in Game 4. After the game the coach apologizes for publicly blaming Rodman after the Game 1 loss. "They win as a team and lose as a team". The ship is seemingly righted. You would think everything between Rodman and the team was resolved, but no. Rodman doesn't make it to the charter bus back in time due to excessive partying in Houston.
Game 5 Spurs 90 / Rockets 111
Game 5 is insanely critical and Rodman is again disciplined and demoted to the bench due to his insubordination (and conduct detrimental to the team) - Rodman throws another tantrum midway through the 3rd quarter, again takes off his shoes and refuses to put them on again. The Spurs lose at home - yet again - Cassell has the game of his career.
Game 6 Spurs 95 / Rockets 100
The entire team sits down with Rodman prior to the game - a no coaches team meeting. The Spurs start the game strong and match Houston punch-for-punch. Everyone seems focused. Rodman quietly is having his best game in the series. The game comes down to the wire. With about a minute and change left in the game the Rockets call time out. All series long Olajuwon has been hoisting up 25+ attempts per game, but the coaches feel that David has defended Olajuwon well in the 4th quarter so they call for single coverages - they emphasize it. The Rockets inbound the ball and dump the ball low to Olajuwon, Hakeem surveys the floor just in time to see Rodman running towards him - Horry is left open. Olajuwon flings the ball to Horry and he sinks the 3 point dagger. Hill is beside himself calls time out and yanks Rodman from the game. Rodman doesn't even sit on the bench or watch the rest of the game... he walks straight towards the locker room. That was the last time he wore a Spurs jersey.
Wow. Interesting stuff. I never got to watch this series. I guess Rodman's part in the series was a big deal.
Rodman’s diva antics were just ahead of its time. He would blend in with today’s NBA.
Nice breakdown tbh
thank you for this nice succinct review. rodman was a very talented guy with terrific ability and a child mind who was a square peg with the team and coaches. i remember those nike commercials in the barbershop with dave.
I was actually surprised they not only spent time on the Spurs but a good 6-8 mins on them. He was happy not winning a le in SA. He wanted out and was going to do whatever it took...
The bigger surprise to me was trading for him right after the incident in his truck with the gun. Talk about a red flag.
no
Last edited by playblair; 09-18-2019 at 11:57 AM.
BSPN tbh
Rodman used to get his hair painted at the studio near Ruth's Chris off Jones-Maltsberger n 281 near the Quarry (well, when it was still abandoned Alamo Cement). He never asked for an autograph, he was still somewhat intimidating, but slapped fives n whatnot.
Edit: wrong thread
Last edited by UZER; 09-18-2019 at 02:16 PM.
Thanks, it must be an issue with the version currently posted on watchespn.com. I tried it on the app as well as my computer and it had nothing about his Spurs years. Weird.
THIS! Thank you for this excellent recap. I'm so tired of Rodman getting a pass for this series, when he was the main reason we lost. People have no problem blaming David, but Rodman somehow escapes blame. The idea that he was this tough, hard-nosed warrior on the court is such crap. He was all about himself, as evidenced by this series.
Doc Rivers is still pissed about that '95 playoffs, Doc's last desperate shot at a ring.
And Doc still blames Rodman to this day.
The Spurs Rodman saga is the ultimate example of media bias. When he was with the Spurs, broadcasters on air would making statements that he shouldn’t be in the league. As soon as he joined MJ, he went from dirty s to “just misunderstood” and exciting overnight.
Rodman wasn't going to respect Bob Hill. Rodman respected Daly and PJ because they were winners.
Hill was/is a loser.
Hill imho was a more than decent coach and probably ed by our organization by Pop's decision to fire him...maybe one of the firing reasons was that Hill wasn't able to deal with Rodman, and that cost us Houston's loss and a road to the finals. But the main reason of the firing, if I remember correctly, was that Hill didn't want to sit David for the entire season after his injury.
Reason 1 is understandable but a little weak. Frankly, also if Hill wasn't good at dealing with players, we can't forget how unprofessional and immature was Rodman at that time. I consider Rodman 90 per cent responsible of our loss with Houston and the fact that we let go a big time player for a simpathetic but mediocre player like will Perdue speack volumes about how low Rodman was considered not only by our team but also from the rest of the league at the time... Rodman simply pretended to be anarchic and not be blamed by his coach for that behavior... so I don't blame Hill that much but its inevitable that his inability to deal with the problem put a little stain on the confidence in him as a coach.
Reason 2 is totally on Pop's philosophy about get over yourself...at the time was clear that we weren't going anywhere and lottery was a chance to take but probably Hill decided to play Robinson as soon as he was recovered from injury without putting his health at grave risk...just for a better regular season record.
In retrospect, Pop's decision was right and the one to make for the greater good of the team...and probably Hill was a stubborn old school coach with no future vision and not good at dealing with player's character problems...
That said, you can't blame that much a coach for trying to win more games or for going hard against a player that behave the way Rodman behaved...
in the end you have to be happy for the team but you also have to be sorry for the way things went for Hill because of Pop's decisions...
tks for all the sharing guys. very informative for fans like me who didn't have access to NBA news during that period.
Do you have any sources for this? I'd love to look more into it. 1995 was really before I really got into watching basketball. I was a fan of the Spurs/Rockets, but didn't understand some of the nuances of things. Stories like this intrigue me.
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