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This is the Bigg Dogg with tude...the one that will go out and drop 25 on someone from 15 out...on about 12 or 13 shots. Play him...
Philadelphia Daily News
By PHIL JASNER
[email protected]
SAN ANTONIO - The name was out there, just floating, drifting, an NBA version of a hanging chad. With key reserve Devin Brown down with an injury, the San Antonio Spurs' coaches, scouts and personnel specialists were scanning the lists of potential emergency replacements.
And there the name was...
Glenn Robinson.
This required some hard thinking on the part of Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' demanding coach. Was this the player who had averaged at least 20 points in eight of his first nine seasons in the NBA? What had gone wrong in Philadelphia this season? Why had then-coach Jim O'Brien, who desperately needed a proven perimeter scorer, allowed Robinson to remain in limbo on the injured list? Was he free of the ankle and elbow injuries that had plagued him? Beyond that, could a career starter and big-minutes player accept a minimal bench role with a team aiming for a ring?
Popovich put his faith in assistant coach Don Newman, who had been on the Milwaukee Bucks' staff when Robinson was in his prime. Popovich's military background and staunch, stoic approach told him that if Robinson didn't fit the plan, didn't immediately buy in, he would simply get someone else. He also knew that the framework of the team was far too strong to permit a late arrival to be in any way disruptive.
"We brought him in for a workout, told him what the ground rules were, what we were looking for, that there was no wiggle room,'' Popovich said. "He understood. He bought it.''
Did Robinson still have elevation on his jump shot?
"Yes,'' the coach said. "He still has all of it. It's there. We have a hard time guarding him in practice. It's just a matter of him getting used to the system.''
Popovich insisted that he hadn't bothered to check with the 76ers, that he placed his trust in Newman and his own instincts. But very quietly, front office executive Danny Ferry spoke with old friend Billy King, the Sixers president/general manager. Robinson, who hadn't played since October, signed April 4 for the remainder of the season. He averaged 10 points in nine games, earning a berth on the playoff roster.
"I don't want to talk about Philly,'' Robinson said yesterday. "Philly is over with. I'm not in Philly, but I do want to thank Billy for trading me, for getting me out of that situation. Without Billy, none of this would have been possible.''
As King was acquiring Chris Webber from Sacramento at the trading deadline, he also sent Robinson to New Orleans; the Hornets subsequently waived Robinson, granting him free agency. Throughout all of this, Robinson was dealing with his cancer-stricken mother, understanding that these were about to be her final days. He basically missed a playoff series when she died. In his mind, there was no time to waste concerning himself with whatever had gone wrong between him and O'Brien.
"All I know is, at the beginning of the season Jim was praising me, saying how well-conditioned I was. He said he was very impressed with Glenn Robinson, and Glenn Robinson was his MVP of the first 2 days of camp,'' Robinson recalled. "I remember everything. [He said] if the games had started [then], I would put up big numbers.
"I went from that to not being a starter, to being on the injured list, to [the idea that] I might be traded after the first five games or waived, to being hurt, to still being on the injured list. I just felt like I was being disrespected as a player, and being lied to. But that's over with. If that's what it takes to get an NBA championship, I'm all for it. Here I am, with a chance to play in the biggest game of my life. So it all worked out.''
Not everything worked out. Even after a 10-game improvement and a first-round playoff appearance, King fired O'Brien and replaced him with Maurice Cheeks. Whatever reasons King had for relieving O'Brien despite two guaranteed seasons worth about $8 million remaining on his contract, he believed he had done his due diligence on the Robinson situation.
"One thing I'm happy about is, I had constant dialogue with Dr. Tucker [Dr. Charles Tucker, Robinson's longtime agent] and Glenn,'' King said yesterday from the Chicago predraft camp. "When Jim chose not to start him, Glenn was on board with it at first. I guess when he had a chance to think about it, he changed his mind. Bottom line, Jim and Glenn were never able to get on the same page.''
Asked whether this had simply been a battle of wills, King said, "It could have been a difference of opinion on things. But once it went south, it wasn't repairable. For what reason, I have no idea.''
If the fallout from the Sixers' situation damaged his reputation, Robinson said, "I don't care. I took care of my mother... If my reputation was damaged, then let it be. I can take that hit.
"I was the scapegoat for Randy Ayers being fired [the previous season],'' he said. "How can I get Randy fired when I'm a guy that's [just] been brought on the team? I'm not A.I. [star guard Allen Iverson]. I'm not the franchise player. How am I going to get a guy fired and I'm gone the next year?''
Whatever roiled behind the scenes, Robinson said he has essentially put it aside. Even when he got word of the Sixers' latest coaching change, he tried not to look back.
"I read it, and I saw it,'' he said. "And I said, 'I'm in San Antonio. We've got a game.' ''
This is the Bigg Dogg with tude...the one that will go out and drop 25 on someone from 15 out...on about 12 or 13 shots. Play him...
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BIG DOG the second.....Antoine being the first
Prince versus Robinson would be a good matchup. Prince wouldn't be able to post him up and Robinson could shoot over Hamilton, who'd most likely be guarding him.
Another overrated mercenary ala Malone and Mourning. He earns top bucks all his career to be THE MAN, and lead a team into the playoffs and eventually the finals, and never was willing to give enough of himself to do it. A pure loser IMHO, you all can have him.
To be fair...while he has been here, he hasn't been a problem.
I thought the same thing of him for years, but he's been good teammate and a contributor in limited minutes here.
That's what they said about just about every guy on your team at some point or another...You should know better than that...
Glenn Robinson isn't good enough to be the man...it's not that he wouldn't do it...it's that he couldn't.
Just like Rasheed in Portland...Criticize all you want...We'll take the best midrange jump shooter(who can also post up) that the NBA has seen in the past 15 years, on our deep bench, any day o the week thank you very much.
He can't hurt our team...he didn't even play against Phoenix...he can only help.
Edit: And he didn't want to be traded from Milwaukee...he got ran by Allen and Karl...what happened to them in Milwaukee? What happened to them in these playoffs?
Fair enough. Then time will only tell....By the way, you are a very good moderator. You've earned my respect in a very short period of time.
Big Dog > Darko
lol, pistonsfreak, who are you to talk.
Thanks. We keep it pretty simple here.By the way, you are a very good moderator. You've earned my respect in a very short period of time.
Big Dog would force Pistons to use Prince to guard him and put Hamilton on Manu. No way Hamilton to guard Big Dog. How well could Big Dog stay in front of Prince though?
I would think this lineup at some point in the game would be very effective.
Duncan
Horry
G. Robinson or Barry
Ginobili
Parker. This would force Ben Wallace to guard the perimeter
Who would guard Hamilton?Duncan
Horry
G. Robinson or Barry
Ginobili
Parker. This would force Ben Wallace to guard the perimeter
Ginobili for short periods. I wouldn't do for a long period of time but it would be effective.
Rip will play nearly 48 minutes so at some point Manu will have to guard him or Brown.
I don't know man, he was having family problems, and I don't know if you've ever had any but you just can't keep your mind on whatever you're doing. They seem to always be there. I would have taken the same stance in saying so what if my rep gets hurt, I have to take care of my mom and family. whatever everyone else thinks. IMHO I believe he made the right decision in taking care of his mom and family, and like Kori said he hasn't been a nuisance here. I always try to keep my eye on him for any strange or malcontent behavior, but I haven't seen any, and now he's even playing defense!! GO BIG DOGG!! WOOF WOOF!!
I love BIG DOG!!!!!!
WE've had no issues with him here in SA, and he's learned to play our style.. WTG!
I think he will have a good series with his mid range jumper and improving defense.
Very very impressed with the Big Dog today...
Missed the whole of last series, hasn't played much at all this season, hasn't played defense his entire career ... and he walks out on to an NBA Finals game 1 and feels right at home in a defensive slugfest.
I think he can have a similar impact on the offensive end of the floor as well ... waiting to see the sweet midrange J, Dogg!
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