Difference makers

mikhail1973 · Aug 14, 2007

HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Seth Ferranti » Difference makers

Solid but not spectacular. Dependable but not a superstar. A finished product but no potential. A team player. A model of consistency. Sacrificing his personal game for the good of the team. Players that embody these ideals are a coach’s dream. In the me-first, get-me-the-money, what-have-you-done-for-me lately culture of the NBA when you find a player that harkens back to the blue-collar workhouse days of the past, it’s rare. In today’s league of shoe contracts, endorsement deals, high slamma-jamma, rap albums, break-your-ankle crossovers and three-point bomb barragerays (yes, I made that word up), it’s tough to find somebody to do the grunt work that every contender needs.
All great championship teams have them. The glue guy. The players who do the dirty work. The unselfish former college star who took a back seat to help the team flourish. ML Carr and Bill Walton of the Celtic teams, Bobby Jones of the Sixers, Kurt Rambis and Michael Cooper of the Lakers, Bill Laimbeer of the Pistons, Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman of the Bulls, Robert Horry and Derek Fisher of the Lakers, all the way up to Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat last year and Bruce Bowen of the Spurs this year. Every team needs that special player who will do whatever he needs to do to help his team win – be it diving on the floor for the loose ball, laying wood in the lane, setting a hard pick, putting the opposing team’s best player on his ass, committing a decisive foul, roughing up the other team or being a locker room leader.

Tayshaun Prince. This long, athletic defender always covers the opposition’s best offensive player be it Kobe or LeBron. He had an off series offensive-wise against Cleveland, but look for this tough player to bounce back with a stellar season and help Detroit to another strong year.

linwood · Aug 19, 2007

Cool article. I have to agree with his assessment. Prince is the guy who gets it done when it has to get done. I think with a more active role on the team, Maxiell may also be this guy.

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Difference makers

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