I was going to mention S. Jackson too. Spurs made some gambles early on. Betting on a 19 yr old pg from France (Parker), picking up a Euro League player in Manu who was a former 57th overall pick. They depended on these unknown guys and it paid off.
Yes but the difference is that Jackson was given a fourth scorer role (TD, and Drob or Parker were the 1-2) and Manu and Parker were players that had years of professional basketball experience and in Manu´s case a proven winner mentality. Those teams that go for the athletic guy also go for the guy that would probably sell more, i think more teams should focus on why the team with less interest on sales is the team that get´s a shot at the O Brian year after year.
Way too much credit to David Robinson. David Robinson as a centerpiece couldn't lead his team as far as Charles Barkley or Karl Malone did theirs. TD saved that franchise, and has been the centerpiece ever since. Some other more ancillitory moves panned out (and Manu and Parker are stars, no question), but when you start with one of the two best players in the league post Hakeem/Jordan era and a player whose game is idealy suited for half court grinding playoff basketball you should be competing for titles. The whole Hornets roster IMO was AWAL for the 1st 2.5 quarters. Beat on the boards, beat on hustle plays. People are ragging on Peja, but he is an off the ball player. West didn't play like he needed to (see game 1 and game 5), Paul didn't either (only 18 points on 18 shots), and Chandler didn't seem to play with any heart until they were depserate (where were his boards and defensive presence in the 1st half?). Overall I thought the team looked scared for most of the game. That should fall on the superstars. Further, at the end of the game Pargo was the one stepping up.
