I say there are what-ifs more interesting than that, if not as "big." Try this one: What if Richard Dumas hadn't used drugs in 1993 and so the Suns had successfuly traded him to the Detroit Pistons for Dennis Rodman? Instead of a starting frontcourt of Charles Barkley and A.C. Green, there would have been Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman. (I wonder whether Green would have signed anyway and come off the bench.)
IMO if Dumas hadn't used drugs AND we traded him for Rodman it would have been one of the worst trades we ever made. And you skipped over Oliver Miller, had he not eaten everything at the buffet table including the table, he might have become the HOF center we always wanted.
And why would that be? WOuld he not have done for the Suns what he did in reality for the Pistons, Spurs and Bulls? Would he not have provided excellent defense and rebounding?
We would have been his Spurs stop, where he was far more problem than answer. Even Jackson and Jordan had their hands full keeping Rodman focused and almost sane. Putting him with Barkley would have been a nightmare for any coach.
I blame the Spurs' culture. I think it tried too hard to assimilate Rodman without respecting him. What he later did for the Bulls proves that he would have been worth the Spurs' effort.
I blame Rodman and only Rodman. The only blame I'd attach to the Spurs is the decision maker that thought adding Dennis was a good idea in the first place. He was a problem for every team he played with even while he was a defensive force. Once stardom hit, even that Pistons team had trouble managing him.
In defense of T.J. Warren, I need evidence that he's either brain-dead or under-motivated. Of those players, he appears to be the most competent; and he has bounced around the least. Apparently his career average is 15 or 16 PPG. I disagree that he's a wasted pick.
Lots of talent but it seemed to many of us there was something wrong with his head or his heart, maybe we'll never know which? And his injury history would make for a nice mystery movie of the week.
The Suns were up 2. And the only reason Ainge had to drop down to Grant was Barkley tried to play hero ball on D and got way out of position trying to make a steal on Pippen. That sent everyone scrambling.
The entire final minute was a total debacle. With a minute left up for they can’t get it to Barkley and Majerle ends up jacking up a 30 footer, Barkley gets an incredible rebound and gets fouled. Frank Johnson gets an open shot that would’ve put them up 6. Instead he bricks it and MJ goes 94 ft uncontested to cut it to within two. Next possession Frank Johnson ends up with it again and Majerle shoots literally one of the worst baseline jumpers you will ever see. Brick, Bulls ball and the rest his history. It was the definition of pedigree vs nerves
Those kind of what ifs are changing a person’s brain chemistry. I’m just talking about fluke injuries and coinflips. Amare wasn’t perfect but nobody doubted that he was on a superstar arc at that point.
What was Frank Johnson even doing there at the end of the game?
Even worse… Majerle’s shot was a fall away ten footer from the baseline… that was an air ball that drew a shot clock violation.
We had Tom Chambers on that team and he was in a horrible shooting slump. TC shoots anywhere near his career shooting average that series would have easily been won by the Suns. The Bulls were able to play off TC, and double other players. I know guys don't want to pile on a guy in a shooting slump, but he was a former scoring champ.
Same. I think if Charles doesn’t mess up his knee right before halftime Game 6 of the Rockets series we win the title. He had 27 points at half and was doing everything… had the up and under moves, power back downs, taking three guys off the dribble in the halfcourt and dunking in traffic.
I remember there being discussions of him retiring before that season because of back troubles. He was a beast playing thru injuries but you wonder how many of them could’ve been prevented if he took better care of himself.
Exactly! Back then I heard people offer suggestions that he hurt his back through a bad golf stance. Nonsense. It was surely because he put a 6-10" player's weight on his 6-4 1/2 frame.
Charles might have had questionable habits outside of the work place but when that game clock was running, he was the antithesis of lazy.
And what of when the game clock wasn't running? Did he use that time to condition himself as well as possible? That was what I had in mind. The work didn't stop with the game clock.
At that point, a trade needed to be made. The back to back blown series against Houston and Majerle becoming Blunder Dan in them begged for a change. But the change they made was a disaster.
