Rasheed Wallace: Top 10 Talent
You’ve definitely heard the argument before. Though Rasheed Wallace can be a complete knucklehead at times - like when he accidentally tipped in C.J. Watson’s miss last night - buried underneath his straggly hair/beard, is one of the ten most talented players in the NBA.
Maybe it takes a boneheaded play for that version of ‘Sheed to come out. But when he’s looking to change a game, dude can make a serious impact from anywhere on the floor. And there’s no arguing that. The question is whether his obvious apathy has damaged his skill set.
The fact that he went for a sit-down interview with AI and John Thompson on TNT at some point before the game last night makes it seem like he still cares enough. And the barrage of three’s, capped off by his monster dunk, which brought back visions of him in a Tar Heel jersey.
But then again, it was only one game.
Do you think Rasheed Wallace is a Top 10 talent in the NBA today?
November 14th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Junio says:
No.
At least Lebron, Kobe, CP3, Wade, Pierce, KG, Duncan, AI, Dirk and (a healthy) Arenas are more TALENTED than Sheed.
Talent-wise. Skill-set.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Austin Burton says:
No, and I’m tired of hearing it. I respect Sheed as someone who speaks his mind and as a good player, but he’s been in the League too long to still get the “If he wanted to” treatment. Of course he WANTS to be great. He’s just not as good as a lot of people want to believe.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
fallinup says:
Maybe about 8 years ago you could give him that credit. But even his championship run with the Pistons, I think he wasn’t Top 10 talent.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
maeng says:
wow! Andrew Katz…you never cease to amaze me….will you please quit being an NBA writer coz your articles are pretty dumb and stupid. you are one of the worst writers in the planet. SLAM is just way better than dime magazine.
November 14th, 2008 at 8:36 am
maeng says:
Andrew Katz, there’s no way sheed is top 10 talent/skill set in the NBA….or you probably don’t know how to count huh?!?!?!
November 14th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Detroit Dave says:
You make that argument espcially for big men.. I think their might only be 2 people that can guard him one on one with no help.. KG and Duncan. Amare got embarrassed by Sheed last year on ABC because Sheed was motivated. If you watched the playoffs the last 2 years Sheed was giving D-Howard tips and teaching him things the whole series while we busted their ass. His only problem is that he doesn’t use his post game enough.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:26 am
SWAT says:
slam is better but you’re blogging on dime…hmmm. anywho i personally like sheed. I do think he is a top 10-15 talent but like you guys said sometimes dude will just clock out mentally, when he does that it makes you wonder. when robert horry turned it on for the playoffs, the said he had a killer instinct but when sheed’ does it he’s unmotivated.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
jayslay says:
talent wise yes sheed is top ten…..the reason being,,he not only can change games offensively he can do it on defense……his post game is just as good as KG….if not better and when he plays how he should play he gives Timmy D major buckets…….his problem is the same as everyone else on the pistons,,,,,they play up and down to the competition…….he shoots threes cuz he has the green light to do so……every coach says we gon put him on the block more…why?? cuz they kno he has the game to be so much better……but hey he’s over 30 and it aint gon change but yea if u say TD or KG are in the top 10 then sheeds right there with them
November 14th, 2008 at 9:40 am
PALakerFan says:
You guys are ri-f**king-diculous!!! He’s not even Top 10 in the Eastern Conference. The guy’s been in the league 14 seasons and his career averages - 15 pts, 7 rebs, 1.4 blks are nothing special at all. “Talent”? He is what he is, a head-case who shrinks from contact. He’d rather stand out at the arc and shoot 3’s than bang with the big boys. He’d rather make a couple plays a game that make you schmos talk about what he coulda been than actually play that way for a whole game. We all loved him at UNC but he’s been a SOFT pro. Let’s face facts, everyone likes to call Dirk soft, and Sheed isn’t nearly as good as Dirk, in any way.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:56 am
jayslay says:
@fan
career average of 15ppg 7rpg are decent stats….the real reason his stats are so low is cuz he always been on teams that are loaded or have other good players…… but if he stayed on the block u think he couldn’t put up better numbers??? this guy is good when he’s motivated and if he’s soft the so is KG so is TD….theywould rather shoot 15-20 footers than post up….but i think thats bcuz of age….same with sheed….watch the game bro when he’s on the block he is a monster….the turn around is unstoppable dude is good
November 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Diego says:
Absolutely no way. Are you kidding us? I don’t even think he was 5-6 years ago when he was in his prime. I’d guess there are 1 or 2 players (more likely 2) on each team in the NBA that I would rate ahead of him–just go down the list of teams. For example Hawks (I am a Hawks fan): Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
What is “talent” anyway? J Smoove is better than Rasheed at every aspect of the game today (and is more athletic), including shooting 3s!
Please! I feel like I am going to toss up my breakfast biscuit.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
dapro says:
Maybe a few years ago yes, but with the influx of new talent coming in the game Sheed is using his brains more than pure skill, you’ll see some off nights from him but it won’t be for lack of effort or concentration
Mentally, he knows the game better than 95% of the catz in the league, just ask Dwight Howard and JO how Sheed helped and guided their games
November 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Ian says:
jayslay
“but hey he’s over 30 and it aint gon change but yea if u say TD or KG are in the top 10 then sheeds right there with them”
“this guy is good when he’s motivated and if he’s soft the so is KG so is TD”
td would rather shoot a from 15 than post up???? whatttt
are u writing this with a straight face??????
hes unstoppable lol 15 and 7 unstoppable pleaseeeeee stop that motivated thing jay u started your post saying his stats are decent then ended it comparing him to kg and td? what?
u ask if he stayed on the block he puts up better numbers? he doesnt he wants to shoots threes
November 14th, 2008 at 10:06 am
PALakerFan says:
You nailed it Diego. Sheed is maybe Top 50. He’d be like the 5th best Laker. Yes LO is better than him too. You’d be hard-pressed to find ONE team that would trade their best player for him straight up - no salary implications.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:12 am
MSkittle says:
No way. He fell in love with the 3 too much these past few years.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Ian says:
pal
best player for sheed
NO team in the nba will trade their best player for sheed
u r right
most teams wont trade their third best player for sheed
November 14th, 2008 at 10:21 am
jayslay says:
@ian
if sheed did wanna stay on the block and not shoot threes he woulb be just as good as timmy and imo better than kg…..watch when he plays against these guys and he acually plays they dont kno what to do with him….he kills TD when he wants to……and please dont tell me TD is not soft…..hi signiture is a 15 footer off the glass…im not saying sheed is the best PF of all time like TD……what im saying is had he played to the best of his ability he would be right there with TD
@diego
josh smith is an athlete who plays basketball….he is still on potential….thats not what this is asking…..and even if it was sheed is better than him right now
November 14th, 2008 at 10:25 am
QQ says:
Sheed’s a great player, yes. But can people stop hyping him as one of the players who revolutionized the PF position or something? He’s talented but come on, 15 and 7 for a top 10 in L in talent?
And the ‘he’s a beast when he’s motivated’ arguments. You know, Damon Jones would average 35, 10 and 8 and will win about 18 MVPs if he is motivated. You see the glaring weakness of this argument? You could choose any one player in the L and, argue that he will be a superstar if ONLY he was motivated. Any fucking player. But still, people forget that being motivated is one aspect of a star, not a choice they have to turn on or off according to their liking.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Ian says:
jay
your post is full of ifs and if he wanted tos
hey if i wanted to i could be better than timmeh also
that is what u r sayin
reality hes just an ok player period
how is duncan soft???? be cause he can hit of the glass???
QQ
u r right
November 14th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Diego says:
@jayslay:
J Smoove regularly has games that Rasheed can only dream about now. If, as you say, J Smoove is just an athlete who play basketball and is just “potential” then at least J Smoove is a young, superb athlete with potential, rather than an old, less athletic athlete with wasted potential (i.e., Rasheed)!!
Detroit is to Rasheed as Boston was to Antoine Walker. Trade Rasheed, and he will be flipped around the league with an inflated contract just like Antoine.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:40 am
jayslay says:
@ian
the post asked is rasheed wallace a top ten talent my answer is yes he is a top ten talent……i’m in no way saying he’s a top ten player but talent wise he’s up there…..as far as the stats go 15 and 7 are pretty good for a guy who doesn’t play 100% all the time….not even most games does he play 100% but he is still a top player who any team that is a champioship contender would love to have…..
as far as timmy goes shooting of glass is not what makes him soft….his whole game is based on finesse…..not sayin it didnt work for him but he is not a power player he’s a finesse player…..is he still the best PF ever hell yea but he is still soft
November 14th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Ian says:
jay
moving off topic
timmeh is like 5 times stronger than what he looks
look at the way he backs everyone down and moves them when he wants to get to the rim
November 14th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Ian says:
besides soft to me
is someone who doesnt like contact and pussies out in big situations
November 14th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Ian says:
sorry i posted 3 times jay but finesse is not soft
timmeh=finesse
gasol=soft
theres a dif man
November 14th, 2008 at 10:50 am
jayslay says:
ian
most NBA players are stonger than what they look like but that doesn’t mean they aren’t soft
diego
me personally i like j smooth would i take him over sheed on my team hell yea…..would i take to get a bucket for me by himself on the block in the fourth quarter and 5 sec on the shot clock over sheed???hell naw….j smooth is not as good as sheed but has a ton of potential but right now no way….
sheed is very inconsistent but he’s nothin close to antione walker
November 14th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Ian says:
jay
by your definition of soft then all pf that have post moves like duncan and mchale are soft
is malone soft because he takes all those damn jumpers
u seem to think only big guys that only dunk because they have no offensive game are not soft like howard or even shaq
November 14th, 2008 at 11:04 am
jayslay says:
timmy finesse
gasol soft
sheed and gasol are on the same level?????
so timmy can shy away from contact and shoot 15 footers all day long but bcuz sheed is shooting threes he’s soft……
if sheed woulda been on the lakers they woulda won the series
November 14th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Ian says:
“if sheed woulda been on the lakers they woulda won the series”
timmeh doesnt shy away he posts up most of the time if he gets space he banks it in why not he doesnt miss that shit.
u r a biggg sheed fan
but thats kinda way out there that sheed makes a dif like that
u take gasol out and put sheed in they might even make the finals
November 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Ian says:
if sheed was anywhere as good as u make him out to be they would have more than one ring
November 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
jayslay says:
all im sayin is if sheed is soft cuz he shoots to much then so is timmy……there is three levels
pure power-shaq,,howard
mixture of finesse and power-timmy,,kg
pure finesse-gasol,,dirk
is sheed really in that bottom catagory???
November 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
jayslay says:
so gasol is better than sheed??? not sayin ima a sheed fan realy i dont care one way or the other but i do think he is a top ten talent and he not soft….and he is a difference maker cuz u take him off the pistons they dont win the one ring and most definately dont make the ecf 6 straight times
November 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Ian says:
not sayin he is
just said finesse and soft are kinda dif for me
i said sheed as a player i just dont see him as good as u do
never said he sucks cuz hes soft
November 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Desrat says:
anybody see the allstar game where he went up against a lefty and sank a turn around jumper ont he low block with left handed as a tribute? Dude has the talent.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Wow either you guys are hating or know nothing about basketball. Sheed isn’t top 10 now no but in his prime most definitely. I think he’s been in the playoffs every year he’s been in the league. Think about this Portland days they made it to the finals with Scottie Pippen. He is also the main reason for the Pistons winning that championship against arguably the best team in history with 4 hall of famers.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
avi says:
HELL NO HE AINT!
November 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
avi says:
top ten
1. lebron james
2.paul pierce
3. dwight howard
4. chris paul
5. kobe bryant
6. tim duncan
7. derrick rose
8. Brandon Roy
9. Kevin Garnett
10 Carlos Boozer
November 14th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Scottie says:
Sheed was a monster at Carolina a nut case but played so pasionate but he hast shown anything like that since his days with the blazers
Sheed should have had a Chris Webber type career he has all the same skills he used to seem fearless going to the tin and has always had a great shooting touch.
I think the main problem since hes been in detroit has been that his game has gone further away from the basket to remove opposing bigs from the lane clearing room for players to drive because pfs & cs have to respect his range.
Go back and watch him at UNC and tell me where that young nut case full of energy dominant takeover a game player went I for one miss that sheed.
Peace
Scottie
November 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Ian says:
big shot
sheed made the finals with scottie what??? did i miss that season
99 he got wooped by timmeh and sean elliott made a highlight outta his ass
00 the man that has the same nick as u killed them with a corner three to rally from 15 down and steal the game
like i said after the man retires ill remember him as the dude tried to block elliott tip toe shot
November 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
doc says:
In his prime he was without a doubt.He a old man now on the downside,he’ll tell you that himself.But talent and productivity are 2 different things.Talentwise in his prime Sheed could do whatever he want and he can still do most of that shit.Why do you think his crazy ass always getting a run.Because he so fucking good his coaches look past the T’s.He’s also the smartest baller in the game as far as knowing the game.Every baller under him has learned something from him to make theyself better.If you ask KG and Timmy who give them the most trouble they will say Sheed as they have before.He got 1 chip and his teams contend every year it dont matter where he’s at.From the Bullets where he lost to MJ and them to Portland when he was the best player on that team that challenged yearly,to the D where he came and all of a sudden they went from perinial 50 win team to champs in 4 months.The career win-loss record speaks for itself.Thats what really matters.Dudes got a tendency to look at numbers and stats to judge somebodies worth.Stats dont tell the whole story.Would Durant have averaged a dub on the Lakers last year.Maybe 15 but to some dudes he would be less of a player.Some dudes numbers get inflated playing with bums,and some deflated playing with ballers.Thats the game.You think Chauncey or Rip couldnt average more than they did?Of course but they were a team first.Stats dont tell the true meaning of a baller,or dudes who average 30 in college would be 1rst round picks instead of somebosy like a Marvin Williams who went 2nd and might’ve not even average 10 points in college.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Sheedfan87 says:
@PA Laker fan…LO is better than Sheed? Are you crazy, come on now…you’d be hard pressed to find many guys who have won more playoff games than Rasheed. 1 championship, 2 conference titles and a ton of conference finals appearances. His numbers are down because he was always on balanced teams, he’s certainly a top 20 and probably a top 10 talent. Talent does not mean he has to average 20 and 10, because Rasheed changes the game in so many ways. He’s easily one of the ten best defensive forwards in basketball and is a rare talent on offense.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
dagwaller says:
I was about to really get into this article and destroy it, but I read post 2 and post 16 (Austin and QQ) and I don’t really have any more to say. Well said fellas.
Sheed was never a top 10, and he never will be. When he was at his best, there were about 5 other PFs in the League that were better, and then there are the other 4 positions. He’s always been overrated because of his potential. Someone on dimemag.croatia is probably writing the same story about Darko right now (yes, I know that Sheed is better than Darko, but you see my point).
November 14th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Dagomar says:
In terms of raw talent, absolutely. But it’s a funny thing - talent is like intelligence. I know people who are much smarter than others but are less successful than they are in academic pursuits (i.e. academia) because they don’t have other habits - work ethic, for example, or passion for what they do. Talent is one of the most overrated things out there. It’s nothing unless you use it well.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
cdog says:
No doubt when he is motivated he is one of the best players in the game. Not too long ago it was a 4 headed convo who was the best pf in the game sheed duncan cwebb or kg. He can shoot defend rebound has post skills can pass high bball IQ his emotions is what hurts and helps him thats been the issue his whole career when he channels it he dominates when he doesn’t its a bad night 4 him.