Monday, December 14, 2015

We play bigger than we are

Some players play bigger than they are, i.e., they make up for their lack of height by an effective use of other factors. A couple of notable examples that come to mind are Charles Barkley and Wes Unseld. Both gave up 3-4 inches to their typical opposition, but both went down as all-time greats, especially in rebounding, where Barkley is 18th all-time. He, of course, was known as the Round Mound of Rebound, and knew how to use his 252 pounds to good purpose underneath the basket.

Unseld played center at 6-7, and finished 12th all-time in rebounds. He was bull-strong and regularly guarded and out-rebounded much taller players. I remember distinctly an NBA pre-season publication saying that, though Unseld was good, he would never play center in the NBA because he was just not tall enough. All he did was to become the second player (after Wilt) to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season.

We, also, have several players who play bigger than they are. Naming three particularly: Maurius Hill, Roger Woods and Jermaine Ruttley. All of them do things players their size are not usually able to do. Sometimes heart and skill can make a big player out of a short player.

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