|
Anything Is Posibbleeeee!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Orlando, Florida
Age: 19
Posts: 1,869
|
Has Rashard been worth the money??
I know a lot of people look a 'Shard and his contract and say, "Yeah he's good, but he's not THAT GOOD", and they have the right to say that, but this article actually makes some good points as to what he has brought to this team outside of just boxscores.
Quote:
"Sweet Lou" has been exactly what the team needed to take the next step in the maturation process. Unfortunately, Rashard's contributions have been lost in the discussions of his massive contract. Different from the guy working at the gas station, everyone knows how much money Rashard is making. So instead of appreciating what he is doing, many people have started to put a price tag on every aspect of his game, hoping to convince themselves and others that he isn't worth that contract.
Each jumper is worth $250,000, while layups are $175,000. Assists are $150,000 a piece, $225,000 if the pass goes to Dwight. Everyone likes a dunk so those are worth $300,000. At the end of each game fans that believe Rashard is overpaid start tallying up what they believe he earned for the night – knowing fans the way we do, chances are they're going to say he owes money.
This is the wrong way to evaluate his game.
Looking at Rashard – or any other player – in terms of dollars and cents causes you to miss what they're doing for the team. Certain things can't be measured in money.
For example, look at what he's done for Dwight's game. Coming into games against the Magic last season, opponents knew that Dwight didn't deal with double-teams well. So they throw two guys at him and he would throw the ball in the crowd. Now teams know they're taking a major chance if they double-team Dwight because you can't leave Rashard alone – he'll kill you from the outside. Dwight has enjoyed a breakout year due in large part to the new found operating space he has on the floor.
Then there is Hedo. He has always had the game to be an All-Star – too bad Brian Hill didn't see it last year – but playing with Rashard has made him much more dangerous. His touch from the outside gives Hedo more open lanes to the basket than Emmitt Smith had holes to the end zone – well maybe not that many, but you can see where this is going. Hedo, like Dwight, has a lot of room to be creative on the floor. Now Hedo can showcase the many skills he has.
|
Quote:
Lewis also gives the Magic other attributes that don't show up in the stats.
Leadership: Rashard gives the Magic an All-Star caliber player that commands respect on the floor and in the locker room. The Magic struggled in this area last year; they had a lot of soldiers, but no generals. Now the Magic have someone to look to for direction, which makes a world of difference for this team.
Selfless attitude: he has taken a backseat to Hedo and Dwight this season. Sacrificing his game so the team can get better is something not many guys are doing these days.
Experience: Rashard has been in the league almost 10 years. He has faced most of the top players in the game and has been successful against them. He knows how to play the game, most importantly he knows what to expect when playing against top-notch competition.
Creditability: his leadership, experience, and track record give the Magic instant creditability. Guys around the league know how good Rashard is and how much better he can become playing with a dominant center. So when the Magic come to town, teams know they have their hands full.
Sure, Rashard could get a few more rebounds. He could attack the basket more and a few 40-point games wouldn't hurt, but he's done a good job so far. He was brought to Orlando to win a championship - anything short of that will be a failure - so there is more to do.
Hopefully what has been written will buy him some time, championships aren't won overnight.
If not try think about it this way – where would the Magic be without him, yeah playing the Celtics in the first round is a scary thought.
About the Author: JARROD RUDOLPH
|
Link
He has helped us win 52 games, lock-up a 3rd seed for the playoffs, doing all of this while playing out of position, all season long....I say, so far so good. Instead of looking at what he is doing wrong or pointing out his flaws, maybe we should be looking at the areas that he has really helped us out in. Instead of us saying, "Hedo deserves his contract", maybe we should look at it as "'Shard is sacrificing his extra shots and stats for the betterment of the team." He is a team player and that is what I like about him. If he knows him being on the court can open up things for Dwight and Hedo, then he will defer to them and not force things. I like what he brings to our team. |