Rodman or Stockton

[dalekjazz]

Which player got more under the opponent's skin?

[Baller 24]

Rodman

[Jase]

Stockton. People expected Rodman to play head games. It worked well against Frank Brickowski (Sonics-Bulls Finals were outstanding). Stockton was this choir-boy-looking guy who had tricks that the refs never paid attention to, so he got away with it. The stripes kept their eye on the worm...

[Point forward]

Stockton.

Rodman may have gotten under everyone's skin, but Stockton got under Rodman's skin. In the 1994 playoffs, the Spurs played the Jazz. Rodman got suspended for 1 game for kneeing Stockton -- after J-Stock had set a hard pick which rubbed Rodman the wrong way.

I also doubt that anyone (even Laimbeer) got away with such an amount of kidney blows, elbow thrusts, dirty picks and knee blows as Stockton. He was dirty and effective. Opposing PFs feared his elbow punch to the kidney.

Stockton also had lightning quick hands which were just made for stealing. Hard to concentrate on playmaking if the guy next to you can rob you blind.

In absolute terms, Rodman may have a case, but pound-for-pound, Stockton pwns Dennis.

[Laimbeer]

Now we have to have an "all-time under the skin" thread.

[CousinOfDeath]

Stockton

[tha_rock220]

Stockton got under everyone's skin. He would go into the lane and grab you then flop when you tried to get him to let go. He deliberately elbowed Matt Maloney once and didn't get anything more than a phone call from the league. The guy was the king at making screens hurt. He would either go low and give you an unseen elbow. He might be the dirtiest player in the history of the NBA, and he got away with it, but karma is a bitch and he and the Utah will never win a title because of it.

Stockton was in itch on the part of your back you can't scratch.