croz24 wrote:for someone who's been watching basketball since before reggie, G35 you sure as hell don't sound like you watched much pacers basketball in the 90s. reggie was THE leader on one of the best teams in the 1990s surrounded by a bunch of role players. reggie didn't have a pippen or stockton or kobe by his side and yet he still lead the pacers to 5 ECFs appearances and was a key player in a 6th ECF. 3 of those ECFs went to game 7s against the likes of a shaq led magic, ewing led knicks, and jordan led bulls. and yet a ray allen bucks squad filled with all stars like cassell and robinson could never get by reggie's pacers. people also need to udnerstand that reggie DEFERRED. he just did not attempt many shots outside of the team system that guys like allen, richmond, iverson, jordan would. the only time in reggie's career he attempted over 15fga at 15.7fga he averaged 25ppg. meanwhile guys like jordan NEVER attempted that few fga. reggie is closer to being the most underrated player in the game than overrated. what help did he have on the pacers? the pacers were an average talent team yet he willed them to long playoff runs year after year. and when asked to score, only jordan could take over a game like reggie could. amazing that reggie's unselfishness has led people to question is scoring ability. also don't forget reggie ranks top 50 all time in steals and spg and was a very solid team defender which many who didn't watch him seem not to understand.
Reggie had help. It was just an odd collection of talent.
He had the Davis Twins (Dale and Antonio)and Rick Smiths who was no slouch, and he usually had a good 6th man. Detlef and later, Derek McKey, and the Pacers usually had a good helpful bunch of role players kind of like the Bucks have this year/last year.
If you were to ask a bunch of GMs at the time, or if you were to ask Ray Allen himself, who you'd rather have around you.
Rick Smits, Antonio & Dale Davis, Detlef/Derek
or
Glenn (big Chiwawa) Robinson, Tim (shooting guard) Thomas, Sam Cassell, Antony (Me myself and Mason) (I know I'm mixing years, cause I'm not sure Cassell coincided with Tim Thomas)
But, honestly, I can't say that Reggie had a worse supporting cast than Ray Allen when he was with the Bucks. I think Reggie had a better supporting cast.
Reggie may have had a better supporting cast than Prime Ewing too.
Smits/Davis/Davis/McKey
vs.
Oakley/Starks/Mason/Harper
If you figure that Davis/Davis and Oakley Mason are a wash
then it's Smiths/McKey vs. Starks/Harper
I give a slight edge to Smits/McKey, though I like Derek Harper a lot, but rick Smits was a good player and Mckey was way smarter than Starks and a good 6th man.
I think reggie's supporting cast is underrated.
and, I also think reggie was better than 5 allstar games. Not trashing reggie. He was a very good player.