Dennis Rodman or Pau Gasol?

[D.Brasco]

Who would rather take for your team? or who is the superior player in general?

[J~Rush]

I believe this man fits in with the image the Blazers are trying to make with not only quality players but quality people. As you can see by the multiple crosses on his body this man believes in god and has a firm set of stable mannerisms that won't distract from the on court product. As good as Pau is, he has a brother who is as tall as him, clearly distracting as people won't know what to call him since they're too far below his face to get a good look to discern his identity.

[Kobay]

I think they banged equal amount of dudes.

[ITK9]

i take a star over a very good role player.

[snaquille oatmeal]

the best comparison would be Ron Artest Vs Rodman.

[hermes]

i think pau is the better player, but rodman could rip pau in half

[Luv those Knicks]

Really, I think it depends on the team and the situation

and you also have to ask to what degree you want to factor in Rodman's distraction factor. On the Spurs, Rodman was more of a distraction than an asset. In theory, Rodman next to David Robinson should have made them better, but in reality, if you could transport Pau Gasol to that Spur team - he'd be WAY more useful than Rodman on that team.

So, with distraction, coach driven crazy factor, then 9 times out of 10 you have to take Gasol, unless there's MJs who can control Rodman and Phil Zen'Jacksons who don't mind him.

If you take out the crazy question, then it becomes much closer, and a lot of the answer depends on what the team needs. I'd say it's a close call, but I think I'd take Pau, he's lead some otherwise bad teams into the playoffs, while Rodman, for all his skill, has never been more than a supporting player - essential and very good at what he does, but never a team leader / team MVP.

So I say Pau, but with a footnote that different teams have different needs - those bulls teams with Pip, Kukoc, Jordan, Kerr scoring the baskets, and not much in the center spot - Rodman was much more useful, even if Pau would have given them a point in the paint option.

[Liqourish]

Rodman to answer both questions.

Of course Gasol is the "safe" player while Rodman will get blasted for his antics. Based purely on what each player brings to the game.... Rodman is the better player and the player I would rather have on my team.

Gasol is a damn fine option too, but Rodman just did so much that he never got credit for. Rodman should be in the HOF.

[conleyorbust]

Rodman was a unique player in the history of the game. The teams he was on needed him, on the other hand he really benefitted from playing on teams that didn't need scoring out of him. Scoring is a huge part of this game... I think that most teams would benefit more from Pau than from Rodman but if you are lucky enough to be on a team that only needs a Rodman, he'll put you over the top... sound about right?

[That Nicka]

Rodman is pretty much the defensive equivalent to Pau's offense... if that makes sense... Rodman is as good defensively as Pau is offensively... So it really just depends on whether your team need defense or offense

[JordansBulls]

I'm sorry there is absolutely no way I build my team around Rodman. You take Rodman if you need defense and have enough scoring, otherwise you take Pau.

[Jordan23Forever]

Rodman was a unique player in the history of the game. The teams he was on needed him, on the other hand he really benefitted from playing on teams that didn't need scoring out of him. Scoring is a huge part of this game... I think that most teams would benefit more from Pau than from Rodman but if you are lucky enough to be on a team that only needs a Rodman, he'll put you over the top... sound about right?

That's actually pretty spot-on.

[Basileus777]

I wouldn't build my team around either of them, but as a supporting player I'd rather have Rodman. Rodman has a larger impact on the game than Gasol, even though he isn't a scorer.

[Moses_Malone95]

Rodman anchored defenses and cleaned glass arguably anyone that's ever played the game. I don't think Pau changes the tempo now as well as Rodman did in his prime. This is an inconclusive comparison because of the different things they bring/brought to the game. As somebody said earlier, a Rodman/Artest comparison would be more apt. Perhaps Dwight Howard versus Rodman.

[Hard2dhole]

Building around either is a joke. As a role player on a team Rodman. Pau is a gifted player but Rodman is a once in a generation difference maker.

[D.Brasco]

One of the reasons i put up this thread, is i saw a comparison on another board comparing the 96 bulls to the current lakers and a poster was insistent that gasol>Rodman.

[Shopping Cart]

i take a star over a very good role player.

So Dennis Rodman it is, then?

[Jemini80]

Rodman, and I don't even think twice. There are plenty of players you could find that could score like Gasol on the offensive end (maybe some aren't as good of passers), but there really isn't anyone in the league that plays how Rodman did.

I mean think about this, put Rodman in the current Piston's starting lineup next to Rasheed and tell me they aren't the best team in the league. Put Rodman next to Bynum and tell me he doesn't improve that team more than Gasol. Put Rodman next to Duncan and tell me the Spurs don't sweep every team in the playoffs with just great team defensive players like Bowens, Duncan, and Rodman.

Rodman is a rare breed of basketball player, and there are so many scorers in the league and so few rebound and defensive specialists. Add that to the fact that Rodman would dominate in the modern NBA with weak rebounders (he would have atleast 20 rpg).

[EHL]

As someone said earlier, Gasol can anchor more teams more effectively and in more ways than Rodman ever could, but that Rodman does certain things so much better (rebounds, man/help D), that it really just depends on the makeup of your team.

[Shopping Cart]

As someone said earlier, Gasol can anchor more teams more effectively and in more ways than Rodman ever could, but that Rodman does certain things so much better (rebounds, man/help D), that it really just depends on the makeup of your team.

As in, if you acquire Dennis Rodman and had Pau Gasol beforehand(theoretically), you trade Pau Gasol.