Should Rodman have been 1996 finals MVP?

[what would jack bauer do?]

MVP as in best player in that series? easy answer, Shawn Kemp

[Kubbas]

Should we revisit the discussion?

[macNcheese3]

Rodman was a beast, flat out. But MVP no way.

[iggymcfrack]

I don't know enough to really say, so I'll be following this topic for sure. 11 Offensive rebounds in 2 separate games Is absurd. Couple that with Jordan having a weaker series (by his standards) and you may be on to something.

I'm glad Rodman is getting more respect around here lately. I don't think the guy won 5 titles by accident. One of the most unique talents we've ever seen. Can't believe he was compared to Danny Green earlier in this thread.

A lot of you may have seen this, but take a look: http://skepticalsports.com/?page_id=1222" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Certainly got me thinking about Rodman in a different light.

He was compared to Danny Green because Danny Green had a fantastic Finals where he nearly won FMVP despite not being a big-time scorer.

[BigtimeNBAfan]

No, but I am glad you started this thread nonetheless. Rodman deserves a ton of credit for the second 3peat, especially the 95-96 season. He was awesome that year.

But at the end of the day scoring points is the name of the game. It is the reason Allen Iverson was the star of the 01 Sixers despite Dikembe being defensive player of the year. Defense wins championships. . . well it is a big part of it, but you need players that can take over games and get buckets. Rodman was a star and a great piece of the puzzle for the Bulls. I have argued against Jordan cultists that they weren't winning in 95 no matter how in shape and game ready Jordan was precisely because they didn't have that Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman type. Rodman was valuable, but he was not the most valuable. Even with the bad games, Jordan still was the straw that stirred the drink in that series. And to go on with it, Steph should have won the Finals MVP in 2015.

[dautjazz]

Rodman's impact is being overstated. On defense he didn't do a whole lot, atleast doesn't look like it on paper, with Kemp going 23.3ppg with a .633 TS%. Offensively Rodman is just hot garbage with 7.5ppg and 2.5apg. Jordan's TS% was better than Rodman. Remember that Jordan was being covered by the DPOY in Payton for much of that series (they started the series with Hawkins on him). Jordan basically did everything better other than rebounding. Kemp had the best series overall, but if we give it to a guy on the winning team, it's MJ IMO.

[Catchall]

The only reason that Dennis Rodman got to be a specialist who focused almost exclusively on rebounding and playing dirty defense was because the rest of the Bulls were so solid top to bottom.

[Pg81]

96 was one of the worst shooting finals in terms of efficiency in about 40 years, from 80 to now. Not sure how bad it was compared to older eras but pretty sure even including 60s and 70s it is still one of the worst shooting finals ever. If not for Rodman grabbing all those bricks MJ and Pippen were laying, enough for a skyscraper, that would have been an easy title for Seattle.

[Blomberg]

IMO Rodman could have been the MVP like Iggy was for GSW. In both cases it was simply the better team that won and the best player of the team (Jordan, Curry) didn't have a great series.

I still think Jordan was the right pick. (And Iggy was the wrong pick)

[Picasso]

96 was one of the worst shooting finals in terms of efficiency in about 40 years, from 80 to now. Not sure how bad it was compared to older eras but pretty sure even including 60s and 70s it is still one of the worst shooting finals ever. If not for Rodman grabbing all those bricks MJ and Pippen were laying, enough for a skyscraper, that would have been an easy title for Seattle.

But it wasnt a easy title for the Sonics was it? It was a admirable performance. But somehow the Bulls as always were able to pull it out. And yes Rodmans defense and rebounding go a long way. Defense goes a long way. Kemp in foul trouble. Brick became famous after that series the way Rodman toyed with his head. Like the defensive mental genius he was.

[Pg81]

96 was one of the worst shooting finals in terms of efficiency in about 40 years, from 80 to now. Not sure how bad it was compared to older eras but pretty sure even including 60s and 70s it is still one of the worst shooting finals ever. If not for Rodman grabbing all those bricks MJ and Pippen were laying, enough for a skyscraper, that would have been an easy title for Seattle.

But it wasnt a easy title for the Sonics was it? It was a admirable performance. But somehow the Bulls as always were able to pull it out. And yes Rodmans defense and rebounding go a long way. Defense goes a long way. Kemp in foul trouble. Brick became famous after that series the way Rodman toyed with his head. Like the defensive mental genius he was.

I wrote "if not for Rodmans grabbing all those bricks". It was a conditional statement. Of course he did more than just that but his rebounding was the catalyst that kept them in the series because the Sonics were vastly superior in terms of team efficiency. The Bulls were shooting historically bad. Like one of if not the worst shooting performance in NBA finals history.

[-TheDocOfDenial]

Ahh yes, the bulls definitely won that series because Rodman was more valuable to them than Jordan. Who would you rather lose in the finals, MJ or Rodman? That gives you your answer as to who the Finals MVP should have been. You don't need all these fancy numbers, and the close poll proves that this documentary has a certain fanbase unhinged.

If i had a gun to your head, would you really say you rather have Rodman than Jordan in that series?

[Pg81]

Ahh yes, the bulls definitely won that series because Rodman was more valuable to them than Jordan. Who would you rather lose in the finals, MJ or Rodman? That gives you your answer as to who the Finals MVP should have been. You don't need all these fancy numbers, and the close poll proves that this documentary has a certain fanbase unhinged.

If i had a gun to your head, would you really say you rather have Rodman than Jordan in that series?

In this series in particular I take Rodman over MJ. The kind of scoring production MJ provided can be provided by other(s).

[-TheDocOfDenial]

Ahh yes, the bulls definitely won that series because Rodman was more valuable to them than Jordan. Who would you rather lose in the finals, MJ or Rodman? That gives you your answer as to who the Finals MVP should have been. You don't need all these fancy numbers, and the close poll proves that this documentary has a certain fanbase unhinged.

If i had a gun to your head, would you really say you rather have Rodman than Jordan in that series?

In this series in particular I take Rodman over MJ. The kind of scoring production MJ provided can be provided by other(s).

This is insanity. Do you really think MJs impact that series is only measured and reflected on the stat sheet? Man oh man, critical thinking has taken a nose dive recently on here.

I'm willing to wager my life that Phil Jackson would not pick Rodman over MJ.

[Pg81]

Ahh yes, the bulls definitely won that series because Rodman was more valuable to them than Jordan. Who would you rather lose in the finals, MJ or Rodman? That gives you your answer as to who the Finals MVP should have been. You don't need all these fancy numbers, and the close poll proves that this documentary has a certain fanbase unhinged.

If i had a gun to your head, would you really say you rather have Rodman than Jordan in that series?

In this series in particular I take Rodman over MJ. The kind of scoring production MJ provided can be provided by other(s).

This is insanity. Do you really think MJs impact that series is only measured and reflected on the stat sheet? Man oh man, critical thinking has taken a nose dive recently on here.

I'm willing to wager my life that Phil Jackson would not pick Rodman over MJ.

[WHITE_HOT_HEAT]

Awesome thread to revisit. In today's era where Iggy and Kawhi won MVPs ('15 and '13) for essentially slowing down a guy a bit, it actually would've been very possible.
Back then, Jordan had the league in his pocket so no way it was going to happen. Have to go back and watch the game tapes. I remember the series being an absolute brick fest though. Horrible offense all around.

If only Payton was guarding Jordan from the beginning....

[Pg81]

Awesome thread to revisit. In today's era where Iggy and Kawhi won MVPs ('15 and '13) for essentially slowing down a guy a bit, it actually would've been very possible.
Back then, Jordan had the league in his pocket so no way it was going to happen. Have to go back and watch the game tapes. I remember the series being an absolute brick fest though. Horrible offense all around.

If only Payton was guarding Jordan from the beginning....

Not to mention it was fathers day and the NBA powers that be would never pass up an opportunity to market Jordy.

[Beta ray bill]

IMO Rodman could have been the MVP like Iggy was for GSW. In both cases it was simply the better team that won and the best player of the team (Jordan, Curry) didn't have a great series.

I still think Jordan was the right pick. (And Iggy was the wrong pick)

IMO Rodman could have been the MVP like Iggy was for GSW. In both cases it was simply the better team that won and the best player of the team (Jordan, Curry) didn't have a great series.

I still think Jordan was the right pick. (And Iggy was the wrong pick)

[quote="Blomberg"]IMO Rodman could have been the MVP like Iggy was for GSW. In both cases it was simply the better team that won and the best player of the team (Jordan, Curry) didn't have a great series.

I still think Jordan was the right pick. (And Iggy was the wrong pick)[/quote

Agree with this, not a curry fan but 2015 FMVP should have been Curry. And what's harder to comprehend is how the panelist voted. Iquodala 7 Lebron 4 Curry 0.
That is 7-0 iguodala vs curry, voters just plain hate Curry.
I think the voter's argument was starting game 4 Iquodala was inserted in the lineup and he averaged good (not great) 20.3ppg, 8.7rpg, 5.7apg and 2.3spg. As I have said good but not great numbers. Curry posted good numbers from game 1 to game 6 and was the focal point of offense.
Also, Lebron has more votes than Curry, for a series that didn't reach a game 7. For me giving FMVP votes from the loser side should only be given if it reached game 7.

[Golden Knight]

Ahh yes, the bulls definitely won that series because Rodman was more valuable to them than Jordan. Who would you rather lose in the finals, MJ or Rodman? That gives you your answer as to who the Finals MVP should have been. You don't need all these fancy numbers, and the close poll proves that this documentary has a certain fanbase unhinged.

If i had a gun to your head, would you really say you rather have Rodman than Jordan in that series?

In this series in particular I take Rodman over MJ. The kind of scoring production MJ provided can be provided by other(s).

No way. Pippen (15.7 ppg) and Kukoc (13 ppg) combined for just 28.7 ppg. Payton and Schrempf combined for 34.3 ppg. Not to mention Hawkins+Perkins added another 24.5ppg.

Imagine if Jordan averaged 23 ppg.

[Golden Knight]

Also worth noting, this was a 2-3-2 series.

The format helped the Sonics get out of that 3-0 hole. It would have been much tougher to win that game 5 on the road trailing 3-1.