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Not even close. He was good as a Piston when the rules allowed for hand-checking and constant contact. Even with those lax rules, refs struggled not to blow the whistle on every play because he was so hands-on.
After he left the Pistons he became a full time 4 meaning he was always undersized and overmatched. Plus he gave his opponent's the night off defensively, you didn't have to guard Rodman, just box him out.
Not even close. He was good as a Piston when the rules allowed for hand-checking and constant contact. Even with those lax rules, refs struggled not to blow the whistle on every play because he was so hands-on.
After he left the Pistons he became a full time 4 meaning he was always undersized and overmatched. Plus he gave his opponent's the night off defensively, you didn't have to guard Rodman, just box him out.
I think the fact that the Bulls played him at the 4 and he was still quite effective is actually an argument in his favor.
I remember watching a past-his prime Rodman managing to limit Karl Malone and the minute Rodman left the floor....Malone would go ape-poop on everyone else the Bulls had.
I can't fault a guy for being cagey enough to push the rules of the day like the handchecking etc....that's just how you do it.
Now, for my money I don't think he's a top 5 guy all-time but I'd def. say top 20 like another poster mentioned because let's face it....he was good enough defensively to get in the HOF on that alone. That speaks VOLUMES to me. Not to mention 7 x 1st team all def, 1 - 2nd team and 2 DPOY's.
I think the fact that the Bulls played him at the 4 and he was still quite effective is actually an argument in his favor.
I remember watching a past-his prime Rodman managing to limit Karl Malone and the minute Rodman left the floor....Malone would go ape-poop on everyone else the Bulls had.
I can't fault a guy for being cagey enough to push the rules of the day like the handchecking etc....that's just how you do it.
Now, for my money I don't think he's a top 5 guy all-time but I'd def. say top 20 like another poster mentioned because let's face it....he was good enough defensively to get in the HOF on that alone. That speaks VOLUMES to me. Not to mention 7 x 1st team all def, 1 - 2nd team and 2 DPOY's.
Yeah but this was the bizarre guy with the dyed hair, he was lucky to get ^^ those honors IMO. Dennis was celebrated for his D and hair, and those honors are popularity contests to an extent. Actually I rate Karl Malone about equally, he was a better defender longer than Dennis, just not as dramatic about it.
If I had time I'd quote stats on how well some of the PFs did against Rodman in the playoffs, in my recollection, the older Rodman offered little resistance.
And even in his prime (Pistons), he was surrounded by fine defenders (Laimbeer, Dumars, Thomas, Salley); it's easier to play great defense on a great defensive team. A later Piston power forward, Rasheed Wallace was everybit as good and in a tougher-to-defend era IMO, though that was also a gifted defensive team.
I'd at least have Russell over him, maybe Olajuwon too.
Good points. Russell would have been on some insane number of all-defensive teams if they'd had them back in the day and Olajuwons defensive resume is as good as Rodmans.
List of players and thier all-defensive team selections here:
No way I can put Rodman up as the GOAT when there are guys like Duncan and Garnett up there.
I'd say he's top 20.
I mean heck, Jordan has 9 1st team selections and a DPOY but his offense overshadows the fact that defensively I'd make a case that he was as good or better than Rodman.
Even if you focus on just defensive specialists, I can't make a case that he's clearly better than Mutumbo for example.
Good points. Russell would have been on some insane number of all-defensive teams if they'd had them back in the day and Olajuwons defensive resume is as good as Rodmans.
List of players and thier all-defensive team selections here:
No way I can put Rodman up as the GOAT when there are guys like Duncan and Garnett up there.
I'd say he's top 20.
I mean heck, Jordan has 9 1st team selections and a DPOY but his offense overshadows the fact that defensively I'd make a case that he was as good or better than Rodman.
Even if you focus on just defensive specialists, I can't make a case that he's clearly better than Mutumbo for example.
Duncan & KG couldn't guard SG's like Rodman did
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