From the Sports Guy:
A legitimate question: Since Robert Horry has been the third-best player in the series, and he’s probably headed for Ring No. 6 … do we need to start thinking about him as a potential Hall of Famer? Clearly, he’s been one of the more important team players of the last 35 years, right up there with Dennis Johnson, Michael Cooper, Dennis Rodman, Bobby Jones and everyone else. So why wouldn’t we start recognizing these guys in the Hall of Fame? Couldn’t we create a spot for indispensable team players who did all the Little Things over a prolonged period of time? Like their own little wing?
I couldn’t agree more. While Horry has never been in the same class as Jordan, Bird, etc. he’s been on my TV screen so often nailing clutch shots and pretty much killing the hopes of whatever team opposes him, I’d think that he’s gotta be considered for the Hall of Fame. I’m not sure if he’s a Hall of Fame player, though… you could argue (as with a lot of players) that he wouldn’t be anything except for the teams he was a part of… he doesn’t make a team a playoff contender, he makes a playoff contender a championship contender.
June 14th, 2005 at 10:29 pm
I’m not sure that I agree with the phrase, “he makes a playoff contender a championship contender.” I like Horry, always have (even when he was on the Lakers). He’s a type of player all championship teams need, for sure. He is a strong role player who can make clutch shots whenever they’re needed. Plus, while not a brilliant on the ball defender, he is certainly a good enough shot blocker coming from the weak side.
He is definitely a great role player, but I wouldn’t go annointing him yet. And no, I don’t think we need a place in the Hall for those players, unless he was an integral part of a dynasty (like Johnson, Paxson, Armstrong, or even Derek Fisher from dynasties of yester-year), at which point, I would put the entire dynasty there. (although, Horry could end up being a hand model for the NBA with all the rings he has, however)
June 15th, 2005 at 12:39 am
Yeah, maybe I overstated it to make my point… I guess I just meant what you said… championship teams need a guy like him and he seems to be on a lot of championship teams.
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t want him in the Hall of Fame, but I don’t have a good feel for the NBA Hall (even though I’ve been there). If this were baseball, I’d have a stronger opinion…