Super Subs

Posted by Mike Giardi July 17, 2008 at 10:28 am

In honor of super-sub James Posey taking the money and running to New Orleans (I don’t blame him one bit. See this piece), I thought I’d cook up a list of the Top-10 Sixth Men in NBA History. with one caveat: they have to have played in my lifetime.

1. Kevin McHale, Celtics - The greatest, and I’ll always remember him for that, while desperately trying to ignore his hideous dealings as GM of the T’Wolves.

2. Detlef Schrempf, Pacers - I’d link to his greatest as a scorer and passer, but did you know someone titled a song after him? That’s the absolutely proof of his greatness as far as I’m concerned. Now I just need someone to write one about me, so I can have my existence justified. Any takers?

3. Manu Ginobli, Spurs - Like a lot of players on this list, he’s a 6th man only in spirit, because he’s playing 30-plus minutes a game. A clutch player, an incredible flopper, and his injury this spring is probably why the Lakers emerged from the West, and not San Antonio.

4. Clifford Robinson, Trail Blazers - Just a good player for a lot of years. His career numbers don’t lie. He did, however, have a problem with the sticky icky. Doesn’t make him a bad guy, but it does get you in trouble with the league.

5. Anthony Mason, Knicks - This was one bad dude. I literally had to fight the urge to hide behind the coach every time he entered the game. It was that scowl. He should have trademarked that scowl. Ended up forcing his way out of New York, largely because he thought the offense should have been run through him. Dude, you were good, but not that good.

6. Leandro Barbosa, Suns - Great two seasons ago. Not so great this year. Plus, he seems to be the sensitive type, brought to tears when teammates pulled a practical joke on him at the trade deadline and told him he was being shipped to some loser.

7. Roy Tarpley, Mavericks - Was an absolute beast, but absolutely submarined his own career with substance abuse issues.

8. Dennis Rodman, Pistons - He should be higher, but I hated his guts, regardless of where he was playing. Apparently, I’m not alone.

9. Bill Walton, Celtics - That one season with the Celtics was magical. One of the best seasons I lived through during my younger days.

10. Darrell Armstrong, Magic - Filled up the box score in the late 90’s for Orlando. Then someone overpaid him and he was never the same player. Boy do I hate it when that happens.