Face it: Rasheed Wallace was unorthodox, but he delivered

[Warren2ThaG]

Face it: Rasheed Wallace was unorthodox, but he delivered

"Former Piston Rasheed Wallace is a consistent contradiction. He's moody and can appear disinterested. He also could be classified as a genius.

 

Wallace signed with the Boston Celtics a few weeks back, ending his time in Detroit. Even though he helped the Pistons to a championship in 2004, his departure left a sour taste in fans' mouths.

 

He averaged six points and six rebounds in the Pistons' first-round loss to the Cavaliers, and his performances in closeout games the past three years don't evoke fond memories. Some believe his feud with former coach Flip Saunders cost the Pistons more than one ring.

 

If the ship was sinking, Wallace wasn't the one to steer it through turbulence. His 2009 season, where he posted his lowest shooting percentage and scoring average since his rookie season, could be described as "uninspiring." But if he goofed up, he never blamed anyone else and most times atoned. Critics point to Wallace leaving Robert Horry open for a winning 3 in Game 5 of the 2005 Finals. They conveniently forget, though, his performance in Game 6 as the Pistons took the Spurs to a Game 7.

 

Wallace is the only player to have 100 blocks and 100 3-pointers in multiple seasons, cementing his standing as the most talented role player in history along with Scottie Pippen. His "guaransheed"s had him branded as a big mouth, but he brought necessary attributes to a team in need of an attitude transfusion.

 

Yes, he's outspoken. Of course, he's remembered for gems like "both teams played hard" and "cut the check," but Wallace has spoken out against commissioner David Stern's favoritism toward star players and teams. He's also a critic of the age limit for American-born players, noting the same rules don't apply for international players. He was Detroit personified, engulfing himself in the underdog mentality that made him loved.

 

"He doesn't care about basketball, all he cares about is ratings," Wallace once told me of Stern. "I'm not a media darling, the majority of them don't like me because I tell it like it is."

 

As maligned as Wallace was and still is, he has a knack for knowing the nuances of the game. What he's physically lost to age, he makes up for mentally. He's taken young bigs such as Zach Randolph and Jermaine O'Neal under his wing, and they've flourished.

 

He's an enigma wrapped inside a riddle and embraces it. He's unapologetically authentic. He used to play the Isley Brothers in the locker room and can quote Sun Tzu.

 

The outspoken person and unselfish teammate are worlds apart, which is what made him so coveted this offseason. Orlando, Cleveland, San Antonio and Boston made overtures for the forward, 34."

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http://www.detnews.com/article/20090730/SPORTS0102/907300365/1127/sports0102/Face-it--Rasheed-Wallace-was-unorthodox--but-he-delivered