Post by Rog on Jun 9, 2016 2:40:59 GMT
I know what you're thinking, Scott Pollard is the 29th nominee for the NBN Hall of Fame? The shot blocking supreme has a case, but is it strong enough? More importantly is this, along with Camby, the template for how to vote for defensive bigs? Lets take a look at the stats.
Career Stats
32.2 MPG, 7.2 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.5 BPG, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 2.3 TOPG on 41.6% from the field and 68.1% from the line.
Best Season: (Nets 2001) 10 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 4.2 BPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 2.7 TOPG on 42.4% from the field and 73.9% from the line.
Career Highs
Points: 26
Rebounds: 26
Assists: 9
Steals: 7
Blocks: 12
Career Achievements
Championships: 4
Player of the Game: 41
Player of the Week: 1
Player of the Month: 0
Double Doubles: 207
Triple Doubles: 5
Awards
2001 - All-Star Game Participant
2001 - All-League Third Team
2001 - Defensive Player of the Year
2001 - All-Defensive Team
2002 - All-Defensive Second Team
2003 - Defensive Player of the Year
2003 - All-Defensive Team
2004 - All-Defensive Team
2005 - Sixth Man of the Year
2008 - All-Defensive Team
Arguments For Induction
- Pollard won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, named to four All Defensive Teams as well as a sixth man of the year award and an All-League Third team.
- Before we get into his qualifications statistically, lets talk about the single biggest reason to indict Scott Pollard. Scott Pollard was a winner, he won 4 titles and went to the finals the first eight seasons of his career. Lets stop and think about this, the guy was the starting center on eight teams that finished first or second in the league. Absolutely incredible and nothing can be said more about this guy than that.
- Scott Pollard was a defensive stud. He averaged
5 stocks a game(3.5 blocks, 1.5 steals), which is absolutely insane. He also won the two defensive player of the year awards. Also, consider he is 4th all time in blocks for his career. Remember, he was on some insanely successful teams, so this was the absolute defensive anchor for championship level teams. Not just blank stats.
- Pollard also was a terrific rebounder, averaging 11.2 a game for his career. In his prime he was almost always good for over 12 a game. He gave his team great defense and was great at finishing off those possessions.
- Pollard was incredibly durable, only missing 34 games. Given how important he was to his team's success, having him on the court at virtually all times was a huge plus for the teams he was on.
- Overall, Pollard gave you the absolute best you can ask from a pure defensive stud. He gave you shot blocks, paint protection, the ability to take the ball from the other team, rebounds, and was consistently on the court. What more could you ask for?
Arguments Against Induction
- How about more accolades? No matter what, you have to have more awards to back your stats up, or they are just hollow stats that the league didn't think meant much or were that important.
- Even more than Camby, his offense was just flat out horrible. At 6'11, 275 pounds you can only manage 7 points a game? On horrible percentages? Oh and he turned it over at a clip that is wayyy to high for my taste given his atrocious offense. When you are a flat negative on one side of the ball, can you be a Hall of Famer?
- Honestly, can you say he was more than an amazing role player? Like seriously? I just don't think you can look at his stats and say he is more than a role player. Do role players belong in the Hall of Fame? I don't think so.
- The case is just incredibly weak to me. Sure he was awesome on defense and great on the boards. But only four defensive teams, one league team, and really only has one stat that is historic and thats his blocks. If you look at his titles and thats your biggest condition, shouldn't we induct guys like Robert Horry in real life for that, even though he was just a role player? Tough case to make for Pollard here, honestly.
Vote carefully, and remember to throw out arguments regardless of which side you're on. This should be a discussion that eventually gets the league to the proper decision on him. Your vote can also be retracted after it's been cast if you feel like switching to the other side based on the arguments that have been made. To be inducted, a player needs 70% and to be considered in a later class they need 50%. Vote carefully!
***BONUS - Don't forget that everyone who votes gets $25 and the person that makes the best argument or contributes to the discussion the best will be awarded an extra $25***
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