Ben Wallace vs Dennis Rodman - who's your pick?

Submitted by Bo4President on
Tonight's game at 7:30pm Eastern; the Pistons will retire Ben Wallace's jersey. I have great memories of what he did for our Detroit Pistons. Known for his great defense and shot blocking you cannot help but think of the other Piston great Mr. Dennis Rodman when it comes to defense and hard work. So I was curious what the boards take is; who are you picking if you could have only one ? My pick: Dennis Rodman; with all respect to Big Ben of course. I feel Rodman was all around a better player so big factor why I picked him. Rodman's motor would not stop and he didn't block like Big Ben but his ability to rebound on both ends and defend was awesome. As always GO BLUE!
MGoBoard
Other

samdrussBLUE

January 16th, 2016 at 8:36 AM ^

Not even close. Rodman. Dude could run like a deer all day. Much more athletic, quicker and faster than Ben. I loved Bens game and what he did. But not close



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 01/21/2012

MGoPoints: 18004

buddhafrog

January 16th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^

Fear the Fro

I think Ben affected the game more from a defensive perspective. One of the greatest help / off ball defenders of all time. He created an even greater defensive presence more consistently than Rodman.

And I love Rodman, don't get me wrong. But I'm also judging this form his days in Detroit which was just part of his career. Big Ben was Detroit till he was done. Possibly my favorite Pistons of all time.

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 21378

bluebloodedfan

January 16th, 2016 at 8:48 AM ^

Big Ben left Detroit to play in Chicago. He bounced around for a bit and finally returned to Detroit. When he left, the success he had could not hardly compare to the heights he reached in Detroit. Rodman was Rodman no matter where he was. He was even an integral cog in the team that is considered among the best to lace them up. However, I take exception to that argument. But it is one to be had for a different day

Joined: 12/21/2008

MGoPoints: 333

aratman

January 16th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^

Rodman was the Worm in Detroit.  He was a bit player on a team full of Rodmans.  Love them or hate them, The Bad Boy Pistons went at it like Dennis Rodman did but as a team.  Rodman figured out he could be a defensive star by concentrating on that or a fine all around player 3rd option type.  That was what he was in Detroit.    

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 3942

Cromulent

January 16th, 2016 at 5:00 PM ^

Ben's timing on help was exquisite. One of the best help defenders in the history of the modern game. All he asked of the guards was to not get beat by the very first move.

But Rodman was more versatile on defense. He could play on the ball against a variety of positions. And he was a fair help defender himself.

Daddy Rich even used the Worm against 5s now and then. Once saw Worm dominate Ewing for much of a 4th quarter once.

Best example of this was one night in Houston. Pistons up by one or two in the final seconds. Houston inbounds the ball deep in the frontcourt on the right side. Olajuwon gets the ball maybe 13 feet away from the basket.

Who is guarding him? Rodman. Help? No. Rockets had a lot of guys like Kenny Smith who could hit those open jumpers. Worm was all alone and it was by design.

Olajuwon methodically but easily backs Worm down until there are a couple ticks left. That ease lulled Olajuwon. He turned and went soft to the hole. Close enough to the bucket to dunk but he just kind of tried to drop the ball in.

Worm jumped while leaning back and timed it perfectly, getting just enough of the ball to keep it out of the hole. Buzzer sounds and game over. The team mobbed him knowing full damn well what he'd just done. Best individual defensive stop I've ever seen. Gave up ~8 inches and a gazillion pounds to a legit low post HoF'er and still got the job done. The look from Olajuwon was priceless.

 

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 4542

mGrowOld

January 16th, 2016 at 8:39 AM ^

In his prime he was an absolute shut-down defender and it seemed like he was on a pogo stick when going for loose balls.  That dude could jump three, four, five times in a row without seeming to lose one inch of lift - he was amazing. Not taking anything away from Wallace but Rodman was 6'8", skinny as a pool stick and could still outrebound the league.

That being said however I do have a proposal for settling this should their be a tie.  We will put both of them at the free throw line and have a free throw shooting contest.

First player to one wins.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 212953

DairyQueen

January 16th, 2016 at 5:08 PM ^

Also Rodman played in a time where you could truly HAMMER the other player.

In order to garner ratings the NBA chose to become a offense-happy league. Favoring the offense over the defense every time. 

Wallace had to deal with much more finesse and finicky foul-calling. That aspect gives me a lot of respect for Ben. I think I still take Rodman though. Absolute fireplug.

But different eras for sure.

Joined: 04/20/2014

MGoPoints: 6642

The Mad Hatter

January 16th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^

Ben Wallace was a great player, but his inability to shoot free throws cost the Pistons a lot of games and probably a second championship. It was seriously ming boggling. I'm just a regular guy and I hit that shot better than he could.

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

Tax_Season

January 16th, 2016 at 8:41 AM ^

Big Ben. His defense was contagious, he sparked the crowd every night, and was the anchor of that record setting streak of holding opponents under 70pts

Joined: 11/27/2015

MGoPoints: 283

bluebloodedfan

January 16th, 2016 at 8:42 AM ^

Dennis was the next step. I remember looking at box scores and seeing the tally of rebounds he would get and just be in awe. And his ability to defend on and off the ball was something to see. Not to mention, how he would sacrifice his body for every loose ball that was in striking distance. It would be the worm. But to give some context to why your question has so much merit. Shaq does say that the ball player that gave him the most problems was Mr. Ben Wallace.

Joined: 12/21/2008

MGoPoints: 333

gmoney41

January 16th, 2016 at 8:59 AM ^

As a Pacer fan, I would have to say Rodman.  He might not have been a scorer, but he did everything else on the court.  In his Piston days he had unparralleled energy, and he was the best rebounder I have ever seen.  Just for his effort alone and hustle, I would put Rodman on any starting 5.  He is the definition of a guy you hate to play against but love to have him on your team.

Joined: 07/13/2009

MGoPoints: 3938

AmayzNblue

January 16th, 2016 at 9:00 AM ^

It's difficult to compare if you consider the culture of the league in their respective time periods. When Rodman played, the league allowed for a more physical game, whereas Big Ben had limitations on how he could defend and how physical it could get. For that reason, i tip my hate to Big Ben. Rodman would have fouled out in the 2nd qtr if he played in Ben's league.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Joined: 01/10/2015

MGoPoints: 5016

Mr. Yost

January 16th, 2016 at 10:30 AM ^

Rodman, without thinking twice. Hell, he's in the HOF. I have a question. Which Wallace, if any, should be in the HOF? Should I throw Billups into that debate?

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Goggles Paisano

January 16th, 2016 at 9:02 AM ^

I consider Rodman to be the best all around defensive player in NBA history.  I really liked Ben Wallace during their great run, but I am very surprised to see his # being retired.   

Joined: 07/30/2011

MGoPoints: 41232

JHendo

January 16th, 2016 at 9:08 AM ^

This isn't even a conversation. Ben Wallace was tenacious and a great off the ball defender, but he was very often beat by smarter or stronger players 1 on 1. I honestly think this shortcoming was overlooked and made him one of the most overrated players of that time. Rodman, however, could guard all 5 positions, and could shut down hall of fame forwards/centers. Additionally, his dirty work abilities were not simply due to tenacity (I think Wallace's were), but he was incredibly smart. I don't think anyone was better at predicting where a shot would bounce off the backboard. Also, while he wasn't a point scorer, that was because he didn't need to be or want to be. He could and did score when a particular situation called for it. Rodman all the way.

Joined: 10/25/2008

MGoPoints: 13993

jabberwock

January 16th, 2016 at 9:09 AM ^

and honestly, it's not that close.

Dude could just shut down the other teams best player night after night, year after year.

He was absolutely suffocating as a defender, while simultaneously getting in their head and causing them to lose their temper/focus, etc.  from then on it just got easier.

Joined: 07/04/2008

MGoPoints: 51146

MGoChippewa

January 16th, 2016 at 9:10 AM ^

but both were great in their own right. Glad to see the Pistons doing Ben and Chauncey right by retiring their numbers. I wouldn't love basketball as much as I do without the Going to Work teams.

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 11481