The Worm Does the Dirty Work
Rodman was known as “The Worm” for good reason.
He was a pest. He was annoying and got under the other team’s skin, forcing them to scratch an itch that never seemed to go away.
But he was also called The Worm because he was able to worm his way to the basket through tunnels of his own making.
In short, Rodman did everything you want a role player to do when you have two superstars. He did the dirty work.
Rodman was one of the greatest rebounders of all-time, averaging 13.1 boards per game for his career, but grabbing more than 15 a game six times in his career and winning the rebounding title a record seven years in a row.
At only 6-foot-7, Rodman used otherworldly jumping ability and an acute instinct for where the ball was going to be.
He was so good as a rebounder that he would affect games without taking a shot. He was so good as a rebounder that the Bulls basically played four on five on offense, as Rodman had no interest in touching the ball on that end unless it was on the offensive glass.
He didn’t care about offensive stats or scoring because the Bulls didn’t need him to and Rodman always did what was needed.
This included guarding literally anyone else on the other team. Rodman wasn’t even the best defender on the Bulls (that title goes to Pippen) but he was the most willing.
Rodman would defend the other team’s best wing, their center, the team mascot, he didn’t care. This included locking up Shaq in the Eastern Conference Finals even though he was giving up five inches and several thousand pounds.
Rodman would dive on the floor, take a charge, throw a few shoves and if there was a loose ball, he was going to get it.
In short, he would do whatever the team needed him to do to get the win.
This is the type of player the New Orleans Pelicans need.
The Pelicans have all of the flash and scoring they can handle. They have plenty of finesse, plenty of guys who can do the pretty things.
What they need is a guy who does the ugly ones.
Outside of Derrick Favors, who is likely to walk in free agency, the New Orleans Pelicans lack their own “Worm.”
Rodman’s rebounding, defense and relentless hustle allowed the more skilled players to do their thing.
The New Orleans Pelicans need a guy like this, whether he is in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, they need a player who does the things Rodman did for the Bulls.
The Pelicans have some good defenders in Jrue Holidy and Lonzo Ball, but they don’t have the one lockdown guy who will take on anyone on the other team.
Holiday is close in that regard and is a willing defender against much larger guys like LeBron James, but Holiday is needed to carry the load on the offensive end as well, and his offense suffers when he is asked to defend guys twice his size.
The New Orleans Pelicans need a defensive specialist who can take on the other team’s bigs and not back down. They need someone who focuses on the little things that don’t necessarily show up in the stats but are vital for victory.
Every great team has to balance flash with some grit and these New Orleans Pelicans are currently lacking the latter.