Dennis Rodman actually was effective defending Shaquille O’Neal in the post.
Say what you want about Dennis Rodman’s antics, but when it came to defending Shaquille O’Neal, Rodman could hold his own. After the Orlando Magic defeated the Bulls when Jordan stopped chasing curveballs, Rodman was added to the roster. Let’s just say the tables were drastically turned the next postseason.
Jordan was Jordan. Scottie Pippen was a perennial All-Star, but what got lost in the shuffle was how O’Neal was taken out of his game by Rodman’s irritating defense. The Orlando Magic was dismissed in a sweep and Shaq performed his own magic trick by appearing in a Lakers uniform next year.
But nothing showed the “Rodman effect” more than when O’Neal’s Lakers played the Bulls the next year. In this particular game, Shaquille O’Neal was shut down in the second half scoring only four points.
What’s most interesting? NONE of those points were scored on Rodman. Also, he was in a scuffle with Jerome Kersey and ended up on the hardwood being tackled by Scottie Pippen and being held by the neck by Michael Jordan.
What gets lost in this game was that Lakers blew a 22 point lead in the second half. When Rodman switched assignments and guarded Shaq in the post, the game turned around. At this time, Kobe Bryant hadn’t tapped into his “Mamba Mentality” yet and the Bulls dynasty was in full swing at this time.
Believe it or not, Kobe and Shaq were an important chapter in Rodman’s career too.