Rasheed Wallace told Doc Rivers the night before Game 7 of the NBA Finals that he thought it would be his last game. - ESPN Boston
I'm not sure on whether he should have his digit retired but I'll try and make a case for him: 1. He absolutly WAS the difference in the Pistons winning a championship in 2004. 2. He was a starter during one of the most successful periods in franchise history. 3. He was a fan favorite during a time when the popularity of the team was very high. I'll leave it to TAS to break down and tweek the stats to support Sheed's case although I don't think that statistics accurately reflect the impact that Sheed had on the success of the team.
I'd agree with that. IMO: #10, #3, #1, #32 & #36 should be retired (in that order) over the next several years.
Well he wore # 30 when he won the SHip in Detroit, so if he deserves to have a number retired, then I would say use that one since his other seasons ended with disapointment wearing # 36 Also if the guy wants to retire to spend time seeing his kids grow, then let him. You are never to young to retire..ask the younger Barry Sanders and Jim Brown
Buddha won two titles. Worm won two titles. Mark Aguirre won two titles (I must be the only fan on this board who liked Aguirre).
Especially given he is starting to have problems with his back. I bet Bird wishes he'd stopped a couple of years earlier every time he gets out of the bed in the morning.
Nobody on the 04' championship team deserves to have their number retired except Ben Wallace. Big Ben only because of his insane 4 DPOY awards.....which should also be his ticket in to the Hall as well. Otherwise one championship doesn't cut it and I agree with the others when they mention some of the other bad boys without jerseys in the rafters from the back to back years. They didn't have the desire and will to win multiple championships like Kobe, Duncan, Jordan, etc. Everyone outside of Detroit fans could claim we got lucky in 04' and the following attempts would lend credence to their claims. As far as Sheed goes.....all i have to say is 0-7 in Game 6 with 6 of em being behind the three point arc. He started off Game 7 very well but ultimately his slack attitude toward preparation caught up with him and his back failed him. He couldn't muster up the drive to play on the inside with some pain and just shot jumpers most of the rest of that game. He should have retired years ago when he lost his desire. He will be forgotten in a few years.
I don't see how a player with 1 championship and only 6 seasons (not even 6 good) can even be in the discussion unless he singlehandedly won it for Detroit which not even the biggest Sheed fan can claim.
IMO: #10, #3, #1, #32, #22 & #36 ... Of course i'm agree with retiring Rodman's number first, and insert him in the HOF. But for now on, the only 2004 Piston starter retired seems to be Sheed.
The Pistons # 3 will be retired in due time once the glorious playing career or Rodney Stuckey concludes.
I hope he doesn't retire. I love watching him play. I love listening to him yell " Straight up! " I love hearing him yell "Ball don't lie". I love him haggling with the refs. I love seeing his interaction with his teammates. I love seeing him mess with his teammates. I love it when he hits those threes. I love it when he's in the post. I love his personality, he always tells it just like it is. His interviews are so not the usual basketball speak you hear constantly. I love his smile, it's genuine. I love his sense of family. I love the goodness of his heart. I love all the good games he gave us. There will never be another like him, he is one of a kind. For me there will always be a 'need for Sheed.'
