Calling Karl Malone’s Elbows
‘The Elbows’ Circa 1989 (Jim Gund -NBAE/Getty Images)
Karl Malone owns many vaunted distinctions. He’s second all-time in points scored, was named to the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, was a two-time MVP, won an Olympic gold medal to name a few, and he really knows how to light up a room on draft day. But here’s a Malone distinction that gets less play: He’s caused more players to be hospitalized than any other player.
In the golden years of the unspoken Enforcer position, Malone performed the task menacingly, laying out players from the size and stature of David Robinson on down to wee Isaiah Thomas. But ever since the Mailman took those thick wristbands and rock-solid elbows out of Utah, the Jazz has been without a bona fide Enforcer.
Take, for example, last Tuesday’s preseason game against Phoenix. In the third quarter Deron Williams took a deep outlet pass and drove hard to the hoop for what should have been an easy preseason dunk. But in flew second-round draft pick DJ “Son of Daaaaryyyyl” Strawberry, slamming Williams hard to the floor. The collective “What are you doing, rookie? Not only is this the preseason, but that’s a future all-star” look of both teams’ players spoke volumes, but as the camera panned across the Jazz faces it failed to show anybody that could effectively remind Strawberry of his foolish play.
But do NBA teams even need an Enforcer given this era’s more open, rule-governed style of play? Just ask the Spurs. Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry and Fabricio Oberto, while not on par with Malone and the Enforcers of old, have nonetheless demonstrated a willingness to mix it up, providing an element of toughness that compliments their finesse players and has yielded consistent championship results.
So while Malone would have respectfully wiped the headband off Strawberry’s head the other night, the Jazz are still looking down their bench to find the player that will flash a little muscle. Fesenko? Collins? Boozer? Millsap? Who knows, but it’s clear that until someone exerts themselves the Jazz will continue to miss the presence of an Enforcer and the perception of toughness that comes along with it.
9 Comments to “Calling Karl Malone’s Elbows”
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It is so good to see that others are realizing the importance of the Enforcer. Elite level sports are interesting because each team has the ability to compete day in and day out because all of the players (regardless of contract size or hype) have the ability to play at an elite level. This being said there are only two things that can really separate the winning teams from the rest: (1) a sense of team and (2) fear in their opponents. Nothing accomplishes both of these goals faster than a hard, well-deserved foul. If Boozer had stepped up and “respectfully knocked the headband off” DJ’s head the other night it would have sent a message. A message to the Jazz that they are a ‘team’ and that they have each others backs. A message to the league that hard fouls on the Jazz will be gladly and promptly returned. And a message to Jazz fans that the Enforcer is not dead …
The “Enforcer”? Hahaha Malone knocked them out cause he violently swung his elbows. Not because Isiah Thomas took out Stockton and Malone wanted to back him up. In today’s basketball, you don’t need an “Enforcer.” Why would you want to play dirty like that? To prove a point? Pass. You prove your point my dominating the game. By playing smart and not let your foolish emotions get you a technical and a hefty fine by the NBA along with a suspension. If you want to get back at DJ Strawberry……you play the game. Why play dirty? The Jazz aren’t the Warriors. The Spurs. The Pistons. Boozer isn’t Malone. Boozer isn’t Rasheed Wallace. Williams isn’t Baron Davis. Williams isn’t Bruce Bowen. If you want to get back at a dirty team, you play the game with class. You throw it down over the top of DJ. You play as a team and win the game. Having an “Enforcer” is the lamest thing next to Malone himself. If you have ever played sports, you always play by this guideline. “Don’t get mad. Get even.”
Two quick points about enforcers:
1- The league has changed. There are no more great rivalries like there were in the 80’s and 90’s. I mean can you imagine if a rookie would have done the same thing to Magic back in the day……Kurt Rambis would have been throwing hay-makers left and right.
2- Even though the Jazz don’t have a “enforcer” on the team, I still think they have some tough guys. Harpring, Milsap and Williams are all very physical.
What do you mean?
The Jazz ARE the “bully boys!”
That’s what Jeff Van Gundy said just before the playoffs started?
Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap, Jarron Collins and Gordan Giricek are the BULLY BOYS!
You can just see them froth at the mouth before they go into the game, just looking for someone the BULLY.
Thanks to Coach Van Gundy for one of the all time great quotes.
Jazzaholic
JT - You’re right but you’re oh so wrong. You send a message to your opposition when you dominate a game. But it is rare that you dominate a game (a playoff game in particular) without an element of physicality. Once in a while the Enforcer crosses over and in this NBA era will get a flagrant foul, a fine or a suspension. But as long arm larry says, you put a little fear in your opponents. The potential of getting fouled hard certainly looms in the mind of some opposing players. Also, I don’t actually advocate hospitalizing guys, I included that little nugget about Malone because I thought it was interesting.
Tim - (1) Kurt Rambis had the best eyewear in the whole of the NBA and the beauty of it was, nobody hits a guy with glasses so he was practically invincible. (2) I agree the Jazz aren’t without toughness. Millsap and Williams, yes. And I wouldn’t argue that Harpring has better-than-average toughness on the offensive end. In fact, I think the Jazz have a League-wide reputation as an overall tough team, but I’d like to see a guy in the 15th roster spot that opposing fans see and think, “I hope our guy doesn’t get on the wrong end of that guy.”
I find myself on middle ground here. I think you need an enforcer, but part of the power of the enforcer is that he chooses his moments. He does not just react every time he sees mistreatment. He reacts when the need arises not just when he feels vindictive. When the enforcer acts, you know you went too far.
Stanton - We had that guy last year in Araujo. No one wanted to mess with him.
JR- I have to disagree. Collins is not tough. He knows how to flop and play with in a system, but he is not agressive at all for his size. He is more of a “pest” than an enforcer.
Tim:
You missed my tongue being firmly planted in my cheek.
Just because Jeff Van Gundy called them the “Bully Boys” is laughable. Who knows what he was thinking?
It was a joke!
Jazzaholic
JR, Tim - Go to your respective corners before I have to go Enforcer on you both
Tim and only Tim - I thought about Araujo as I wrote (if you can call it that) and I came to the conclusion that while he would be considered last year’s Enforcer it was probably more to his being out of control than anything. You are right though, out of control or under control, Araujo was as close to an Enforcer as the Jazz had and I think opposing players shied away from him. (Or by, “No one wanted to mess with him” did you mean that no team wanted to hire him?) Now that Araujo’s gone who will it be? And by the way, referring to Collins as a pest made me chuckle, which I appreciate.
Megan - Agreed. An effective Enforcer doesn’t just commit hard fouls, only when necessary. I’d argue that Danny Fortson (and Araujo too) is somewhat ineffective as an Enforcer because he only commits hard fouls. Malone was effective because he logged minutes, scored points, and then once in a while, he’d lay the wood. The uncertainty adds a whole different aspect to an opposing player’s mindset.
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