Scot Pollard

Scot Pollard]Overview: Best known for his goofy hairstyles and always entertaining media quotes, Scot Pollard managed to survive in the NBA for 10 seasons, but appears to have finally succumbed to the long line of injuries (especially back problems) that plagued his career. He somehow managed to land a 30 million dollar contract from the Sacramento Kings along the way. His strengths lie mostly in his size—6-11 and 265 pounds, but also in his willingness to use it to his advantage. "I'm not a pretty player," he said. "I go in there and do the dirty work. I dive on the floor. I take charges. I set screens. I do a lot of things guys don't like doing. I found my niche and I'm sticking with it." Was a nice presence on the bench during the 2008 Championship run.

Offense: Pollard is strictly a complimentary player on this end of the floor, but that’s one of the reasons he’s been able to make a living for so long. He has no ball-handling skills and limited post moves around the basket, but is capable of finishing basic plays in the paint with either hand and solid touch, even if he lacks the explosiveness around the basket to be a great finisher. He can step out and knock down an ugly looking flat-footed set shot semi consistently with range out to 17 feet, and can even execute a basic pick and pop play if needed to keep the defense on their toes. For the most part, though, he’s just another cog in his team’s offense—setting solid screens, moving off the ball, and being particularly active on the offensive glass, where he shows very good timing for loose balls. He doesn’t make mistakes and executes fairly well within the team concept, a testament to his solid attitude and basketball IQ.

Defense: Pollard is a tough and aggressive player who isn’t afraid to stick his nose in to a dangerous spot make a big play. He is fairly strong, with a solid frame and good size, and thus does not give up position easily in the post to anyone, always fighting and not being afraid to even throw an elbow or two around if the situation calls for it. He’s a pesky guy more than anything, knowing how to flop and bait refs into making a call, and bringing constant energy to the task of stopping players in the post. His lateral quickness is limited when forced to step and guard the perimeter, and he does not have the leaping ability to establish himself as a shot-blocking threat. He is a good rebounder, though, mostly because of his hands, timing and tenacity.