Who is the best active player wearing No. 3?

[SweetD]

Who is the best active player wearing No. 3?
Allen Iverson

73%

Steve Francis

10%

Ben Wallace

9%

Stephon Marbury

7%

Shareef Abdur-Rahim

1%

Come On People we need to Represent!!! Marbury is better than Wallace and Francis more votes NOW!!!

http://www.nba.com/

 

[ASUCHRIS]

What a joke, Marbury is definitely better than all of these players, the excessive love for Iverson is a total joke, who would you rather have running your team?

 

[3rdside]

What a joke, Marbury is definitely better than all of these players, the excessive love for Iverson is a total joke, who would you rather have running your team?

Iverson probably deserves it on track record but the love for francis is popularity alone. He's nowhere near the level of marbury or iverson; i wish people would see this. Not to worry though, his time will never come - karma will see to that heh heh .

I'd take marbury of course but i am a suns fans...

 

[Chaplin]

Is it me, or is every single player on that list except for Stephon extremely one-dimensional in some form or another?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Abdur Rahim isnt 1 dimensional, he is just better suited for a role player

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Most rings:

<IMG SRC="http://www.nba.com/media/act_devean_george.jpg">

Sorry guys - couldn't resist.

 

[SweetD]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
Most rings:

<IMG SRC="http://www.nba.com/media/act_devean_george.jpg">

Sorry guys - couldn't resist.

BOOOOOO! BOOOOOO!

 

[hoopfan189]

Iverson is the best. Let's get real, could Marbury actually lead the Sixers to a playoff? Marbury had what Iverson had. A bunch of average or below average players around him. Difference is, Iverson leads his team to playoffs, and Marbury writes "All alone" on his sneakers.

 

[SweetD]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
Iverson is the best. Let's get real, could Marbury actually lead the Sixers to a playoff? Marbury had what Iverson had. A bunch of average or below average players around him. Difference is, Iverson leads his team to playoffs, and Marbury writes "All alone" on his sneakers.

I don't think we are saying Marbury is better than Iverson, but he is better than Frances and Rahim.

 

[hoopfan189]

That comment was made for "ASUChirs". He seems to forgot what happened when Marbury was "all alone".

 

[jbeecham]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
That comment was made for "ASUChirs". He seems to forgot what happened when Marbury was "all alone".

I think you also forgot what happened when Marbury wrote "all alone" on his sneakers. Van Horn, Kittles & Kenyon Martin all missed the majority of the season with injuries and Marbury was the only starting caliber player on the team. Iverson has never had that big of a problem and he probably would have done the same thing as Marbury or worse if he had been in the same situation.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
Iverson is the best. Let's get real, could Marbury actually lead the Sixers to a playoff? Marbury had what Iverson had. A bunch of average or below average players around him. Difference is, Iverson leads his team to playoffs, and Marbury writes "All alone" on his sneakers.

Could Marbury actually lead the sixers to a playoff? That is a silly question, and completely meaningless. The arguement is to who is a better player, my arguement is that Marbury is a better player. Sure, Iverson did lead the Sixers to the finals, but people need to get over that. Does anyone seriously believe that an Iverson-led Sixers team will reach the finals again? Larry Brown would agree with me on this one. The Sixers had better talent, before they made the finals, with players like Stackhouse, and they had to trade them away, because of AI's personality.

Iverson leads his team to playoffs and Marbury writes all alone on his sneakers? Once again, stop living in the past. What happened last season? Both players led their teams to the playoffs, granted they did win a playoff round, but they were playing the weak sisters of the poor, while we lost the the eventual NBA champs.

Further, the argument that Marbury is a poor team player is a complete joke. Ranking fourth in the league in assists isn't really the sign of a selfish player. Yes Iverson scored more points, but Iverson also averaged five more shots a game. Who makes his teammates better?

Finally, head to head, there wasn't much competition between the two last year. Marbury was clearly the better of the two players, holding Iverson to nearly half of his regular scoring totals and winning both games. Iverson is a wonderful player, and is extremely talented, but I personally would rather have Marbury on my team.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
That comment was made for "ASUChirs". He seems to forgot what happened when Marbury was "all alone".

No, I don't "forget" when "Marbury" was "all alone". Iverson has really proved that he is the "ultimate" "team player" with his "relationships" with his "coach" and "teammates." Sorry "hoppfan187" I don't buy it.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
Iverson is the best. Let's get real, could Marbury actually lead the Sixers to a playoff? Marbury had what Iverson had. A bunch of average or below average players around him. Difference is, Iverson leads his team to playoffs, and Marbury writes "All alone" on his sneakers.

I really dont see how you can make that arguement at all. Marbury is a better shooter, better passer and has an about equal ability to get to the whole. Plus Steph's game isnt based purely on speed like AI's is. Iverson is starting to break down because he doesnt take care of his body during the off season. I wont believe his statements about this summer until I see it either

 

[Renz]

I don't know what you base a statement like, "Marbury is better than Iverson" on other than blind loyalty to the Suns.

AI has played in 57 playoff games compared to Marbury's 14 and he has increased his stats in every major category except one while Marbury's stats have all decreased, except for one.

Career Totals for Iverson:

FG % 3pt. % Reb. Ast. PPG
.420 .312 4.1 5.6 27.0

Playoff Total:

.396 .326 4.3 5.8 30.6

Career Totals for Marbury:

FG % 3pt. % Reb. Ast. PPG
.431 .315 3.0 8.2 20.5

Playoff Total:

.363 .269 3.7 6.8 18.9

Iverson gets his team to the playoffs and then steps up his game. Marbury hasn't shown that he can do either.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Originally posted by Renz


Iverson gets his team to the playoffs and then steps up his game. Marbury hasn't shown that he can do either.

Huh? Clearly, Iverson has been good in the playoffs, but for all intents and purposes, how many people really think that Iverson will ever lead the 76ers to a championship run? Marbury doesn't step up his game? Did you watch any of the 2003 playoffs? He averaged almost 28 points in the first three games, and was the main reason that they won the first game. If he wasn't shooting with a numb arm, I am pretty sure the Suns would have pushed the Spurs to the limit, if not beat them.

Basing their value on playoff comparisions is ridiculous, because Iverson has played many more playoff games. If playoff games were the only measure of the worth of a player, Scott Brosious would be a hall of famer, and Barry Bonds, your average mid tier player. we both know that is ridiculous.

Is Marbury significantly better than Iverson? Definitely not. But if I had to choose between the two of them, I would choose Marbury, if you consider that blind loyalty to the Suns, so be it.

 

[hoopfan189]

Ok, sice you guys think I'm making it a team argument, let's look at the individual stats.

Iverson: Named the 2000-2001 NBA MVP. Has three scoring titles. MVP of the 2001 all star game. All-NBA first team two times. All-NBA second team three times. 1997 rookie of the year. Lead the Sixers to the NBA playoffs 5 of the 7 years he has played. In 57 playoff games, he is averaging 30.6 pts, 5.8 asts per game. 4 time NBA All Star. Has 13,170 pts, 2,722 asts over is 7 year career.

Marbury:2 time All-Star. Named to the the All-NBA 3rd team 2 seasons. Along with Oscar Robertson, is the only player in NBA history with career averages of 20 points (20.5) and 8.0 assists (8.2) and Robertson had 25.7 ppg, 9.5 apg. In his 3 playoff seasons, playing 14 games, Marbury is averaging 18.9pts, 6.8 asts per game. Holds career averages of 20.5ppg, 8.2apg.

If I never knew basketball existed, and just by looking at these stats, I think it's easy to say that Iverson is clearly the better player.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
Ok, sice you guys think I'm making it a team argument, let's look at the individual stats.

Iverson: Named the 2000-2001 NBA MVP. Has three scoring titles. MVP of the 2001 all star game. All-NBA first team two times. All-NBA second team three times. 1997 rookie of the year. Lead the Sixers to the NBA playoffs 5 of the 7 years he has played. In 57 playoff games, he is averaging 30.6 pts, 5.8 asts per game. 4 time NBA All Star. Has 13,170 pts, 2,722 asts over is 7 year career.

Marbury:2 time All-Star. Named to the the All-NBA 3rd team 2 seasons. Along with Oscar Robertson, is the only player in NBA history with career averages of 20 points (20.5) and 8.0 assists (8.2) and Robertson had 25.7 ppg, 9.5 apg. In his 3 playoff seasons, playing 14 games, Marbury is averaging 18.9pts, 6.8 asts per game. Holds career averages of 20.5ppg, 8.2apg.

If I never knew basketball existed, and just by looking at these stats, I think it's easy to say that Iverson is clearly the better player.

You're obviously looking at individual accomplishments, which Iverson has many.

But taken as part of a team, that's what people are talking about. One-to-one, I'm not sure I'd pick Iverson either, and my only reason for that is the assist numbers. That's it.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
If I never knew basketball existed, and just by looking at these stats, I think it's easy to say that Iverson is clearly the better player.

But that would be erroneous if you came to that conclusion by looking only at stats.

Marbury CLEARLY plays against better competition regularly.
He also has never had the coaching (Larry Brown) that Iverson has had.

Iverson had better teams around him (until Marbury came to the Suns that is).

And Marbury gets his teammates more involved than Iverson, and is a much better defender.

And you also have to factor in the Marbury vs. Iverson battle, which Marbury CLEARLY won last year.

 

[hoopfan189]

Yes, Marbury clearly won the battle last year against the two. But this is--what-- 1 out of 7?

Chaplin, you said something about Iverson's assits. He's only averaging 2 less apg than Marbury.

Marbury plays against better competition? Yeah right! All of the guards are out East. The West is the land of forwards and big men.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by hoopfan189


Marbury plays against better competition? Yeah right! All of the guards are out East. The West is the land of forwards and big men.

You're kidding right?

 

[hoopfan189]

No, I'm not kidding?

The guards out east you have: Iverson, Mcgrady, Kidd, Cassel, Carter, Pierce, R. Allen(he was there the majority of the time),
Stackhouse, Rip, B.Davis now Lebron...............should I go on?


Out West you have: Kobe, Marbury,Payton,Nash, Miller, Francis,Bibby, Finley.

Like I said, the West has the forwards and big men, and the East has the guards.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Tell me which team in the East that has "great guards"

And more specifically, great point guards, since Iverson regularly matches up with pgs.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
No, I'm not kidding?

The guards out east you have: Iverson, Mcgrady, Kidd, Cassel, Carter, Pierce, R. Allen(he was there the majority of the time),
Stackhouse, Rip, B.Davis now Lebron...............should I go on?


Out West you have: Kobe, Marbury,Payton,Nash, Miller, Francis,Bibby, Finley.

Like I said, the West has the forwards and big men, and the East has the guards.

West: You conveniently forgot Arenas and Van Exel. And as I said in my previous post, AI matches up mainly with PGs.

So strike off McGrady, Iverson (since he doesn't compete against himself), Pierce, R. Allen, Stack, Rip,......and that leaves you with Cassell, Davis, Kidd, and possibly Lebron.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by hoopfan189
Yes, Marbury clearly won the battle last year against the two. But this is--what-- 1 out of 7?

Chaplin, you said something about Iverson's assits. He's only averaging 2 less apg than Marbury.

Marbury plays against better competition? Yeah right! All of the guards are out East. The West is the land of forwards and big men.

But you're also saying that the 76ers have better players--wouldn't that make Iverson's assist numbers higher in comparison? And if Iverson were on the Suns, his assist numbers would be lower. You can bank on that.