Arizona's Finest
Your My Favorite Mistake
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2005
- Posts
- 9,709
- Reaction score
- 1
Ok starting to get into the slow part of the summer so before I begin to focus my attention on the 2005 NFC WEST CHAMPION Arizona Cardinals, I would love to have a round table on the five best players in the NBA and the criteria you have for these players.
I’ll start with my criteria first:
-Rings take precedence (but you have to combine being the 1st or 2nd option with those rings)
-playoff production is next (further you go better it is)
-I then like accomplishing records that no one else can claim
-Next I like the ability to do all of these things well: PTS, REBS, DEFENSE (no one stat encompasses this), PASSING, FG %,
-And last I like balls….meaning you are a cutthroat mf’er and you want to take people out in the end
#1- Tim Duncan: Shaq has the same amount of rings and if this was two years ago when Shaq was still in his prime, he would have been a no-brainer, but duncan, despite his inability to hit free throws in the finals, is the best player in the game. Period. This is echoed among the rest of the players in the NBA so you know it is valid. The Spurs don’t need him to put up 40 a game but when they are searching for “O” they go directly to Timmy (see 3rd and 4th quarter of 2005 Game 7). The dominance of his game is his doing all the little things however. Rebounding, blocking shots, setting screens, tipping the ball to a teammate-there just is no prima donna in the guy and that’s what makes him such a leader for his team as well. No superstar can take punishment from a coach like TD. He was a god send for San Antonio.
#2-Shaq: I’m thinking he might fall of this list after next year but you have to give the big man his due. The best way I can explain it is this. Have you ever played pickup basketball with a very tall and large individual who some how also had insane foot work and touch. Dude is unstoppable and I am talking about guys who are like 6-5 240. I cant even imagine playing against shaq. Have to give him credit for his rings and taking it up a notch in the playoffs.
#3- Kobe Bryant: This is probably going to draw some response but I will fight tooth and nail with anyone who wants to disagree. Ill make his case. Kobe has three rings (and to say “well he had shaq,” is to discount how many times kobe bailed the big fella out in the playoffs…in fact its just plain disrespect) He has insane playoff numbers (remember he holds the previous record for 30 pt playoff games before the age of 23, that is until Amare) Despite people getting on him for shooting that’s what he has to do for his team to have a chance. He is a deft passer and rebounder for his size is ideal size and athleticism for a two guard. How about some records…..9 straight 40 point games….9 threes at the half….i can tell you there are other ones im missing but those two right there are pretty impressive. He is very underrated defensively and lets get to my two favorite things about the guy: One, he works extremely hard to be the best at his craft. Infact he is a maniac about it. Kobe had a rough year last year but how many people have rough years to the tune of 27.6, 6.0, and 5.9. His team did not have the success that it is used to but look at what McGrady did in Orlando in 2004. That was one of the worst teams ever. At least Kobe could see the playoffs in the last few weeks of a much tougher western conference. And he also his training is going to go up a notch this off season as he no longer has court troubles. The second thing about Kobe is that he is the clutchest player in the NBA. Period. Heres some examples:
-Beating the Suns twice on buzzer beaters (once in the playoffs and once in the regular season)
-Game 2 of the 2004 Finals against the Pistons
-Coming back from Denver court to beat Denver in LA
-and my favorite..sinking a three to force overtime and then sinking another three to win the game and have the Lakers become Pacific Division champs two years ago
-and that’s w/o doing any research and just thinking off the top of my head. For all the doubters I think if Amare doesn’t get the MVP, its between Duncan and Kobe.
#4-KG: For the elite players in the league I would say KG has the next most playoff experience. While he is not as cutthroat as I would like he plays the game exactly the way it supposed to be. He is the best passing, dribbling, and shooting (despite dirk) 7 footer in the game. He has an MVP and when he got some help he took his team to the WCF.
#5: Amare: Ok someone let me know if this is my bias (I give him the edge over Dwayne wade because of size and LBJ b/c of playoff exp). Amare is the first rookie of the year to come straight out of high school. He now holds the record for 30 pt games before 23. HE AVERAGED 37 PTS AGAINST THE BEST ON THE BALL POST DEFENDER IN THE NBA.!!! He has won games with his defense (SA, KINGS) and while he should be rebounding more he took that up a notch in the playoffs too. I have been waiting a long time to have a home grown franchise player on any of my teams and STAT answered the bell. He has great work ethic and he only needs time to prove hes clutch (remember the bank three to win it as a rookie in the playoffs?) We as long with fans in Miami and possibly Cleveland (need to see LBJ in the playoffs) are VERY VERY lucky.
Remember I put a premium on playoff production so that’s why my list is the way it is. The rest of my top ten is AI, Wade, TMAC, LBJ and I guess dirk if I had to pick. I’d love to hear what you guys think, being that you all seem very knowledgeable (well most of you….)
I’ll start with my criteria first:
-Rings take precedence (but you have to combine being the 1st or 2nd option with those rings)
-playoff production is next (further you go better it is)
-I then like accomplishing records that no one else can claim
-Next I like the ability to do all of these things well: PTS, REBS, DEFENSE (no one stat encompasses this), PASSING, FG %,
-And last I like balls….meaning you are a cutthroat mf’er and you want to take people out in the end
#1- Tim Duncan: Shaq has the same amount of rings and if this was two years ago when Shaq was still in his prime, he would have been a no-brainer, but duncan, despite his inability to hit free throws in the finals, is the best player in the game. Period. This is echoed among the rest of the players in the NBA so you know it is valid. The Spurs don’t need him to put up 40 a game but when they are searching for “O” they go directly to Timmy (see 3rd and 4th quarter of 2005 Game 7). The dominance of his game is his doing all the little things however. Rebounding, blocking shots, setting screens, tipping the ball to a teammate-there just is no prima donna in the guy and that’s what makes him such a leader for his team as well. No superstar can take punishment from a coach like TD. He was a god send for San Antonio.
#2-Shaq: I’m thinking he might fall of this list after next year but you have to give the big man his due. The best way I can explain it is this. Have you ever played pickup basketball with a very tall and large individual who some how also had insane foot work and touch. Dude is unstoppable and I am talking about guys who are like 6-5 240. I cant even imagine playing against shaq. Have to give him credit for his rings and taking it up a notch in the playoffs.
#3- Kobe Bryant: This is probably going to draw some response but I will fight tooth and nail with anyone who wants to disagree. Ill make his case. Kobe has three rings (and to say “well he had shaq,” is to discount how many times kobe bailed the big fella out in the playoffs…in fact its just plain disrespect) He has insane playoff numbers (remember he holds the previous record for 30 pt playoff games before the age of 23, that is until Amare) Despite people getting on him for shooting that’s what he has to do for his team to have a chance. He is a deft passer and rebounder for his size is ideal size and athleticism for a two guard. How about some records…..9 straight 40 point games….9 threes at the half….i can tell you there are other ones im missing but those two right there are pretty impressive. He is very underrated defensively and lets get to my two favorite things about the guy: One, he works extremely hard to be the best at his craft. Infact he is a maniac about it. Kobe had a rough year last year but how many people have rough years to the tune of 27.6, 6.0, and 5.9. His team did not have the success that it is used to but look at what McGrady did in Orlando in 2004. That was one of the worst teams ever. At least Kobe could see the playoffs in the last few weeks of a much tougher western conference. And he also his training is going to go up a notch this off season as he no longer has court troubles. The second thing about Kobe is that he is the clutchest player in the NBA. Period. Heres some examples:
-Beating the Suns twice on buzzer beaters (once in the playoffs and once in the regular season)
-Game 2 of the 2004 Finals against the Pistons
-Coming back from Denver court to beat Denver in LA
-and my favorite..sinking a three to force overtime and then sinking another three to win the game and have the Lakers become Pacific Division champs two years ago
-and that’s w/o doing any research and just thinking off the top of my head. For all the doubters I think if Amare doesn’t get the MVP, its between Duncan and Kobe.
#4-KG: For the elite players in the league I would say KG has the next most playoff experience. While he is not as cutthroat as I would like he plays the game exactly the way it supposed to be. He is the best passing, dribbling, and shooting (despite dirk) 7 footer in the game. He has an MVP and when he got some help he took his team to the WCF.
#5: Amare: Ok someone let me know if this is my bias (I give him the edge over Dwayne wade because of size and LBJ b/c of playoff exp). Amare is the first rookie of the year to come straight out of high school. He now holds the record for 30 pt games before 23. HE AVERAGED 37 PTS AGAINST THE BEST ON THE BALL POST DEFENDER IN THE NBA.!!! He has won games with his defense (SA, KINGS) and while he should be rebounding more he took that up a notch in the playoffs too. I have been waiting a long time to have a home grown franchise player on any of my teams and STAT answered the bell. He has great work ethic and he only needs time to prove hes clutch (remember the bank three to win it as a rookie in the playoffs?) We as long with fans in Miami and possibly Cleveland (need to see LBJ in the playoffs) are VERY VERY lucky.
Remember I put a premium on playoff production so that’s why my list is the way it is. The rest of my top ten is AI, Wade, TMAC, LBJ and I guess dirk if I had to pick. I’d love to hear what you guys think, being that you all seem very knowledgeable (well most of you….)