Ridders
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Tiger's comments about Lamar's abilities in the playoff's thread really got me thinking about what could have been. If you were looking up enigma in the dictionary, surely Odom's big ball head would be listed right next to it. I mean there is nothing the guy can't do. He can initiate the offense, can post up, a very good rebounder, block shots, decent (albeit streaky) shooter, very very under-rated defender, and not to mention those looooong arms. Maybe sound a little over the top, but he should be one of the Top 5 PF's of this decade, but for one reason or another, has never been able to put it together.
Thought i would take this time to give a shout out to other players who never really hit their heights.
*Penny Hardaway - Always cringe a bit when i hear his name. Wonderful guard with great vision who was robbed via injuries.
*Grant Hill - Similar to Penny, his numbers in the late 90s were suberb, shame he was never allowed to reach his potential. He was Lebron before Lebron came around.
*Stephon Marbury - Dead-set, this guy could have established a dynasty in Minnesota with KG, but nooooo, couldn't handle not being the highest paid guy on the team. What a merkin
*Amarie Stoudemire (so far) - No doubt he has been a very good offensive player so far in his career. But when i think of STAT, i've always expected more. His lack of effort on the defensive end and his terrible rebounding (how can a guy of his size and athletisizm not have averaged 10 rebounds a game in at least 1 season). I've always expected a Moses Malone type season from Amarie, but alas, unless he hooks up with D'Antoni any time soon, don't see that happening.
*T-Mac - Alas, injuries have robbed him as well, although perhaps not to the extend of Penny or Hill. If he could have remained healthy, surely it would be a close fight between him and Kobe as to who was the best perimeter player of this decade.
Not really applicable to this thread but i would also like to mention one player, who as great and dominant as he was, for me, could have been better. I'm speaking of none other than the Diesel, the Big Aristotle, Shaquille O'Neal. Before you shout me down for having NFI (which i probably don't) let me explain my point.
The reference i use for this is the Duncan vs Shaq debate. Imho, this shouldn't even be a debate. As great has Duncan has been (all things considered the best all round player in the post-MJ era), Shaq should be leaps ahead of anyone mentioned in this decade. He had a body that defied logic, one that we have never seen, and will never see again. Not only was he a physical juggernaut, he was suprisingly athletic for his size as well as possessing great basketball skills. In his prime (Lakers three-peat) not even Duncan had a chance of containing him.
As great as Shaq has been, i don't believe we saw the best of him. As is known, he was infamous for using the regular season as his playground to work his fitness up for the post-season. The guy always came into preseason overweight and out of shape (much to Kobe's distaste :lol
. There is no doubt that his poor conditioning is a significant contributing factor to all the injuries he has picked up over the years. Can you imagine how great Shaq truly could have been if he had a work ethic akin to players like Kobe and Duncan. Can you imagine if he produced many seasons like his 99-00, when his stats where off the charts as well as the fact that he stayed on the court.
Ultimately i'm being a bit pedantic. Shaq is undeniably one of the Top 5 centres of all time and a borderline Top 10 player of all time. I've just always had it in the back of my mind that if Shaq could have found ways to stay on the court more, and been in better shape during the regular season, his standing in the games history would elevate (if that is all possible). There is not doubt his injuries through the years is one of the main reasons that Steve Nash of all people has more MVP titles than him.
Thought i would take this time to give a shout out to other players who never really hit their heights.
*Penny Hardaway - Always cringe a bit when i hear his name. Wonderful guard with great vision who was robbed via injuries.
*Grant Hill - Similar to Penny, his numbers in the late 90s were suberb, shame he was never allowed to reach his potential. He was Lebron before Lebron came around.
*Stephon Marbury - Dead-set, this guy could have established a dynasty in Minnesota with KG, but nooooo, couldn't handle not being the highest paid guy on the team. What a merkin
*Amarie Stoudemire (so far) - No doubt he has been a very good offensive player so far in his career. But when i think of STAT, i've always expected more. His lack of effort on the defensive end and his terrible rebounding (how can a guy of his size and athletisizm not have averaged 10 rebounds a game in at least 1 season). I've always expected a Moses Malone type season from Amarie, but alas, unless he hooks up with D'Antoni any time soon, don't see that happening.
*T-Mac - Alas, injuries have robbed him as well, although perhaps not to the extend of Penny or Hill. If he could have remained healthy, surely it would be a close fight between him and Kobe as to who was the best perimeter player of this decade.
Not really applicable to this thread but i would also like to mention one player, who as great and dominant as he was, for me, could have been better. I'm speaking of none other than the Diesel, the Big Aristotle, Shaquille O'Neal. Before you shout me down for having NFI (which i probably don't) let me explain my point.
The reference i use for this is the Duncan vs Shaq debate. Imho, this shouldn't even be a debate. As great has Duncan has been (all things considered the best all round player in the post-MJ era), Shaq should be leaps ahead of anyone mentioned in this decade. He had a body that defied logic, one that we have never seen, and will never see again. Not only was he a physical juggernaut, he was suprisingly athletic for his size as well as possessing great basketball skills. In his prime (Lakers three-peat) not even Duncan had a chance of containing him.
As great as Shaq has been, i don't believe we saw the best of him. As is known, he was infamous for using the regular season as his playground to work his fitness up for the post-season. The guy always came into preseason overweight and out of shape (much to Kobe's distaste :lol
. There is no doubt that his poor conditioning is a significant contributing factor to all the injuries he has picked up over the years. Can you imagine how great Shaq truly could have been if he had a work ethic akin to players like Kobe and Duncan. Can you imagine if he produced many seasons like his 99-00, when his stats where off the charts as well as the fact that he stayed on the court. Ultimately i'm being a bit pedantic. Shaq is undeniably one of the Top 5 centres of all time and a borderline Top 10 player of all time. I've just always had it in the back of my mind that if Shaq could have found ways to stay on the court more, and been in better shape during the regular season, his standing in the games history would elevate (if that is all possible). There is not doubt his injuries through the years is one of the main reasons that Steve Nash of all people has more MVP titles than him.
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