The NBA's Best

[Ridders]

Actually I have, quite a few times. That shot is hardly reliable which is why he only attempts it once, max twice a game, and some games not at all. I didn't ignore his defence and in fact quite clearly stated "He's undeniably the best centre in the game at the moment". If you prefer, he's undeniably the best big man in the game. Yeah he rebounds like crazy, but remember who else is on that front-line - Lewis & Turkoglu aren't exactly rebounding machines despite both being 6'10". And similarly most of the Magic's players are defensive sieves so he's constantly mopping up for them.

Howard's numbers are down across the board - points, rebounds, FG%, FT%. In fact only his blocks are up on last year although they've gone down each month since the start of the season - he's only averaging 1.89 a game in January despite playing 36 minutes a game.

He's just not on the others' level. Yet.

Wasn't referring to you in particular, i saw that you gave him some love. I think we can agree that Dwight is a beast, although he isn't fulfilling his potential.

On a side note, Lakers 105 - 88 Cavs. Lebron going 9-25 from the field, going at a lovely 36%. I know it doesn't exactly prove my point, but its a nice little sidenote .

Edit: Just watched the highlights of the Game, how sweet were those rainbow runners by Kobe on Lebron in the 4th.

 

[andrew057]

Chris Paul for me.

 

[Special K]

One thing I just can't comprehend is why Oden got so much hype compared to Dwight?

Dwight to me has always looked better. I'm a total Dwight fan and have been since I started following the NBA draft. Maybe i'm biased but I just can't see how anyone could say Oden has(or had) a higher ceiling. Yeah he is a freak on D but Dwight is Dwight!!

As for the best? I can't go past Kobe. Lebron is great. Paul is great. However if i'm going to go into a game and need one star to make sure I win I couldn't not pick Kobe. It is close though... Lebron is the total package but I just love the prick that is Kobe and how he lights a fire in people.

Take Pierce off that list. He is a douche finals MVP or not.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

In the words of the MDE:

"Take this down. Paul Pierce is the motherf**king truth. Quote me on that and don’t take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn’t know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth."

 

[Special K]

Rodney Carney > Paul Pierce

 

[McLovin]

I'd take Jerome James over Paul Pierce. He's living off the back of KG...

Heck, even Fatoine Walker...

 

[Tiger Hawk]

One thing I just can't comprehend is why Oden got so much hype compared to Dwight?

Dwight to me has always looked better. I'm a total Dwight fan and have been since I started following the NBA draft. Maybe i'm biased but I just can't see how anyone could say Oden has(or had) a higher ceiling. Yeah he is a freak on D but Dwight is Dwight!!

One possibility might be because when they were both 18 Oden was already 7 foot whereas Dwight was only 6'10". I think people just assumed he had a higher ceiling because he was just physically more developed and they figured his game would sooner or later catch up with his body. The one thing you could positively say is that Howard is massively durable, hadn't missed a game until this season.

One thing is for sure, it's going to be a great battle over the next decade, Howard, Oden battling for top dog, with a slim chance Bynum might get up there as well. Let's pray all three stay healthy, it's been too long between a serious contest at the 5, have to go back to the early-mid 90s with the likes of Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson & young Shaq duking it out.

 

[Ridders]

I hope Bynum can take that next step, he has all the skills, its just some mental issues he has to sort out. I think once Odom leaves in free agency this season and Bynum gets more playing-time and shots, that we'll see more from him. Oden's got the potential to be a great big, but none of them can match the athleticism of Dwight.

I'd also add Lamarcus Aldridge to the list. It's amazing to think that Portland have two young big men who can both make a big impact on the NBA in the next decade.

 

[andrew057]

Paul Pierce deserves to be on that list

 

[El Coconuto]

Whilst I hate saying it, I don't understand anyone looking past LeBron here. Simply put, if you put them all in a one-on-one tournament, LeBron would beat all of them. Some barely (ie Kobe, Wade) and some by a country mile (ie Duncan, Nowitzki).

Still, I gotta give props to my Magic Man, Dwight Howard. I'm pretty sure I'm his love child right now. Yay for Orlando's mini-streak. The sting I still feel from Shaq's split from Disneyworld to Disneyland is only just starting to heal. Slowly, slowly heal. Whoop whoop.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I'd take Jerome James over Paul Pierce. He's living off the back of KG...

lol what a load of nothing

pierce carried KG in the playoffs last year

 

[Ridders]

lol what a load of nothing

pierce carried KG in the playoffs last year

More like Pierce and KG carried Ray-Ray until the Finals.

 

[Ridders]

Whilst I hate saying it, I don't understand anyone looking past LeBron here. Simply put, if you put them all in a one-on-one tournament, LeBron would beat all of them. Some barely (ie Kobe, Wade) and some by a country mile (ie Duncan, Nowitzki).

Still, I gotta give props to my Magic Man, Dwight Howard. I'm pretty sure I'm his love child right now. Yay for Orlando's mini-streak. The sting I still feel from Shaq's split from Disneyworld to Disneyland is only just starting to heal. Slowly, slowly heal. Whoop whoop.

Going by that measuring stick, we'd better add Shaquille O'neal to this conversation. There is not a player in the NBA, nor has there been for some time, who can stop him one-on-one.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Was going to post this in the NBA 08/09 thread but probably belongs here more.

A new way to judge who's better between Kobe & LeBron:

Trade LeBron for Kobe. Lakers would absolutely, unquestionably be doing just as well. Cavs, on the other hand, with a banged up Z & D-West for chunks of this year, I'm not so sure. Kobe would probably be putting up better scoring numbers to what he currently is, but I don't believe the Cavs would have won as many games. Not saying they'd be lottery bound, but Kobe has a better supporting cast (Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Fisher, Ariza) to the Cavs (Mo, Z).

I'm reminded of Simmons' annual trade value column as well here. If the Cavs phone the Lakers and say "LeBron straight up for Kobe", the Lakers at least think about it - whereas if it was the other way around, the Cavs would just laugh and hang up.