NBA All-Quarter Century Teams: LeBron, Kobe, Steph are locks, but center and power forward debates get tricky
- Thread starter Street Knowledge
- Start date
A Tribe Called Quest ™
Make Em Say Ughh ... Silk da Shocker
Yes I’m taking John Wall over Deron lmaoJohn wall, Kemba, etc over Deron
Yea it's why i find both interesting. In real time, i was an apologist for KG arguing him over Duncan in the sohh days (so i ended up being wrong on that), and altho i have a dikk riding fan hopeful for my attention, the past 3 years i've advocated for Embiid and Shai (twice) for MVP over Jokic.
It's just that objectively, i see why ppl would go with either/or. Dirk and KG have comparable numbers (raw and advanced), all-nba and all-star noms, etc but I know part of the Dirk appeal is the 1995 Hakeem effect, where the foreigner in an underdog position in the playoffs proceeds to clear out all the top stars (including emerging and current superstars) en-route to an unlikely title. Compounded that altho KG was a much better defender and known for toughness (which Dirk wasn't)... offensively KG (18ppg career in the playoffs, 22ppg w/ MIN) had the stigma of shrinking (or hot potato'ing the ball) in big moments as a #1 (before settling as a #2 in BOS), whereas Dirk (career 25ppg in the playoffs, all w/ DAL) had a better reputation and more memorable moments.
Tho could we deep dive into team dynamics/mismanagement by front office (the arguments i used to use that MIN KG had worse teams than what Shaq, Dirk, Duncan, Webber, Sheed had?) or other factors like the '08 and '09 injuries? I mean, i would've had KG on 2nd team over Dirk personally.. but i ain't triggered by it. Not like they put Gasol or Rasheed over him.
Can't put TMac over Kobe, Wade, and Harden (he's 3rd team you missed it)
Deron can't put over CP3, Nash, Steph. Dame would probably be 4th after those 3, then maybe Deron.
CB4 - Timmy, Giannis, Dirk gotta come first. Even KG would be next after those 3
Melo is the hardest at the 3 with Bron, KD, and Kawhi. He'd be next in line though after those 3 at the SF.
Over Paul Pierce?
Melo, Pierce, Iverson, Russ, will always be the more interesting names to rank. Once upon a time, saying Wade was better than Iverson would trigger the coli. Not too long ago the same would happen for claiming Russ was better. Maybe it still is in fact
The Russ vs Nash debate reminds me of the brief Iverson vs Nash stuff
WaveMolecules
Superstar
swithc shaq and Jokic and switch giannis and Dirk and i actually think the list is perfect.
mvp_status
Superstar
In the system that brought you Linsanity I mind you.
Russ
Q-Rich vs Oladipo
Joe Johnson vs. Roberson
Matrix vs. Sabonis
Amare vs Steven Adams
What about that Matrix/Boris Diaw/Raja Bell/Tim Thomas lineup that Nash had two games from the NBA Finals
Oladipo became an all-star the second he got away from OKC
KG was at worst 1B the year Boston won, and the better reputation for Dirk is history revised after 2011 which was more about the opposing #1 than him. He was a Euro choker whose style was too soft to get it done before that.
That honestly might be an even better roster for Nash and Russ.
Russ
Raja Bell (3 & D protype) vs Oladipo
James Jones (a 3 point champion) vs Roberson
Matrix vs Taj Gibson/Sabonis (rookie)
Stoudemire vs Steven Adams
And Diaw, a crafty, underrated point forward who just won MIP the season before, off the bench, a luxury vs who? Taj Gibson?
Oladipo became an all-star the second he got away from OKC
Because he and Russ were indeed fukking REDUNDANT. They damn near have the same build/play style and when you swapped him or PG (who had his best season next to Russ), Vic got to go to Indiana and be the primary ball handler.
He was originally signed by OKC to replace Harden with the idea that KD was staying, THAT would have worked. Them in the backcourt together in the starting lineup wasn't ideal for either of them.
That honestly might be an even better roster for Nash and Russ.
Russ
Raja Bell (3 & D protype) vs Oladipo
James Jones (a 3 point champion) vs Roberson
Matrix vs Taj Gibson/Sabonis (rookie)
Stoudemire vs Steven Adams
And Diaw, a crafty, underrated point forward who just won MIP the season before, off the bench, a luxury vs who? Taj Gibson?
Because he and Russ were indeed fukking REDUNDANT. They damn near have the same build/play style and when you swapped him or PG (who had his best season next to Russ), Vic got to go to Indiana and be the primary ball handler.
He was originally signed by OKC to replace Harden with the idea that KD was staying, THAT would have worked. Them in the backcourt together in the starting lineup wasn't ideal for either of them.
WHY ARE YOU STILL
MENTIONING STAT WHEN
I ALREADY TOLD YOU
HE WASNT THERE?
THIS MAKES ALL OF
YOUR POSTS VOID
BECAUSE YOURE SCRAMBLING
ON THE STAT SITE PUTTING
JUNK TOGETHER
NASH MADE DIAW THE MIP
IN THE SAME SEASON HES REFERRING
TO, NOT THE SEASON AFTER.
THEY WERE 2 GAMES FROM
THE FINALS WITHOUT STAT
NASH WOULD HAVE UNLOCKED
OLADIPO, SABONIS AND GRANT
MUCH SOONER
mvp_status
Superstar
That honestly might be an even better roster for Nash and Russ.
Russ
Raja Bell (3 & D) vs Oladipo
James Jones (a 3 point champion) vs Roberson
Matrix vs Taj Gibson Sabonis (rookie)
Stoudemire vs Steven Adams
And Diaw, a crafty, underrated point forward who just won MIP the season before, off the bench, a luxury vs who? Taj Gibson?
Because he and Russ were indeed fukking REDUNDANT. They damn near have the same build/play style and when you swapped him or PG (who had his best season next to Russ), Vic got to go to Indiana and be the primary ball handler.
He was originally signed by OKC to replace Harden with the idea that KD was staying, THAT would have worked. Them in the backcourt together in the starting lineup wasn't ideal for either of them.
Amare didnt play that year and James Jones was getting like 15 mins a game lol
They swapped Oladipo with PG. Brought in Melo who was coming off an All-Star season, still got smoked in Round 1.
Everybody blamed Melo so they got rid of him to add some additional 3 & D to the rotation. PG finishes top 3 in MVP voting the following year and they still get punched out by Dame in Round 1...Again.
At some point you have to consider the common denominator. Russ dont raise ceilings like that. Every single All Star talent he's played with had more success somewhere else.
WHY ARE YOU STILL
MENTIONING STAT WHEN
I ALREADY TOLD YOU
HE WASNT THERE?
THIS MAKES ALL OF
YOUR POSTS VOID
BECAUSE YOURE SCRAMBLING
ON THE STAT SITE PUTTING
JUNK TOGETHER
NASH MADE DIAW THE MIP
IN THE SAME SEASON HES REFERRING
TO, NOT THE SEASON AFTER.
THEY WERE 2 GAMES FROM
THE FINALS WITHOUT STAT
NASH WOULD HAVE UNLOCKED
OLADIPO, SABONIS AND GRANT
MUCH SOONER
I'm comparing starting lineups bro, they got Stat listed in the starting lineup but it really don't matter, you swap him out for Diaw or Thomas, I say Russ still has a better run with those guys.
So Diaw had MIP and Barbosa was 6th man that same year too? Nash, outside of D'antoni's system might not have unlocked shyt.
steph_harden
Superstar
2016 CAVS WERE DEFINITELY A SUPER TEAM
Kevin Love averaged 8ppg in the 2016 Finals…….8.
Thats a Superteam?
In The Zone '98
Superstar
Why are you pretending like he didn't have his way the previous 3 rounds....
