Neal v. Elie in his prime

[Calispursfan11]

For those of you who actually remember Elie's Kiss of Death, who would you rather have?

[Mel_13]

Seriously?

[Calispursfan11]

Comparable height, shooting, toughness and obscurity to start out - it's a good question.

[TheSullyMonster]

Really?

Proven career over a promising rookie? Come on.

I'll take the savvy veteran known for his toughness and coming up big.

[Calispursfan11]

Really?

Proven career over a promising rookie? Come on.

I'll take the savvy veteran known for his toughness and coming up big.

Agree strongly that it's Elie, but I would expect Neal to get most votes on ST (too bad my poll crashed somehow). Elie was great.

[Mel_13]

3-time champion (started all the way thru the 99 run and started for Houston in the 95 Finals) v. a rookie who has yet to play his first playoff game.

[Calispursfan11]

3-time champion (started all the way thru the 99 run and started for Houston in the 95 Finals) v. a rookie who has yet to play his first playoff game.

So you agree. Good.

[Mel_13]

So you agree. Good.

:lol

[Nathan89]

Gary Neal Career High pts-25, Elie-27

Don't know much about Elie but I am going to go out on a limb and say Neal is the better offensive player.

[slick'81]

lol elie no doubt his defense is way above anything neal resembles

[admiralsnackbar]

Gary Neal Career High pts-25, Elie-27

Don't know much about Elie but I am going to go out on a limb and say Neal is the better offensive player.

Not quite.... Elie was basically the enforcer on the '99 squad, but he had a sweet stroke to go with his D.

[TE]

Elie. Defensively the guy was a pest.

[xellos88330]

Not enough data on Neal to even make this comparison. Neal is a rookie. Prime Elie wasn't.

[ohmwrecker]

I don't get this comparison. They aren't that similar.

[Bito Corleone]

This some kind of GNSF test? Who in their right mind is going to pick Neal at this point?

[The Truth #6]

Elie - CBA 3pt and dunk champion, for what it's worth. Great defender. Great finisher on the break. Both of these qualities make him better than Neal. Neal is probably just as clutch, and has more scoring tricks, but who knows how he does in the playoffs.
Neal is more offense oriented. Elie was very well rounded.

[Bito Corleone]

:lol didn't see this idiot when I wrote my response. Guess we got a winner!



Gary Neal Career High pts-25, Elie-27

Don't know much about Elie but I am going to go out on a limb and say Neal is the better offensive player.

[mingus]

Elie. Elie would get in your face. One of the things missing on this team is a guy that gets in your face. Elie did it, Bowen did it. Nobody on this team though. A lot of tough players on this team don't get me wrong, but no one that is going to start shit.

[maddnezz]

Elie. Elie would get in your face. One of the things missing on this team is a guy that gets in your face. Elie did it, Bowen did it. Nobody on this team though. A lot of tough players on this team don't get me wrong, but no one that is going to start shit.TTTTTTHHHHHIIIIIISSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!:toast

[G-Dawgg]

What a serious insult to Mario Elie's name!..Wow...

[20beastie45]

Really?

Proven career over a promising rookie? Come on.

I'll take the savvy veteran known for his toughness and coming up big.

+1

Come on OP

[OrEmuN]

I'll take the savvy veteran known for his toughness and coming up big.

Are you Pop in disguise ?

[Seventyniner]

Shouldn't this be rookie Neal vs. rookie Elie? Neal might actually take that one.

[DMC]

Elie hands down. Might as well compare John Wall to Chauncey Billups.

[Calispursfan11]

Where are the "Neal with it" folks? Defend your guy!

I dont think pressure gets to Neal which is another reason this comparison can be made. In that way, he's like Manu and similar to Elie. I agree it's Elie but not by a huge amount if you look at the stats while he was with the Spurs.

[ShoogarBear]

Neal is untested in the playoffs. We can talk a lot about how we think/hope he'll do, but until it happens, it's empty speculation.

If we want to go by regular season, one could argue Bonner > Horry.

[Budkin]

Ellie... the definition of a role player. The guy was tough as nails and could do everything.

[G-Dawgg]

Where are the "Neal with it" folks? Defend your guy!

I dont think pressure gets to Neal which is another reason this comparison can be made. In that way, he's like Manu and similar to Elie. I agree it's Elie but not by a huge amount if you look at the stats while he was with the Spurs.

Dude. You're dreaming.... Elie was a HUGE contributer on multiple championship teams! He was a bruiser of a perimeter defender , and was a timely clutch shooter that constantly hit important shots like nothing...

Elie's the champ. Neal is just a nice unproven talent.
No comparison by a landslide. PERIOD.

[Capt Bringdown]

Dude. You're dreaming.... Elie was a HUGE contributer on multiple championship teams! He was a bruiser of a perimeter defender , and was a timely clutch shooter that constantly hit important shots like nothing...

Elie's the champ. Neal is just a nice unproven talent.
No comparison by a landslide. PERIOD.

Elie made vital contributions in Houston's incredible come-from-behind title runs. The dude was an overcomer and a leader in a way. He brought an attitude and fierceness that I wish the Spurs had now. I'll bet he wouldn't hesitate to get up in Bonner's face.

One of my all-time favorite players and certainly a worthy role-model for Neal to emulate.

[Cessation]

lol he'd get in bonner's face

[Hemotivo]

Mario > Kobe

[Mr. Body]

Mario Elie is a legend. Really, that guy was massive. Clutch, hard-ass, hard-nose player. Nothing against Neal, who is more of a Vinny Johnson type player.

[TDMVPDPOY]

neal=jaren jackson atm

[Capt Bringdown]

neal=jaren jackson atm

I'll take it. JJ killed the Lakers in '99. I'll never forget the look on Jerry West's face when that happened.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Elie would look just like Neal under the perimeter rules of the NBA nowadays.

A step slow.

I like Neal's jumper better. Damn if it isn't sweet.

[Calispursfan11]

Mario > Kobe

Love it!

[MI21]

This isn't a particularly good comparison.

Elie - defense first, incredibly strong, used brute strength to score, surprisingly athletic in his peak, hard-ass with a clutch set shot.

Neal - offense first, undersized but quite strong, crafty offensive player who uses a strict diet of moves to get where he wants, elevates a lot on his J.

[Mr. Body]

neal=jaren jackson atm

This is pretty spot on. If Neal is as good as Jackson was in '99, I don't see anybody beating us this year. Jackson just slaughtered teams that year.

[jaffies]

Better movie: Dark Knight Rises or Caddyshack?

Different type of movie, one of which has yet to be seen.

Two pages of responses, though.

[Budkin]

This is pretty spot on. If Neal is as good as Jackson was in '99, I don't see anybody beating us this year. Jackson just slaughtered teams that year.

http://www.goerieblogs.com/sports/giveandgo/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/madants_toros_090310_03.jpg

He's got the ring to prove it.

[JR3]

Mario Elie over Neal. Mario could dunk over people and deffend very well.. He had the floater and the clutch shooting from the outside. Mario def had a more complete game.

[wontstartdumbthreads]

Better movie: Dark Knight Rises or Caddyshack?

Different type of movie, one of which has yet to be seen.

Two pages of responses, though.

Stupid analogy. Congratulations though. Worst post on this stupid thread.

[100%duncan]

elie. nuff said

[JonNOKC]

Based on limited playing career of Neal you have to take Elie in his prime - but if you compare just the two players from what we have seen on Neal he is a better shooter, about the same as far as creating shots for others. Elie clearly better leader (of course Neal is not in a position to develop as a leader currently) and a better defender although in today's game Elie would not be known for his defense (played in hand check era and was one of the guys who created alot of leverage using hand check without getting called for fouls)

[The ADMIRAL 50]

Elie sorta filled that Bruce role before we had Bruce. There was a reason his nickname was the Junkyard Dog. Neal is pretty much anything but, anything and everything he offers us is on the offensive end. That said this team really needs Neal, as others have mentioned in this thread and as I've been telling my friends all season long he could be Jaren Jackson 2.0 in the playoffs. This team could realllly use an Elie/Bruce type tough, lord knows RJ isnt gonna be our enforcer.

Yes, I know i didnt answer the question but thats mostly because it makes no sense.

[Calispursfan11]

Elie sorta filled that Bruce role before we had Bruce. There was a reason his nickname was the Junkyard Dog. Neal is pretty much anything but, anything and everything he offers us is on the offensive end. That said this team really needs Neal, as others have mentioned in this thread and as I've been telling my friends all season long he could be Jaren Jackson 2.0 in the playoffs. This team could realllly use an Elie/Bruce type tough, lord knows RJ isnt gonna be our enforcer.

Yes, I know i didnt answer the question but thats mostly because it makes no sense.

I acknowledge their differences, but they are both key role players, about the same height, usually the same position and have comparable stats if you look at Elie's career. Sure Neal is untested and hasn't been around the NBA long, but at 26, he is not a typical rookie, just as Manu was not when he came into the league. So the comparison is legit and makes sense.