1a/1b combos

[stretch]

There have been some pretty good duos of players who weren't necessarily considered the unquestioned #1 on their team throughout the history of the NBA. To list some of the more well known ones...

Shaq/Kobe (stfu if you are going to whine "kobe is NOT a #1 :cry :cry")
Magic/Kareem (early years)
Lebron/Wade
Pierce/Garnett
Kareem/Oscar
Stockton/Malone
Erving/Malone
T-Mac/Yao
Dirk/Nash
Mourning/Hardaway
Nash/Amare
Payton/Kemp

IMO, these are generally duos that both were about on par with each other in terms of importance to their team. If you could choose one of those duos (or name your own as I'm sure there are plenty I've missed) to build around with both players being in their primes, who would you take, and why?

Honestly, I find it hard to pick against Shaq and Kobe, although I would love to see a duo of Garnett and Pierce in their primes playing together...

[rayjayjohnson]

Watching this here thunder team,you can add Durrant/Westbrook. I expect big things for them

[Trainwreck2100]

duncan/manu

we got like 1 year of healthy prime manu

[rayjayjohnson]

Westbrook is underrated. I know that sounds retarded, but he is. Watching the FB he ran wit the bounce pass to Harden then the oop to KD was a thing of beauty

[lefty]

Kareem was 1a early in Magic's career

[stretch]

Watching this here thunder team,you can add Durrant/Westbrook. I expect big things for them

Yeah, I thought about them, although IMO Durant is MUCH more important to the teams success than Westbrook.

[rayjayjohnson]

Right now, but the rate Westbrook is developing he will be at that level in under two years

[rayjayjohnson]

And these clearly no issue between kd and Westbrook. I would guess they're prett close and can get away with being chippy with one another, but watching them play, they're on the same wavelength

[Trainwreck2100]

Yeah, I thought about them, although IMO Durant is MUCH more important to the teams success than Westbrook.

go look at your list again, almost all of them were a small guy and a big for a reason. If Durant had a dominant big the league would be fucked

[stretch]

Westbrook is underrated. I know that sounds retarded, but he is. Watching the FB he ran wit the bounce pass to Harden then the oop to KD was a thing of beauty

IMO Westbrook is so incredibly flawed in the halfcourt game. He either needs a defensive breakdown to score, or has to be hitting his jumpshot. Against elite teams, that simply will not work. He's as good as any player in the NBA on the fastbreak, but that only works so much come playoff time.

[jjktkk]

Shaq/Kobe.

[lefty]

IMO Westbrook is so incredibly flawed in the halfcourt game. He either needs a defensive breakdown to score, or has to be hitting his jumpshot. Against elite teams, that simply will not work. He's as good as any player in the NBA on the fastbreak, but that only works so much come playoff time.

Amen

[Killakobe81]

There have been some pretty good duos of players who weren't necessarily considered the unquestioned #1 on their team throughout the history of the NBA. To list some of the more well known ones...

Shaq/Kobe (stfu if you are going to whine "kobe is NOT a #1 :cry :cry")
Magic/Kareem (early years)
Lebron/Wade
Pierce/Garnett
Kareem/Oscar
Stockton/Malone
Erving/Malone
T-Mac/Yao
Dirk/Nash
Mourning/Hardaway
Nash/Amare
Payton/Kemp

IMO, these are generally duos that both were about on par with each other in terms of importance to their team. If you could choose one of those duos (or name your own as I'm sure there are plenty I've missed) to build around with both players being in their primes, who would you take, and why?

Honestly, I find it hard to pick against Shaq and Kobe, although I would love to see a duo of Garnett and Pierce in their primes playing together...

Didn't see Oscar/Kareem but my guess they were the best on paper.
Kareem and Magic were the best I have seen even better than Kobe and Shaq. It's close, but by the time Kobe started hitting his prime their issues were starting to bubble over. Hard for me to pick any of these other duos since they didnt win rings. As far as one and done duos I like Pierce/KG, Hakeem/Clyde over Moses/Erving. Dr.J's best days were long gone by 1983 inho ...(i know Clyde was old too) but Hakeem made up for it and Drexler wanted that ring bad.

[stretch]

And these clearly no issue between kd and Westbrook. I would guess they're prett close and can get away with being chippy with one another, but watching them play, they're on the same wavelength

Yeah I don't think they have that much of an issue with each other. Most duos have their times where they get pissed with each other. It's just part of basketball. What matters is how they respond on the court, and they generally respond well. They just both are not great half-court players.


Right now, but the rate Westbrook is developing he will be at that level in under two years

If he develops a consistent jumpshot, he might end up being the best scoring-PG in the league. But considering how poor his mechanics currently are on his jumper, I can't see him ever being able to do much more than just hit the open jumpers, which isnt going to help him much once his athletic ability fades.

[Killakobe81]

INot saying they were the best but I loved GP and Kemp. What a waste that Kemp let himself get fat. His Finals against the Bulls and Rodman is very under rated. Many thought rodman was a GOAT defender but Kemp owned him.

[stretch]

go look at your list again, almost all of them were a small guy and a big for a reason. If Durant had a dominant big the league would be fucked

Can't argue with this. Heck, you have to wonder what would have happened if the Thunder ended up getting Tyson Chandler a couple years back...

[lefty]

INot saying they were the best but I loved GP and Kemp. What a waste that Kemp let himself get fat. His Finals against the Bulls and Rodman is very under rated. Many thought rodman was a GOAT defender but Kemp owned him.

Kemp got fat in Cleveland

Fuck the Sonics for getting rid of him for that pussy Vin Baker


And yes, 1 on 1 Kemp bukkaked Rodman

[stretch]

INot saying they were the best but I loved GP and Kemp. What a waste that Kemp let himself get fat. His Finals against the Bulls and Rodman is very under rated. Many thought rodman was a GOAT defender but Kemp owned him.

I LOVED watching this duo too. Kemp was such a monster.

It just seems like all great defenders have certain guys that just seem to match up well with them. I always remember seeing Bruce Bowen do work against so many elite SG/SFs throughout the league, but for some reason, Josh Howard (before he turned retarded) would consistently find ways to get his against the Spurs, without having to force a bunch of tough shots either, the way Kobe and Rayray and VC would have to against Bowen.

IIRC Penny Hardaway used to murder MJ too.

[lefty]

I LOVED watching this duo too. Kemp was such a monster.

It just seems like all great defenders have certain guys that just seem to match up well with them. I always remember seeing Bruce Bowen do work against so many elite SG/SFs throughout the league, but for some reason, Josh Howard (before he turned retarded) would consistently find ways to get his against the Spurs, without having to force a bunch of tough shots either, the way Kobe and Rayray and VC would have to against Bowen.

IIRC Penny Hardaway used to murder MJ too.

Yup

Virtually nobody was able to stop a young Duncan, but PJ Brown had his number.


And Penny used to murder both MJ and Pippen

[Killakobe81]

Kemp got fat in Cleveland

Fuck the Sonics for getting rid of him for that pussy Vin Baker


And yes, 1 on 1 Kemp bukkaked Rodman

he got real fat in cleveland but his decline started with his contract squabbles in Seattle. He was underpaid, but he let that affect his play. Once he got the dough he started to eat too much of the fried dough with powder and sprinkles.

[lefty]

he got real fat in cleveland but his decline started with his contract squabbles in Seattle. He was underpaid, but he let that affect his play. Once he got the dough he started to eat too much of the fried dough with powder and sprinkles.

" I have to feed all my illegitimate kids :cry "

[mercos]

I did not start following the NBA closely until 1995. Of the 1a/1b combos I have seen since then Shaq and Kobe are the best. Their true potential and the team's true potential showed in the 2001 playoffs went they went 12-1. They were unstoppable. Kareem and Oscar and Kareem and Magic would be others I would think might be at the top, but all I have to go by on them are stats. I believe Oscar was near the end of his career when he played with Kareem.

[Killakobe81]

I did not start following the NBA closely until 1995. Of the 1a/1b combos I have seen since then Shaq and Kobe are the best. Their true potential and the team's true potential showed in the 2001 playoffs went they went 12-1. They were unstoppable. Kareem and Oscar and Kareem and Magic would be others I would think might be at the top, but all I have to go by on them are stats. I believe Oscar was near the end of his career when he played with Kareem.

Great point and Kareem was amazing but not in his prime yet, so if that is the case I feel more confident with Shaq/Kobe.

[pass1st]

Shaq & Kobe vs Magic & Kareem is hard to say. Shaq was hands down unarguable and Kobe was a scoring machine. In 2001, nobody could do shit against that team, it took AI everything he had just to squeeze one game and avoid a complete sweep.

Although, you have Kareem & Magic who were perfect for each other. They just seemed to do everything right, sans Magic's notable brain fart. You have a scoring machine in Kareem and a bonafied leader who made his teammates better in Magic. That coupled with Magic's sheer versatility made the combination extremely hard to contend with.

tough call

[mavs>spurs]

monosylab1k and young husband

[baseline bum]

Shaq+Kobe 2001 is probably the greatest 1-2 punch I have ever seen. Too much drama though, so I'd much rather build a team with Kareem+Magic.

[mystargtr34]

1. Shaq/Kobe
2. Kareem/Magic
3. LeBron/Wade

[m>s]

oscar/kareem pwns the shit out of all other duos tbh, you young n!ggas probably never watched em play but the prime oscar was da greatest MF'N all-round player to ever play in this game im tellin ya.

[BlackSwordsMan]

Lakers/Stern
Colorado DA/ Kobe

[Giuseppe]

^But, by the time he got to Kareem he was worn out.

[Giuseppe]

Colorado DA/ Kobe

I bet your gusset has about 3-4 different semen samples as well, Swordsy.

tee, hee.

[BlackSwordsMan]

Pau for a bag of chips and a twitter follow doesn't seem to me he was out gas.

[BlackSwordsMan]

I bet your gusset has about 3-4 different semen samples as well, Swordsy.

tee, hee.

When you close your eyes and picture clams it goes down smooth.

tee,hee

[Giuseppe]

When you close your eyes and picture clams it goes down smooth.

tee,hee

I'd just cut that gusset out of the panty & steep my tea thru it.

[maddnezz]

he got real fat in cleveland but his decline started with his contract squabbles in Seattle. He was underpaid, but he let that affect his play. Once he got the dough he started to eat too much of the fried dough with powder and sprinkles. a little of the nose powder and sprikles contributed to his problems to........:wow

[maddnezz]

oscar/kareem pwns the shit out of all other duos tbh, you young n!ggas probably never watched em play but the prime oscar was da greatest MF'N all-round player to ever play in this game im tellin ya.true!:toast

[Axe Murderer]

monosylab1k and young husband

BUMP and pussyface imho

[Leetonidas]

oscar/kareem pwns the shit out of all other duos tbh, you young n!ggas probably never watched em play but the prime oscar was da greatest MF'N all-round player to ever play in this game im tellin ya.

" :rolleyes "

-Giuseppe

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

Magic and Kareem> Shaq and Kobe

shaq wouldnt stop Kareems skyhook and Kareem wouldnt stop shaq from running him over in the paint. Kobe may have been an unstoppable scorer but magic would have made the entire team unstoppable.

[Josepatches_]

Shaq was clearly the number 1 of the team.3 Finals MVP of 3 NBA championships say all.It's not good luck.Kobe wasn't close to Shaq.

So I'd take MJ/Pippen in 1993 or 1996. Yes, MJ was clearly the number one.Same Shaq.

[Giuseppe]

Shaq was clearly the number 1 of the team.3 Finals MVP of 3 NBA championships say all.It's not good luck.Kobe wasn't close to Shaq.

So I'd take MJ/Pippen in 1993 or 1996. Yes, MJ was clearly the number one.Same Shaq.

In the final analysis, Kobe won two without Daddy. Daddy conversely only won the one without Kobe.

[midnightpulp]

In the final analysis, Kobe won two without Daddy. Daddy conversely only won the one without Kobe.

But Shaq won one without Phil Jackson. We know what happens to Bryant when Jackson is absent.

Misses the playoffs.
11-9.

[Bill_Brasky]

But Shaq won one without Phil Jackson. We know what happens to Bryant when Jackson is absent.

Misses the playoffs.
11-9.

It was there all along.....someone just had to find it.

Good shit, mid.

[Giuseppe]

But Shaq won one without Phil Jackson. We know what happens to Bryant when Jackson is absent.

Misses the playoffs.
11-9.

Yeah, Jackson comes back, hat in hand, beggin' for his job.

[Giuseppe]

But Shaq won one without Phil Jackson. We know what happens to Bryant when Jackson is absent.

Misses the playoffs.
11-9.

Still & all, Kobe won two without Daddy. Daddy only won the one without Kobe.

[Ice009]

INot saying they were the best but I loved GP and Kemp. What a waste that Kemp let himself get fat. His Finals against the Bulls and Rodman is very under rated. Many thought rodman was a GOAT defender but Kemp owned him.

That truly does suck what happened with Seattle. Payton and Kemp could have been so awesome if they stayed together and if Kemp never let himself get fat. Sonics were a team on the rise. Also, did Kemp leave or did he get traded? What exactly happened for them to come to that point?

I never saw that finals series, but was Kemp that good? I recall reading in other places that, that might have been the only time Jordan wasn't the best player in a finals series.

[Ice009]

In the final analysis, Kobe won two without Daddy. Daddy conversely only won the one without Kobe.

Shaq was in the league 13 years when he won that one with Dwyane. Shaq wasn't in his prime anymore. if that was a younger shaq that hooked up with wade then they probably win a shitload more rings.

[midnightpulp]

Shaq was in the league 13 years when he won that one with Dwyane. Shaq wasn't in his prime anymore. if that was a younger shaq that hooked up with wade then they probably win a shitload more rings.

Don't waste your breath. Culburn doesn't qualify arguments. He just cites the raw ring count.

[Giuseppe]

if

Only pussies & assholes do 'if.'

[Ice009]

Only pussies & assholes do 'if.'

You're the pussy and asshole.

If you put even a 9 or 10 season Shaq on Miami or Phoenix, they probably win multiple rings.

Shaq was a little past his prime when he went to those teams.

Let's see how many rings a little past him prime Bryant wins. Hopefully, he doesn't get another bullshit trade, because that is the only way he can win it (with stacked teams).

[Giuseppe]

probably

Only pussies & assholes do "probably."

[midnightpulp]

You're the pussy and asshole.

If you put even a 9 or 10 season Shaq on Miami or Phoenix, they probably win multiple rings.

Shaq was a little past his prime when he went to those teams.

Let's see how many rings a little past him prime Bryant wins. Hopefully, he doesn't get another bullshit trade, because that is the only way he can win it (with stacked teams).

That's the only way Bryant's ever won anything. His championship teams were always the best on paper. Always.

[Giuseppe]

That's the only way Bryant's ever won anything. His championship teams were always the best on paper. Always.

You're bitter. That is what rests at the crux of this EC horseshit. Nothing more than that. Sour grapes

[pass1st]

That's the only way Bryant's ever won anything. His championship teams were always the best on paper. Always.

Honestly, he has been one of the main reasons why the teams were the best. The 3peat wouldn't have happened with any other SG or SF in the league.

[mavs>spurs]

sure it would have. tmac and shaq would have won a ton of rings.

[Giuseppe]

tmac

Only pussies & assholes do "tmac."

[Deuce Bigalow]

lettuce be cereal to Shaquille, 2000 was a clear 1st option(Shaq)/clear sidekick(Kobe)