SLAM: I Got 50! The Top Ten NBA Players For Each Position

[HarlemHeat37]

It's also obvious that efficiency will rise as your offensive responsibility diminishes, assuming that you're still in the same form physically..

You obviously can't deny that it's much easier for Gasol than it is for Dirk, considering the players around them..

Gasol's efficiency has skyrocketed since joining the Lakers, and it's obvious why..he didn't suddenly become a much better player overnight..

[cobbler]

It's also obvious that efficiency will rise as your offensive responsibility diminishes, assuming that you're still in the same form physically..

You obviously can't deny that it's much easier for Gasol than it is for Dirk, considering the players around them..

Gasol's efficiency has skyrocketed since joining the Lakers, and it's obvious why..he didn't suddenly become a much better player overnight..

I wouldn't consider 4% increase as skyrocketing. By that logic, Gasols career FG% of 52 is remarkably better than Dirks 47! His responsiblity is basically the same as well. He has a career avg of 13.5 shots a game..... and 12.5 as a laker. Its a give and take thing as well if you ever played the game. Some players are more efficient with limited touches than others. Others are the complete opposite.

There are all kinds of factors that play into effeciency. Again, my original post was to point out that Dirk and Pau had very similar years and i was called a dumbass for even suggesting it. I think i have proved my point.

Although I can see your point in thinking it might be easier for Pau than dirk considering the quality of teamates, i dont think its as drastic as one may think. Dirk plays more of a perimeter game and guys his size are reluctant to go outside and find it dificult to guard him there. Pau often has to play center and bang with the bigs. Not to mention, it's got to be pure to play with the tyrant kobe and all his character flaws, no?

For the Lakers needs... I'd choose Pau over Dirk anyday.

[HarlemHeat37]

I completely agree that Gasol fits the Lakers better than Dirk, no question there..

I don't know what your original point was, I didn't look back that far..I was just commenting on Dirk vs. Gasol..

FG% is unfair to Dirk IMO, since one of his main strengths as a player is his 3-point shooting/ability to stretch the floor, and his FT shooting..TS% is a much better measure IMO..

I would expect Gasol to have a higher % regardless though, since he obviously plays closer to the basket..Dirk's strength has always been his outside to inside game, which causes instant mismatches, and that should always be considered in these types of arguments..the fact that he's such a unique player is his main strength in arguments..

Gasol is obviously on the same level as Dirk though, I don't think anybody can argue otherwise..Dirk is a tough guy to judge though, since he's never had a legit #2 man to take pressure off him, and it would be interesting to see how he would do as a #2 next to a guy of Kobe's caliber..

[dirk4mvp]

Pau as a number 1 option is 0-12 in the playoffs. One of those series was Dirk giving him the rusty pipe treatment.


Stop experimenting with hard drugs.

[Culburn369]

Pau as a number 1 option is 0-12 in the playoffs. One of those series was Dirk giving him the rusty pipe treatment.

But, then Dirk gave it all back when he apologized to Pau for beating him. Dirk is a pussycat. He's like the Alan Alda of the NBA.

[dirk4mvp]

Dirk > Pau

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

It's not even an argument, Dirk > Pau.

[Culburn369]

dirk4MVP is convinced?...check

DUNCAN is convinced?...check

Dirk Nowitski is convinced?...nope

[dirk4mvp]

dirk4MVP is convinced?...check

DUNCAN is convinced?...check

Dirk Nowitski is convinced?...nope

Dirk Nowitzki was also under the impression that a few guys on the Nuggets could contain him from scoring. He was wrong about that too.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

when arguing Gasol vs. Dirk, Laker fans glorify the out of Gasol and say having Kobe on his team doesn't open up anything and he'd be just as good on his own, but then they'll move onto a Kobe vs. Jordan argument and say Gasol was before he played with Kobe and Kobe made him what he is.

[sonic21]

Dirk is top 10 PF of all time.

[dirk4mvp]

Dirk is top 10 PF of all time.

We know.

[mavs>spurs2]

Dirk is the best PF in the league. This list is bull

[jdev82]

centers are a joke. horford? bynum? dwight howard? what the . shaq, hakeem, the admiral, big pat and the rest would be rolling over in their graves.

[cobbler]

when arguing Gasol vs. Dirk, Laker fans glorify the out of Gasol and say having Kobe on his team doesn't open up anything and he'd be just as good on his own, but then they'll move onto a Kobe vs. Jordan argument and say Gasol was before he played with Kobe and Kobe made him what he is.

Gasols numbers pre and post Kobe are very similar. Look it up. He's just winning now because he's not on a scub team so he's getting noticed more. I never said Gasol was better than Dirk. I said just the opposite as Dirks career is better than Gasols up to now. What I did say was, last year, their numbers were almost identical and they were. I think Gasol had a better year than Dirk last year and it is definetely arguable. I also think his play is a better fit for the Laker system.

How that gets into a Kobe vs MJ argument is beyond me. I have never understood all that to begin with.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Gasols numbers pre and post Kobe are very similar. Look it up. He's just winning now because he's not on a scub team so he's getting noticed more. I never said Gasol was better than Dirk. I said just the opposite as Dirks career is better than Gasols up to now. What I did say was, last year, their numbers were almost identical and they were. I think Gasol had a better year than Dirk last year and it is definetely arguable. I also think his play is a better fit for the Laker system.

How that gets into a Kobe vs MJ argument is beyond me. I have never understood all that to begin with.

My mistake then I thought you were saying Gasol is better than Dirk, and I agree Gasol is a better fit in the Lakers' offense.

However, one reason I was willing to concede that I was wrong about Kobe not being able to win as the best player on his team was because of how much better Gasol has been with Kobe. During the 2007-2008 season, he shot 50.1% on Memphis, and then shot 58.9% after being traded to LA. That is a significant improvement.

Dirk would undoubtedly shoot a higher percentage if he played 2nd fiddle to a top 3 player that makes his teammates better.

[cobbler]

My mistake then I thought you were saying Gasol is better than Dirk, and I agree Gasol is a better fit in the Lakers' offense.

However, one reason I was willing to concede that I was wrong about Kobe not being able to win as the best player on his team was because of how much better Gasol has been with Kobe. During the 2007-2008 season, he shot 50.1% on Memphis, and then shot 58.9% after being traded to LA. That is a significant improvement.

Dirk would undoubtedly shoot a higher percentage if he played 2nd fiddle to a top 3 player that makes his teammates better.

That is the year he was traded. He has hovered in the 51-54% his career in Memphis and 56% his whole year with Lakers. Were taling making one more shot in his 13-14 attempts. It's not a HUGE difference. I think he was tanking a bit in 2007 and when he got to Lakers he excelled due to the whole "experience". He came back down to earth a tad in 2009. Of course its going to be easier playing with a better team. The gap in shooting percentage between Dirk and Pau is a lot larger than the gap between Pau pre and post Laker trade.

They're both ugly!

[Spurs da champs]

How is Lamarcus Aldridge not even on that list?

[ElNono]

I was looking at their '2009 updated 50 greatest of all time' list the other day. They had Duncan at 8, Kobe at 12 and Hakeem at 13. Nash was number 50.
At that point I tossed the magazine back on the rack.

[redzero]

To claim that Gasol would score 25+ points as the number one option is re ed. He didn't do it a single time when he played with the Grizzlies.

[Henke]

Pau as a number 1 option is 0-12 in the playoffs. One of those series was Dirk giving him the rusty pipe treatment.


Stop experimenting with hard drugs.

This list is a ing joke.

[VivaPopovich]

i'm surprised they did the right thing and rank tim duncan #1 Pf like they should

since duncan isn't "hip hop" enough for SLAM

[cobbler]

To claim that Gasol would score 25+ points as the number one option is re ed. He didn't do it a single time when he played with the Grizzlies.

I didn't say as the number one option. You should learn to read. He was the number one option in Memphis and averaged the same amount of shots as the #2 option in LA. The comment was he would get the points averaging 20 shots and that is all about percentage. Most people can do the simple math there. So reading comprehension and math aren't your strong suits.... it's ok. You'll find something you're good at.

[Supergirl]

how the is pau gasol ranked higher than dirk? bull .

More importantly, how are Pau and Dirk both ahead of KG? KG wipes the floor with both those guys.

[cobbler]

More importantly, how are Pau and Dirk both ahead of KG? KG wipes the floor with both those guys.

In case you didn't notice... KG didn't play much of the season. Not to mention that Pau actually outplayed KG this year when they did meet.