76ers: Prive Iverson vs. Russell Westbrook

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

It could actually be a tough call because Westbrook is pretty much the same type of player as Iverson except bigger and maybe even slightly more athletic. On paper, you could argue Westbrook would be every bit as good or better because of that. But there's something intangible and unquantifiable that made Iverson the great player he was. Yes, he was a volume chucker and a ball hog. But the reason I was an Iverson fan was the way he played like every play was his last. He was as tough as anyone in the league, especially when you considered his size. And I also question if Westbrook could take the amount of punishment Iverson took and still play great. I would take prime Iverson over Westbrook easily and not think twice about it. Not based on statistics or size or athleticism. But if I'm going to have a volume chucker lead my team, I'd just prefer Iverson over Westbrook.

This tbh. If I want a 2nd or 3rd wheel, then I'll take Westbrook since he's not a liability on defense and he's more of a threat off the ball than AI was, but I'd easily take AI if we're talking which one can lead his team to more wins and deeper playoff runs by chucking and going 1 on 5 at crucial moments. Westbrook's total lack of intangibles and "it" factor makes me incapable of seeing him ever lead a team to the finals, even in a watered down 2001 Eastern Conference. Even with his at ude problems and baggage, Iverson struck me as a much smarter player and as a much better leader than Westbrook is.

[resistanze]

AI was a chucker but replace him with Westbrook in 2001 and they lose to the Raptors in the 2nd round, tbh.

[hater]

Frogger would fall apart with the amount of contact The Answer absorbed.

Chimp hasn't missed a game in his life. So far in durability Chimpbrook > Jesus Christ

IMO it's a close call. I take Iverson for his leadership and 4th quarter clutchness. But Chimp might be the all around superior player due to his freak chimpness.

[mindcrime]

Frogger would fall apart with the amount of contact The Answer absorbed.

Sometimes I forget how utterly lame player nicknames are. The Answer, The Truth, The Matrix, The Rapist.... List goes on and on.

[HarlemHeat37]

Iverson's poor efficiency is often referenced against him in arguments, but it should be noted that AI's shooting %s increased dramatically in the post-handchecking era, tbh..an increase of 3+% in his TS% is a notable increase..

[resistanze]

Chimp hasn't missed a game in his life. So far in durability Chimpbrook > Jesus Christ.

But he never faced the physicality AI faced, my initial point. There would be a record amount of flagrants called if he did, tbh

[DAF86]

see that's the difference between Kobe and all these other cats...he didn't need another Superstar to win a le...AI, McGrady, Rose, Westbrook, Durant, Lebron, Melo, all need another star to win...Kobe won back2back with just a decent team....the last person to do that was Hakeem....

I don't know why I'm responding to you but... Duncan in '99, '03, '05, '07 (but if you want to argue that Robinson was a superstar in '99 and Manu and Tony in '05 and '07 you still have '03 and that's not debatable), Dirk in '11, heck the Pistons in '04 didn't even have 1 superstar and last but no least Shaq in '00 (lol Kobe's 15 ppg on the finals )

[benefactor]

westchuck easily.

Don't post anymore. Thanks.

[hater]

But he never faced the physicality AI faced, my initial point. There would be a record amount of flagrants called if he did, tbh

the same thing could be said about Lebron or any other current player. In the end it's just assumption

[resistanze]

the same thing could be said about Lebron or any other current player. In the end it's just assumption

Well it's a hypothetical question b/w players who didn't play @ the same time, so yes it's an assumption. Who's to say Westbrook wouldn't acquire amazing leadership skills as the number one option? But I sure as don't think so.

[DMC]

Both had the green light and took too many shots. AI had Larry Brown. RW hasn't had a decent coach yet. When he gets one, he won't be taking 30 shots a game.

[hater]

Well it's a hypothetical question b/w players who didn't play @ the same time, so yes it's an assumption. Who's to say Westbrook wouldn't acquire amazing leadership skills as the number one option? But I sure as don't think so.

I don't understand the basis for your assumption. AI was built like a teenage girl with leukemia. Chimpanzee is built like a bulldog, Lebron lite if I may.

[Raven]

Don't post anymore. Thanks.

there is really no acceptable argument, westchuck is as fast as iverson, just as atlethic, has pretty much the same offensive talent maybe slightly less, but weschuck is far stronger and far taller, westchimp is basically the worst possible matchup for iverson, kind of like lebron is durant's kryptonite... i accept arguments against parker, cp3 or others, but weschuck would destroy him.

[chunticakes]

there is really no acceptable argument, westchuck is as fast as iverson, just as atlethic, has pretty much the same offensive talent maybe slightly less, but weschuck is far stronger and far taller, westchimp is basically the worst possible matchup for iverson, kind of like lebron is durant's kryptonite... i accept arguments against parker, cp3 or others, but weschuck would destroy him.

i don't think anyone is talking about iverson vs westbrick one on one...it's actually an argument of who is the better overall player...which happens to be iverson at this juncture.

fortunately for you, hater, and other westbrook lovers, there's still time for him to improve.

[Koolaid_Man]

there is really no acceptable argument, westchuck is as fast as iverson, just as atlethic, has pretty much the same offensive talent maybe slightly less, but weschuck is far stronger and far taller, westchimp is basically the worst possible matchup for iverson, kind of like lebron is durant's kryptonite... i accept arguments against parker, cp3 or others, but weschuck would destroy him.

you remind me of OKC's re ed looking center....can't think of his name...ohh I got it Hasheem Thabeet...just a downright ignorant ass take....

[Koolaid_Man]

I don't know why I'm responding to you but... Duncan in '99, '03, '05, '07 (but if you want to argue that Robinson was a superstar in '99 and Manu and Tony in '05 and '07 you still have '03 and that's not debatable), Dirk in '11, heck the Pistons in '04 didn't even have 1 superstar and last but no least Shaq in '00 (lol Kobe's 15 ppg on the finals )

My arguement starts with the premise of at least 1 Superstar so you can rule out the Pistons....Jason Kidd is 1st Ballot HOF whereas Gasol is not

[resistanze]

I don't understand the basis for your assumption. AI was built like a teenage girl with leukemia. Chimpanzee is built like a bulldog, Lebron lite if I may.

Being built doesn't mean you can withstand a physical style of play, tbh. I guess you simply took my comment to say 'Westbrook would get injured in AI's role' but I was referring to how effective of a player he'd be for his team.

[Koolaid_Man]

Drexler, while possibly the worst color commentator in the history of televised sports, was a 1st ballot HOF, dream team member, and top-50 all time player.

I guess that makes Kobe the GOAT.

Got it.

Hakeem won without Drexler....and won with him...but he won without him first....

[Killakobe81]

I don't know why I'm responding to you but... Duncan in '99, '03, '05, '07 (but if you want to argue that Robinson was a superstar in '99 and Manu and Tony in '05 and '07 you still have '03 and that's not debatable), Dirk in '11, heck the Pistons in '04 didn't even have 1 superstar and last but no least Shaq in '00 (lol Kobe's 15 ppg on the finals )

Dirk played with KIDD (1st ballot), (sorry Vince did not play on that squad)
Pistons had none
Duncan won in 2003 with no current superstar true enough ... but Robinson was still a future HOF'er ...who guarded the centers Duncan would not or could not (shaq)
Shaq not only had Kobe in 2000 (but shaq was the man) but Glen Rice who may also get in mostly due to college play but was a legit all-star who even won a ASG MVP IIRC ...

And yes I get Kidd (and David) were past their primes but very few teams have won a le since 1980 without at LEAST TWO future HOF'ers ... Pistons '04 and Rockets (first le) are the only obvious exceptions tbh ...

It's my 2 or more HOF'er theory ...

[Koolaid_Man]

Being built doesn't mean you can withstand a physical style of play, tbh. I guess you simply took my comment to say 'Westbrook would get injured in AI's role' but I was referring to how effective of a player he'd be for his team.

Westbrook doesn't have the mental strength to be good as AI...WB's recent meltdown's over small petulant is very telling....he couldn't deal with real like AI did with refs systematically cheating on him....with the 76'ers owner's brother stealing money out of his locker during games...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...ews.croce.html

Westbrook cannot lead a team on his own like AI did...he carried his team..even though it was in the East...AI was true warrior and in my opinion because he proved himself by playing against a prime Kobe I give him the total nod over WB....All these young guards today couldn't with a prime A.I that lil was a monster..I for one won't forget...nor am I impressed with WB..he's fast but a prime AI would have torn CP3, WB, and Rose a new asshole...

AI dropped ~50 on Shaq and Kobe in game 1 of the finals with a bunch of scrubs...that lil will always have my respect....

[Koolaid_Man]

AI vs Shaq and Kobe

lil was real http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmi91E3SMiI

[ElNono]

AI every time. Jammy pretty much said it all.

[Sportstudi]

Gasol could not have played in no other NBA era except the no hand check, no real dominant big men era of today. There's not a sane Spurs players alive that would trade a prime Manu or Parker for a prime Gasol.

Prime Gasol was garbage...he was better than Kwame, and he had a few highlights that mad ESPN but he was still Garbage...Kobe made him look better than he actually was....even though I'm not from the streets..real s from the streets know the deal....Gasol was just a modern day Sean ******...good but not great...

My statement stands...Kobe is the only superstar since Hakeem to win a le with no other Superstar....Manu and Tony are both NBA Superstars at least one of them is...

Gasol is a 1st ballot HOF. It's not the NBA HOF, it's the international basketball HOF. He gets there easily for his international play and because of that, he will be 1st ballot.

[Sportstudi]

Gasol could not have played in no other NBA era except the no hand check, no real dominant big men era of today. There's not a sane Spurs players alive that would trade a prime Manu or Parker for a prime Gasol.

Prime Gasol was garbage...he was better than Kwame, and he had a few highlights that mad ESPN but he was still Garbage...Kobe made him look better than he actually was....even though I'm not from the streets..real s from the streets know the deal....Gasol was just a modern day Sean ******...good but not great...

My statement stands...Kobe is the only superstar since Hakeem to win a le with no other Superstar....Manu and Tony are both NBA Superstars at least one of them is...

Which superstar did Dirk have? Don't tell me now about a 38y-old Jason Kidd. It wasn't the JKidd from his NJ days.

[Sportstudi]

I don't know why I'm responding to you but... Duncan in '99, '03, '05, '07 (but if you want to argue that Robinson was a superstar in '99 and Manu and Tony in '05 and '07 you still have '03 and that's not debatable), Dirk in '11, heck the Pistons in '04 didn't even have 1 superstar and last but no least Shaq in '00 (lol Kobe's 15 ppg on the finals )