watsup!
Hey, I was watchin Laker's-Sixers 1980 Finals where Kareem got hurt and Magic in his rookie season played center, scored 42 points, grabbed 15 boards, 7 assists and snatched the MVP and the Finals. It made me wonder who the best players since then were. Before the 90's, I really don't remember a whole lot, but they do show old games on NBA tv and ESPN Classic. Anything before that is way before my time and I'll stick to what I know. I couldn't say much about Cousy or Russell compared to Nash or Shaq or Stoudamare. I would be in way over my depth.
So, top ten players since 1980
(1) Jordan (obvious)
(2) Magic (should be obvious unless someone wants to be difficult)
(3) Bird (pretty clear)
Now, there seems to be a gap. They all worked really hard, had very high basketball iqs and made their teammates better, especially by their passing ability.
There is a gap here. Therefore, I think there is a lot of room for different opinions.
(4) Tim Duncan (a fourth ring seems almost inevitable, he is the center of the Spurs, hence a fourth ring for him means more than a fourth ring for a role player-)
(5) Shaq (three straight les and a much better player-e.g. footwork, passing than is generally appreciated)
(6) Hakeem Olajuwon (one of the best centers- a quadruple double?)
(7) David Robinson (he clearly must be in here- this is a logical place)
(8) Julius Erving (he can't be out of this mix)
(9) Isiah (this spelling always bugs me) Thomas
(10) Kobe Bryant (three straight rings and Shaq needed him just like he needed Shaq)
I'll say one other thing that maybe a lot of people might think is dumb, but I still say it: I would take Tim Duncan over Larry Bird as a person to build a team around. Thats because I like an inside out game out though- that's strategy.
That's my opinion: what's yours?
Thats almost impossible to say. If I made a list, which I won't..there would be alot of ties.
A.I?
Iceman?
Barkley?
Kareem?
Its seems that you only picked the players that have won rings...there are plenty of players who belong up there even though they havent won it all.
well, of course, its just my opinion. My opinion's not written in stone or anything. No one really know for sure. That's part of the fun. I mean talkin about 2+2=4 isn't that exciting.
For me, winners win. The best players on the teams that won championships, all things being equal, in my opinion, were probably better than the best players on teams that didn't win championships. I don't think that in most cases the role players were more of a decisive factor than the role players. Usually Steve Kerr is shut down unless Michael Jordan gets so much attention that he is left open. ditto for John Paxson. Steve Kerr got the same benefit from playing with Tim Duncan. If the role players were so great, they would not be role players. Therefore, every player I picked on my top ten was one of the two best players on a team that at least two championship rings (with the single exception of Julius Erving).
In terms of Kareem, I really did consider him. However, the Lakers had Magic, Worthy, Cooper, Scott, Divac, (different times of course). The Lakers won mainly because of Magic. Kareem in the 80's on seems a little behind Shaq, David, Hakeem, ... and the others in the list from the 80's on. Of course, I could be totally off base here about Kareem.
Best starting five 80's on
point guard: Majic Johnson
shooting guard: Michael Jordan
small forward: Larry Bird
power forward: Tim Duncan
center: Shaquille O'Neal
That's my opinion
That's my starting five,
What's yours?
Whose team would win? Mine or yours?
themanurules, please settle down on the new topics. Every thought shouldn't envoke a new topic on the board.
Thanks.
PG: Magic man
SG: Air Jordan
SF: Bird man
PF: Ground Hog Day
C: Kareem/Shaq/Hakeem
That's the list. I win, everyone else loses. That's the list.
I'll work on it. Ok. But it seems like there's not a lot out there posted to talk about. It doesn't have to be me. But don't you think it would be nice to see something up there to think about and discuss that's somewhat interesting and debatable. I was hoping to stir things up and get an interesting discussing going, with different points of view out there, kind of like a good conversation or something.
I mean its summer and I'm not into baseball or nascar. Football isn't bad, but it's not on. Besides I'm much more into hoops than football. Tennis is okay. Golf well that's pretty lame to watch and play. Summer is great to go shoot hoops, but its hard otherwise in terms of what to watch . So, I guess what I'm saying is that a lot of the current posts don't seem that interesting to me, there's not a lot out there in terms for guys who are mainly hoops fans and I think it's kind of like not getting my fix. But, if you and some other people put up some posts which are interesting and that people can talk about and discuss, then I'll definitely put up a lot fewer new threads. Besides, I thought of new post material and I didn't put it up since it bothered you ! (so that should make you very happy).
Magic-Jordan-Pippen-Duncan-Shaq
Your cartoon is cool!!!
How do you forget Magic Johnson?
Shaq
TD
Bird
Jordan
Magic
Bench
DRob
Barkley
Kobe
Nique
Ewing
Stockton
Umm, did you just put Ewing ahead of Hakeem?
Mine is impartial and its not a true lineup according to positions but all were so great, you could put them anywhere.
PG- Jason Kidd - Man can just run the break and seems to effortlessly find the open man
SG- Michael Jordan - Greatest of all time
SF- Magic Johnson - Like I said, not really his position but the man played center and every other position on the court so he is fine
PF- Larry Bird - Only disagreement might be on his position
C- Hakeem Olajuwon - Proved he was the best against a younger Shaq and outdid Robinson in both of their primes
Still wish that pay-per-view with Shaq and the Dream going one-on-one would have happened.
Oops...I should have inlcuded Hakeem over Ewing,...my mistake...sorry Knicks fans.
By position:
PG: Magic, Isiah
SG: Jordan, Kobe
SF: Bird, Dr. J
PF: Duncan, Malone
C: Hakeem, Shaq
Didn't forget him! Go back and reread my list and what I wrote! He was second, right after Jordan.
Clyde Drexler has to be on the list.
Isiah over Stockton? I know he has a couple of rings but Stockton is the prototypical PG. He can shoot and nobody will ever come close to beating his all-time assists record.
Stockton 15,806 assists all-time. Closest active player, Gary Payton with 8,508.
I would replace Malone with Barkley...
You could go either way on that one. Barkley at his peak was probably better, but he was out of shape for most of his career. Malone was in top form for well over a decade, but was never quite as good as the '93 Barkley.
For me, the deciding factor is that Isiah was the best player on a team that won 2 rings, and Stockton was the second banana on a team that never won a le.
But you're right, Stockton was an incredible player, and his career numbers are truly epic. Even his per-season assist numbers look like they belong to a different era.
I know Malone stats were better is a matter of taste...
Barkley is a lot funnier than Malone...
Here's what I see as the most accurate ranking:
10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
09. Karl Malone
08. David Robinson
07. Hakeem Olajuwan
06. Moses Malone
05. Shaquille O'Neal
04. Tim Duncan
03. Larry Bird
02. Magic Johnson
01. Michael Jordan
Starting Five: Mike, Magic, Larry, Timmy, and Shaq.
Since we're only ranking players based on their play during and after the 1980's , Kareem is #10. If we were including statistics and achievements from the 1970's as well, he'd be ahead of everyone on this list except Jordan, and certain other 1980's players (Julius Erving, e.g.) would replace some other members on the list above.
-TSP
I don't know... did you see the Seinfeld episode where Malone tried to act?
Nope, but I can figured out...
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