The New Big Three: Where Will They Rank?

[SRJ]

Let's discuss great trios in NBA history:

Minneapolis Lakers - Mikan, Pollard, Mikkelsen: Won four championships (1950, 52-54)
Boston Celtics - Bird, Parish, McHale: Won three championships (1981, 84, 86)
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic, Kareem, Worthy: Won three championships (1985, 87, 88)
San Antonio Spurs - Duncan, Parker, Ginobili: Won three championships (2003, 05, 07)

Now, you've got that group on the one hand. On the other:

Los Angeles Lakers - Chamberlain, Baylor, West: Didn't win a le until after Baylor retired
Philadelphia 76ers - M. Malone, Erving, Barkley: Malone and Erving were past their prime and Barkley hadn't entered it yet.
Houston Rockets - Olajuwon, Barkley, Drexler: Only reached the conference finals
Dallas Mavericks - Nowitzki, Nash, Finley: Nowitzki is the only one left now, and together they could only reach the conference finals

So...what does the new Big Three look like - the top half, or the bottom?

[monosylab1k]

Dirk, Nash, Finley > Old ass Hakeem, old ass Barkley, old ass Drexler

and the new big 3 is somewhere near the top of the bottom bracket.

[jdaveah]

I think Jordan-Pippen-Rodman should be on this list.

[stretch]

Jordan-Pippen-Rodman >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duncan, Ginobili, Parker

[Findog]

Let's discuss great trios in NBA history:

Minneapolis Lakers - Mikan, Pollard, Mikkelsen: Won four championships (1950, 52-54)
Boston Celtics - Bird, Parish, McHale: Won three championships (1981, 84, 86)
Los Angeles Lakers - Magic, Kareem, Worthy: Won three championships (1985, 87, 88)
San Antonio Spurs - Duncan, Parker, Ginobili: Won three championships (2003, 05, 07)

Now, you've got that group on the one hand. On the other:

Los Angeles Lakers - Chamberlain, Baylor, West: Didn't win a le until after Baylor retired
Philadelphia 76ers - M. Malone, Erving, Barkley: Malone and Erving were past their prime and Barkley hadn't entered it yet.
Houston Rockets - Olajuwon, Barkley, Drexler: Only reached the conference finals
Dallas Mavericks - Nowitzki, Nash, Finley: Nowitzki is the only one left now, and together they could only reach the conference finals

So...what does the new Big Three look like - the top half, or the bottom?

Well, I don't know about "Big Threes," but the duo of Magic and Kareem won five les, while the duo of Jordan and Pippen won six.

[ShoogarBear]

Dirk, Nash, Finley > Old ass Hakeem, old ass Barkley, old ass Drexler

Except that the old asses got closer to winning the Western Conference than the Dallas 3 ever did.

[Findog]

Except that the old asses got closer to winning the Western Conference than the Dallas 3 ever did.

To be fair, Nash and Finley almost forced a seventh game in the de-facto NBA Finals without Dirk. The Mavs would've beaten the Nets.

[monosylab1k]

Except that the old asses got closer to winning the Western Conference than the Dallas 3 ever did.

how so? Both teams got as far as game 6 of the WCF, and if not for a miracle barrage of 3's from Kerr and Jackson, Dallas would have forced a game 7.

[MrChug]

Jordan-Pippen-Rodman >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duncan, Ginobili, Parker

I'm going with Jordan-Pippen-Grant (was THE mainstay in development/dominance of the original Bulls team)

As far as amazing to see, great offensive basketball

Mullin-Mitch Richmond-Tim Hardaway>>>>>>>>>>>Nowitzki-Nash-Finley FTW

[ShoogarBear]

Houston was actually tied 2-2 with Utah in the 1997 WCF, and essentially changing one play in game 6 and another in game 7 would have sent them to the Finals.

I'm not saying this is a huge disagreement, but if you wanted to split hairs on the facts, it's easier to argue that the Houston trio got farther.

[Findog]

Houston was actually tied 2-2 with Utah in the 1997 WCF, and essentially changing one play in game 6 and another in game 7 would have sent them to the Finals.

I'm not saying this is a huge disagreement, but if you wanted to split hairs on the facts, it's easier to argue that the Houston trio got farther.

That Houston team would've lost to the Bulls. The Mavs were essentially playing for a championship against the Spurs. 06 Heat >> 03 Nets.

[ShoogarBear]

That Houston team would've lost to the Bulls. The Mavs were essentially playing for a championship against the Spurs. 06 Heat >> 03 Nets.

Not that they necessarily would have won, but the Rockets would probably have done better than the Jazz. Utah took the Bulls to six games without previous Finals appearances. The Rockets' Big Three had significant Finals experience (Olajuwon 3, Drexler 3, Barkley 1) and would have presented Chicago with more matchup issues.

Plus, the Finals experience is another argument in favor of Houston's big Three over the Dallas three (only two Finals combined).

[RonMexico]

I think the new big 3 is obviously KG, Jesus, and Truth in Beantown.

Give 'em a 3-way MVP in the All-Star game a la Stockton-Malone.

[TheAuthority]

Bottom

[Dalhoop]

I'm not really comfertable putting the Spurs "Big Three" in the top group with the others and obviously the Mavs don't belong at all.

The reason is that looking over the list, there are a lot of HOF players listed, and several GOAT candidates. This is not just the case on a single list, but in some cases on a single teams list.

Duncan is a HOF lock, as is Nowitzki ... The next closest to a HOF lock on either team would be Nash with his MVP's.

A case could be made for the other players, but thats just it, a case would have to be made for them, it is not a done deal.

Is Parker and Manu as big a part of those champion teams or was it Duncan and a team defence concept that won the les? Could the Spurs have had aquired... say Bibby as a PG eight years ago and still won? The answer is Yes. Could they have gotten Richardson instead of Manu and still won? Again, Yes.

Its the team concept, not nessisarly the players (other then Duncan) that has led to the team success. In that reguard its like the Pistons, were the players great or was it the system.

[bdictjames]

What about Nash-Marion-Amare?

You cant judge them now, they havent played one game together yet!!

[lebomb]

I'm not really comfertable putting the Spurs "Big Three" in the top group with the others and obviously the Mavs don't belong at all.

The reason is that looking over the list, there are a lot of HOF players listed, and several GOAT candidates. This is not just the case on a single list, but in some cases on a single teams list.

Duncan is a HOF lock, as is Nowitzki ... The next closest to a HOF lock on either team would be Nash with his MVP's.

A case could be made for the other players, but thats just it, a case would have to be made for them, it is not a done deal.

Is Parker and Manu as big a part of those champion teams or was it Duncan and a team defence concept that won the les? Could the Spurs have had aquired... say Bibby as a PG eight years ago and still won? The answer is Yes. Could they have gotten Richardson instead of Manu and still won? Again, Yes.

Its the team concept, not nessisarly the players (other then Duncan) that has led to the team success. In that reguard its like the Pistons, were the players great or was it the system.

Your argument is full of holes.....first of all Dirk is NOT a HOF lock.....he hasnt really done yet. Secondly, a team is about chemistry and who knows if other players besides Parker and Manu on the Spurs would have made a difference.....the other guys may not have meshed.

So, stop trying to talk about the Spurs and pump up anyone on the Mavericks.......we have 4 les.....the Mavericks???.......LMAO!!!!

[monosylab1k]

Your argument is full of holes.....first of all Dirk is NOT a HOF lock.....he hasnt really done yet. Secondly, a team is about chemistry and who knows if other players besides Parker and Manu on the Spurs would have made a difference.....the other guys may not have meshed.

So, stop trying to talk about the Spurs and pump up anyone on the Mavericks.......we have 4 les.....the Mavericks???.......LMAO!!!!

spoken like a true Spur fan. where's the Hasselhoff diss? you guys are slipping...

[Extra Stout]

Your argument is full of holes.....first of all Dirk is NOT a HOF lock.....he hasnt really done yet.

Umm... hate to burst your homer bubble, but winning the NBA MVP award is an automatic ticket to the Hall of Fame.

[Findog]

Your argument is full of holes.....first of all Dirk is NOT a HOF lock.....he hasnt really done yet. !!!!

That's right, you gotta win a ring to make it to the HOF. Which is why Pete Maravich will never sniff the HOF. Oh wait....


Dirk's a HOF. Period.

[Leetonidas]

I'm not really comfertable putting the Spurs "Big Three" in the top group with the others and obviously the Mavs don't belong at all.

The reason is that looking over the list, there are a lot of HOF players listed, and several GOAT candidates. This is not just the case on a single list, but in some cases on a single teams list.

Duncan is a HOF lock, as is Nowitzki ... The next closest to a HOF lock on either team would be Nash with his MVP's.

A case could be made for the other players, but thats just it, a case would have to be made for them, it is not a done deal.

Is Parker and Manu as big a part of those champion teams or was it Duncan and a team defence concept that won the les? Could the Spurs have had aquired... say Bibby as a PG eight years ago and still won? The answer is Yes. Could they have gotten Richardson instead of Manu and still won? Again, Yes.

Its the team concept, not nessisarly the players (other then Duncan) that has led to the team success. In that reguard its like the Pistons, were the players great or was it the system.

Trying to not be a homer, I personally do think the Spurs trio deserves to be up there. 3 championships in 5 years, greatest PF of all-time, and 2 All-Stars. Perhaps Tony and Manu are not HOF contestants yet, but I'm sure in time they will be viewed as it...if not Tony, then Manu for sure because the dude has won on every single level of compe ion.

[DOMINATOR]

how so? Both teams got as far as game 6 of the WCF, and if not for a miracle barrage of 3's from Kerr and Jackson, Dallas would have forced a game 7.

how about that karl malone bear hug??? talk about no calls
5:24 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcVzcPOP0Sw

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

The only way Dirk doesn't make the HOF is if he gets hit by a race car and he can no longer walk for the rest of his life. But then if that happens, he'll just tear it up in the Wheelchair Basketball League and get into the HOF there. Either way, Dirk is gonna be a HOFamer somewhere.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

And then the only way he doesn't make the HOF in the Wheelchair Basketball League is if he was in a driveby and he gets both of his arms paralyzed from gunshots. Then if that happens, he can just roll into some toxic waste and he can learn how to levitate and move the basketball with his mind. Then he will be in the HOF in the Basketball League for the Abnormal.

[atxrocker]

skirt and hall of fame should never be mentioned in the same sentence again.