Dirk vs Tom Chambers

[Air23]

This was an interesting comparison I saw over at basketballboards.net. How do you guys think these two measure up against each other?

[glucklich]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I generally like guys from earlier eras as they often have an advantage over todays playes in that they were/are more skilled or polished. Not so here. Dirk is a highly skilled player who is a little more rangey than Chambers. I give the nod to Dirk.

[Leon]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

Good gosh, Tom feakin' Chambers! He won an All-Star Game MVP! Did you see his dunk?!?! He got up like, to the roof!

Dirk can shoot though....

[Vince]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I compare Dirk to Larry Bird. He has less range though.

[Air23]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

This is actually a pretty good match up, one I never thought of before. Like glucklich, I'm more in favor of old school players, as I see their game as more complete than most of today's players.

Just off the top of my head, I can see Dirk only convincingly better than TC in one category: ball handling. Maybe rebounding, too.

But damn that Chambers could score. Espcially when he first got to Phoenix. That dunk over Mark Jackson off the break (damn near from the free throw line, too) was sick.

[Vince]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

[jfsolo]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I think its apples and oranges. Their games are totally different. Because I'm partial to finishers/slashers I like Chambers' game more, but I think Dirk's a much more complete player. His rebounding, shotblocking, and range and clearly better than Tom's. I don't think either one could stop the other one from scoring.

[glucklich]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

This is actually a pretty good match up, one I never thought of before. Like glucklich, I'm more in favor of old school players, as I see their game as more complete than most of today's players.

Just off the top of my head, I can see Dirk only convincingly better than TC in one category: ball handling. Maybe rebounding, too.

But damn that Chambers could score. Espcially when he first got to Phoenix. That dunk over Mark Jackson off the break (damn near from the free throw line, too) was sick.

I have a question for you. When you were watching the NBA back in the day, were you thinking it would be the Apex of basketball at the time? Its something I never thought about much but would have generally assumed the NBA would get better, or at least not worse where refined skills are concerned. At what point did you realize the skill level in the NBA was eroding or that it wasnt what it once was? Also, when you were in the golden era did you perceive it as such?

[Kruza]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

This is actually a pretty good match up, one I never thought of before. Like glucklich, I'm more in favor of old school players, as I see their game as more complete than most of today's players.

Just off the top of my head, I can see Dirk only convincingly better than TC in one category: ball handling. Maybe rebounding, too.

But damn that Chambers could score. Espcially when he first got to Phoenix. That dunk over Mark Jackson off the break (damn near from the free throw line, too) was sick.

Tom Chambers as a SuperSonic was a lot better than as a Sun. It was at Phoenix that he began to lose a some of his great athleticism.

I would go as far to say that Chambers at Seattle was as good if not better than Dirk.

Kruza

[Air23]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I have a question for you. When you were watching the NBA back in the day, were you thinking it would be the Apex of basketball at the time? Its something I never thought about much but would have generally assumed the NBA would get better, or at least not worse where refined skills are concerned. At what point did you realize the skill level in the NBA was eroding or that it wasnt what it once was? Also, when you were in the golden era did you perceive it as such?

Y'know, you never realize you're in the "golden era" of anything until it passes.

Honestly, I thought that the NBA would get better. Technology today is better than ever. And although there is still racism and such, it's a helluva lot better than it was 40-50 years ago. Things are supposed to improve over time.

But, IMO, NBA basketball has stagnated. Most of the players today rely too much on their physical skills--their athleticism, but neglect their basketball skills.

That's why I think a guy like Tim Duncan dominates as much as he does today. He's the most fundamentally sound player in an era of fundamentally-challenged players. That's not a knock on him, but a damning of players in general today. IMO, I don't think Duncan would have stood out much if he played in the 1980's.

As far as when I think it started going downhill? It may sound biased, but I think it started around the time MJ retired the first time. Around that time, you had alot of guys coming out of college after just two years. Guys threatening to sit out a season because they wanted more money. I remember Zo (though I love him as a player) and Glen Robinson pulling this crap. They hadn't played one damn minute of NBA ball, but threatened to sit out if they didn't get paid more. Zo said he'd live off his contract with Nike and Robinson had the nerve to be pissed off when he got beat out for Rookie of the Year by Grant Hill and Jason Kidd, after he finally reported to camp and struggled early in the year.

Crap like that, with guys worrying about getting paid--especially when all of them greedy bastards were gonna be millionaires anyways--is what brought down the League. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for capitalism and dudes getting as much money as you can. But--BUT--when you haven't played one damn minute of pro ball, you don't have a foot to stand on. Just because you tore up college don't mean you're gonna be a superstar in the NBA (I'm looking at you, Christian Laettner). Call me old school, but I don't believe in paying someone on potential. I believe in paying on production.

[Air23]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

Tom Chambers as a SuperSonic was a lot better than as a Sun. It was at Phoenix that he began to lose a some of his great athleticism.

I would go as far to say that Chambers at Seattle was as good if not better than Dirk.

Kruza

Reason why I mentioned his time with Phoenix was because, in Seattle, he had to share the ball with Xavier McDaniel and Nate McMillan. In Phoenix, at least before Charles Barkley arrived in 1992, he was the man, their main go-to guy.

But yeah, he was a beast in Seattle, too.

[Laimbeer]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

Their both similar, I think Chambers had a meaner streak, better slasher. Dirk better shooter. They both are horrible defensively. Shoot I remember Bill Laimbeer who's offensive skill consisted of a tipy toe jump shot and that's it, scorched chambers for 32 points in 90'. Funny as hell. He made Fade aways, post shots HILARIOUS!

[SikWitIt]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I compare Dirk to Larry Bird. He has less range though.

I dont know how you can make that comparison at all... Larry was smoooth a ball handler not just a shooter, maybe your not old enough to remember Larry in his prime (my bad if you are) but Larry was something else the passing skills ? Dirk passing ??? Nah man.

And Tom chambers dunking from the 3 pointline....

[Pointguard]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I never saw Chambers play so I'm going mostly on stats, but I'm pretty confident in saying Dirk will have the better career when all is said and done.

[Programmed2Kill]

Re: Dirk vs Tom Chambers

I like Dirk and all...but Tom Chambers...yikes. Chambers was a killer back in his day. I liked his game better than Dirk's.