Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Wait so are there others who don't think Durant is a top 24 player?

He's in the top 24 easily

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Yea, I'd like to hear these other 24 players that people would place above Durant as of RIGHT NOW.

[o_capone]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

by the end of the season you will struggler to name 10 players better than him... lebron, kobe, wade are the only players who i am positive he can't surpass this season...

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

I forgot to put Pau in my top 24. Big mistake

Capone, I agree with you. I will say he's in my top 15 for sure right now.

[dossier]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Just AlexBrady being AlexBrady

[AlexBrady]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Really? Here's what I got

1. LBJ
2. Kobe
3. Wade
4. Howard
Paul
Duncan
Dirk
Amare
Bosh
Carmelo
Deron
Roy
PP
KG
DURANT
Parker
Granger
Al Jefferson
Jamison
Billups
Butler
Yao
Nash
Joe Johnson

Just missed but could easily be swapped with named players:

David West
Carlos Boozer
Ray Allen

Like I said, Durant can fill up the bucket anywhere at anytime but his game is not nearly well rounded enough for him to be the center piece on a team with title aspirations. Not yet at least (I think it will get there).

As for the players who are more ready to be standouts on title contending teams?

In this general order:

Kobe
Lebron
Wade
Tim Duncan
Deron Williams
Paul Pierce
Brandon Roy
Kevin Garnett
Dwight Howard
Carmelo
Yao Ming (if healthy)
Tony Parker
Chris Paul
Joe Johnson
Ray Allen
Chauncey Billups
Steve Nash
David West
Manu Ginobli
Al Jefferson
Pau Gasol
Dirk Nowitzki (though I have serious doubts about this guy)
Shaquille O'neal
Andre Iguodala

Softies (Antawn Jamison,Bosh) and losers (Amare') are not players capable of winning titles as lead actors.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Shaq and Andre over Durant? Can't agree with that, but I digress.

I can't honestly foresee in any way that Durant isn't a top 20 player.

I would bet my bank account that at least 90% of NBA GM's agree with me.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Shaq and Andre over Durant? Can't agree with that, but I digress.

I can't honestly foresee in any way that Durant isn't a top 20 player.

I would bet my bank account that at least 90% of NBA GM's agree with me.

Durant is a top 20 scorer. His game simply hasn't matured enough for him to be labeled as a top 20 all around player.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Durant is a top 20 scorer. His game simply hasn't matured enough for him to be labeled as a top 20 all around player.

Andre Igodala though? David West? Over Bosh and Durant?

I am confident that GM's disagree with you but hey that's why we're mere messageboarders.

[faster]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Lebron needs a post up game, but not necessarily a "back down" game. If he can get his turnaround to be reliable from about 12-16 feet, that is perfect. From that distance he can turn and face up, see the double teams coming, pass to cutters, swing the ball around the perimeter for the other post or take the shot. The bonus is that is too far out to deny him position. It also neutralizes smaller opponents who may fare better against his penetration. This element in his game is what is truly necessary to making him unstoppable within a 5 man concept.

Right now, there will be rough pages in the playoffs for him to generate a 5 man offense from an effective dribble/drive position. Sometimes it will be there, but other times it won't. From the post position, other people can initiate plays while remains a threat. His jumpshot, on the other hand, is not as necessary from his growth, because in an ideal offense, your 6'8" forward isn't taking the bulk of the 3 pointers and 18 footers, but rather making those shots easier for smaller players.

lebron might just be what he has been before -- a player that his team is going to try and be just short. great player, but he's not a natural shooter and he doesn't have ice in his veins. not saying he can't hit big shots, but he's a money guy first. he has a short window until his athleticism can't pull him along. with his weight and years of basketball, father time would suggest his window will close fast.

at the end of the day lebron might have a title or two, but greatest player does not mean most meaningless stats..... most minutes having the ball in your hands.... most beautiful drives and in air body adjustments. the sg/sf that is legendary is a guy who can hit 20-24 foot shots all day, every day, and will take it with 4 guys in his face. at the end of the day, you'll be pushed out and need to win the game outside.

lebron will be a subject of some debate in the end. great stats, all those "all around player" jockers will love him. stats everywhere for sure. i fear the lack of a natural shot will hold him back. we'll see though.

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Durant will be a second tier player. Cant believe this thread is even still up. Wait a few years and wait til he has won a championship which will be never until he is off the Thunder.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

the sg/sf that is legendary is a guy who can hit 20-24 foot shots all day, every day, and will take it with 4 guys in his face.

Cmon man...now taking heavily contested deep jumpshots is a mark of greatness? Thats actually called "bad shot selection". You can't name a great wing player who has ever even tried to be sucessful doing that besides a certain Laker. MJ, Bron, Wade...even elite shooters like Reggie Miller would kill himself dodging through screens rather than sizing up 3 or 4 defenders, lol.

As much as I love Kobes game and aggressiveness, shot selection is nowhere near one of his strengths.

[Cebby]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Durant is a top 20 scorer. His game simply hasn't matured enough for him to be labeled as a top 20 all around player.

If you're going to differentiate like that, Durant is probably a top 5 scorer.

[faster]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

Cmon man...now taking heavily contested deep jumpshots is a mark of greatness? Thats actually called "bad shot selection". You can't name a great wing player who has ever even tried to be sucessful doing that besides a certain Laker. MJ, Bron, Wade...even elite shooters like Reggie Miller would kill himself dodging through screens rather than sizing up 3 or 4 defenders, lol.

As much as I love Kobes game and aggressiveness, shot selection is nowhere near one of his strengths.

Those shots that MJ and Kobe take, and aren't afraid to take... 19 footers, 22 footers, etc.... that's what makes them great. At the end of the day, I'll take a pure scorer that can take those big shots and make them over an all around player without a true stroke. And I wasn't talking 25 footers over 4 guys.... but I can tell you this, I know if Kobe or MJ or Reggie Miller has a jumper to win or get close and keep the comeback alive, I have a dang good idea they're going to pop it home.

And yeah.... Kobe's shot selection is questionable at times. It's what makes him so great but then makes you want to shake your head. I was definately not isolating that comment to him any way though.

and do NOT turn this into a kobe thread... please.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: Durant as good--or better?!?!--than...

the sg/sf that is legendary is a guy who can hit 20-24 foot shots all day, every day, and will take it with 4 guys in his face. at the end of the day, you'll be pushed out and need to win the game outside.

You've hit on a key point of the Lebron debate right there. Some people think he is an SG/SF. Myself and others believe he should be an SF/PF. The stronger and taller you are, the more useful you are near the basket. The problem is that Lebron only uses his height on putbacks and drives, rather than post ups or a short range face up game.

At his size and strength, Lebron is taking 3s and jumpers away from better shooters on the floor whenever he takes one. He is and always should be the third option behind and near the 3pt line. Kobe and MJ play the #1 position dedicated to taking those shots, so it's better if they master them.