ESPN Top 100 list

[ojandpizza]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

Yeah I'm not sure how I feel about it. I like Yao, and probably tend to remember him as better than he was. But his resume just doesn't give him much for a list like this. He only had about 3-4 seasons of play that would maybe qualify him for a list like this. Pair that with limited playoff success, and that in 3 of those seasons he only played about half the games. He just doesn't have much to back him up.

Yao at his best belongs on this list. But his best only played one full season. So idk how to vote that. I guess if Bill Walton is on the list Yao can make it. But at least Bill has a ring and MVP.


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[AlexBrady]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

Yeah I'm not sure how I feel about it. I like Yao, and probably tend to remember him as better than he was. But his resume just doesn't give him much for a list like this. He only had about 3-4 seasons of play that would maybe qualify him for a list like this. Pair that with limited playoff success, and that in 3 of those seasons he only played about half the games. He just doesn't have much to back him up.

Yao at his best belongs on this list. But his best only played one full season. So idk how to vote that. I guess if Bill Walton is on the list Yao can make it. But at least Bill has a ring and MVP.


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Longevity is a minor consideration for me. Yao lost his ability to spin when his legs started going south but he was still a force from the high post with his shooting and passing.

Playoffs? Well, Yao and McGrady were never truly integrated with each other. McGrady was always doing his own iso thing and just refused to play team ball.

I've made my thoughts on Walton known around here. He was simply the finest passing big man ever. A defender, rebounder, and scorer. I would have him near the top 20.

[ojandpizza]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

I agree with that, but my opinion on him is more of a "would have been", "could have been" assumption. He would have definitely been top 20, possibly higher.

Injures really hurt his career. In his prime he made 2 All-Stars and only played 65 games and 58 games. All the injury plagued years drug his numbers down to 13 and 10 averages on his career, with nearly just as many turnovers as assists.

He definitely was an all time talent, possibly the best passing big of all time. I won't argue against that. But I can't use that to justify him being placed ahead of guys who were top 10 players for long lengths of time, 10 years straight, when Walton couldn't even finish a season.

I definitely don't place a large chunk of my voting on longevity, but Walton just doesn't have enough. Put him top 5 on an all time college list though.


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[CaseIH]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

OK so now that ESPN has released the full top 100 NBA players of all time, I want to know how you guys feel about this. I feel as if a couple really big names got ranked to low and some players to high on the list. In my opinion LBJ isn't even top 5 yet he's number 3. Kobe 12 is ridiculous I believe too since I believe Kobe is better than LBJ and would take Kobe in his prime over LBJ. Allen Iverson was ranked really low as well (behind names like Bill Walton). So I just want to get your views on how this list is and who you think was out to high or low.

If AI is ranked behind Bill Walton then thats all I need to know about the ratings. Walton before the foot problems was a great player, but no way should he be ranked ahead of AI. I think because of the perception of AI as being ghetto trash and a trouble maker he sometimes dont get the due respect he deserves. 1 of the most miss understood athletes of all time imo, and there is only a few that ever played with as much heart and passion as AI, I put him in the same category with Bird,Magic,MJ and Kobe with having that heart and will to win at all cost. He laid it on the line every game, you might question his work ethic as far as practice goes, but you cant question how hard the man played the game every game.

Probably the best phrase I ever heard that fits AI to a T is " dont ever judge a book by its cover". AI is truly one fo the all time greats to ever play.

I dont ever put much credit on sports list that list the best players in their sports of all time anyway, but any list that has Bill Walton ahead of AI in greatness is complete bogus. I dont believe you can truly rate and compare Backcourt players and Bigs together anyway. They wont to make a alltime top 100 list then thats fine, probably can be pretty accurate, but to rank them 1 thru a 100 you cant.

[AlexBrady]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

I agree with that, but my opinion on him is more of a "would have been", "could have been" assumption. He would have definitely been top 20, possibly higher.

Injures really hurt his career. In his prime he made 2 All-Stars and only played 65 games and 58 games. All the injury plagued years drug his numbers down to 13 and 10 averages on his career, with nearly just as many turnovers as assists.

He definitely was an all time talent, possibly the best passing big of all time. I won't argue against that. But I can't use that to justify him being placed ahead of guys who were top 10 players for long lengths of time, 10 years straight, when Walton couldn't even finish a season.

I definitely don't place a large chunk of my voting on longevity, but Walton just doesn't have enough. Put him top 5 on an all time college list though.


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Walton spent three seasons with the San Diego Clippers who were a one on one team. Walton was grossly miscast on this club and was forced into his discomfort zone. Numbers don't tell the story with Walton.

My feeling is that his healthy 2 3/4 seasons were so great that it vaults him up into the inner circle. He is a very special case here.

[CaseIH]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

Walton spent three seasons with the San Diego Clippers who were a one on one team. Walton was grossly miscast on this club and was forced into his discomfort zone. Numbers don't tell the story with Walton.

My feeling is that his healthy 2 3/4 seasons were so great that it vaults him up into the inner circle. He is a very special case here.

Your right on about Walton and the Clippers. Still injuries have to be accounted for imo, and thats what sets Walton back. 1 of the all time great college players of all time, and some would argue the Greatest college player ever.

[ojandpizza]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

Walton spent three seasons with the San Diego Clippers who were a one on one team. Walton was grossly miscast on this club and was forced into his discomfort zone. Numbers don't tell the story with Walton.



My feeling is that his healthy 2 3/4 seasons were so great that it vaults him up into the inner circle. He is a very special case here.

If he would have had 4 or so years of playing that level I might be with you. His 4 years in Portland only give him approximately 2 1/2 seasons of play due to all the time he missed. Twice an all star, on two years in the playoffs, he just falls a little short for me for his NBA career.


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[AlexBrady]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

Your right on about Walton and the Clippers. Still injuries have to be accounted for imo, and thats what sets Walton back. 1 of the all time great college players of all time, and some would argue the Greatest college player ever.

Walton routinely out-played the likes of Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Bob Lanier, Moses Malone and Artis Gilmore. I can't set him back because of the freak injuries.

[CaseIH]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

Walton routinely out-played the likes of Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, Bob Lanier, Moses Malone and Artis Gilmore. I can't set him back because of the freak injuries.

I respect that, everyone looks at issue differently, personally I believe you have to take into account longevity and how long did a player play at a high level. Walton just didnt do it long enough for me at the NBA level to be ranked ahead of some others. Especially AI, and personally Im not a fan of him, as I dont like Georgetown, but respect how hard AI played every game, only a few ever played with that determination and passion that he displayed, and whether I liked him or not I respect guys who go out and play every game as if its their last.

[AlexBrady]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

If he would have had 4 or so years of playing that level I might be with you. His 4 years in Portland only give him approximately 2 1/2 seasons of play due to all the time he missed. Twice an all star, on two years in the playoffs, he just falls a little short for me for his NBA career.


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Portland's 77 team that beat Philadelphia in the Finals was one of the most memorable team-oriented squads of all time and everything was keyed to Walton's skills. The next year, 78, Portland went 50-10 and were a sure bet to repeat before Walton went down. This was very special stuff.

[ojandpizza]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

This was very special stuff.

Im not arguing it wasn't.



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[ojandpizza]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

AlexBrady, give me your scouting report on Hal Greer. And should he be on this list?


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[AlexBrady]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

AlexBrady, give me your scouting report on Hal Greer. And should he be on this list?


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Greer was about 6-2 and 190 pounds. Powerful body. Automatic 15-18 foot jump shooter and could back opposing guards into the paint. Clever passer. Strong rebounder. A good defender but not a lock down guy. Most importantly, he was a money man in the clutch. Would be a perennial All Star in today's game.
I would have him firmly in the top 50.

[MrDubya]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

I'll just say I'm fine with LeBron over Kobe. I watched both guys' careers, and I always felt LeBron was a more complete player, and could do more to elevate lesser talent around him. Winning a chip for Cleveland by itself should automatically jump him over some of the people whom he is always compared to. This is just my view.

[ojandpizza]

Re: ESPN Top 100 list

I'll just say I'm fine with LeBron over Kobe. I watched both guys' careers, and I always felt LeBron was a more complete player, and could do more to elevate lesser talent around him. Winning a chip for Cleveland by itself should automatically jump him over some of the people whom he is always compared to. This is just my view.

Said this when the list came out, but I really think the top 14 or so guys are the right guys. You can shuffle a few spots, I mean it's splitting hairs to decide how much better someone at 7 is compared to 10 anyways.

But to me, the guys ahead of Kobe all have one thing that really separate them from him. If Kobe had an "off night" lets say he scored 12-15 points instead of his usual 30, his off night impacts the game differently than those other guys. Most of them could score 15 points and still be the best player on the floor, Kobe I never got that from him. They just seem to impact the game, night in and night out, in more ways than Kobe.