Tag Archives: simmons

#40: Jason Kidd

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 5x (’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ‘04)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (’03)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 4x (’99, ’01, ’02, ’06)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 5x (’00, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’95)

NBA All Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’95)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’96, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ‘10)

NBA Assists Leader: 3x (’99, ’01, ’03)

NBA Steals Leader: 1x (’02)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 16x (’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 12x (’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 3x (’02, ’03, ’06)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’99, ’03)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’06)

NBA Career Assists: 2^nd

NBA Career Steals: 2^nd

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 12^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 30th

Starter for One NBA Champion: ’11 Mavericks

Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’02 Nets, ’03 Nets

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 43rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 28th

There’s a pretty lengthy plus/minus list for Jason Kidd.

Plusses: Regarded as one of the best defensive point guards in NBA history. Made everyone around him ridiculously better during his prime (see Kenyon Martin). His trade to the New Jersey Nets for Stephen Marbury turned the Nets into an Eastern Conference Champion (not a real title contender, as we’ll get to). One of the greatest passers in NBA history. His impressive steal and assist numbers are only second to John Stockton, and Kidd got the assists in an era that was pretty bad for offense (and he didn’t have a Karl Malone either).

Minuses: His defensive accolades somewhat overrated him on that end. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t really really good, but you never really heard the words “let’s put Jason Kidd on him to lock him down” like you would with Gary Payton. His defensive reputation carried him through the later 00s (although he still got a lot of steals). One of the worst outside shooters in NBA history, which is what held him back as a true top tier player. If it wasn’t for one of the weakest stretches of talent in NBA history and especially in the Eastern Conference, Kidd’s Nets would have never even sniffed the NBA Finals. Surprisingly not a big Advanced Metrics guy, although that’s because of his bad shooting. Lastly, was horribly outplayed by Chauncey Billups in Game 7 of the 2004 Semi-Finals against the Pistons (22 PTS, 7 AST for Billups, 0 PTS, 7 AST for Kidd). It also can’t be forgotten how badly Chris Paul embarrassed him in the 2008 First Round either.

Still, Kidd was pretty much the best point guard of the early 2000s. He was a selfless point guard who made everyone around him better at a time where it seemed no one was doing that, and he got to two Finals as a result. That’s good enough for the Top 40.

#39. Paul Pierce

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’08)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘09)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 3x (’02, ’03, ’08)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’99)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’08. ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘12)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’02)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ‘06)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 5x (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’02, ’05, ’08, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (‘08)

NBA Career Points: 16th

NBA Career Steals: 11th

NBA Career Win Shares: 21st

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’08 Celtics

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’10 Celtcs

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 47th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 77th

Pierce is a tricky player to place. He never seemed to be iconic or anything, but was still good enough to nearly get a dreadful Celtics team to the NBA Finals in 2002, and later re-invented his game in order to co-exist with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to win his first NBA Title. Pierce went from being what seemed to be a selfish 25 PPG a game guy to someone who gave up shots and became a decent defensive player to win a title. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

I can’t state enough with how much the 2008 NBA Playoffs helped Pierce here. With LeBron singlehandedly looking to defend his Eastern Conference crown and shock the 66 win Celtics in Round 2 (LeBron Game 7: 45-5-6), Pierce went toe to toe with him scoring 41 of his own. Pierce later helped in shutting down Kobe and won Finals MVP. Yeah, Garnett was the best player on the team, but Pierce willed them there.

The rest of his resume is pretty decent as well. Some good scoring years (at one time Kobe, McGrady and Pierce could be spoken about in the same breath) early on and now some good veteran years (Pierce’s shot against Atlanta in the playoffs last year was sick…too bad Nene can’t rebound). 39 might seem high, but Pierce’s career seems to be what basketball is all about.

#38: Allen Iverson

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’01)

NBA All-1^st Team: 3x (’99, ’01, ‘05)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’00, ’02, ‘03)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 1x (’06)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’97)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’01, ’05)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘10)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’05)

NBA Steals Leader: 2x (’03, ‘05)

NBA Top 10 Points: 11x (’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’07, ‘08)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 10x (’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’08)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 3x (’05, ’06, ’08)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’99, ’01, ‘08)

NBA Career Points: 28th

NBA Career Steals: 12^th

NBA Career Assists: 43rd

Best Player on One Runner-Ups: ’01 76ers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 37th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 40^th

There’s generally two thoughts about Iverson. Either he’s an overrated shoot first/low percentage volume scorer or he’s perhaps the greatest and toughest (and fastest) guy ever to be on the basketball court. I generally go with the latter with a dash of the former. Like Kidd, Iverson peaked at a time where complex offensive schemes were at an all-time low in the NBA. Iverson was able to master hero ball and while his Advanced stats didn’t show it, the 76ers seemed to be a lot worse without him. His 2001 MVP case is a bit weak…it should probably be Shaq’s, but he proved he was at least somewhat worthy by dragging his crappy team to the 2001 NBA Finals (although they probably should have lost to Milwaukee). His Game 1 performance in those Finals give his career extra weight (48 PTS, leading the Sixers to the only playoff win against the 2001 Lakers) and the Sixers at least hung around in some of those games.

Like Kidd, Iverson probably maximized his potential and took advantage of his era. And like Kidd, when that era ended his usefulness as a top star did too.

#37: Gary Payton

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 2x (’98, ’00)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 5x (’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ‘02)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 2x (’94, ’01)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1x (’96)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 9x (’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02)

NBA All-Star: 9x (’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Assists Leader: 1x (’00)

NBA Steals Leader: 1x (‘96)

NBA Top 10 Points: 4x (’97, ’99, ’00, ‘02)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 9x (’91, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ‘00)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 9x (’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 7x (’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ‘02)

Top 10 WS/48: 2x (’98, ’00)

NBA Career Points: 30th

NBA Career Steals: 4th

NBA Career Assists: 8^th

Role Player on One Champion: ’06 Heat

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’96 Sonics

Starter on One Runner-Up: ’04 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 41st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 39^th

A great What-If for Payton: What if George Karl switched Payton onto Michael Jordan earlier in the 1996 NBA Finals? Once that switch was made, the Sonics took two straight from the Bulls and had chances to get to Game 7. Not surprisingly, it’s Jordan’s worst Finals performance.

Unlike Kidd, Gary Payton with a destructive defensive player. He absolutely wrecked John Stockton in the ’96 Conference Finals. He slowed Jordan down significantly. He was one of the few non big men to win Defensive Player of the Year. If you made me make an all-time Defensive Team, Payton would be my point guard hands down.

He was a great offensive player as well, although he was exposed for needing a system that tailored to his game when he ended up on the 2004 Lakers (and had to “share” with Kobe). In a sense, he’s like Iverson that way.

There are two reasons why Payton never won a title as the top guy on his team. The first has to do with him. He was a coach killer and routinely sold players out. The second was bad luck, as his Shawn Kemp lost his mind and Vin Baker ended up as an alcoholic. Those are the only elite low post threats Payton ever had in his prime. If Kemp didn’t lose his marbles and Baker stayed healthy, perhaps the Sonics get back into the Finals and win a title. But we’ll never know.

#36. Patrick Ewing

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (‘90)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 6x (’88, ’89, 91, ’92, ’93, ‘97)

NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team: 3x (’88, ’89, ‘92)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’86)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’86)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’86, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ‘97)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 2x (’93, ’94)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 3x (’93, ’94, ’97)

NBA Top 10 Points: 8x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 8x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 11x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘99)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’89, ’90, ’92, ’93, ‘94)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 2x (’90, ‘94)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 11x (’88, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00)

NBA Career Points: 21st

NBA Career Rebounds: 24th

NBA Career Blocks: 7^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 35th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 9^th

NBA Career Defensive Rating: 20th

Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’94 Knicks, ’99 Knicks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 40th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 37th

Arguably exhibit A for “player denied a Championship because of Michael Jordan”. Ewing was both overrated and underrated in different ways. He was overrated because at one time fans put him in that upper tier of NBA players, up there with Jordan, Olajuwon, Malone, Barkley etc., and he was never quite there. He was a good but not great offensive force, capable of putting up the occasional big game (like his 44-13-5-7 game against Boston in Round 1 of the 1990 playoffs…or even his 45-13 against Detroit one round later) but never consistently able to do it. He couldn’t pass well and although his rebounding totals are good, he was never great at that either. To be fair, Ewing lost his peak athleticism early in his career (hence the kneepads). Ewing was a very good player who was never great offensively. But you could build a title contender around him for sure. He was “New York popular”.

What’s forgotten about Ewing was that he was a destructive defensive player that happened to come at a time where Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson all transcended what being a defensive center meant. As a result Ewing doesn’t have the gaudy all-Defensive team nods. But if his career were a few years earlier, he would have done well dealing with Moses and Kareem (just like Olajuwon did in 1986).

But if it weren’t for Michael and Hakeem, Ewing would have captured the title at least once. Jordan’s Bulls took out Ewing’s Knicks in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1996. In 1992 and 1993, the Knicks gave Jordan all he could handle (a seven game series in 1992 and a six gamer that the Knicks led 2-0 in 1993) and could have won the title (definitely in 1992). Of course, Ewing had his chance in ’94, but Olajuwon destroyed him, so there’s that (although if John Starks didn’t play horribly, the Knicks still win the title with Ewing).

There’s always the Bill SImmons “Ewing Theory”. The theory Is that the Knicks played better without Ewing than with him. And while that was definitely true in 1999 (when he got hurt and the Marcus Camby addition got them to the Finals), I doubt it’s true earlier. The idea behind it is that a star player gets a lot of extraordinary attention without winning anything and then someone leaves the team in some way. Everyone expects the team to fall apart, but instead they play even better. See TIki Barber for the 2007 Giants or even the Linsanity era for Carmelo Anthony (or that the Nuggets went 59-23 the next year without him). That fit Ewing perfectly. It’s a shame because it’s easy to forget that Patrick Ewing was really good.

#35. Kevin Durant

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’14)

NBA All-1st Team: 5x (’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’08)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’08)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Points Leader: 5x (’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Win Share Leader: 1x (‘14)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’14)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (’14)

NBA Top 5 Points: 6x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’10, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

Best Player on One Runner-Ups: ’12 Thunder

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): Not Ranked

It’s not even close to too early yet for Durant. Durant’s already an offensive savant, efficiently leading the league in scoring for five years. His 2014 MVP campaign would be considered the 9^th best via WS/48 in the three point era, only behind LeBron, Jordan and David Robinson. The 2012 Thunder were so good led by Durant that I thought there was a legitimate chance they were winning the title…and then Durant dropped 36 in his first Finals game and the Thunder stole Game 1. Durant’s 2012 Finals stats: 30.6 PPG, 6 RPG, 54.8% FG.

I’d rather have five elite years from Durant than 8 or 9 very good years from someone like Ewing.

#34. Dave Cowens

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’73)

NBA All-2nd Team: 3x (’73, ’75, ‘76)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (’76)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 2x (’75, ’80)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’71)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’71)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’73)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ‘80)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 1x (’73)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 7x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’78)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’73, ’76, ’78)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 2x (’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 7x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’78)

Best Player on Two Champions: ’74 Celtics, ’76 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 31st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 44th

The big arguments in favor of Cowens are that he was the best guy on two title teams (and he had to beat Kareem for one of them) and his 1973 MVP (which probably should have been Kareem’s). Cowens of course had to contend with Kareem and Walton for any All-NBA nods, which is why he doesn’t have many of them. He bridged the Celtics from the Russell era to the Bird era, won a couple of championship and became one of the most popular Celtics of all time (although, he’s largely forgotten for whatever reason to anyone else). I can’t put him much higher than this as despite the two titles, it wasn’t like he got them by himself (Havilcek) and he wasn’t really in the best center of the 70s discussion.

#33. Steve Nash

Resume

NBA MVP: 2x (’05, ’06)

NBA All-1^st Team: 3x (’05, ’06, ’07)

NBA All-2nd Team: 2x (’08, ‘10)

NBA All-3^rd Team: (‘’02, ’03)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’10, ‘12)

NBA Assists Leader: 6x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’10, ’11)

NBA FT% Leader: 2x (’06, ’10)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 11x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘12)

NBA Top 6 FT%: 13x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’03, ’06, ‘07)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’03, ’05, ’06, ‘07)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 9x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘10)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 8x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’10)

NBA Career Assists: 3^rd

NBA Career FT%: 1^st

NBA Career 3P%: 10^th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 10^th

NBA Career Offensive Win Shares: 14th

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 36th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 50th

Of anyone that benefitted from the 2004-2005 rule changes that barred hand-checking, Nash was #1. This rule transformed him from a very good point guard to league MVP. Had Mark Cuban and the Mavericks had the foresight to realize this, Dallas might have had a late 2000s dynasty (although Nash’s defense was always an issue).

How do we justify Nash being as high as 33^rd? Here’s a lengthy pro-con list for Nash.

Pros:

Was the 2^nd best player on teams that won 53, 57, 60 and 52 games. Now if you want to give all the credit to Dirk Nowitzki that’s fine. But then he transformed the Suns and was the best player on teams that won 62, 54 (after losing Amar’e Stoudemire), 61, 55, 46, and 54 games. That’s pretty impressive. Before the 62-20 season, the Suns were 29-53.

Won two straight MVPs, and there’s a good argument to be made that he should have been the 2007 MVP over Nowitzki.

Dragged the 2010 Suns to the Conference Finals and was two games away from the Finals. The 2010 Suns were not considered a good team.

His style of play turned out to be the prototype for Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

Cons:

Could never get to the NBA Finals. While he wasn’t beating the Spurs in 2005, he had legitimate shots in 2006 (lost to Dallas in the WCF), 2007 (Robert Horry checked him into a table, which led to several Suns suspensions and is a classic Donaghy game) and 2010 (where the Lakers couldn’t stop him…but his team wasn’t talented enough).

On the all-time worst defensive players team.

His 2005 MVP should have gone to Shaquille O’Neal. His 2006 MVP can go back and forth. It was impressive that the Suns were just as good without Ama’re. But still, Kobe Bryant had an 81 point game, a 62 point game and dragged a horrid Lakers team to the Western playoffs. LeBron is also a solid choice for 2006 MVP.

While the Suns got a lot better when Nash joined…the Mavericks also seemingly got better, making the Finals just two seasons later.

For me, re-inventing the game from the point guard position is going to justify his high ranking. Yeah, he couldn’t beat Duncan, he couldn’t beat Kobe, he couldn’t beat Nowitzki. But he was really really good.

#32. Kevin McHale

Resume

NBA Sixth Man of the Year: 2x (’84, ’85)

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (‘87)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 3x (’86, ’87, ’88)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’83, ’89, ’90)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’81)

NBA All-Star: 7x (’84, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91)

NBA FG% Leader: 2x (’87, ‘88)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 1x (’88)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (’87)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 4x (’81, ’82, ’83, ’87)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 5x (’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88)

NBA Career Blocks: 26th

NBA Career FG%: 12^th

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’86 Celtics

6^th Man For Two Champions: ’81 Celtics, ’84 Celtics

2^nd Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’85 Celtics, ’87 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 35th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 26th

Probably the 3^rd greatest second banana of all-time behind Scottie Pippen and young Kobe. What makes McHale great is that he took a page out of the Chris Bosh and Pau Gasol playbook (well, they took a page out of his really) and gladly played a supporting role to a clear alpha dog in Larry Bird. His 1987 season showed that he could have been a legitimate 1^st team guy year in and year out (Bird even thought McHale might have been the MVP that year), but he wasn’t wired that way and was glad to take a backseat to Bird (which frustrated Bird to no end).

McHale is probably the greatest post player of all time as well. 60% FG on just crazy different post combinations. In addition to that, he was one of the best defensive players of his era and a possible starter on the all-time defense team.

#31. Walt Frazier

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 4x (’70, ’72, ’74, ’75)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’71, ’73)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 7x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ‘75)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’68)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’75)

NBA All-Star: 7x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’70)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 6x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’74, ‘75)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 2x (’74, ‘75)

NBA Top 7 Win Shares: 7x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ‘75)

NBA Top 6 WS/48: 5x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

Best Player on One Champion: ’73 Knicks

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’70 Knicks

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’72 Knicks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 32nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 36^th

Regarded as one of the best defensive guards of all time. Also regarded as one of the best big game guards of all time (many would put him in the class with Jordan). In Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals he put up 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds and 5 steals against Jerry West and the Lakers. Also can’t be forgotten Willis Reed was hurt for that game (“Here Comes Willis!”).

Why is Frazier this low then? Wasn’t a great shooter so the lack of a three point line in his era helped. His career was pretty short as a top guy.

Still, of all the New York Knicks of all time, Frazier is probably the favorite and the player where fans knew they could win the title with him. And they did twice.

Basketball

Top 100 Basketball Players Ever: #70-#61

August 16, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#70: Adrian Dantley

Resume

NBA Rookie of the Year: (’77)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 2x (’81, ‘84)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’77)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Leader Points: 2x (’81, ’84)

NBA Leader PER: 1x (’84)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (’84)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’84)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 2x (’78, ’84)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 4x (’81, ’82, ’84, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 6x (’78, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’86)

Career NBA Points: 27^th

Career NBA Offensive Rating: 119.8 (8^th)

Career NBA Win Shares: 134.2 (30th)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 66th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 83rd

It’s easy to look at Dantley’s Advanced Metrics and conclude he’s one of the most underrated players in the history of the game. His Advanced States, especially compared to the player one spot higher than him on this list (and on Slam and Simmons lists as well). Dantley was a great offensive player in an era where offense was rampant. His style wouldn’t translate to today’s game as he was primarily a post-up player at 6’3”. You know how some like to dismiss the 1980s because “everyone was skinny and small”. Well, Dantley would actually be negatively affected by that difference because of the way he played the game.

There’s a second part about Dantley that hurts his ranking considerably. From all accounts he sounds like a bad teammate and someone that coaches and other players just didn’t want on their team. He was traded some five times in his prime (are great players traded that often?) often on 50 cents for the dollar. The Lakers pre-Magic dumped Dantley to Utah for a washed up Spencer Haywood. He’d average more points (28) than Utah had wins that season (24) while the Lakers won the title. Utah would follow with 28 wins the next season and 25 after that. Interestingly in 1983 they would go up to 30 wins…and Dantley only played 22 games that season. It look Dantley’s excellent 1984 season to get Utah to the playoffs finally. Three straight playoff seasons in the 40-45 win range seemed to help Dantley…except Utah sent him away for Kelly Tripucka (a scoring no defense forward) and continued on their 40+ win playoff streak (and better as the Malone-Stockton era began). Dantley got to play for a contender with the Pistons…and then he was traded for Mark Aguirre as he clashed with Isiah. Unsurprisingly, Detroit would win two straight titles. There’s too many negatives here to rank Dantley any higher, but he needs to be given credit for his great offensive numbers.

#69: Alex English

Resume

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 3x (’82, ’83, ‘86)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ‘89)

NBA Leader Points: 2x (’83, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 PER: 3x (’83, ’84, ‘86)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (’84)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 4x (’82, ’83, ’84, ‘86)

Career NBA Points: 17th

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 65th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 82^nd

English was a lot more consistent than Dantley and his teams did better as well. Sure, it’s luck that English had less talent around him, but a big part of that is their attitude and being able to co-exist with their teammates and coaches. English was often part of one of the more potent offensive teams in the league: the 80s Nuggets.

English had a lot more success than Dantley as well, leading the Nuggets to the Western Conference Championship against the Lakers in ’85. In terms of pure statistics, English would be Carmelo Anthony’s end of career projection…although English has done better in the playoffs than Anthony.

#68: Bob Mcadoo

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’75)

NBA Rookie of the Year: (’73)

All-NBA 1^st Team: 1x (’75)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (‘74)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’73)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ‘78)

NBA Leader Points: 3x (’74, ’75, ‘76)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 1x (’75)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (’75)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’75)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 2x (’74, ‘75)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ‘78)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ‘78)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: (’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’74, ’75, ’76, ‘78)

Role Player for two NBA Champions: (’82 Lakers, ’85 Lakers)

Role Player for one Runner-Up: (’84 Lakers)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 61st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 46^th

For a three year stretch, Bob McAdoo was the 2^nd best player in the league behind Kareem. Interestingly his play fell off after injuries and he was never the same after 1978. McAdoo gets a bit of a bonus over other offense only players for two reasons: his MVP Award and his success as a role player on the Lakers in the 1980s.

McAdoo was simply unlucky. If he was able to play at full strength in the early 1980s he probably would have been a force.

#67: Tom Heinsohn

Resume

NBA Rookie of the Year: (’57)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 4x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’57, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ‘65)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (’60)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 1x (’62)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (’62)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 9x (’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ‘65)

Either the 3^rd or 4th Best Player on Eight Championship Teams: (’57 Celtics, ’59 Celtics, ’60 Celtics, ’61 Celtics, ’62 Celtics, ’63 Celtics, ’64 Celtics, ’65 Celtics)

Either the 3^rd or 4th Best Player on one Runner Up: (’58 Celtics)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 57th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 68th

One of the primary exhibits in the “Russell played with a billion Hall of Famers” argument. In terms of what Simmons wrote about him, he sounds like this generations Manu Ginobili in regards to being someone who seems to be a great chemistry guy…but once in a while goes against the grain (which is why Pop gets on Manu…and apparently Auerbach got on Heinshon).

I don’t see how I can put him any higher. He was a big part of the Celtics dynasty with a bunch of all NBA 2^nd Teams during the reign. Tough call. Russell thinks that he would be better than Bob Pettit if he had his head always in the game (we haven’t reached Pettit on this list yet). That’s pretty high praise, although it’s coming from a teammate. I’ll just go with a very good player that added to a great team and won a lot of titles.

#66: Tiny Archibald

Resume

All-NBA 1^st Team: 3x (’73, ’75, ’76)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 2x (’72, ‘81)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’81)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’73, ’75, ’76, ’80, ’81, ‘82)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’73)

NBA Assists Leader: 1x (’73)

Only player to lead NBA in Points and Assists in same season.

NBA Top 3 Points: 4x (’72, ’73 ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 7x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’75, ’76, ’80, ’81)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’72, ’73, ’75)

NBA Top 2 Offensive Win Shares: 3x (’72, ’73, ’75)

NBA Top 10 PER: 4x (’72, ’73, ’75, ’76)

NBA Career Assists: 21^st

Starter for one Champion: 1981 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 60th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 52nd

Famously known for his 1973 season, where he lead the league in points and assists (and didn’t win MVP). While it’s an amazing feat and definitely notable, Tiny’s Kings were only 36-46 that year. Tiny gets a bonus because, like McAdoo, he was an excellent top player (the prototype for 2008 Chris Paul) early on and then his career went downhill. Only Tiny was still a very good player on his late Celtic years and even snagged an All-Star Game MVP.

His presence mattered a lot for those early 80s Celtic teams. The Celtics in 1982 had an 18 game winning streak that season and looked posed to at least make the Finals for the 2^nd straight year. Tiny went down, and so did the Celtics.

#65: Pau Gasol

Resume

NBA Rookie of the Year: (’02)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 2x (’11, ‘15)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 2x (’09, ’10)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’02)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’81)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’06, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘15)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 4x (’09, ’10, ’11, ‘15)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 3x (’02, ’06, ’15)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ‘15)

NBA Top 5 WS/48: 3x (’09, ’10, ’11)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 2x (’09, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 3x (’06, ’11, ’15)

NBA Top 10 PER: 2x (’07, ‘10)

NBA Career Blocks: 28th

2^nd Best Player on Two Champions: 2009 Lakers, 2010 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on One Runner Up: 2008 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 96^th

It’s easy to look at Gasol’s All-NBA Teams and not be impressed. It’s just as easy to forget that he played his entire career in the same league with Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki. He was THE reason that the Memphis Grizzlies gained any relevance whatsoever, and was quite unlucky early on in his career as the Grizzlies had a 50-50 shot at the #1 pick in the 2003 draft (LeBron). Gasol and LeBron playing with one another in their early years would have been absolutely ridiculous and is one of the great What-Ifs of all time.

Why is Gasol this high? For one he’s one of the few players who could happily co-exist as Kobe Bryant’s 2^nd banana. Gasol thrived in the role and arguably became the top big man in the league from 2009 through 2011 (it’s forgotten now, but Kobe had a slow start in 2010 and everyone stated that Gasol was the best player on the team at that point, as well as a top 5 guy). It should be noted that post-Shaq Kobe never won a playoff series without Gasol. That’s shows Gasol’s importance. And then there is this. When the Lakers got Gasol for “nothing” (Marc Gasol turned out to be pretty good) the entire league, especially Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich started a shitstorm over it. Great coaches like Pop don’t complain unless the player involved is great. And even at that point, he knew Pau Gasol was great.

His 2015 resurgence in Chicago only helped his case. Also helping Gasol is obviously his ridiculous Advanced Metrics during the Laker title runs, as well as the fact that he was a better defensive player than anyone gave him credit for.

#64: Reggie Miller

Resume

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 3x (’95, ’96, ‘98)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’90, ’95, ’96, ’98, ‘00)

NBA Top 10 Points: 3x (’90, ’91, ’97)

NBA 3PTFG Leader: 2x (’93, ’97)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 3x (’91, ’93, ’94)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 14x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 7x (’90, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 5x (’91, ’94, ’95, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 11x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ‘00)

NBA Career Points: 18th

NBA Career 3PFG: 2^nd

NBA Career Win Shares: 14^th

NBA Career WS/48: 45^th

NBA Career Offensive Win Shares: 7^th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 2nd

Best Player on One Runner Up: 2000 Pacers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 63rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 54^th

Reggie Miller is the perfect example of two things. Number one, he did one thing great (outside shooting that complimented his overall offense) and didn’t try to so anything he couldn’t. That thing was so transcendent that it offset the fact he wasn’t a good defensive player, wasn’t a good passer, or really wasn’t a good much of anything. Since Miller’s three pointer and outside shooting was so great though, he ended up being perhaps the most efficient offensive player in NBA History. This ties into #2. In the 90s, no one was talking about advanced metrics or efficiency. Other than his three point shooting, all of his stats appeared rather pedestrian. His peak year he put up a 24-4-4. For the most part he was a 20-3-3 guy. There’s no surprise that he only made a few all-3^rd NBA teams when the league was weaker and only made sporadic All-Star game appearances. If he played today, we’d all be raving about how he might be the one of, if not the best offensive player in the game.

His teams did moderately well considering their best players throughout Miller’s first 11 years were Rik Smits (a quality center who didn’t sniff my Top 100), Jalen Rose (never an All-Star), Mark Jackson (a one-time All Star in the late 80s), Dale Davis (one time All-Star), Antonio Davis (a one time All-Star after his time in Indy) and washed up Chris Mullin. His late 90s/2000 teams were well built despite the lack of star power (Rose, Smits, Dale and Antonio Davis, Jackson at least gave tem depth), but it wasn’t exactly a murderers row. It didn’t matter to Miller as he managed to overachieve in the playoffs year in and year out. In 1995 he ripped the Knicks heart out with his famous 8 points in 9 seconds. He would lead the Pacers to a Game 7 loss against the Penny-Shaq Magic (although he didn’t play well in that Game 7). Miller’s Pacers would make the Conference Finals again in 1998 against MJ’s Bulls. This series is the closest Jordan came to losing in any of his six peak years. Miller hit 43% of his three pointers in a tight seven game series (including a winning three in Game 4) as the Pacers just fell short. Miller’s Pacers would make the Conference Finals again in 1999 and reach the NBA Finals in 2000. He almost led the 2002 Pacers to an upset over the 2002 Nets (the eventual Eastern Conference Champions). For someone without the “superstar resume”, Reggie Miller teams seemed to do pretty well. He wasn’t good enough to be the best guy on a title team, but give him on elite guy in his prime and who knows. Just look how close he got in 1998.

#63: Bill Sharman

Resume

All-NBA 1st Team: 4x (’56, ’57, ’58, ‘59)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 3x (’53, ’55, ‘60)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ‘60)

NBA Top 10 Points: 7x (’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 3x (’55, ’56, ‘57)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’53, ’54, ’56, ‘57)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 5x (’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)

Career Playoff FT%: 1st

Starter on Four NBA Champions: ’57 Celtics, ’59 Celtics, ’60 Celtics, ’61 Celtics

Starter on One Runner ’58 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 53rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 70^th

One of the tougher calls because his prime was in the 50s and he didn’t start winning until Russell showed up. He’s regarded as the first great shooting guard, and the best in the league until Jerry West showed up. He was the first guy to really hit above 40% from the field consistently and 90% from the FT line. Being a part of multiple championship teams with his resume and the fact that he was the prototype statistically for shooting guards gets him 63^rd. It’s a tough ranking to make, but it has to work for now.

#62: Dave DeBusschere

Resume

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (’69)

NBA All Rookie 1^st Team: (’63)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 6x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’66, ’67, ’68, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 3x (’66, ’67, ’68)

NBA Career Rebounds: 40th

3^rd Best Player on Two NBA Champions: ’70 Knicks, ’73 Knicks

3^rd Best Player on One Runner ’72 Knicks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 46th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 76th

In terms of usefulness to a championship team, he’s a superior, tougher 70s version of 2010s Chris Bosh (and enough to get the nod over him despite the 70s thing). Only made six All-Defensive 1st teams because they didn’t start recording them until 1969. Was regarded as perhaps the toughest guy in his era and was a huge reason the Knicks won two championships in the 70s. Was a bit unlucky as well, as DeBusschere regularly took and made shots that would have given him three points ten years later.

#61: Robert Parish

Resume

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (’82)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 1x (’89)

NBA All-Star: 9x (’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’90, ’91)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 1x (’79)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 8x (’79, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’87, ’89, ’90, ’91)

NBA Top 5 Blocks: 3x (’79, ’81, ‘82)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’81, ’83, ’84)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 7x (’78, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’86)

NBA Career Points: 26th

NBA Career Rebounds: 7^th

NBA Career Blocks: 10^th

NBA Career Games Played: 1st

Starter on Three NBA Champions: ’81 Celtics, ’84 Celtics, ’86 Celtics

Bench Player on One NBA Champion: ’97 Bulls

Starter on Two Runner-Ups: ’85 Celtics, ’87 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 59th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 67^th

“Chief” was the reliable, solid big man for the 80s Celtics. Parish’s career is tough to rank as well, considering he was always good to very good but never great. He knew his role for the 80s Celtics team and played accordingly. He shot 54% for every Boston season in the 80s. He provided very good defense year in and year out. He also brought it when it counted, coming up with a 23-19 in Game 7 vs. Milwaukee in 1987, and even put up a throwback performance in Game 5 against Indiana with a 21-8.

His consistency was eerie, putting up a 15-9 twelve times in his career, then getting close to that another three times. You could call him the poor man’s Tim Duncan in that respect.

Basketball

Top 100 Basketball Players Ever: #80-#71

July 13, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#80: Lenny Wilkens

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’71)

MVP Runner-Up: 1x (’68)

NBA All-Star: 9x (’63, ’64, ’65, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ‘73)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (’69)

NBA Assists Leader: 2x (’70, ’72)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 12x (’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 1x (’68)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 2x (’67, ’68)

NBA All-Time Assists: 12^th

2^nd Best Player on two Runner-Ups: (’61 Hawks, ’64 Hawks)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 71st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 72^nd

A strange resume for sure. Wilkens was once runner-up for MVP…but also never made an All-NBA Team. His advanced stats (dubious for the 60s admittedly) don’t blow anyone away. What stands out is that random runner-up for MVP and his assists totals.

You know who he reminds me of? Jason Kidd. Now Kidd is obviously a lot more revered than Wilkens considering Kidd’s been All-NBA Team many times. But that’s the reason Kidd is about 40 spots higher. Lenny Wilkens seemed like another very good player stuck in the Russell Celtics era. He had two early cracks at the title but the Hawks couldn’t get it done. Nothing wrong with that. Lenny would eventually win a title with the ’79 Sonics as a coach and has won like a billion games. Not bad.

#79: Earl Monroe

NBA Rookie of the Year: (‘68)

All-NBA 1^st Team: 1x (‘69)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’68)

NBA All-Star: 4x (’69, ’71, ’75, ‘77)

NBA Points Runner-Up: 1x (‘69)

NBA Top 10 Points: 3x (’68, ’69, ‘70)

Starter on one NBA Championship Team: ’73 Knicks

2^nd Best Player on one Runner-Up: ’71 Bullets

Role Player on one Runner-Up: ’72 Knicks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 67th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 47th

My first instinct is to go with Earl “The Pearl” being overrated because he had a cool nickname and he played on the famous Knick teams of the early 70s. His resume doesn’t quite stack up with the guys around him on this list at all.

Here’s the thing. When Monroe was great…he was elite. He outright invented a move (spin move) and was unstoppable until knee injuries. He still played a part in three straight NBA Finals…although he didn’t win in ’71 and got outplayed by Gail Goodrich in ’72. He played a role in the ’73 Knicks title, which helps. His career as a productive player wasn’t over yet either, as he made All Star teams in 1975 and 1977, as the league was adding talent post ABA merger.

Maybe he should be lower, but this is one of those where reputation is going to outweight the resume. And no one really has anything bad to say about Earl “The Pearl”.

#78: Tony Parker

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’07)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 3x (’12, ’13, ‘14)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 1x (’09)

All-NBA Rookie 2^nd Team: 1x (’02)

NBA All-Star: 6x (’06, ’07, ’09, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 1x (’12)

NBA Top 10 PER: 2x (’09, ’13)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Win Shares: 1x (‘13)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (’13)

2^nd or 3^rd Best Player on three Championships Teams: (’05 Spurs, ’07 Spurs, ’14 Spurs)

Starter on one Championship Team: (’03 Spurs)

2^nd Best Player on one Runner-Up: (’13 Spurs)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 139^th

Tony Parker made a great case for himself after 2011, where he suddenly looked like the real best player on the Spurs. This shouldn’t have been such a shock as while the Spurs were starting to look and feel old, Parker had hit his prime. Unfortunately a disappointing 2015 just as suddenly makes Parker look washed up and probably prevents him from moving up to this list.

Truth is, Parker has been a very good player for almost all his career. He definitely lucked out on landing with the Spurs…I don’t think he even has half the career he ended up having without that stroke of luck…but he definitely had talent. As early as 2003 Phil Jackson wrote in his book how Parker would give the Lakers fits on screen rolls. Even early on in his career, Parker was playing at a high level in the playoffs.

The 2003 Finals was a different story, although I believe it’s a story that showed that Tony Parker could be great. The main storyline leading up to the 2003 Finals between the Spurs and the Nets was that Jason Kidd’s contract was expiring…and the Spurs were one of the top teams to land him. There were interviews with Parker asking if he would take a back-up role to Kidd during the finals no less (I remember Parker saying he’d beat him out for the starting job). Anyway, as Parker struggled towards the end of the finals, that controversy only grew stronger and only went away when Kidd re-signed with the Nets. Parker took that slight and turned it into a very good career, and from 2004 on, I’d even argue you might want to have Parker than Kidd.

#77: Chris Webber

NBA Rookie of the Year: (’94)

All-NBA 1^st Team: 1x (’01)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 3x (’99, ’02, ’03)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 1x (’00)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’94)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’97, ’00, ’01, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Top 10 Points 2x (’00, ‘01)

NBA Rebounds Per Game Leader: 1x (’99)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 2x (’99, ’00)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 1x (’94)

NBA Top 10 PER: 3x (’00, ’01, ‘02)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 1x (‘00)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (’02)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 3x (’01, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 3x (’00, ’01, ’03)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 72nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 80th

There are similarities to Tracy McGrady in terms of being a once-in-a-lifetime talent who didn’t pan out by not working on his game. Chris Webber was given every single thing a big man could ever want. Explosive power. Great passing. Good size. Good leaping ability. Webber had everything. Yet Webber’s college career might have messed him up mentally to the point where this once-in-a-lifetime talent never reached his sky high potential.

First, let’s look at Webber’s college career. As the centerpiece of the Fab Five, Webber was dominant. While Michigan’s loss to Duke in the 1992 Championship game hurt, it will never be forgotten how Michigan lost the 1993 Championship game on Webber’s infamous timeout. With 19 seconds left and Michigan down by two, Webber grabs a missed free throw. He first gets away with a travel before dribbling straight into a trap. Webber then calls timeout when Michigan has none, leading to a technical and costing Michigan a last chance at the National Championship. One must wonder how much this affected Webber in the NBA, especially in his playoff battles with the Lakers. When it came to the clutch, Webber never wanted to be the man and came up short each time. I think some of that can be traced back to this 1993 NCAA Championship.

The 2^nd piece of Webber’s college career is the behind the scenes piece. As ESPN’s 30 for 30 on the Fab Five documented, the Fab Five were not happy about how Michigan made tons of money promoting them, yet as NCAA amateurs they couldn’t receive a penny of it. Thanks in big part to Michael Jordan, future NBA players were now about their brand and getting theirs. As Jack McCallum put it in his Dream Team book, it was the era of “the fully hatched superstar”. After being used by Michigan (a story that gets a lot worse with the Ed Martin scandal) in his mind, Webber went out to the NBA and did what was best for him as a brand.

This meant bad things for Webber early on. While unlucky to be traded from Orlando to Golden State (since he could have played with Shaq), he was still quite lucky to play for coach Don Nelson. Nelson and Webber clashed though, and Webber got out after one year, a shame since Webber was the perfect fit for Nellie-ball.

After toiling away on the Wizards for a few seasons (and getting seriously injured for the first time) Webber was dealt to the Kings and immediately put them on the map. One of Webber’s best accomplishments is being able to be a competitive top power forward in a league with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett (and later even Dirk Nowitzki). Webber would never reinvent his game though, and when Garnett surpassed him, it was easy to think that Garnett had become what Webber was supposed to be.

The Kings with Webber also have a legitimate gripe as arguably they should have been the 2002 NBA Champions…something that would have altered Webber’s legacy greatly. The Lakers were heavily favored by the referees in both Games 3 and 6 for sure of the NBA Finals and there’s video evidence of it and everything. With that being said the Kings still had home court in Game 7. And they came just short. Officiating and all, one big Webber 40 point explosion and the Kings still pull off the title (yes, they were beating the 2002 Nets).

Injuries continued to sap Webber’s effectiveness to the point where the Kings were arguably better without him (something that proved to ultimately be false in the long run, but in 2004 seemed true as they went 55-27 and Webber only played 23 games). The Kings looked to move to Peja Stojakovic as their top guy. The Kings dealt Webber to the Sixers in the middle of the 2005 season and haven’t won a playoff series since. Webber finally changed his game enough to at least have one 20 PPG season with the Sixers, although his efficiency had gone. He never developed a reliable three point shot or even outside shot. Some forgettable stints followed and that was that.

Sure he was unlucky in some spots. Sure he got screwed in 2002. But he still had the talent to be a top 30 guy and that’s on him.

#76: David Thompson

ABA Rookie of the Year: (’76)

All-NBA 1^st Team: 2x (’77, ’78)

All-ABA 2^nd Team: 1x (‘76)

All-ABA Rookie 1^st Team: (’76)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’79)

ABA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’76)

NBA All-Star: 4x (’77, ’78, ’79, ‘83)

ABA All-Star: 1x (’76)

ABA Points Runner-Up: 1x (’76)

NBA Top 10 Points: 4x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’81)

ABA Top 10 Steals: 1x (’76)

ABA Top 10 Blocks: 1x (’76)

ABA Top 10 PER: 1x (’76)

NBA Top 10 PER: 1x (’78)

NBA Win Share Leader: 1x (’78)

ABA Top 5 Win Shares: 1x (’76)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’77, ’78)

NBA Top 5 WS/48: 1x (’78)

ABA Top 5 WS/48: 1x (’76)

ABA Top 5 Offensive Rating: 1x (’76)

NBA Offensive Rating Runner-Up: 1x (’78)

Best Player on one ABA Runner-Up: ’76 Nuggets

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 70th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 63rd

Sadly, David Thompson is one of the poster boys for the cocaine era of the NBA. In Thompson’s case it may be the biggest waste of a career in professional basketball history due to substance abuse. Thompson was arguably the NBA’s best player in the late 70s (depending how you feel about Bill Walton) and had surprisingly taken that title from Julius Erving. Thompson had a great 1978 season where his Nuggets just couldn’t get by the Sonics in the Western Conference Finals.

How great was Thompson in 1978? He scored 73 in the final game of the regular season to try to win the scoring title (similar to David Robinson’s 71 point game 16 years later), only he was so hot early fans thought he was going for 100. Thompson was merely 23 years old at the time. Everything fell apart in 1979 when he injured his knee in Studio 54 in New York City…and the aforementioned cocaine problems.

I might rethink this one in the future as he only played 509 career games and was only elite for four seasons. That’s the thing though, unlike someone like Webber, Thompson was elite at for a portion of his career. You know you’ve done something influential in your career when Michael Jordan selects you to induct him into the Hall of Fame. As Simmons put it, “Skywalker” was the Intellvision to Jordan’s Playstation 2. That’s pretty good for the late 70s.

#75: Jerry Lucas

NBA Rookie of the Year: (’64)

All-NBA 1^st Team: 3x (’65, ’66, ’68)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 2x (’64, ‘68)

All-NBA Rookie 1st Team: (’64)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’65)

NBA All-Star: 7x (’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ‘71)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’66, ‘68)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 8x (’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71)

NBA Top 10 PER: 6x (’64, ’65, ’66, ’68, ’69, ‘71)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’64, ’65, ’68, ‘72)

NBA Top 5 WS/48: 3x (’64, ’72, ‘73)

Role Player for one Championship Team: ’73 Knicks

Starter on one Runner-Up: ’72 Knicks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 64th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 38th

I have to admit I was quite skeptical of SLAM’s ranking. Here’s the deal with Jerry Lucas. He put up big stats in a league with a couple of elite centers and no real bigs other than that (a big reason why Oscar put up his insane stats). He was one of the best two power forwards in the league, but PF was a diluted position. He was Oscar’s 2^nd option on a bunch of Royals teams that failed to win anything. He went to the Knicks and started for a Finals team…although he took on less of a role in 1973 and the Knicks promptly won the title. He also wasn’t regarded highly at all, as he was once traded for Jim King and Billy Turner (one all-star total there) and another time for Cazzie Russell (another one time all-star).

Still, it’s hard to look past that resume. For the first six seasons of his career he averaged a 19-19. And he was a part of two Finals teams. His rankings on both Simmons and SLAM’s lists make it hard to really drop him. But reading Simmons, even he seems skeptical. So I don’t know. This feels right.

#74: Pete Maravich

All-NBA 1^st Team: 2x (’76, ‘77)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 2x (’73, ‘78)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’71)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’73, ’74, ’77, ’78, ‘79)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’77)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’71, ’73, ’74, ’75, ‘77)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 2x (’73, ’75)

NBA Top 10 PER: 3x (’73, ’74, ‘76)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 68th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 60th

One of the most famous basketball players of all time was someone clearly ahead of his time. Maravich was an offensive savant, making crazy passes that one would have never thought possibly and hitting jumpers from all over the floor. He scored 68 with this style of play in 1977 and managed three other 50 point games that season as well.

It should be mentioned that Maravich did all of that in addition to averaging 24 PPG for his career…without a three point line. Can you imagine a jump shooting guard scoring all those points without a three point line? The thing was practically made for him (in his last year when he was beyond washed up, he took 15 three pointers and made 10). He averaged 31.1 PPG in 1977. Compare that statistic with players and take away a point for each three pointer they made a game. I’d guess that Maravich would be someone who hit minimum 3 threes a game. That right there is 34 PPG.

Of course, whether or not a player can actually win as the best player on his team that way is debatable. The Pistol couldn’t win anything. He gets overrated historically for the highlight reel plays for sure but it hasn’t really been until 2015 that outside shooting teams can make all the difference. In the 1970s…with no three point line? No chance. Still, the Pistol was great at one point for sure.

#73: Chris Bosh

All-NBA 2nd Team: 1x (‘07)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’04)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’09, ‘10)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 1x (‘09)

NBA Top 10 PER: 2x (’08, ‘10)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 1x (’06)

3^rd Best Player on two Championship Teams: ’12 Heat, ’13 Heat

3^rd Best Player on two Runner-Ups: ’11 Heat, ’14 Heat

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 171st

Chris Bosh made a choice. Either be a 22-9 guy on .500 Raptors team or be a role player on a title contending team every year. He chose the latter. There was a lot of hate toward Bosh, but there’s no question that he was an integral part of the Heat four year run. Without Bosh the Heat fall to the Pacers in Round 2 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Many fans who hate LeBron and the Heat would complain that Miami created a super team…but at the same time Chris Bosh sucked. Well which one is it? It can’t be both.

You should sacrifice individual statistics for team glory. That’s why Robert Horry is on this list. And that’s why Bosh is on this list. On any given night that D-Wade was hurt and LeBron needed a second weapon, Bosh was there. It remains to be seen what the post LeBron Heat look like with Bosh. Year one didn’t look that great and Bosh was hospitalized midway through…but 2015-2016 will tell us a lot. It’s a chance for Bosh to climb through this list, let’s see if he can do it.

#72: Dwight Howard

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 3x (’09, ’10, ’11)

All-NBA 1st Team: 5x (’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘12)

All-NBA 2^nd Team: 1x (’14)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 2x (’07, ’13)

All-NBA Defensive 1^st Team: 4x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12)

All-NBA Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’08)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: (’05)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Top 5 MVP Voting: 4x (’08, ’09, ’10, ’11)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 6x (’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’12)

NBA Blocks Leader: 2x (’09, ’10)

NBA Top 5 Rebounds: 10x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11,’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 4x (’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Top 10 PER: 4x (’09, ’10, ’11, ‘12)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 3x (’09, ’10, ’11)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 6x (’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12)

NBA Defensive Win Shares Leader: 4x (’08, ’09, ’10, ’11)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 7x (’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’08, ’09, ’10, ’11)

NBA Top 5 WS/48: (’09, ’10, ’11)

NBA Career Rebounds: 34^th

NBA Career Blocks: 25^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 58 (28^th)

Best Player on one Runner-Up: ’09 Magic

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 78th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 86th

This whole time we thought that Dwight had the potential to be the next Shaq…only in reality Dwight was the evolutionary Dikembe Mutombo. That’s not a bad thing. Dwight gets this high on the list due to his great defensive resume and the fact he took the 2009 Magic to the NBA Finals. Perhaps you’re thinking this isn’t high enough for Dwight then. Here’s the counterpoint to that.

Dwight Howard dominated the NBA at a time where there was a dearth of top centers. Shaq was just about done and Andrew Bynum couldn’t stay healthy. Interestingly Yao Ming had tons of success against Dwight (Yao averaged 24-10, 56% FG with a 7-2 record vs. Dwight’s 12-10, 46% FG in head to head matches), but he couldn’t stay healthy either. But then the Joakim Noahs and Marc Gasols showed up and Dwight starting having back problems. He hasn’t been the same since 2011 really, and now it suddenly looks like the league has passed him by. Remember, teams like the Thunder and Cavs would add players like Kendrick Perkins and washed-up Shaq just to be able to single Dwight.

It doesn’t change that he had a legit argument for the 2011 MVP, or that he led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. It doesn’t change that Dwight Howard at one point was dominant. It just means he was great for a short period time, never got better offensively (which would help him tons now) and is probably at best a #2 or #3 guy on a title team. Which still isn’t that bad. Like many others though, he should be better.

#71: Dennis Rodman

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2x (’90, ‘91)

All-NBA 3^rd Team: 2x (’92, ‘95)

All-NBA Defensive 1^st Team: 7x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’95, ‘96)

All-NBA Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’94)

NBA All-Star: 2x (’90, ‘92)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 4x (’92, ’93, ’94, ‘98)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 10x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 2x (’89, ’90)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 9x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Defensive Win Shares Leader: 1x (‘92)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 5x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’94, ’98)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 1x (‘92)

NBA Career Rebounds: 22nd

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 54.5 (38th)

Role Player on two NBA Championship Teams: ’89 Pistons, ’90 Pistons

Starter on three NBA Championship Teams: ’96 Bulls, ’97 Bulls, ’98 Bulls

Role Player on one Runner-Up: ’88 Pistons

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 69th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 48th

One of the most destructive defensive players in NBA history. He was one of the first guys who could guard anyone from small point guards to centers. He gave Karl Malone fits in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals and played great in the 1996 NBA Finals as well, including 19 boards in the clincher. Despite being pretty much crazy in all aspects of his life, he got along well with two NBA teams known for having competitive personalities (the Bad Boy Pistons and the Post-Baseball Jordan Bulls).He only submarined one potential Champ, which was the 1995 Spurs (not joining huddles, missing/showing up late to practices, even showing up late for games). The good far outweighs the bad here.

His rebounds prowess was also quite incredible. It seemed like Rodman could grab a rebound from absolutely anywhere. Unlike guys like McGrady and Webber, it looked like Rodman made the most of his physical talent and left it all out on the court (most of the time). Did it help being teammates with Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan? Of course. But you can’t argue with results.

Basketball

RDT’s 2015 NBA Playoff Predictions: Round 1

April 18, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

We’ve just completed one of the better seasons in NBA storylines. For the first time in what seems like a while, the NBA Playoffs are moderately unpredictable. There are two teams in the East with a realistic chance of making the Finals, then any one of five (sorry Portland) can do the same. I could even think of conceivable longshot scenarios for the remaining three teams in the West. We’ve had MVP caliber seasons from four different players (Westbrook, Harden, Curry and Davis), and a semi-MVP season (from LeBron). It’s going to be a fun playoffs and we’re just going to dive into round 1 here.

Western Conference

#1 Golden State Warriors (67-15) vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans (45-37)

It’s really hard to make the case for the Pelicans here. Let’s try. Anthony Davis is ridiculous. Anthony Davis is incredible. Anthony Davis is a once in a lifetime talent. Anthony Davis carried a team with three inefficient overrated players (Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday) to the 8^th seed in a loaded Western Conference. And his team beat out a team with the possessed Russell Westbrook to get that spot. It’s quite impressive. Davis just put up a PER that’s only been surpassed by Wilt, Jordan and LeBron. Unfortunately, because of his supporting cast he may just be in a similar situation as David Robinson in the early-90s.

The Warriors are too deep and too good at everything. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson just destroyed the league from the guard positions. Curry, the likely MVP of the league, was the only player this season to boast a WS/48 that was higher than Davis’ this year. The Warriors are also the best defensive team in the league, thanks to Andrew Bogut (fun fact: I knew right there that Bogut for Monta Ellis a few seasons ago was an absolutely steal for the Warriors) and Draymond Green. The Warriors are so good they willing bench David Lee, someone who could still be a 17-9 guy in the league. Then there is this gem from Bill Simmons: The Warriors are one of seven teams to have a .800 winning percentage and a points differential of plus-10. The other six? ’71 Bucks, ’72 Lakers, ’92 Bulls, ’96 Bulls, ’97 Bulls and ’08 Celtics. Two points to note from that. One: That’s three Michael Jordan teams, which is ridiculous. And two: all six of those teams won the title. All of them. It’s going to be hard to not pick the Warriors here.

Davis is worth a win with some crazy 35-17-6-3-3 game or something. But Golden State just isn’t losing here.

Warriors in 5

#2 Houston Rockets (56-26) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (50-32)

A very interesting match-up that is a lot closer than it seems.

There are some interesting parallels here. Both the Rockets and Mavericks made controversial mid-season moves, and neither really worked out. Rajon Rondo has feuded with Rick Carlisle and hasn’t fit in with Monta Ellis in the Dallas Mavericks. Josh Smith brought his normal inefficient offense to Houston and didn’t provide the help the injured Dwight Howard and James Harden needed. Both teams have a defensive monster at center…Howard for Houston and Tyson Chandler for Dallas, although one of those isn’t as good as he once was. Both Carlisle and Kevin McHale, the two head coaches, were Celtics. Both teams are from Texas. Ok I’m nitpicking now.

Here’s the thing. The James Harden-led Rockets have yet to win a playoff series. The main pieces of the Mavericks: Carlisle as a coach, Rondo, Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler have all won the title before, and three of those did it in Dallas. Dallas proved to be a tough out (the only one) last year against San Antonio because they have guys who knows that it takes to get the job done in the playoffs.

When you really look at it, how do the Rockets win this series? They are virtually a one man offensive team. The Mavericks are built to stop those types of teams with Chandler in the middle. Dallas played Houston very tough this season as well: Houston won on the road by 7 and at home by 5 and 3. Dallas won one game in Dallas by 11. If Nowitzki gets into his prime form, and Ellis doesn’t shoot them out of games, I don’t know if Houston can contain Dallas.

The problem is Nowitzki regress enough this season to cause concern about taking over a playoff series. I don’t believe in Monta Ellis, and I still don’t see the Rondo fit. Chandler will cause all kinds of problems for Harden, but I don’t think Dallas will be able to pull it out. If this was last year’s Nowitzki, I’d pick them.

Rockets in 7.

#3 Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (55-27)

Poor Chris Paul. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this script before. Gregg Popovich just knows how to create defensive schemes that limit Paul. In 2008 the Spurs beat Paul’s great Hornets team in a New Orleans. In 2012 the Spurs swept Paul’s Clippers. This is one of those I need to see it happen situations before I can take the Clippers.

The other part of this equation: the Spurs are basketball’s best team this last one-eighth of the season. The ageless Tim Duncan has been on top of his game. Kawhi Leonard is an elite defender…basically the new age Bruce Bowen only with a crazy offensive game to go with it…and perhaps a top 20 player in the league right now. Tony Parker is peaking. Everything is going right for the Spurs.

Maybe this is poor analysis, but I need to see it from the Clippers before I pick them against San Antonio. Great Chris Paul and Blake Griffin seasons be damned.

Spurs in 6

#4 Portland Trail Blazers (51-31) vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies (55-27)

Portland just hasn’t been the same since LaMarcus Aldridge hurt his hand and Wes Mathews was out for the season. Portland is merely 19-19 in their last 38 games and only got the 4^th seed due to the NBA’s weird seeding rules for division champs.

It doesn’t help Portland that the Grizzlies are one of the toughest defense teams out there. Marc Gasol is a former defensive player of the year, Tony Allen is always a threat to win the award and Mike Conley is as tough as he comes. There’s the general overall toughness of Zach Randolph too.

Portland is just trending downward. Memphis is just a tough team to beat and Portland’s injuries just makes this way too tough. Damian Lillard needs to have the series of his life for Portland to have chance here. Memphis has home court too, although that won’t even come into play here.

Grizzles in 4.

Eastern Conference

#1 Atlanta Hawks (60-22) vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets (38-44)

The Nets are the sneaky hot team that might get some “upset special” calls. I thought that a bit too, but then that meant I was relying on Deron Williams (washed up at 30 apparently, overrated to begin with), Joe Johnson (anyone notice the Hawks have had a great run since Johnson left them?) and Brook Lopez (always a threat to go back to a good offensive player who somehow can’t rebound despite being 7 foot). The Nets are the 2004 New York Knicks. Congrats.

I’m not a big fan of the Hawks, and I think they may be one of the worst 60 win teams ever, but I can get into that when they are playing the Cavs in the Conference Finals. Until then, let’s just go with the obvious and take the Hawks here.

Hawks in 4.

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29) vs. #7 Boston Celtics (40-42)

Another easy call here. The Celtics have been super hot and 29-12 in the last half of the season. Isaiah Thomas has been a key asset and the Celtics are just gelling. Brad Stevens has proven to be a great coach.

The Cavs started 19-20. They are 34-10 since. LeBron is in near peak form, which really might be better than anyone else in the league still. Kyrie Irving has improved leaps and bounds. Kevin Love, while not at the level he once was, actually had a good season that no one realizes. Mozgov, Shumpert and JR have been great pieces.

I’ll give Boston one because Thomas might have a nice 30 pointer in there. But…yeah, not yet Boston. Not yet.

Cavs in 5

#3 Chicago Bulls (50-32) vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (41-41)

Jason Kidd deserves something for bringing the Bucks to the playoffs. But I mean, this should be as obvious as the other two series we’ve covered so far.

Sure the Bucks will play it tough. But they just don’t have the talent. Michael-Carter Williams is a fun…but probably bad player. Is The Greak Freak ready to have the series of his life? Even so, that may not be enough.

I expect the Bulls to really be tough this year. Pau Gasol provides that Championship experience. Mirotic is a great bench piece. Jimmy Butler is the best player on this team and is probably the front runner for Most Improved Player of the Year. The Bulls don’t need the old Derrick Rose to beat these Bucks.

Bulls in 5

#4 Toronto Raptors (49-33) vs. #5 Washington Wizards (46-36)

Paul Pierce gets to face the Raptors again in round 1!

No one outside of Toronto or Washington cares about this series. The Raptors are 12-16 in their last 28. The Wizards are 13-15 in their last 28. Not inspiring here. John Wall went from fun young player to overrated (as did Bradley Beal, really). Kyle Lowry went from underrated to irrelevant. For DeMar DeRozan, see Beal. The only player I really trust on either of these teams is Paul Pierce, which is pretty telling (I actually like Jonas as well for Toronto, so I’m lying here).

I’ll pick the Wizards though, because they have some playoff experience under their belt…they almost made the Conference Finals last year afterall…and Paul Pierce is the type of veteran that can help here. The Wizards are the best of the rest of the East (outside of the top 3), but that doesn’t mean they are any good. To be honest, it doesn’t mean they were that good to begin with.

But I need a reason to believe in Toronto and I don’t have one. At least I have one with Washington.

Wizards in 6

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Tag Archives: simmons

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RDT’s 2015 NBA Playoff Predictions: Round 1

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