A Closer Look at Anthony ^--^ Davis

[Birdy89]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

I also think its funny that Magic Johnson "doesn't count"

To be honest, I dont think it matters who your best player is. You just need to have certain components and an elite ball handler is definitely one of them.

Magic was a point guard in name only. He had size (6-8") that created mismatches that allowed him to dominate in a way that a guy like Kyrie never could. He was Lebron before Lebron.

As far as the Pistons comment, Ben Wallace was arguably that teams best player/most important player, although to me it was a wash between him/Chauncey/Rip/Sheed. Wallace was all NBA 2nd team, and in a stretch where he was defensive player of the year 4 out of 5 years.

 

[Toph]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Magic was a point guard in name only. He had size (6-8") that created mismatches that allowed him to dominate in a way that a guy like Kyrie never could. He was Lebron before Lebron.

As far as the Pistons comment, Ben Wallace was arguably that teams best player/most important player, although to me it was a wash between him/Chauncey/Rip/Sheed. Wallace was all NBA 2nd team, and in a stretch where he was defensive player of the year 4 out of 5 years.

No...Billups was the best player on the team, he also won the Finals MVP. It's okay though, we all have a fail post at one time or another. Better luck next time :chuckles:

 

[Derek]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Magic was a point guard in name only. He had size (6-8") that created mismatches that allowed him to dominate in a way that a guy like Kyrie never could. He was Lebron before Lebron.

As far as the Pistons comment, Ben Wallace was arguably that teams best player/most important player, although to me it was a wash between him/Chauncey/Rip/Sheed. Wallace was all NBA 2nd team, and in a stretch where he was defensive player of the year 4 out of 5 years.

Magic was still a PG though. Ran the offense, created for others.

Regardless, the position of your best player doesn't matter.

Every championship team needs an elite ball handler and it doesn't matter what position he's labeled as.

 

[Mike Manifesto]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

No...Billups was the best player on the team, he also won the Finals MVP. It's okay though, we all have a fail post at one time or another. Better luck next time :chuckles:

Those Piston teams were known for defensive and who was the best defensive player on those teams? Ben Wallace....so yeah I would agree with Birdy that Ben was the best player on those teams.

 

[trapalizer]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Those Piston teams were known for defensive and who was the best defensive player on those teams? Ben Wallace....so yeah I would agree with Birdy that Ben was the best player on those teams.

x2

Billups was best with the stats, but who stopped Shaq?

 

[Toph]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Those Piston teams were known for defensive and who was the best defensive player on those teams? Ben Wallace....so yeah I would agree with Birdy that Ben was the best player on those teams.

Debatable. Wallace was huge for them but Chauncey was the best player on that team IMO. No way they won it without Chauncey (Finals MVP). But yeah one could also argue that they wouldn't have made it without Wallace either.

 

[Derek]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

x2

Billups was best with the stats, but who stopped Shaq?

Kobe

 

[bigfoot5415]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

So the 5 Magic championships, the two Isiah lead Pistons, the Billups lead Pistons,the Spurs in 07 all don't count? So the Kidd NJN teams and the Payton lead teams that had no business competeting with there championship counterparts don't count?

Saying Magic was a point guard by name only is a ridiculous comment. That's like saying Duncan isn't really a PF bc of his size. If your going to make those arguments, only SGs and C win championships and we should just keep drafting that position until we find our saviorm.
If you want to point out that no PG has won since Magic. Name a SF that has been the leader and won? We sure as hell all thought, and many think LBJ will would win it as the leader.

Position should not determine who should be the leader or best player. Each position is evolving over time and greater weight is shifting from the C of the 90's to the PG of now. Its about the team, not an individual.

 

[bigfoot5415]

x2

Billups was best with the stats, but who stopped Shaq?

Injuries to Payton and Malone on top of Kobe playing keep away.

 

[Pioneer10]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Still surpising how much people underrate Billups. His PER was by far the best on the Pistons and at his peak he was ranging in the 23 range which is similar to what Nash was putting up in his MVP years. Plus Billups was an outstanding defender at the PG who because of his strength was able to guard multiple positions (similar to Kidd and a motivated Baron Davis)

 

[The Process God]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Still surpising how much people underrate Billups. His PER was by far the best on the Pistons and at his peak he was ranging in the 23 range which is similar to what Nash was putting up in his MVP years. Plus Billups was an outstanding defender at the PG who because of his strength was able to guard multiple positions (similar to Kidd and a motivated Baron Davis)

The scary thing is that Kyrie's PER is almost at that right now. It's almost 22! I can't imagine what his PER will be like in several years especially in the playoffs. Kyrie's going to be an absolute monster in the playoffs. Beyond all of his already great skills, his best skill seems to be his clutchness. I can't wait!

 

[CleveRocks]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

Those Piston teams were known for defensive and who was the best defensive player on those teams? Ben Wallace....so yeah I would agree with Birdy that Ben was the best player on those teams.

I think you look at how success followed the players. Billups and Rasheed made a difference and billups is still making a difference on teams he plays for. Rip and Ben not so much. There is truth in the idea that that pistons team had little talent separation amongst the starting five, which was part of thier success. Each part brought something needed and together they created lots of headaches for other teams. Billups was the best all around player, but Rasheed was pretty close, just different. Both players could pull a double team. Offensively in the half court they could get it done by having Rip run his man through screens, one of which could be Ben, and drill the short jumper on the other side. Or they could pick and pop with rasheed, or billups could drive, or they could isolate prince on the baseline.... That variety offense only works when your point guard can read the defense, and select what is going to be effective, which maps back to Billups.

So I never picked up how this relates to Davis. Maybe he is Rasheed II? ..

 

[Toph]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

So I never picked up how this relates to Davis. Maybe he is Rasheed II? ..

It all started when someone brought up trading Kyrie for the #1 overall pick, then that Birdy guy said that we might should do it if we could because no championship team in the past 20 years has had a point guard as their best player. Then the whole '03-'04 Pistons argument started.

 

[TitleTown]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

This thread is a fail:

(1) We have ALMOST no chance of drafting Davis
(2) There's no way in HELL we are trading Kyrie for this year's Greg Oden
(3) This thread hasn't been on topic for a LONG time

 

[Spencer Hawes]

Re: A Closer Look at Anthony Davis

The thing about a team not winning with their PG being the best player.....no team in NBA history won a championship with a jump shooting Euro as their best player....until last year.