The National Basketball Association

[SerenityNigh]

As an individual player though? Melo can do everything, post, rebound and has arguably the best jumper in the league. Wade is probably better as a team player, but that's not the discussion

Disagree. Melo at this point is better than Wade. He's not good enough to win on his own and has always been stuck with really inferior teammates.

He could be the number one guy, if (like say KG) he had a very good supporting cast, or he could succeed as the number 2 guy.

But the problem for Melo is he's got the same problem Iverson had before him - everyone expects him to shoot, because he has to shoot, and he shoots, and that's the entire gameplan for his team.

You will both disagree with me on Melo, so I'll concede. The NBA is based on elite star players and I have a fascination/adoration of Magic, so I've got a certain bias. I think Melo is great, but in the end I think his memory will fade to just another very good player.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Now see, those are 2 very different things. Melo is the probably the third best player in the league, and unless he joins a team with LeBron and KD, then he will never be the third best player on a team, for now at least.

3rd option on a team? Now that is different

*I am probably conflating the two

I would take Durant, LeBron, Curry (still lots to prove), Paul, Dirk, Duncan (even at this age) all over Melo. Give me a healthy Rose and one more year on Irving and I'd rate them as well. Wade, Nash, and Kobe all fall off the list due to injury or age. I'm not sure Melo would crack my top-10.

 

[RaleighBlue]

You will both disagree with me on Melo, so I'll concede. The NBA is based on elite star players and I have a fascination/adoration of Magic, so I've got a certain bias. I think Melo is great, but in the end I think his memory will fade to just another very good player.

I agree. He's the step below Lebron, Duncan, and Durant. Those guys are unquestionable leaders.

Melo is the step below. Like Garnett was before him. He can be the number one guy, but needs a very good team around him to succeed that way. Without the very good team, he probably needs to be number 2 to have a shot at winning it all.

He'll never be in the conversation with Duncan, Lebron, Durant, or Kobe. But I do expect he'll be mentioned with Wade, Dirk (whom I love and it kills me to put here), and KG as a spectacular talent who is a step below the best.

Also known as Clyde Drexler syndrome.

 

[maverick94]

You will both disagree with me on Melo, so I'll concede. The NBA is based on elite star players and I have a fascination/adoration of Magic, so I've got a certain bias. I think Melo is great, but in the end I think his memory will fade to just another very good player.

Hmm, unless the Knicks get their act together and build a decent team around him, where he is the Franchise player, with decent enough coaching and the right players around him. Like Cuban and Carlisle have done for Dirk at the Mavs. It won him a championship...

And if you're a fan of Magic, then I can understand why you don't rate Melo that highly, as Magic was a pass first player. I've watched video after video and documentaries on Magic to try to improve my game in any way I can. He is indeed a true legend.

 

[maverick94]

I agree. He's the step below Lebron, Duncan, and Durant. Those guys are unquestionable leaders.

Melo is the step below. Like Garnett was before him. He can be the number one guy, but needs a very good team around him to succeed that way. Without the very good team, he probably needs to be number 2 to have a shot at winning it all.

He'll never be in the conversation with Duncan, Lebron, Durant, or Kobe. But I do expect he'll be mentioned with Wade, Dirk (whom I love and it kills me to put here), and KG as a spectacular talent who is a step below the best.

Also known as Clyde Drexler syndrome.

Dirk? Step below? :'(

The guy is one of the best shooters of all time. And he's 7ft.

 

[RaleighBlue]

Dirk? Step below? :'(

The guy is one of the best shooters of all time. And he's 7ft.

I love Dirk. I really do. He's amazing. And it's a shame he only won once.

But Duncan is the greatest PF ever currently. And Lebron and Durant are incomprehensibly good. And Kobe is Kobe...everyone looks for the next Jordan, but Kobe was the closest thing to it.

 

[maverick94]

I love Dirk. I really do. He's amazing. And it's a shame he only won once.

But Duncan is the greatest PF ever currently. And Lebron and Durant are incomprehensibly good. And Kobe is Kobe...everyone looks for the next Jordan, but Kobe was the closest thing to it.

Yeah true true. Kobe or T-Mac I reckon. If he had just got his head down and without the injuries he would have been a great imo

 

[SerenityNigh]

I love Dirk. I really do. He's amazing. And it's a shame he only won once.

But Duncan is the greatest PF ever currently. And Lebron and Durant are incomprehensibly good. And Kobe is Kobe...everyone looks for the next Jordan, but Kobe was the closest thing to it.

It's interesting to discuss style/positional type. I've already admitted a strong affection for Magic, but he's his own type. I'm stepping out of my knowledge here, but...

#Magic >> Magic > LeBron

To me they're the same type. LeBron is a little better shooter, Magic is more natural with the ball. If Magic played today we may call him a Power Point? LeBron certainly plays a lot of Point Forward

Who's the prototype #1? For a passing #1 you have Stockton & Nash? Oscar for a hybrid #1/#2?

#2 is Jordan all day. Kobe is little Jordan

#3 is Bird. Does Durant fit into this spot?

Dirk and Melo would be a #3/#4 hybrid? Very similar gam, except I rate Dirk over Melo.

#4 is Duncan / Russell (my friends tell me Russell is a #4). Probably M Malone too. Guys like Barkley and K Malone are great, but not the same style as Duncan and Russell.

#5 Wilt/Shaq/Hakeem?

 

[maverick94]

It's interesting to discuss style/positional type. I've already admitted a strong affection for Magic, but he's his own type. I'm stepping out of my knowledge here, but...

#Magic >> Magic > LeBron

To me they're the same type. LeBron is a little better shooter, Magic is more natural with the ball. If Magic played today we may call him a Power Point? LeBron certainly plays a lot of Point Forward

Who's the prototype #1? For a passing #1 you have Stockton & Nash? Oscar for a hybrid #1/#2?

#2 is Jordan all day. Kobe is little Jordan

#3 is Bird. Does Durant fit into this spot?

Dirk and Melo would be a #3/#4 hybrid? Very similar gam, except I rate Dirk over Melo.

#4 is Duncan / Russell (my friends tell me Russell is a #4). Probably M Malone too. Guys like Barkley and K Malone are great, but not the same style as Duncan and Russell.

#5 Wilt/Shaq/Hakeem?

Stick AI at 1 and Kareem amongst the contenders for 5 and we have a deal

 

[RaleighBlue]

I see the Magic - Lebron comparison. I reject it.

#Magic >> Magic

#Lebron >> Lebron

#1 is Stockton/Nash/Paul for your passer.
#2 is Jordan. End of.
#3 is Bird/Durant. Likely to eventually be Durant/Bird.
#4 is Duncan. End of. Then we can talk about Russell/Dirk/other PF's
#5 is Kareem/Wilt/Hakeem/Shaq

Durant/Bird are hybrid 3/4's. Duncan and Russell are hybrid 4/5's. Dirk is a hybrid 3-5. I can't speak to Oscar. before my time and I just don't have enough info to compare. AI is a hybrid 1/2. And I'd say Melo is a 3/4 like Bird/Durant; just worse.

 

[RaleighBlue]

I'd like to add.

I firmly believe Shaq had the ability, talent, and physique to have made that: Shaq. End of. He just never cared quite enough to do that. Which is a shame, but I respect that he was interested in things beyond his career.

But when Shaq decided to win, there was absolutely nothing comparable. It was like watching a professional play a middle school team. A bad middle school team.

 

[ilikecheese]

RIP Dr. Jack Ramsay

 

[Limpar91]

One of the greats. Shame there's all this focus on that scumbag Sterling whilst a true gent like Ramsay passes away.

 

[maverick94]

#1 is Stockton/Nash/Paul for your passer.

I do love a bit of Steve Nash, but purely because of championships you'd have to put someone like Jerry West or Isaiah Thomas before him surely?

 

[maverick94]

RIP Dr. Jack Ramsay

Nooo, I never heard about that! RIP Dr. Jack!