Real Deal

I'll write my list later, but Gasol is better than Duncan this season. I'd put him third, behind Dirk and Bosh.

By the way, this is the NBA. There is more to it than athletic ability. James has been biting on Kobe's pump fakes ever since he came into the league. He's also not smart enough to defend Bryant's post moves, which have shaken the life out of everyone from Raja Bell to Shane Battier, nailing their feet to the floor. Keep in mind, Shaquille O'Neal was dominant...but he sure the hell couldn't defend Hakeem Olajuwon because Hakeem was smarter and had a better offensive game. While Hakeem couldn't defend Shaq as well, he did a better job than Shaq did on him. Today, Kobe is Hakeem, and LeBron is Shaq. O'Neal may have been the most dominant center in NBA history (or at least next to Wilt), but Hakeem has always been the more complete player.

He did it twice last season...with minimal help. Sure, neither can defend the other without help, but Bryant did in fact have minimal help in both of those games, and he locked him up pretty good, despite having the flu in one of them, and dislocating a finger in the first quarter of the other one. But okay, LeBron is the most dominant player in the history of the game.

Eyes on the championship, Sean. When guys like Gasol speak to the media about not getting their shots/touches, we expect them to step it up. For Gasol, it was his time to play like a top three power forward, and he didn't...again. I wouldn't say many are trashing Bynum for his play tonight. It's just rare to see him playing that good, though. Usually, he's too busy creating mental errors everywhere on the floor, and allowing bigs to have huge nights against us. Odom, same thing. We don't know what we'll get out of him. If you look at his previous games, he's all over the place. Some nights he'll play good, a few GREAT, some terrible. No matter how bad Bryant is playing, we always know we can rely on him in the fourth, and for that final shot...and that's why you rarely see others bashing him. Hard to bash a guy that is playing with more injuries than everyone else on our team combined. But, he usually gives us great games to begin with. Little things lose rings in June. Whining to the media hurts chemistry, loses focus, deteriorates drive. If Gasol wasn't crying about touches, at all, I probably wouldn't bring up his 4-11 shooting, because earlier in the season, he was giving us a consistent 16/10, easily, grabbing 15-20 boards at times. Non-contenders take what they have. Contenders need to play like a championship team. Basically, that means our starters need to play like champs, and for the most part, there's only one of them that puts fear into his opponents.

The Baron Davis in New Orleans, or Golden State?

It became bad when he gets a lot of wide-open shots. I've watched probably 25-30 Rockets games this season, and most of the time, Brooks either gets open looks from downtown, mid-range, or he's got one man on him to the rim. That has a lot to do with the offense being ran, and also guys like Landry (when he was there), Scola and Ariza being scoring threats. As good of a shooter Brooks can be (like he was in college), he should be netting at 46% or better right now, 48-50% when Yao gets back. Instead, he's throwing up numbers similar to Allen Iverson. Problem is, Iverson was the only scoring option on his team when he was young, and teams would double him all night long, non-stop. You're still sitting here arguing that Brooks is better than Curry. Honestly, it shouldn't matter. He's not a top five, and it's not even close. Debate-worthy, he's 9-12. I respect the debate because there IS reason to argue it...Curry isn't that much better. If this were Brooks vs. Rose, I would've already hung up the phone.

Tony Parker is also twice the point guard Brooks is. They don't compare. I just calculated all of his stats, monthly...and it looks like Brooks is consistently struggling with his shot, so that's my bad. October/November 16.3 PPG on .432 FG, .364 3PT, 2.2 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.75 SPG, 3.18 TO December 19.8 PPG on .427 FG, .414 3PT, 2.5 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.69 SPG, 2.56 TO January 21.9 PPG on .433 FG, .396 3PT, 2.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.14 SPG, 2.79 TO February 21.4 PPG on .427 FG, .395 3PT, 3.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.82 SPG, 2.82 TO March 22.8 PPG on .450 FG, .289 3PT, 3.6 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.20 SPG, 2.8 TO But, again, these last five games (the month of March, in other words) have averaged out to be better than the previous months. Five games, though. That's not enough to tell me that he's a better player than Curry.

Updated.

Ball went down low to our bigs quite a bit throughout the first three quarters against the Raptors tonight, once again, and the Lakers were still losing the game to start the fourth. Then, Kobe takes over, scores 14-16 points in the fourth. We catch up, take the lead, eventually win the game off of his contested jumper. Surprise, surprise...Gasol shoots 4-11, and Bynum scores three points in the fourth. Result? Lakers make the comeback off of Bryant, and we snap the three-game losing streak. Just one example. I guess I could've given more throughout the season. There's a reason Bryant has the ball in his hands in the fourth, and why he has 6-7 game-winners. We play big, and we STAY within a jumper or two. We go to Bryant, and we win the damn game. This team needs to play off of Kobe. They need to move and get open, let him draw doubles and then have him pass the ball out of them, instead of standing around and hoping he splits through or chucks a lucky shot. They need to move. Practice what they preach. You play through the player you build around, not the complete opposite. /end thread.

There are a lot of ways to score. Curry can shoot off the dribble better than Brooks. His mid-range shot is better (it doesn't need to be on a break). When Curry is on a break, he makes the extra pass to finish the play, and that's what a true point does. Brooks is a two-guard in a point guard's body, and the problem with that is, he plays like that. Brooks is struggling, and so is Houston. Are the Rockets in the playoffs right now? Were they when Brooks was going nuts at the beginning of the season? I don't know how you can argue against that. Houston is a far better team. They don't have the super-chucker in Monta Ellis (although the Rockets did bring in Martin, but he hasn't been with them for that long yet). They don't have a player who pushes Brooks out of the play. Instead, they have a legit big (Scola) who can pass the ball back out to Brooks, and guys who will find Brooks cutting through to the corner. It's Adelman's system, and Aaron is perfect for it. You stick Stephen Curry in Adelman's system, and Houston is a better team. Slightly, not significantly, but they are still better. Brooks is right behind Curry, if I were to fill the rankings out past ten. He's close. But I can't put him above Stephen because of his recent struggling with his shot, and there isn't really anything he does better.

We gotta figure it out.

You mean the 34 he dropped against Fisher, right? Would you like a list of point guards that are far less talented than Brooks, but have dropped career highs against Fisher? Curry has scored 30 points five times this year, two times against the Atlanta Hawks, once against the Denver Nuggets...two of the top teams in the NBA. Either way, those numbers don't mean much. Jennings dropped 55 earlier in the year, scored 32 on Denver, and now he's struggling with his shot and pushing to get 15-20 a night. Agree to disagree, I guess. Curry is the more complete player. He's a better playmaker (not even debatable), and he's got a more polished offensive game, scoring in more ways, while Brooks is limited to slashing and spotting up for a three. If both were under contract for one year, same amount of cash, who would you take? Any GM in the league would take Curry.

Because Kobe is the better defensive player, and he has three 10+ rebounders on his team, three other 20+ PPG capable scorers. Brooks doesn't play defense, and Curry gambles, so you really don't have anything there. Curry is the better offensive player because he's the better playmaker, and just as good of a scorer...and one can argue the slightly better shooter. Both suck defensively, so the ball is in Curry's court.

Kobe hate aside, I hope you're not serious. Maybe 4-5 years ago, but not today.

The Suns play fast also, but that doesn't make Nash's numbers better than CP3's. The last 30 games, Brooks is struggling, and the numbers show it. Curry gets more playing time, and gets to play the point more, and he's playing much, much better. It's hard to argue against the stats. If Curry was running a team with Ariza, it would instantly make Trevor a second or third scoring option. Curry's scoring would increase, and his playmaking would make Ariza a better player than he is right now. We discussed this at the beginning of the season, how the large scoring role would have a negative effect on him 30-40 games in...and it did even earlier than expected. The way Curry is playing this year, I don't see how any Rockets fans would want to keep Brooks over him.

Kobe's defense on LeBron last season (in both games) was probably a top three I've seen anyone guard him, ever. And there wasn't much help. Phil doesn't allow anyone else to roam, defensively, and he jumps down their throat when they do. There were many instances where Bron took Bryant down into the post, and Kobe contested every shot, and was on him like a hawk on the perimeter as well. It's a reason why I don't understand Phil letting Artest get blown off the perimeter with LeBron. This season, LBJ would rather take guys like Artest off the dribble, and honestly, I feel Kobe would've done a better job. Either way, Kobe has more offensive skills, and it's not even close. Defensively, Kobe is the better on-ball defender, LeBron the better help defender...but the gap favors Bryant. It wouldn't be a debate if you left it at that, but LeBron's rebounding and finishing at the rim gives him more of a boost, and that's why I would say that, while Kobe is still the better overall player, LeBron is finally right behind him.

Curry is the better playmaker, and he's playing with a selfish Monta Ellis. But, there's something you aren't considering, either: Curry didn't get the opportunity Brooks did, at first. Since the start of the new year, Stephen Curry has averaged: 20.0 PPG on .463 FG, .429 3PT, 4.6 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.75 SPG, 32 games Aaron Brooks has declined, significantly, since the new year. 22.1 PPG on .435 FG, .374 3PT, 3.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.03 SPG, 29 games Brooks is right outside of the ten. There are other point guards doing better.

I would appreciate it if you guys viewed it over at Bleacher Report (using the link) and then hitting the Like button for me. Thanks everyone...and I hope you enjoy the article.

Take the last game as an example, then. We were down by 10 at the end of the third quarter, in Orlando. Had Kobe not taken 15 shots in the fourth quarter, we would've lost by 15-20 points. The losses we have, and Kobe's shot attempts, are related in that he has to start launching when we are about to crash and burn in the fourth quarter. Many Lakers fans realize this by now, and we're used to it. Gasol doesn't have a point. He wants more shots? How many more? He has never averaged over 15 in his career, even as a primary option in Memphis, because he's not a physical and aggressive player. He's just talking to make himself look like a leader, that's all.

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/images/photos/000/835/257/dwill_feature.jpg?1268153648 Many claim the point guard position is the toughest to learn on any level of play, but the general feeling by most NBA analysts is that it takes a point guard longer to adjust to life as a professional athlete. There are a handful who are given the keys to the franchise as early as their rookie season, and in some cases, are asked to both run the offense and take on a second role as his team's primary scoring option. If the young guard is less fortunate, he'll also find himself defending the best backcourt opponents, maximizing the pressure and stress earned by being one of the top college players in the nation. The 2009-10 NBA season is filled with talented guards worthy of a top 10 mention, but only half can be considered for the Fab Five. 1. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz (18.4 PPG on .473 FG, 4.1 RPG, 10.1 APG) Williams has been the catalyst on a team that has gone 21-5 since starting the season 19-17. Going from a bubble playoff team in the rugged Western Conference to a top four seed, the Jazz now look to snag home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and possibly further beyond that. While forward Carlos Boozer has played a significant role as well, Williams executes plays as good, if not better, than every point guard in the league, and there's no doubt he has a hand in Boozer's impressive offensive play, not to mention defending his assignment each night, giving his frontcourt teammates reason to stay put in the paint. 2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets (20.4 PPG on .504 FG, 4.6 RPG, 11.2 APG) You can't argue against Paul's numbers. Statistically, he is better than Williams. However, with the recent injuries and the Hornets' struggles with him in the starting five (21-17, on pace for a 45-win season), Paul gently slides to the second spot in the ranking. CP3 may have just as much help as Williams does in Utah, and rookie guard Darren Collison is filling the stat sheet with surprising numbers in the points and assists columns. The Hornets are still having problems without Paul, though, and the numbers speak for themselves: 11-15 without the franchise superstar, fighting for the 8th seed in the West. Should I use a coin-flip to determine the top point guard? It crossed my mind. 3. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns (17.0 PPG on .506 FG, 3.3 RPG, 11.2 APG) During the first month of the season, many believed that Nash would be a top candidate for the MVP award, and rightfully so. The Suns tore through the league, playing 11 of their first 17 on the road and going 14-3 in the process. Phoenix then took a spill, dropping out of the playoffs after losing 18 of the following 30 games. Playing through his ongoing back problems, Nash and a rejuvenated Amare Stoudemire, put together two win streaks of five games a piece, and the Suns are now holding on to a comfortable 5th seed in the playoffs. If Nash wasn't such a bad defensive player, he would easily top the point guard ranks every season. 4. Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics (14.1 PPG on .515 FG, 4.5 RPG, 9.9 APG) It may not be the popular decision, but let's take a look at the Boston Celtics for a moment: they are currently the 6th best team in the NBA, record-wise, and with old age and injuries taking a toll on Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace and even Paul Pierce, it's Rondo who has proven to be the most consistent and highly-effective player in Boston. Offensively, he is getting the job done, and there's no question he's a good defensive player, averaging 2.5 steals per game and containing his opponent most of the time. His first all-star appearance was well-deserved, and among the three future Hall of Fame teammates he shares the ball with, one can debate that he has shined the brightest. 5. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls (20.6 PPG on .486 FG, 3.7 RPG, 5.7 APG) Seeing Rose round out the top five may come as a surprise to many. The fact is, Rose has been more consistent, and more dominant, than both Tony Parker and Chauncey Billups this season. The Chicago Bulls were steamrolling top teams on the road at one point in January, including the Celtics, Hornets, Suns, Spurs, Rockets and Thunder, and the Chicago native shot below .500 in just one of those six road wins that month. Despite losing a solid teammate and stellar defensive player in Joakim Noah, and battling a knee injury, Rose has shot .529 in his last 10 games, including a 34-point, eight-assist performance against a surging Dallas Mavericks team on Saturday. Billups' inconsistent play sticks him behind Rose, while Parker seems to be relying on Tim Duncan more than Rose does on any of his teammates. That Other Five (in no particular order): Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (16.5 PPG on .491 FG, 2.4 RPG, 5.7 APG) Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets (20.0 PPG on .436 FG, 3.1 RPG, 5.9 APG) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (16.7 PPG on .417 FG, 5.1 RPG, 7.9 APG) Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks (10.0 PPG on .427 FG, 5.5 RPG, 9.4 APG) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (16.0 PPG on .455 FG, 4.2 RPG, 5.4 APG) http://bleacherreport.com/articles/359606-nbas-fab-five-point-guards

Yep. I mentioned that over at TLN, actually. Start Odom. Have Bynum come off the bench as that second unit's primary option. He's capable of scoring 15+ a game doing that, and the second unit wouldn't have trouble deferring to him, since they are bottom five in scoring to begin with.

The quality here is fine. Never an issue. The quantity is the problem, and the less discussion we have, the less quality overall, and the less attractive we are to new members. Yugo came back, and our post count dropped from 600-700 per day (which happened while you were gone, by the way) to 200-300 per day. Since you've returned, we've hit under 200 once, haven't reached 300 yet. It has nothing to do with me banning people that cause problems on the forums. With a select few banned, OTR was reaching 700 posts per day. In fact, that's not what this topic is about to begin with, so we're not dipping into that mess again.

Hmm...can't say I agree. They called her name as well. She was supposed to be on the stage with him, but she was slower to reach the mic. It was rude of her to interrupt his speech, but I'm pretty sure it was her award as well. Kanye was a fool and he did what he did to embarrass Swift, and to downgrade her award and her video. Big difference here.

Just curious...what will it take to boost our posting again? We have over 100 active members, 90 or so showing up every single day. We have had days where we reach just 200 posts. Really? That's two per member. Just to put that into perspective, I am making this topic as we speak. If I reply to it, that's two posts...and I would be done for the day. So many of you visit, and a lot of you are actually on the site for a while...but then, there's nothing to show for it. I really don't know what else I can do. There are topics for every single game of the season up. I update records every night. I am nearly done with roster pages (just going to update trades). I have team banners, three players per team. I have tried breathing life into the GFX section of the site, creating a forum for member blogs, getting members to help with Twitter, having a member bust his ass on Youtube, updating Facebook, and making posts in game topics when I can. I don't want to put pressure on anyone else, but now it's all on you guys. I've done almost everything in my power except merging with another site, and I would rather just shut OTR down, if it comes to that.

The Pippen dunk was sickening. I remember seeing it when it happened, Bulls/Knicks in the playoffs after Jordan retired. And you gotta love Shawn Kemp and his reaction after destroying Alton Lister.