Can Individual Scoring Eventually Trump Overall Play?

[AboveLegit]

After hearing these statements regarding Durant and LeBron eventually being the two best players in the next decade, it got me wondering.... Why hasn't Carmelo Anthony been apart of this discussion?

 

I think we can all agree that Durant is the better scorer of the two (though one might be inclined to say Melo is the better post scorer), but Melo beats him on the boards, passing, and overall defense. Melo is getting more aggressive every season and polishing up his all-around game as well. On the defensive end, Melo is finally an asset instead of bailing people out.

 

But, if Durant keeps improving his scoring each year to the point where he's damn near impossible to stop, will it come a point where people will neglect Melo's overall play and value Durant's scoring over it? Is it already happening? What does this tell you about the significance of individual scoring in this league?

 

Discuss.

[His Greatness]

I think someone like Brandon Roy would've been a better, more distinguishable example for this topic. Both Anthony and Durant are chiefly scorers, and mostly any advantage either player has is arguable, and probably very narrow.

 

To answer the question, it varies. All-around brilliance is preferred, but at the same time, efficient volume scorers like Durant are also absolute game-changers, so it's tough to evaluate. The importance is weighted, with scoring being the highest. For me, I believe players should be individually judged based on how impactful they are and how well they can carry their teams. And it's not that overall play is being neglected, scoring is just the most prominent aspect. So yes, individual scoring can trump overall play, but it also can't.

[Art]

yes look at lebron and kobe in the fourth quarter.

[moeroadkill]

for every shot durant takes he scores 1.5 points. kobe took 28 shot attempts in 06 if durant shoots as much as kobe did he would average 42 ppg

[Big Penny]

for every shot durant takes he scores 1.5 points. kobe took 28 shot attempts in 06 if durant shoots as much as kobe did he would average 42 ppg

thanks for that insight, but that has nothing to do with the topic.

 

anyways, i think Melo gets forgotten because LeBron is already arguably the best player in the league, and Durant has exploded in his first 3 years, has turned the Thunder from lottery team to playoff team, and is getting a lot of attention right now.

[GamerGuy]

Melo beats him on the boards.

Durant is a better rebounder than Carmelo.

 

Carmelo: 5.7 RPG during 1st round, 6.6 RPG during regular season

 

Durant:: 9.3 RPG during 1st round, 7.6 RPG during regular season

 

Durant's defense is improving as well, his length and athleticism make him a decent defender already. Passing wise, Durant does need to work on that...but since he has a score first mentality, that'll come eventually I think.

 

As to the question, yes, I think it can. When Kobe scored 81 points he demonstrated that quite well (we would have lost, and quite badly at that, if he hadn't scored like he did).

[AboveLegit]

I think I worded my post wrong, shouldn't have used Durant and Melo as examples, my fault guys.

[moeroadkill]

thanks for that insight, but that has nothing to do with the topic.

 

how?

 

Can Individual Scoring Eventually Trump Overall Play?

is that not individual scoring? im just using durant as an example because i knew that that is how much points he scores for every shot. i could of used other guys but i couldnt be bothered looking up wat the PPS (points per shot)