Guys give your opinions on who you believe to be the most overrated and underrated players in the league...
peja stojakovic - everybody thinks he's an above average player but the dude can't play defense, anybody can drive past him
My biased picks for most underrated.... Dwight Howard- He's 20 years old(should be a sophmore in college) and he averaged 15.8 ppg on 53.1% shooting and 12.5 rpg, including a 26 rebound performance(highest out of anyone in the league this year). He finished 2nd in rebounding behind Kevin Garnett. Yet, he didn't make the all-star game and he doesn't get that much hype(towards the end of the year he started to get hype) Hedo Turkoglu- This kid is a machine on offense. He is one of the more versatile offensive weapons in the entire league, but no one knows about him. He is the reason why the Magic went on the tear at the end of the year. He averaged 20.5 pts in the last 12 games(Magic won 10 out of the 12). He did that by only averaging 11.9 shots a game shooting a blistering 56.64% from the floor. Including 52.08% from 3 land(25-48). He has pretty underrated D, because he's hard to shoot over because he normally has the size advantage on the opposing player. Now my non-biased underrated players... Nenad Krstic- He's also a very young big man who has produced great things for the Nets. He is part of the reason why they are this far. If the Nets didn't have any big man help, then I really doubt that they would be this good. Krstic quietly puts up 13.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 30.9 mpg. He's one of the better young big men in the game, but no one ever talks about him. Leandro Barbosa- Well everyone is starting to know who he is now, but I've been high on him since his draft. I wanted the Magic to draft him, but instead we took Reece Gaines and Barbosa dropped big time. He's got very good handles, is very fast. He gets to the lane at will. He's a great player, it's not just the Suns system that makes him good. I'm not gonna say overrated.
Underated- Udonis Haslem: he does everything you ask him to and one of the best defenders in the league. There are more but I can't think. Overated- Peja- all he can do is shoot thats just about it.
Underrated: Mobley (versatile) McDyess (versatile) Josh Howard (sees the floor) Stackhouse (versatile) Radmanovic - can do more than shoot - has big potential Mehmet Okur - sick numbers and no one even mentions him Jamal Crawford Jason Kidd (he's the best defensive player under 6'5" in the league!) Rip hamilton (probably the best conditioned athlete in the league) Wally Szerbiak - he can Play and he plays hard Paul Pierce - clutch personified - as talented as Kobe or TMac but doesn't get the props like they do Overrated: Ilgauskas (doesn't have great hands around the basket) Marion (even though I like the guy, he's definitely not MVP caliber) Brent Barry (is he really that much better a shooter than any other player who can hit from range in the league - no; and opponents Always take him off the dribble) JWill (lots of handle not much IQ) Mike Dunleavy Jr. (he is out of his league in the NBA he's just not strong enough) Brad Miller - centers are supposed to do more than just Pass...for his size he should be grabbing rebounds a la Jeff Foster Anyone who gets 50% of their baskets on dunks is overrated too.
I really agree with you when it comes to Paul Pierce, and its not only because Im a Celtic fan and see him give it his all day in and say out-but hes truly a great player, and is never mention in the same sentence as those other guys, such as Kobe and Wade.
PhunDamentalz-I really agree with you when it comes to Paul Pierce, and its not only because Im a Celtic fan and see him give it his all day in and day out-but hes truly a great player, and due to his teams recent lack of success he is never mention in the same sentence as those other guys...
Overrated: Antoine Walker Allen Iverson Jermaine O'neal Carmelo Anthony Zach Randolph Underrated: Shane Battier Jameer Nelson Dirk Nowitzki Paul Pierce Kevin Garnett
My biased pick for underrated is Jason Richardson. Hes a top 15 scorer in the league (everyone above him made the All-Star game and a bunch of players below him as well), a top 3 rebounding SG and he improves every year. His shooting is vastly underrated, he shoots 6.4 3 pointers a game and hits them at 39% which is better than Kobe, LeBron, and Gilbert Arenas. The only knock on him is FT shooting, he shoots 67% from the line and once he improves from the line theres no way he can't be an all-star IMO. His defense is only average but hes top 10 in steals and blocks among SGs. 3.1 assists isn't bad for a SG either and his 2.2 TO per game is lower than most superstar SGs (Vince, Kobe, Pierce, Wade, Johnson, and others). J-Rich has really stepped up in the clutch this year as well, hitting several shots that won or iced a game for the Warriors, just ask Dallas fans. Paul Pierce is another massively underrated player, hes a great scorer, rebounder, and passer and his defense is very solid. This guy is just a complete player, no weaknesses but hes not as flashy or publicized as guys like Kobe, Wade, or LeBron. As for overated players, I think Melo is overated, hes a great scorer and very clutch but his defense is terrible and he always seems out of shape. If hes not scoring hes not helping his team win. I also think Tony Parker got massively overated this year. Its impressive that he could score so well in the paint but his APG numbers are average at best and his SPG are below average. His A/TO ratio isn't even top 50 in the league and its 41th rated among PGs. He also seems to be a liability on defense against big PGs though his defense is solid against smaller guys.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Overrated: Underrated: Kevin Garnett</div> You think KG is underated? i think this guy has been overated for a while now. What has he accomplished in his 11 year career? Only one trip past round 1. You can blame his team but the fact that he took such a large contract hurt the wolves ability to sign decent talent. so in a way he hurt himself. To be underated you have to have accomplished something.
Lebron james? Dwyane Wade? Steve Nash? Those are all MVP candidates how on earth are they overated? Pierce is also very underated, he is one of the top players in the league. I think Melo is overated as well, he is not on the level of a Wade or Lebron. I'm glad Durvasa mentioned Allen Iverson. Sure he is a warrior and all, but what has he done besides score? He is a pure scorer and does not make his teamates better than he is.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Lebron james? Dwyane Wade? Steve Nash? Those are all MVP candidates how on earth are they overated?</div> I think someone is a little bitter. All or at least 2 of them finished above Kobe in MVP voting. EDIT: Just looked it up and only LeBron and NAsh finished above Kobe.
Underrated: Paul Pierce-He is probably as talented as all the 2's and 3's in the league. Shawn Marion-MVP Candidate who can do it all, an exceptional defender, good shooter, and great rebounder. Mehmet Okur-His numbers speak for themselves. Andrei Kirilenko-Real Defensive player of the year jus not a household name. Rashard Lewis- A great shooter from the 3 spot and can get some rebounds. Overrated: Kenyon Martin-Definently needs J-Kidd to succeed. Carmelo Anthony-overhyped. Zach Randolph-Good but not great needs to take off a couple of pounds. Yao Ming-Enough Said.
How is Walker overated? No one considers him a star or anything, he is just a role player on the Heat.
Underrated Shane Battier (does everything for a perrenial playoff team) Eduardo Najera (energy and hustle player) Paul Pierce (as clutch as anyone, but doesn't get the respect) Overrated Kenyon Martin - Just a punk. Nothing more than Carlos Boozer with a better vert. Basically an alley oop finisher. Rasheed Wallace - He wasn't an all star this year despite what the roster said. I'm actually a fan of his, but he is being made out to be much more than he really is lately.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Brasco:</div><div class="quote_post">You think KG is underated? i think this guy has been overated for a while now. What has he accomplished in his 11 year career? Only one trip past round 1. You can blame his team but the fact that he took such a large contract hurt the wolves ability to sign decent talent. so in a way he hurt himself. To be underated you have to have accomplished something.</div> I think a lot of people would agree with you. I don't. Hence, I consider him underrated.
How about Richard Jefferson? The guy is a great player but is overshadowed by Vince Carter. He is a great offensive player with a much improved jumper, and he plays good defense. Reason that he doesn't score as much as Carter most of the time is because, he is more of a second option like he was when Martin was in NJ.
