Yes, This topic has been made before, It's the offseason we need stuff to talk about other than overrated/underrated. So im making it again..... What do you guys think?Here is my opinionCharles Barkley- He came close a few times in his career. He was drafted by the Sixers one year after they won the title, They lost in the Eastern Conference Finals his second year in the league. Jordan's Bulls beat them in 6 games in 1993.Elgin Baylor-He had alot of chances but the Celtics refused to lose. Even with Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain they could not beat the GREAT 1970 NY Knicks team.Dave Bing- Underrated as a scorer.Adrian Dantley- The closest he came was the finals was against the Lakers. Who remembers game 1 when he had 30 some points ahd shot 14-16 from the field wow.Walt Bellamy- Alot of people forget about him because he played in the same era as Wilt and Russell... He was such a dominate big man. Look at his rookie year averages 31 ppg, 19 rpg. Wow.Bernard King- I have a bunch of old game clips of him he dominated the game and scored like nomatter what shot he took it would go in.Bob Lanier- He was great at playing through injuries. He reached the conference finals twice? If in not mistaken but fell to the eventual champion 76ers in 83 and the Celtics in his last season.Dominique Wilkins- Was a great scorer. In my opinion he was one of the best scorers in league history.Nate Thurmond- Career averages of 15 ppg and 15 rpg. One of only 4 players to record a quadruple double. The closest he came to a title was as a rookie in 64 when they made the finals only to be defeated by the ?< Not sure someone might want to look it up.John Stockton- Definition of a "pure" point guard. All time leader in steals in assists. He came so close to a title several times with Malone.Karl Malone- Teamed with one of the greatest point guard of all time but like Stockton he came so close several times but just could not defeat Jordan and the Bulls.George Gervin- He should have made the NBA finals but his Spurs team let the Bullets come back from a 3-1 series lead. He never won a title despite some of the great players he played with Mike Mitchell, Artis Gilmore, Johnny Moore, Ect.Artis Gilmore- Had one of the best shooting percentages of all time at about 60%. He never won an NBA title was was an ABA champion with the Kentucky ColonelsPete Maravich- Maravich wasn't the first player to dribble behind his back or make a deft between-the-legs pass. But his playground moves, circus shots, and hotdog passes were considered outrageous during his era. Its a shame he had to die the way he did.I left many guys off the list to get discussion started.
Definantely Charles Barkley and Elgin Baylor. In 96 MJ was in the way of Barkley's dreams lol and Baylor always came close, but the C's stopped him then when he retires, the Lakers win it.
Karl Malone is probably the best to not win it all. He came close a few times, but never could succeed with Stockton and Hornecek. Second Place All-Time in scoring is all right though.
Malone made it to what... 3 finals?? He should have done what Payton did and kept on riding Shaqs coatails till he got it
I would say Baylor, but I think he was one of the main reasons they weren't able to win a title. With Barkley and Malone, the main reason was Jordan. I give the edge to Malone.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Living_Legend33 @ Jul 19 2006, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You forgot Patrick Ewing. He is one of the greatest centers of all-time.</div>Now I wouldn't go that far.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lakaboy42 @ Jul 20 2006, 02:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Now I wouldn't go that far.</div>ewing i think is liek 10 on all time list he but he has been to 2 finals
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pinoyballa @ Jul 20 2006, 04:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ewing i think is liek 10 on all time list he but he has been to 2 finals</div>10th on the all time centers' list? Where did you come up with that number?Wilt ChamberlainShaquille O'nealGeorge MikanHakeem OlajuwonKareem Abdul JabbarBill WaltonDave CowensBill RussellDavid RobinsonWillis ReedThat's 10 Centers (in no order) that are better than Ewing in my opinion.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lakaboy42 @ Jul 20 2006, 11:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>10th on the all time centers' list? Where did you come up with that?</div>Well who are the best centers? In no particular order we have:ShaqKareemRusselWiltOlajuwonRobinsonEwingMaloneCowensGervinMikanParishLaimb eerLanierReedGimoreOut of that list I'd say Ewing was only worse than Shaq, Wilt, Olajuwon, and Kareem. Everyone else you could probably replace with Ewing and their teams would've had just as much success if not more. I'm not saying he's better than all these other legends, just that he's at the same level. He was one of the 50 Greatest Players.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Living_Legend33 @ Jul 20 2006, 08:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well who are the best centers? In no particular order we have:ShaqKareemRusselWiltOlajuwonRobinsonEwingMaloneCowensGervinMikanParishLaimb eerLanierReedGimoreOut of that list I'd say Ewing was only worse than Shaq, Wilt, Olajuwon, and Kareem. Everyone else you could probably replace with Ewing and their teams would've had just as much success if not more. I'm not saying he's better than all these other legends, just that he's at the same level. He was one of the 50 Greatest Players.</div>I'd only put him on the same level or above Gilmore, Lanier, Laimbeer, and Parish on that list. I don't see what all the hubbub was about him, I've seen a few games of his, and watched him in the 99 playoffs (even though that was after his prime). He was a very good player, but great? That's stretching it.
Look at the teams he went to the NBA Finals with. They have to be without a doubt one of, if not the, worst teams to ever make it the finals. The man averaged over 20 and 10 for nine straight years. 11 All-Star appearences with 10 of them being in a row. He made the All-NBA 1st an 2nd teams 7 times. While Ewing wasn't as dominant as Shaq, Robinson, or Olajuwon, he was the eptiomy of consistancy and always had his team (in which he was the only All-Star) in the hunt for a championship.
That 94 team might not have been the most talented bunch, but they were full of rugged defenders who hustled and gave up their bodies for the team. Pat Riley knew how to work with what he had.The 99 team had Ewing, Sprewell, and Houston. That was more than enough to win the East at that point in time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lakaboy42 @ Jul 20 2006, 12:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>10th on the all time centers' list? Where did you come up with that number?Wilt ChamberlainShaquille O'nealGeorge MikanHakeem OlajuwonKareem Abdul JabbarBill WaltonDave CowensBill RussellDavid RobinsonWillis ReedThat's 10 Centers (in no order) that are better than Ewing in my opinion.</div>What? Are you serious?Bill Walton career numbers-13 ppg, 10 rpgEwing career numbers-21 ppg, 10 rpgNow I know Walton won a championship, but that doesnt make him the better player. If Robinson didnt have to compete with teams like the Pistons, Bulls, Rockets, etc.. he would have won one for sure..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 20 2006, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What? Are you serious?Bill Walton career numbers-13 ppg, 10 rpgEwing career numbers-21 ppg, 10 rpgNow I know Walton won a championship, but that doesnt make him the better player. If Robinson didnt have to compete with teams like the Pistons, Bulls, Rockets, etc.. he would have won one for sure..</div>Robinson has won a championship, maybe you meant Ewing? Also, While Ewing may have higher averages Walton has a MVP under his belt which he averaged 18 points and 13 boards.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 20 2006, 09:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What? Are you serious?Bill Walton career numbers-13 ppg, 10 rpgEwing career numbers-21 ppg, 10 rpgNow I know Walton won a championship, but that doesnt make him the better player. If Robinson didnt have to compete with teams like the Pistons, Bulls, Rockets, etc.. he would have won one for sure..</div>Walton won two championships, and if his career wasn't ravaged by injury, he would've been a top 5 center easily. He was a top 5 college player of all time. He was a great defensive player, and when he wasn't hurt, he put up some nice stats.In 1976/77 he averaged 19 PPG/14 RPG/3 BPG/1 SPG in just under 35 minutes a game.In 1977/78 he averaged 19 PPG/13 RPG/3 BPG/1 SPG in only 33 minutes a game.He was never a prolific scorer, he didn't put up great stats, and his career was ravaged by injury, so he doesn't get a lot of attention.
Walton was an amazing player in his prime. Unfortunately it was very shortlived. Robinson and Ewing are greater players because of their better careers, but I'd probably take a peak Walton over either of them.
lol I dont give a sh*t. The guy was injury prone. He was injured all the time. Ewing was dominant offensively and defensively. He was a great shotblocker, he scored a ton more. He was more consistent, he put up better numbers. He is just the better player.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 20 2006, 10:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol I dont give a sh*t. The guy was injury prone. He was injured all the time. Ewing was dominant offensively and defensively. He was a great shotblocker, he scored a ton more. He was more consistent, he put up better numbers. He is just the better player.</div>CB4, you said it yourself you just started watching basketball 2 years ago. I watched Ewing in the 99 playoffs (although he wasn't as good as he once had been) at least, I can say I've seen him. And the analysis I've gotten from my father on him (watched him a lot in the playoffs being a big time Lakers and Riley fan) is that he was a soft player. He would rely on his outside shot a lot, he would get his blocks coming off the weakside, and is generally overrated because of where he played. My dad also went to UCLA in the 70's, so he's seen more Bill Walton than anyone on this board, and if you ask him who was the better player, he will say it's Walton. And I don't really see how you can argue, seeing as how none of us have seen both of them in their primes.
