Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Highlighted by the 60 pt. performance against the Lakers last Sunday, Gilbert has gotten a lot of attention from the media lately. Rewarded by back-to-back Eastern Conference player of the week awards, add that along with averaging 37.6 ppg on this current 4-game road trip for the Wizards. He flirted with a triple double last night against the Kings, with 30 pts, 8 rebs, and 7 asts. In the month of December, he has led the Wizards to an 8-3 record. First of all, I dont really think Wade is an elite player, yet. I think he's a superstar, along with Gil. On many occassions, Gil has proved that he can be a leader, a scorer, clutch, and a distributor. All those things have in common with Wade. Does anyone think Gil is finally on Wade's level, in terms of individual success?
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? I've said all along that Gilbert and Wade are very equivalent players, but I give it to wade by a bit because he's bulkier (and therefore rebounds better)
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Individual success? Wade gets the upper hand there easily. He led his team to a Larry O'Brien.In terms of who is the better player; well I think it's a lot more even now but I'll still give it to Wade. Gil has to prove he can consistently keep it up.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? They are pretty darn close. In my opinion, it is a toss up. Gil is the better shooter, but Dwade (from what I have seen) is the better penetrator.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? I believe that he has always been a very, VERY underrated player in this league for sure. Wade is top 5 in the league easy. Would you put Gilbert in front of Wade? I wouldn't, would you put him on his level? Ah, it's kinda hard to tell right now IMO.I seen a lot of Gilbert last season and thats counting the playoffs where he really was a fighter vs. the Cavaliers.Arenas is a outstanding player and is only going to get better IMO.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tHe_pEsTiLeNcE @ Dec 22 2006, 08:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I've said all along that Gilbert and Wade are very equivalent players, but I give it to wade by a bit because he's bulkier (and therefore rebounds better)</div>Wade - 4.7 RebArenas - 4.3 RebNot that much of a difference. If it was at least a whole rebound a game better, maybe.And if someone says Gilbert isn't at Wades level they are crazy. Gilbert scores more, finished ahead of Wade last year and is ahead of him this year. Arenas was 4th last year behind Kobe, AI, and Lebron. This year he's only behind Melo and AI, and may end up finishing #1 this year depending on how well those 2 share the ball.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Not quite. Wade is better defensively, he's the better rebounder, I still think he's the better penetrator, and Gilbert may be clutch, but he still doesn't compare in that catigory either, with all the game winners Wade has hit over the past couple years and most importantly what he did in the playoffs last season, literally throwing his team on his back and leading our franchise to their first Championship ever.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? I do think Gilbert is the better pure scorer of the two. He has superior range, a better mid-range jumpshot, and he can finish at Wade's level as well. However, Wade is a slightly better defender, a better passer, and because of the oportunity he's gotten is a better clutch player. It is very close though.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Bert is at an all new level this year though. Whoever draws Washington in the first round, they aren't the luckiest team in the world.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rodenbo @ Dec 23 2006, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bert is at an all new level this year though. Whoever draws Washington in the first round, they aren't the luckiest team in the world.</div>Agreed. This team is down right scary. We all know about Gilbert, but what about Caron Butler? I'm going to be very honest, the Wizards don't win last night if not for Caron Butler. In my mind, he is the most underappreciated player in the NBA.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart? @ Dec 23 2006, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Agreed. This team is down right scary. We all know about Gilbert, but what about Caron Butler? I'm going to be very honest, the Wizards don't win last night if not for Caron Butler. In my mind, he is the most underappreciated player in the NBA.</div>Oh I love Caron Butler. He had a streak in where he had 7 or 8 straight double doubles. This man does it all. He's our best defender and our best rebounder. Do I smell most improved? There are a few others, but Caron has bought his game to a whole new level.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? I havn't even read any of the replies in this thread, but I only have one thing to say:Wade's level - NBA Finals, NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVPArenas' level - First round exitEnough said.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Dec 23 2006, 03:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I havn't even read any of the replies in this thread, but I only have one thing to say:Wade's level - NBA Finals, NBA Champion, NBA Finals MVPArenas' level - First round exitEnough said.</div>Wade - ShaqArenas - JamisonEnough said. Better help = longer trip.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart? @ Dec 23 2006, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Agreed. This team is down right scary. We all know about Gilbert, but what about Caron Butler? I'm going to be very honest, the Wizards don't win last night if not for Caron Butler. In my mind, he is the most underappreciated player in the NBA.</div>He's crazy good. To tell you the truth I was a fan of the guy's game when he was with the Lakers for just that one year. For them, he came off the bench, and was a fastbreak threat. Now in Washington for his second year, he really helps us adding another legit scoring option beside of Gil.Back to the original discussion, you can draw your comparisons of the two, but if I had to choose one of pure scoring and the lengthy way of getting it done more, scattererd throughout the game, I would take Gilbert Arenas. He's done it several times through his career, and in fact: he did it last night in that wild win over Phoenix.Overall I would take a ring over a first round exit, but just as the new Adidas slogan says, "It Takes Five." The rest of the Miami Heat didn't get any credit much for that win, but I do commend Wade -- he did put those guys on his back for the most part and won that game. But as Rodenbo said, he had Shaquille O'Neal by his side; Gil has Antawn Jamison. That's a huge difference in there noting that Shaq is in the group of the 50 Greatest Players of all Time.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Having a good big man complement is underestimated in today's basketball. Without a big man, it's hard to beat the other teams with big men. I mean look at the past champs, dating back to 1999...1999 - Spurs (Duncan and Robinson)2000 - Lakers (Shaq)2001 - Lakers (Shaq)2002 - Lakers (Shaq)2003 - Spurs (Duncan)2004 - Pistons (Big Ben)2005 - Spurs (Duncan)2006 - Heat (Shaq)And I know what I'm going to hear, Big Ben wasn't the offensive thread that Shaq and Duncan are, but he's still a big man that can somewhat defend the other big men. Jamison cannot do that. So if you are going to use "Wade has a ring, Arenas doesn't, that means Wade is better", I suggest you come back another day.btw, I still love you all :biggrin:
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? It is a good comparison, but I'd give it to Dwade, after wehat he done in the playoffs alone, I think this puts him ahead of Gilbert Arenas.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Dwyane has the better team. Arenas would have the same ring Wade does if he was in his situation. You can't compare two players by using a team accomplishment.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? Definitely true, Rodenbo; the Heat were prediced to win the championship in the offseason if the rest of you remember, when they acquired Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, and James Posey (as well as ultimately signing Gary Payton.) After they started off 10-10 last year, everyone kinda forgot all about the offseason hype.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? All I'm saying is if you try to say Wade is better b/c he's got a ring, how about this. That means that Dorell Wright is better than Gilbert Arenas. A ring means nothing in head to head comparisons.
Re: Is Arenas on Wade's level now? <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rodenbo @ Dec 23 2006, 03:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wade - ShaqArenas - JamisonEnough said. Better help = longer trip.</div>Wade carried that team throughout the entire Finals series. He was the MVP for a reason, I mean he did absolutely everything for that team. Shaq was terrible in the Finals, compared to even what he did in the rest of the playoffs last year. Wade elevated his game, took it to a whole 'nother level, and he willed that team to victory. Arenas has two All-Star caliber players along with him right now, with two centers that do the dirty work (one who is out right now, I know), and a young defender in DeShawn Stevenson. His supporting cast is much better than what Dwyane Wade has right now.
