Who needs a title more for credibility?

[lakersrule]

I agree, but if the would have kept both, the loss of Westbrook would have been mostly negated.

Harden would have certainly helped more than Kevin Martin has. A big difference between Harden and Martin is Harden's ability to create from the perimeter. Martin doesn't do that. Westbrook does. So yeah, Harden would have made up some of that difference with Westbrook out.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Bill Simmons crunched the numbers. The owner was being very cheap...OKC is very lucrative. This has more to do with the team undervaluing Harden and overvaluing Ibaka

They are both valuable pieces and that goes back to my original point.
My opinion is that ownership should have given that roster at least this year to try to win a championship and then if they didn't, off one of them this summer.

 

[bksballer89]

Well I checked it out just now and they avg over 23 attempts and made over 8 which isn't that good at all

 

[lakersrule]

I would love to know how many 3's they attempted/made in that playoffs. For example if they attempted 29 3's per game it means they were making between 10 and 11 3's per game which is still a good amount

If my basic math was correct , the Magic made 201 out of 559 3-point attemps over 24 games during those playoffs. That's an average of 23.3 attempts per game. Let's not forget that a lot of those 3-point attempts were a result of defenses collapsing on Howard.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Durant by default of capability. I have already given up on Melo, Chris Paul to me proves his worth every time we see Blake griffin on a highlight reel. I just have no idea about Dwight.

As unfair as it is I'd say Carmello. Until he either gets a title or at least gets to the Finals he will always be considered a step below the superstars of the game.

He kind of is, the public loves him because he scores (nevermind his 53 shots a game) but his drive on D is sporadic at best and he either does not want to, or does not know how to pass.

I think right now it is Melo followed by Chris Paul just because of how long those guys been in the league.

I could see this.

Bill Simmons crunched the numbers. The owner was being very cheap...OKC is very lucrative. This has more to do with the team undervaluing Harden and overvaluing Ibaka

They probably didn't have the balls to tell Westbrook he is a 2 and move Harden to the starting lineup. Westbook would be much more valuable off the bench than Harden imo.

Can OKC afford Dwight? If the heat is a ferrari, they would be the GT40.

 

[wildturkey]

Bill Simmons crunched the numbers. The owner was being very cheap...OKC is very lucrative. This has more to do with the team undervaluing Harden and overvaluing Ibaka and being flatout stupid keeping Perkins at his salary

FIFY


In regards to the topic, I'd say Melo and Howard are pretty even. It'll be a little while before Durant catches any heat. CP3 is a mystery to me though. His reputation is Teflon. He's a great player that forced his way out of his original team (just like Melo and Howard) to a bigger market. He also hasn't had much playoff success like his counterparts. Yet he gets 0% criticism that other players of his caliber receive. It's like the media met at a secret island resort and decided they all love him so will write no ill will of him. I'm not saying he deserves to be slammed, I just find the absence of any criticism interesting

 

[jayviabay]

As unfair as it is I'd say Carmello. Until he either gets a title or at least gets to the Finals he will always be considered a step below the superstars of the game.

To be fair on his part, he was in the west, going up against the likes of Kobe, Duncan, and Nash lead teams. Even though there is really only one team to beat in the East(no disrespect to the aging celtics), the road to the finals didnt get easier.

 

[starbigd]

FIFY


In regards to the topic, I'd say Melo and Howard are pretty even. It'll be a little while before Durant catches any heat. CP3 is a mystery to me though. His reputation is Teflon. He's a great player that forced his way out of his original team (just like Melo and Howard) to a bigger market. He also hasn't had much playoff success like his counterparts. Yet he gets 0% criticism that other players of his caliber receive. It's like the media met at a secret island resort and decided they all love him so will write no ill will of him. I'm not saying he deserves to be slammed, I just find the absence of any criticism interesting

This is why I brought him up. He's arguably the best PG in the league by a pretty wide margin. His teams don't win without him. At some point we have to look at him and ask why he isn't a better leader. I'm not saying its fair....but sooner or later someone will start to question him.

I think Durant naysayers will pop up after this playoff season......let's face it, he's been JAG for the critical moments of this current series. The stats don't show it overall, but in the clutch moments of every game, he's been nowhere to be found. He doesn't even seem to WANT the ball. This WILL get harped on by the media.

 

[piss-tons]

Durants pretty young and with Westbrook getting injured expectations have been lowered. I would think Melo and CP3 need the title the most. Howard might have the Kobe excuse next year not to mention that he might not have been the best player on his team. CP3 hasn't had a lot of playoff success, even though the teams around him were never that good. CP3 gets a pass for it by the media probably because of his style of play. Melo's style of play is being a volume shooter and scorer, so he gets more criticism, and he plays for the Knicks, who always have high expectations even though they haven't really done anything since Ewing, So I would go Melo.

 

[SportsChic]

Who cares.

What is creditable is LeBitch James and DWhine Wade are punk headcase cry babies with a gay center FAVOR FIXED to win it all as idiotas like Punchine jack off on it and spend two weeks of pay buying merchandise.

LOSERS!

 

[True Lakers Fan]

As unfair as it is I'd say Carmello. Until he either gets a title or at least gets to the Finals he will always be considered a step below the superstars of the game.

That's only because he is a step below the real superstars of the game

 

[Shanemansj13]

LeBron needs at least as many as Kobe for his credibility to match his mouth.

Answer or leave. Simple as that.

I would say Melo.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

CP3 is the most Teflon coated superstar in the NBA.

He won nothing in college.
He won nothing in the pros.

And he had solid running mates despite the kneejerk narrative that he did not have help.

David West, Tyson Chandler, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, etc etc
All of them had or have solid numbers without CP3 on other teams as well.

Lebron has a title, 2 finals, and 6 division titles.
Melo has a college title, 4 division titles, and a WCFinals appearance.
Durant has 3 division titles and a Final appearance.

CP3 has 2 division titles.

Yet, we almost never question his constant failures in the post-season.

 

[piss-tons]

Its because his style of play, being a passing PG is more palatable to fans and the media than is being a volume shooter and scorer where you get the reputation of being a ball hog. His NO teams were never good enough to compete. These Clippers teams are overrated and no one expected them to do much in the postseason because their big men are soft as tissue paper and have no game at all. I do agree though, CP3 hasn't done much with his teams, but does have nice moments like his buzzer beater this year and nice stats in the playoffs.

 

[JDM]

Answer or leave. Simple as that.

I would say Melo.

It is an answer. To maintain his credibility, he needs to back up the statements he made and win a ring this year.

 

[starbigd]

It has to be Melo. I just looked it up. He has 6 assists.

FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES.

 

[bksballer89]

Who cares.

What is creditable is LeBitch James and DWhine Wade are punk headcase cry babies with a gay center FAVOR FIXED to win it all as idiotas like Punchine jack off on it and spend two weeks of pay buying merchandise.

LOSERS!

You really need to realize this is not CBS.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think right now it is Melo followed by Chris Paul just because of how long those guys been in the league.

Melo wants to be considered an elite player. To do that, he needs to at least get to the finals!!

If I'm not mistaken, prior to this season, he's never gotten past the 1st round!!

 

[Clayton]

If my basic math was correct , the Magic made 201 out of 559 3-point attemps over 24 games during those playoffs. That's an average of 23.3 attempts per game. Let's not forget that a lot of those 3-point attempts were a result of defenses collapsing on Howard.

Alright, Ill retract that statement then. I could have sworn one of the narratives was that they were really hot from outside. They still got lucky to get the Celtics without KG. But back to my original point, Howard has lost so much credibility in the past year that he needs to go deep to cement himself as a superstar again.

I do think Melo has a serious Tracy McGrady cloud following him around, too. Durant should be given a free pass. CP3 was really good against the Grizzlies and really good against the Lakers when he had no help in NO a few years back. I think he is still the clear 3rd best NBA player right now. I'm not sure what it would take for him to win but I just dont think he has found a great situation, yet. Blake Griffin isnt at the stage where he can be the 2nd best player on a championship caliber team

 

[bone3421]

out of those options i say....melo and howard

durant and paul will still be considered great without a ring if their careers continue on the current path... i think durant will get one though with westbrook