I don't doubt that at all. I just think he could have been MORE dedicated as a pro. Just like Baron Davis, only PG who loved to eat. Only, prime-for-prime, I think Davis was a lot better than D-Will.
I would value much more a finals appearance than an MVP. Hell even Steve Nash has not one, but TWO. That being said, AI went to the finals. CP3 would've reached a higher ceiling if not for his knees woes, he's clearly slower than his Hornets years. I always admired Iverson for being seemingly impervious to injuries. He was one tough SOB.
Yeah, Paul's a rare case. He truly did peak in his 3rd season. After his injury, he really did lose his first step. He could just blow by guys back then. Now he gets by more on his handles, and craftiness.
What's even MORE impressive about AI's toughness is that the early 00's were 10x more physical than today. CP3 whines NOW. Just imagine how he'd fare in the hand-check era. Prime AI would EASILY be the 3rd best player in the league today. He wasn't as good as KD, or Bron, but he was above everybody else in the current league.
Doesn't matter. Paul wouldn't have made the finals with that team. They had NO other scorers besides AI. CP3 simply doesn't have the ability to take over a game like AI could. He couldn't have shouldered that load, and you know it. They don't get past the Raptors that year with Paul. Vince Carter was in BEAST MODE that year. Don't forget that great duel he and AI had in that series, trading 50 point performances. Paul couldn't handle that. He'd get eliminated in the 2nd round in 01, as per usual. Iverson was tougher than Paul. Not only physically, but MENTALLY tougher as well. Iverson didn't let off the court distractions get to him, and he didn't let refs distract him. He played every game like it was his last. And he had ENDLESS stamina, something CP3 doesn't. CP3 is ONLY better than AI in the pure PG sense. Iverson was a better PLAYER. Shit, CP3 doesn't even believe he's better than AI! He called AI the best little man of all time. Lebron called AI the best P4P player of all time, and CP3 and Bron are best friends.
i dont really get the logic here. that sixers team was built around iverson to rebound and play defense while he carried the offensive load by taking a million shots. paul is a different type of player than iverson. there are plenty of championship teams where you could remove an average point guard and put iverson on the squad and he fucks it up and they dont win shit.
My point is I don't see Chris Paul leading ANY team to the finals as "the man". He needs to the 2nd or 3rd option on offense in order for him to win a ring. Playmaking is nice and all, but what the playoffs basically comes down to is, you need to have a dominant SCORER. Usually. There are a few exceptions, like the Pistons. Paul doesn't seem to have an extra gear to kick it into in the playoffs. Not consistently at least. If I'm an opposing team in the PLAYOFFS, I'd fear Tony Parker more than Paul. Always have.
Yup, 1 playoff run aside, you shoot 40% from the field, you shouldn't be leading the league in scoring, I don't care who your team-mates are. It's not an accident, the big-men he played with like Derrick Coleman, Chris Webber and Marcus Camby, had their most inefficient seasons while playing with AI. Somebody like DeAndre Jordan would be relegated to pick-man for AI, too far out from the basket to grab offensive boards on the 60% miss rate, AI regularly chucked up, forget the 6 easy baskets or so, he's supposed to get per game himself.
iverson gets the finals exactly zero times if he was around the past 5 years in the western conference.
if, If, IF the Spurs Win, You Certainly WON'T Hear REED Crying about iBLOCKa's Injury, Memphis Lover... REED:kidcool:
How does this work $$ wise? Surely if it's even a legal trade Houston would be absurdly over the luxury tax?
I was rewatching the Wizards - pacers last game and all I could think was how horrible the pacers offense has become. A far cry from what it used to be at the beginning of the season. They're getting by on depth and defense.
You say CP3 is overrated and untouchable? I think that sounds more like AI to me. He was lucky to play during a period right before anayltics were used and people actually cared more about a players field goal percentages. If he played these days he'd have as bad a field goal rep as Rudy Gay. Iverson never made his teammates better, he needed teammates who would make him look better and he never seemed to jell with better players. You call CP3 a whiner, but so far AI is the only player I've seen who flat out refused to come off the bench even though he was clearly a diminished player. It was basically that refusal to be a team player that got him out of the league a lot earlier than he wanted and could afford. I loved AI's heart and determination but I think if any of those 2 guys are overrated it's Iverson.
This series will depend on which Pacer team shows up. I'm guessing it'll be tight and down to the wire again. Indiana is not quite ready yet for the big time. And it will show down the stretch. Heat in 7. With Ibaka out, OKC lose a lot of that inside presence they have that keeps Parker and Ginobli out of the paint, which puts more pressure on their perimeter defense. Styleswise, OKC is not the match up San Antonio wants. But if Parker's hamstring doesn't bother him too much, and the role players perform like they can, I think San Antonio can win in 7 games. However it goes, this will be competitive.
Heat don't look into it. We'll have to see what adjustments they make. One thing is for sure, Lebron is gonna have to work hard for this one.
I still have a fear that the Heat will probably win the series. Game 2 is HUGE though! If the Pacers can go up 2-0, I think they'll pull it off. If the Heat can even it at 1-1, then they have to be favored.
I still say Miami wins in 7 games, but if the Pacers are gonna pull it off, I agree they gotta protect home court tomorrow night otherwise it could be a wrap before they know it. Paul George needs to be consistent. Is he ready for the big time?
You can bet your ass on it. Vince McMahon should run this league, that's how predictable it is. Maybe this Silver guy turns out to be less controlling then David Stern, and things may change a little bit in the near future.
