The Basketball Thread

[communicate 2,703]

You don't even need advanced stats. Simple stats, advanced stats, pundits, fans, everybody will say the same thing. Kevin Durant is the best offensive player in the NBA and it's not close. Korea is obviously a big Carmelo fan.

For anyone who is interested- http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/scoring-per-game/sort/avgPoints/year/2014/seasontype/2

Notice Durant is better at well, everything except very slightly worse at 3% shooting. You can also tab across to scoring per 48 minutes and see Durant still #1 but Carmelo slides to #5. Durant is also a much better passer and works in the flow of the offense as opposed to slowing it down. He also faces a vastly more difficult schedule. The third best team in the East wouldn't even make the playoffs in the West. There's also context of games. Durant scored 46 points in a close win against a tough team who are 32-11. Carmelo scored his 62 in a blow-out against a 19-27 team. Any single way you look at it, Durant is better.

For me it depends,

Melo is at his best operating slightly outside the paint where he can just post up/jab step2 and shoot over the defender. He is more of an iso player.

Whereas KD is more of a 'really tall' shooter who can handle the ball, finish extremely well.

I like KD game much better because he can play within the offense and also play off the ball.

also, he is not really a ball stopper whereas melo tends to hold the ball which make the offense become very stagnant.

If you are asking which one is the better scorer ? I think it is a toss but

if you are asking which one is the better player ? I think the answer is so obvious, if you have a poll which one will you pick to build your team, I am sure 100% GM in NBA will pick KD over melo

[communicate 2,703]

4 random things?

You just said it was shooting percentage + ppg.

Having an offensive repertoire is doing it all over the court. KDB is not a triple threat player. Melo is.

So, i guess steve kerr is the best offensive player cause i shoot open threes all day long and shoot them at a high percentage?

I can be wilt chamerlin cause i avg 50 points a game?

KD can shoot lights out, so can Melo.

But Melo can post up, KD cant.

Melo can drive, kd isnt that good at driving..

I dont know what they teach you guys in Toronto, but in NYC, anyone, and everyone will tell you carmelo is the best offensive player in the game..

He might be a selfish sob, lazy defensive player, etc, however, it doesnt take away from his amazing offensive skills...

Also, you make it seem that KD plays defense, when people 5 inches shorter than him light him up all the time... When he doesnt play defense at all.

Guess who d Lebron james in the finals.. NOT DURANT.... It was harden, you know the guy that like 6'5 is guarding lebron cause we all know what lebron would do to kd.

Your whole argument is based on Melo the overall player, not melo offensive ability. Also, who says the knicks arent going to the playoffs? This is how the knicks usually play, start slow and do well after ASG.

Hype is for andrew wiggins. melo is near 30, there is no hype. He is what he is...

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton, when discussing the League’s best scorers, puts Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony at the top of the list. Felton feels that his teammate Melo is a better, more versatile scorer of the two (while defending Anthony’s shot selection.) Per NBA.com: “What’s it like playing with Carmelo Anthony? Because he’s such a great player, and he kind of gets overshadowed a bit by guys like LeBron or Kevin Durant. Even though he might be the best scorer in the NBA …’ FELTON: ‘Without a doubt. Without a doubt. Because he scores in so many ways. There’s a lot of guys who can score the basketball in this league. Kevin Durant, by far, is one of the top ones. Him and Melo could be neck-and-neck — those guys can score in a lot of ways. But Melo can score in more ways than KD, because Melo can post up, he can score off the dribble, he can score in the mid-range, he can score finishing at the rim, and he can shoot threes. You’re talking about a guy who has a total, complete game, and he’s big and strong — 6-8, big body, strong body. A lot of people like to talk about how he takes a lot of shots, this and that. Listen man: We need him to score. It gets maximized because if you’re having an off night and you take thirty-something shots, it’s like, ‘Aw man, he’s shooting too much.’ If you’re having a great night, he’s got 40-something points and he took thirty-something shots, ain’t nobody saying nothing. I just tell him, ‘You do what we need you to do. As a team, we know what you’re going to do every night.’ So we gotta adjust our games to that. Me as a point guard, I have to adjust my game to that. I hate when people say about him, ‘He takes too many shots.’ People try to compare him and LeBron — two different games. Melo is who he is, LeBron is who he is. So I hate when they try to make those comparisons. You can’t say Larry Bird and Michael Jordan had the same game.

Also, you seem to forget how Melo is always the best player for team USA and the most efficient one as well.

You also seem to forget that Melo was always regarded as the best offensive talent even in Lebron class since they were teenagers..

You also seem to forget that KD missed the playoffs more than Melo did, even though Melo is near 30...

You also seem to forget Tracy Mcgrady, the guy who barely wins in the playoffs as well, even though everyone rates him as the second best offensive player in the kobe generation.

Its ok though, when Melo joins the lakers, he'll win a championship and than you will find another excuse....

IMO for melo to be great he need to play much2 better defense and move the ball better, right now his defense is just atrocious and he tends to hold the ball for too long.

Yes he is great at one on one but in playoff he will be guarded by lebron/paul george+hibbert not MKG.

I can see the knicks,if they are lucky, will lose in game 6 against either Miami/Indiana

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

For me it depends,

Melo is at his best operating slightly outside the paint where he can just post up/jab step2 and shoot over the defender. He is more of an iso player.

Whereas KD is more of a 'really tall' shooter who can handle the ball, finish extremely well.

I like KD game much better because he can play within the offense and also play off the ball.

also, he is not really a ball stopper whereas melo tends to hold the ball which make the offense become very stagnant.

If you are asking which one is the better scorer ? I think it is a toss but

if you are asking which one is the better player ? I think the answer is so obvious, if you have a poll which one will you pick to build your team, I am sure 100% GM in NBA will pick KD over melo

I agree with most of what you say but being able to fit your offensive game into the context of a team is an important part of being a great offensive player. Durant makes his teammates better. Carmelo makes them worse. Not just defensively but offensively. Carmelo stops the flow of the offense. I also think not enough is made of the the extreme difference in the quality of the conferences. Memphis is a solid team and isn't in a playoff spot. I am a Raptors' fan but they are not a good team and are somehow third in the East. You look at Durant's 46 game point last week and it's more impressive than Carmelo's 62 point game. Durant scored 46 points on 25 shots in a close game against an elite team in Portland. Carmelo scored 62 on 35 shots in a blowout against a very bad Charlotte. Is scoring 3 goals against Hull in a 5-1 win more impressive than scoring 2 in a 2-1 against City?

[communicate 2,703]

I agree with most of what you say but being able to fit your offensive game into the context of a team is an important part of being a great offensive player. Durant makes his teammates better. Carmelo makes them worse. Not just defensively but offensively. Carmelo stops the flow of the offense. I also think not enough is made of the the extreme difference in the quality of the conferences. Memphis is a solid team and isn't in a playoff spot. I am a Raptors' fan but they are not a good team and are somehow third in the East. You look at Durant's 46 game point last week and it's more impressive than Carmelo's 62 point game. Durant scored 46 points on 25 shots in a close game against an elite team in Portland. Carmelo scored 62 on 35 shots in a blowout against a very bad Charlotte. Is scoring 3 goals against Hull in a 5-1 win more impressive than scoring 2 in a 2-1 against City?

Lol ya eastern conference is a joke. Toronto is in semi rebuilding mode yet they are 3rd in the east. No offense to raptor but nobody will be surprised if they get swept by either miami/Indiana in the playoff.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Lol ya eastern conference is a joke. Toronto is in semi rebuilding mode yet they are 3rd in the east. No offense to raptor but nobody will be surprised if they get swept by either miami/Indiana in the playoff.

No offense taken. I don't like that they are doing so well because to succeed in the NBA it's almost impossible to win without getting a high draft pick star (and Andrew Wiggins is from Toronto!!!). All this winning will give people the wrong impression of the state of the franchise. The Raptors are nowhere near being contenders.

[Korea 734]

No offense taken. I don't like that they are doing so well because to succeed in the NBA it's almost impossible to win without getting a high draft pick star (and Andrew Wiggins is from Toronto!!!). All this winning will give people the wrong impression of the state of the franchise. The Raptors are nowhere near being contenders.

typical toronto fan... Savors the idea of tanking.

Tanking is the exact reason most teams never win the chip....

Builds a negative connotation of the franchise, creates a loser mentality..

When all the good players from your team will leave eventually ala carter, bosh and mcgrady.

[Korea 734]

IMO for melo to be great he need to play much2 better defense and move the ball better, right now his defense is just atrocious and he tends to hold the ball for too long.

Yes he is great at one on one but in playoff he will be guarded by lebron/paul george+hibbert not MKG.

I can see the knicks,if they are lucky, will lose in game 6 against either Miami/Indiana

this has nothing to do with defense..

This is best offensive player in the game. Also, Lebron cant guard Melo. Their a reason why he never matches up against Melo and they always use other players instead... Lebron can d Durant cause durant is an outside perimeter player, who weights considerable less than James.

Anyone that plays basketball, would know the advantages size + weight has in the game of bball. Their a reason why the NBA consists of all tall guys and not short guys, if being tall was not a relevant factor to an individual ability.

[Korea 734]

The word iso is a misconception used by foreign fans that dont understand the NBA game...

The NBA has always played bball like this. The word iso become so relevant to freaking Melo because all the fans from overseas watch the knicks games with Jeremy lin on the team.. Always trying to find excuses for Lin...

Guess what, now according to foreign fans, Harden does too much iso. Guess who his teammate is???? YEAP, jeremy lin.

[communicate 2,703]

The word iso is a misconception used by foreign fans that dont understand the NBA game...

The NBA has always played bball like this. The word iso become so relevant to freaking Melo because all the fans from overseas watch the knicks games with Jeremy lin on the team.. Always trying to find excuses for Lin...

Guess what, now according to foreign fans, Harden does too much iso. Guess who his teammate is???? YEAP, jeremy lin.

I may have never played professional basketball, but I have played and watched enough basketball to understand isolation play.

I don't understand why you bring lin and Asian fans. It has nothing to do with lin.

[Korea 734]

I may have never played professional basketball, but I have played and watched enough basketball to understand isolation play.

I don't understand why you bring lin and Asian fans. It has nothing to do with lin.

It does actually..

The concept of Melo iso player came directly from that.

Just as the concept harden was an iso player.

Euro ball or anywhere else ball is completely different than the NBA.

Also, @ TorontoChelsea,

Ill changed it to from best offensive player to best 1v1 offensive player than...

[communicate 2,703]

It does actually..

The concept of Melo iso player came directly from that.

Just as the concept harden was an iso player.

Euro ball or anywhere else ball is completely different than the NBA.

Also, @ TorontoChelsea,

Ill changed it to from best offensive player to best 1v1 offensive player than...

lol are you talking about media perception ???? lol

I have never talked about media perception, I am talking about real basketball play.

Isolation is a basketball play, it is the same everywhere. There is some kind of variation but in the end they are similar.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

What a game from my OKC

Struggled early then went to work, playing stifling defense the rest of the way creating 20 TOs and just real solid defense. And KD led the way again along with Ibaka and Lamb (who's really come into his own with that spot up 3pt shot. Has been vital in helping to create the space on the floor for KD to operate.) and also Fisher with his 5/5 from 3pt land all but sealed it.

LBJ did his thang but besides that first qtr Wade and Bosh were no where to be seen, along with the rest of the team. Great win, shows how great their defense is, even when everyone wants to focus on KD and his 30pt streak, their defense can be impossible to get by with all the length and youth they have. The trapping was excellent with active hands stripping the ball or forcing jump balls constantly.

---What do yall make of Portland right now? Seem to have fallen off that and have gone something like 10-7 past 17 games. Will always struggle with the lack of depth on the bench, even though i believe in CJ Collum's ability he's only a rookie and theres nobody they can count on when Damien and Lamarcus come off.

---Spurs are another team facing a big crisis. Just read they are 1-11 vs. Thunder, Heat, Blazers, Rockets, Pacers, and Clippers but 32-1 vs everybody else....

Still beleive with a healthy WB, it will be OKC vs Pacers in the final with Thunder winning in 6.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Take a bow KD, superb performance that really inspired his team.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Take a bow KD, superb performance that really inspired his team.

Pffft, it was only 33 points!

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

What a game from my OKC

Struggled early then went to work, playing stifling defense the rest of the way creating 20 TOs and just real solid defense. And KD led the way again along with Ibaka and Lamb (who's really come into his own with that spot up 3pt shot. Has been vital in helping to create the space on the floor for KD to operate.) and also Fisher with his 5/5 from 3pt land all but sealed it.

LBJ did his thang but besides that first qtr Wade and Bosh were no where to be seen, along with the rest of the team. Great win, shows how great their defense is, even when everyone wants to focus on KD and his 30pt streak, their defense can be impossible to get by with all the length and youth they have. The trapping was excellent with active hands stripping the ball or forcing jump balls constantly.

---What do yall make of Portland right now? Seem to have fallen off that and have gone something like 10-7 past 17 games. Will always struggle with the lack of depth on the bench, even though i believe in CJ Collum's ability he's only a rookie and theres nobody they can count on when Damien and Lamarcus come off.

---Spurs are another team facing a big crisis. Just read they are 1-11 vs. Thunder, Heat, Blazers, Rockets, Pacers, and Clippers but 32-1 vs everybody else....

Still beleive with a healthy WB, it will be OKC vs Pacers in the final with Thunder winning in 6.

Miami is still a great team but winning back to back means they are probably saving their good stuff for the playoffs. I see them beating the Pacers but it could go either way (nobody else in the East is any good). I have thought Spurs are almost done for about 5 years in a row so until it happens, I can't count them out. They play just such amazing team basketball. Portand has no depth as you say but I also think they need to get Lillard more involved in running the plays. He is a dynamic player and he does too much spot-up shooting right now. Can you imagine what a team they'd have if they took Durant instead of Oden? Of course, they took Sam Bowie ahead of Michael Jordon as well so they made 2 of the worst picks in NBA history.

The one thing that could stop OKC is Scott Brooks. He loves Derek Fisher and Kendrick Perkins way too much and plays them ahead of much better players. With a different coach, two years ago, OKC wins the finals. He played fisher 25-30 minutes every game and all the 4th quarters ahead of difference makers like Ibaka. In the 4th quarter in a NBA final, with so much talent, why the hell are you playing Fisher and Perkins? At this (and that) point in his career, they're both terrible players. This year, in PER (overall efficiency) Fisher and Perkins are 301st and 320th overall in the NBA. They're awful. When you have young talents like Jackson, Lamb, and Adams who are already much better as is and have amazing upside, why not play them? The question for me is can OKC get past Brooks' love of his crappy veterans.