Phx-Suns.Net

SF, SF/SG & SG

Michael Jordan
LeBron James
Larry Bird
Elgin Baylor
Kobe Bryant
Julius Erving
Kevin Durant
Rick Barry
Scottie Pippen
Kawhi Leonard
Dwyane Wade
James Harden
Allen Iversen

Question about Moses, how was he defensively? Could he play in today’s game? And by that I mean would he be as effective. Could he move his feet on the perimeter? Feels like he’s a guy that we don’t see anymore…I’m picturing someone like Steven Adams but a better version?

Moses was skinny when he turned pro in 1975 as a teenager, but he was quick and relentless. He eventually put on some weight to accommodate the style of play in the NBA and he was just a terror around the basket. He was all-defensive one year (1982-83), but the game was different. I don't see him going out on the floor and guarding shooters, but when he was younger, he probably had the quickness to get it done.

Under the basket he was a fucking beast though.

The Bobster wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 16, 2022 12:22 pm

Top PG & PG/SG

Magic Johnson
Oscar Robertson
Jerry West
Chris Paul
Steph Curry
John Stockton
Steve Nash
Jason Kidd
Isiah Thomas
Walt Frazier
Gary Payton
Bob Cousy

(I see James Harden and Allen Iversen as SGs)

I'm putting Stockton ahead of Nash because he had a much longer peak, was a much better defensive player and never missed any games ("availability is the best ability").

For the first half of his career, Nate Archibald was quicksilver on the court.
An Achilles injury slowed him considerably, but he learned to be good support player with early 80s Boston teams.

Archibald was great for about three or four years, and it's hard to know where to rate a player like him, Bill Walton, Maurice Stokes, Grant Hill, Andrew Tony, Bob Rule, Ralph Sampson, Clark Kellogg, Brandon Roy, etc.

Re: Walton .... Kevin McHale once joked that Bill's HOF acceptance speech was longer than his actual career.

PF & PF/C

Tim Duncan
Charles Barkley
Karl Malone
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowitzki
Bob Pettit
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dolph Schayes
Elvin Hayes

C

Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shaquille O'Neal
Moses Malone
Hakeem Olajuwon
David Robinson
George Mikan (including NBL)
Artis Gilmore (including ABA)
Dave Cowens
Patrick Ewing

Was Moses a pretty good athlete? I guess he’d probably have stayed thinner in today’s game. The size and bulk would have been more important in the 70’s/80’s

Why is Russell a tier below Wilt tho…

Split T wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 16, 2022 12:15 pm

Also thanks to whoever made a new thread, sorry I threw this in an around the league one haha

You’re welcome. You and the topic deserved it.

The Bobster wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 16, 2022 2:20 pm

PF & PF/C

Tim Duncan
Charles Barkley
Karl Malone
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowitzki
Bob Pettit
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Dolph Schayes
Elvin Hayes

C

Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Shaquille O'Neal
Moses Malone
Hakeem Olajuwon
David Robinson
George Mikan (including NBL)
Artis Gilmore (including ABA)
Dave Cowens
Patrick Ewing

Honorable mentions:
Willis Reed: The heart of the great early 70s Knicks team. Bad knees cut his career short.
Wes Unseld: 6-7, 250 block of a center with a great outlet pass, solid defender and rebounder.
Zelmo Beaty: Undersized (6-8) center with a great midrange game, played in NBA and ABA.
Bill Bridges: Great rebounder and defender with Hawks, among others.
Gus Johnson: High-flying rebounder and dunker. Broke numerous rims. Playground legend in Ohio. Came to NBA late (age 25)
Bailey Howell: Great player with subpar Detroit and Baltimore teams. Finally got his due with Boston.

Split T wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:25 pm

Question about Moses, how was he defensively? Could he play in today’s game? And by that I mean would he be as effective. Could he move his feet on the perimeter? Feels like he’s a guy that we don’t see anymore…I’m picturing someone like Steven Adams but a better version?

Imagine Ben Wallace, three inches taller, with better offensive footwork around the basket.

LazarusLong wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 16, 2022 7:10 pm

Split T wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:25 pm

Question about Moses, how was he defensively? Could he play in today’s game? And by that I mean would he be as effective. Could he move his feet on the perimeter? Feels like he’s a guy that we don’t see anymore…I’m picturing someone like Steven Adams but a better version?

Imagine Ben Wallace, three inches taller, with better offensive footwork around the basket.

Moses was the most relentless star player I've ever seen. Nobody could keep him off the boards.