Phx-Suns.Net

Split T wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:30 pm

6 MVP’s, but 4 won before the merger. Again it may not be fair, but it feels like the league was watered down. It feels like Julius Irving was probably the only one who could compete with Kareem as best player on the planet, at the time, and he was playing in a different league.

To me it’s this, if you split his career into 2:

Before Magic(10 years):
5 MVP’s, 1 Title, 1 FMVP, 6 1st Team All-NBA

With Magic(10 years):
1 MVP, 5 Titles, 1 FMVP, 4 1st Team All-NBA

Stats before Magic:
28.6 pts, 14.8 reb, 4.5 ast, 3.5 blk, 1.3 stl .583 TS .266 WS/48 8.3 BPM

Stats with Magic:
20.6 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.8 ast, 2.0 blk, .7 stl, .606 TS .182 WS/48
4.0 BPM

It’s just hard for me to not think he hugely benefited by being Scottie Pippen the last half of his career. If Magic never comes, Kareem might’ve finished with 1 title.

So to me, best years pre merger in a watered down league combined with winning almost all his titles as the 2nd best player on his team keeps him out of the top tier.

For the record, I do have him 3rd, but I think he’s closer to Magic/Bird than to Jordan/LeBron.

The Bobster wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 10:37 pm

The ABA started the 1975-76 season with 9 teams which is around 100 players.

That final season included 12 players who would go on to be NBA All-stars - Don Buse, Julius Erving, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Bobby Jones, Larry Kenon, Billy Knight, Maurice Lucas, Moses Malone, Dan Roundfield and David Thompson

Beginning in 1971 the ABA really closed the talent gap with the NBA when they started signing players like Erving, Gilmore and George McGinnis. The two leagues had planned to merge in 1970, but the NBA players blocked it with an antitrust suit. By the end the NBA just wanted to get their hands on players like Erving, Thompson and Gilmore. As it turned out the influx of talent really improved the quality of play. 10 of the 26 1977 All-Stars had played in the ABA and 10 of the 24 NBA All-Stars had.

Shabazz wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:07 pm

The East playoffs are going to be nuts. Not a lot of separation between the top 8 teams.

Indy wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:11 pm

Shabazz wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 3:07 pm

The East playoffs are going to be nuts. Not a lot of separation between the top 8 teams.

Yeah, more games separate us from the Warriors, than #1 to #7 in the East. First round seeding is going to be really fun.

Split T wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 4:22 pm

I think we’d beat both, but I’d rather not play the LA teams in round 1…here’s to the Clippers getting the 7 seed and the Wolves getting the 8 seed. Especially with CP3 maybe not being available or just coming back, let’s give him an easier 1st rd matchup…of course Minny has Pat Bev…Maybe like the Kings can sneak in haha

bajanguy008 wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 6:57 pm

RJ Barrett has 30 at HT against the Heat ?!?