WEEK 5 RESULTS

KYLE LOWRY (Phil) - 43%

 

 SERGE IBAKA (L-Dog) - 57%

LUOL DENG (Mary) - 55%

MONTA ELLIS (Richard) - 45%

CHRIS BOSH (Desmond) - 37%

KEVIN LOVE (Andy) - 63%

 

BLAKE GRIFFIN (Burakhan) - 33%

 

DERON WILLIAMS (Lawrence) - 67%

Thank you to all who voted!

WEEK 5, DEBATE 4: Blake Griffin vs. Deron Williams

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Blake Griffin or Deron Williams?

GRIFFIN'S REP:

"Blake Griffin is going to be the best player in this league if he doesn’t get injured. First of all, he was selected as a #1 overall draft pick, just like Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, and Allen Iverson. He is in the same class of ballers as those guys, but unfortunately he missed his rookie season. Once he came back, he showed us how to dunk perfectly. Griffin’s dunks are ferocious, and his play is tough and dominant. In the 2010-2011 season, he was an NBA Slam Dunk Champion, NBA All-Star, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie First Team, and Western Conference Rookie of the Month six times. As a rookie, he averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds. Obviously he had a fantastic season. I believe that we will see much more from him in the future.

I love to see Deron Williams play. I went to his games in Istanbul and he plays fabulously. Other than his arguing with Jerry Sloan, I agree that Williams is a really good player. However, my point is that he has already spent six years in the NBA; I think after six years Griffin will be the best player in this league."

WILLIAMS' REP:

"I am no modern day Nostradamus, so I can’t predict how good Griffin will be in six years. But I can tell you that right now Deron Williams is a great player. I mean, the dude suited up in Istanbul for only three months and they retired his jersey. That says a lot. Deron has been refining his game whilst playing the last month and a half in Istanbul and is more than ready to make an immediate impact in our 66 game season. Blake has just been sitting around, playing pick-up hoops, and 'working out, that’s about it.'

I have seen Blake and Deron play. And you know what? Deron has gotten injured but he has played through those injuries. This speaks volumes for his determination and how he deals with adverse situations. To me, that’s real toughness and dominance. On top of that he breaks ankles at will. Deron is already one of the best point guards in the league; a veteran of 6 years, yet only 26 years old. Yes, Blake just got into the league. And yes, he is a heck of an athlete who can dunk, but he has no outside shot. If I want the player who is going to help me out the most this season I’m taking Deron who controls and brings a lot more to the game.  He be moving his pieces correct on the chessboard, yo."

WEEK 5, DEBATE 3: Chris Bosh vs. Kevin Love

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Chris Bosh or Kevin Love?

BOSH'S REP:

"Kevin Love is a beast, no doubt about it. One of the best rebounders in the game, and the plus side is that he’s still young. Having said all that, if I had to choose between him and Chris Bosh for the 2011-2012  season, I would take Bosh is a heartbeat. The reason being is that Bosh is on a much better team. He is surrounded by two future Hall of Famers, and therefore doesn’t have to carry the load. Love on the other hand, has to do it all for his team. I can’t even name another member of the T-Wolves. So while Love may have put up the better stats in 2011, the fact that his team finished with the worst record in basketball is a testament on how much stock one should put into statistics."

LOVE'S REP:

"'Kevin McHale’s Last Great Trade'  During his tenure as Minnesota’s general manager, McHale made numerous trades with his first-round picks; notably in 2008 when he traded O.J. Mayo for Kevin Love. What looked to be another disastrous trade, Mayo would go on to be named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team while Kevin Love would end up on the Second Team. Fast forward three years later. Kevin Love: 2011 Most Improved Player of the Year with 20.2 ppg, 15.2 rpg, leading the NBA in rebounds for the season. Only three other players in 2011 averaged 20/10: Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and Zach Randolph. While Chris Bosh is known for his 15-18 foot jumper, Love can shoot the three with 42% accuracy (1.2-2.9 per game). Beginning 11/22/2010- 03/13/2011, 53 consecutive games with double-digit scoring and rebounding, which would have made another Minnesota legend, George Mikan, proud."

WEEK 5, DEBATE 2: Luol Deng vs. Monta Ellis

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Luol Deng or Monta Ellis?

DENG'S REP:

"Defense wins championships. And defense, more than anything else, is what makes Luol Deng the better choice over Monta Ellis for this upcoming season. Deng is an excellent defender; Ellis is not. Both of these men played nearly every minute of every game this past season: their stamina and durability is incredible! However, when Ellis plays defense, he is lazy and makes poor decisions. While he gets a lot of steals--which sounds good--he goes for too many of them and often misses, leaving his man open for an easy trip to the hoop! While one of the quickest players in basketball, on defense, he gets beat off the dribble by slower players. On the other hand, Deng uses his size, mobility, and effort to shut down some of the best players in the game, including LeBron James in last year’s Eastern Conference Championship Series."

ELLIS' REP:

"Luol Deng is a fantastic chess piece, no doubt. But even your praise for Deng is damning. All you’ve got for him is his defense, which admittedly, is pretty great, but it’s not enough to carry a team. We know Deng’s ceiling: he’s already played for a championship-caliber team and plays with an MVP winner. Ellis doesn’t. He’s not an elite defensive player (not even close), but he plays next to Stephen Curry, David Lee, and Dorell Wright. Bill Simmons could drop 40 on that group. Ellis is an unfortunate product of a poorly put together team that is unable to hide his defensive shortcomings. While Deng may be an excellent chess piece, Ellis is a scoring star. Surround him with a group that plays to his strengths and hides his weaknesses, and we’re looking at one of the most polarizing players in the league in a new light."

WEEK 5, DEBATE 1: Kyle Lowry vs. Serge Ibaka

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Kyle Lowry or Serge Ibaka?

LOWRY'S REP:

“Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry are perfect examples of players who are respectively over- and underrated because of the teams they play for. Lowry’s the starting PG for the Rockets; Ibaka the starting PF for the Thunder. The Rockets have zero games appearing on ESPN, TNT, and ABC this season; the Thunder have 14. As a result, most casual fans don’t know who Lowry is, which is a shame because he’s Houston’s best overall player. His defensive on-off differential last year was minus 7.79 pts/100 possessions. Know how amazing that is? It’s better defensive numbers than LeBron, Howard, Garnett, Rondo, Iguodala, Tony Allen… or pretty much any other top-tier defensive player in the NBA. Serge Ibaka – whom many perceive as a great defensive player – actually allowed more points when he was on the floor than when he came off! (plus 0.17 pts/100 possessions) Numbers don’t lie; perception does."

IBAKA'S REP:

“So essentially your argument is because the Rockets couldn’t make the Playoffs and therefore get no TV coverage, everyone on the team is undervalued and every successful team has a bunch of overrated players due to national exposure, and not because they win games? Nice one. I’ll give your Rockets some advice: win more games. Serge Ibaka is a raw talent and his huge strides in the last two seasons - and inevitable huge leap in year 3 - have me salivating over those national TV appearances. I can’t wait to see an increase in his monster 2.41 BPG, swallow the 13.5 Rebounds Per 48 minutes, and sweet shooting 0.543 TS% touch. Lowry is a good guard, sure, but I can find a replacement. I’m choosing Serge Ibaka."

WEEK 4 RESULTS

MARC GASOL (L-Dog) - 56%

 

  

RUDY GAY (Desmond) - 44%

ANDRE IGUODALA (Burakhan) - 49%

ANDREW BYNUM (Mary) - 51%

RAJON RONDO (MolapoKTM) - 57%

MANU GINOBILI (Will) - 43%

DWIGHT HOWARD (Phil) - 46%

 
LEBRON JAMES (Canaan) - 54%

   

Thank you to all who voted!

WEEK 4, DEBATE 4: Dwight Howard vs. LeBron James

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Dwight Howard or LeBron James?

HOWARD'S REP:

"After ESPN’s NBA Rank project was completed this year, the site allowed fans to rank their own Top 20 Players. As expected, LeBron James got the most #1 votes, then Kobe, Dirk, Durant, Wade, and Rose. Dwight Howard – who finished #2 in NBA Rank’s project – had the seventh most #1 votes, and it was by a wide margin (Rose had over twice as many #1 votes as Dwight). The point I’m making is that nobody thinks Howard is the seventh-best player in the NBA, yet he finished seventh in #1 votes. Why? Because for whatever reason it is extremely hard for big, dominating centers to be considered the absolute best player in the league.

Perhaps it’s prejudice against their size (“That guy is so huge, how could he not pull down 14 rebounds a night?!”). Perhaps it’s the fact that Howard’s impact is greater on the defensive end than the offensive end (quick: name the last player to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season? That’s right; it was Hakeem Olajuwon… 17 years ago!!!). Whatever the case, Howard is never considered for the NBA’s top spot, despite the fact that he’s by far the league’s most irreplaceable player (if you’re the Magic and Dwight demands a trade, who do you go after? What other player in the league even comes close to bringing what he brings?!). It’s time that people seriously start considering Dwight Howard the league’s #1 player, because he is."

JAMES' REP:

"If Pat Riley called Otis Smith and offered LeBron for Dwight 1000 times, Otis would say 'yes' without hesitation 1000 times. Howard is the most dominating defensive force in the NBA by leaps-and-bounds, and is an underrated offensive presence as well. He very well may be the most irreplaceable player in the NBA, if it weren't for LeBron. As evidence, look at what happened to the Cavs following LeBron's Decision. They went from back-to-back 60-win seasons to 19 wins and an NBA-record losing streak. He took a team that started Eric Snow and Sasha Pavlovic to the NBA Finals, and he has stuffed the stat sheet in ways not seen since Magic Johnson. For all of his douchebaggery off the court, LeBron is beloved by his teammates (Mo Williams nearly retired rather than not play with LeBron following The Decision).

You can (and should) talk about the bizarre ends to LeBron's last two Playoff runs, but let's not forget that for his career he has averaged 28.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 7.0 apg in the postseason, or that he single-handedly beat Detroit in 2007 with his 48-Special. On defense, LeBron's versatility makes him the most valuable defender in the league not named Dwight, and James's unique physical gifts make him a Bo Jackson-type, once-in-a-generation spectacle on the court. I personally hate LeBron, and yet there is no other player in the league I would take over him. I can't imagine higher praise."

WEEK 4, DEBATE 3: Rajon Rondo vs. Manu Ginobili

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Rajon Rondo or Manu Ginobili?

RONDO'S REP:

"When I think of Rondo the first word that comes to mind is wow. People use his scoring as a stick to beat him with, but what’s his job exactly? To create and manage the game. He plays this role to perfection. That’s why he’s been central to Boston’s revival that includes a Championship. Few players are on Rondo’s level. Here’s a guy who averaged an incredible 11.2 assists-per-game, 2.3 steals-per-game, 4.4 rebounds-per-game (Regular Season), and 14 points-per-game (Playoffs). Not bad for someone who can’t score. He was second behind only LeBron in triple-doubles. But you best judge a player by how his team does without him. Without Rondo the Celtics aren’t a contender. He gives them jaw-dropping energy and is the ultimate team player. Ginobili conversely is declining physically, is an average defensive player, and commits costly turnovers – 17 in five Playoff games in that crushing loss to Memphis."

GINOBILI'S REP:

"You say that Ginobli is declining, but I am more concerned about his statistics than his hairline, which say otherwise. Although he started as the second-to-last pick in the ‘99 draft, he has gradually improved to put up some of his best stats last year (second-best in points, assists, FT%, and 3PTs). Although there is no question that Rondo excels at racking up assists, that is easy to do when you have three scoring juggernauts on your team who crave the ball. Who else was going to pass to Garnett, Allen, and Pierce last year? This also helps Rondo cover up his major weakness: he cannot shoot the ball! Rondo’s strengths are passing and defense, which fortunately fill the holes left from the Celtics' scoring superstars. However, Rondo would be in real trouble on a team where would have to shoot like any other top-tier guard."

WEEK 4, DEBATE 2: Andre Iguodala vs. Andrew Bynum

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Andre Iguodala or Andrew Bynum?

IGUODALA'S REP:

"Andre Iguodala, aka 'freak of nature,' is a gifted player. He is naturally talented but hasn’t improved that talent yet. If he got good teammates, he would be a better player. Iguodala’s a swingman and everybody likes to see his awesome windmill dunks. When he plays more effectively on offense, he’ll be one of the best players in the NBA. He’s a tough defender, named to the 2nd All-Defensive Team in 2011. He also ranks 2nd in assists/game among non-point guards. He always carries the Sixers with his assists and rebounds. In 2010, Iguodala helped his teammates get the title at the FIBA World Championships. They played twelve games and got twelve victories. Thanks to Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum looks okay, but really he isn’t that good of a player. He made a rude faul on J.J. Barea in the Playoffs and was suspended for 5 games as a result."

BYNUM'S REP:

"OK, to be clear, I would not take Andrew Bynum over Andre Iguodala for the first 5 games of this season! All kidding aside, I was appalled at the foul Bynum committed against J.J. Barea in the 2011 Playoffs; likewise I was appalled when Jason Kidd assaulted his wife in 2001 and when Kobe Bryant had inappropriate sexual relations with a woman in Denver in 2003. Both of these players went forward from there to become better players and, more importantly, better men. I am hoping the same will happen with Andrew Bynum. For there is no question that his basketball talent is outstanding. The guy can block shots and rebound like a monster. Last year against Dwight Howard—the premier center in the NBA—Bynum had 18 rebounds! A couple of weeks later, he posted 23 rebounds against the Jazz! And don’t forget, he already has two Championship rings!"

WEEK 4, DEBATE 1: Marc Gasol vs. Rudy Gay

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Marc Gasol or Rudy Gay?

GASOL'S REP:

"I’d have loved to see the Grizzlies last year with Rudy Gay in the Playoff lineup and both are vital for this year. However, the better player and one I’d choose next season has to be Marc Gasol because of his unique center skills, unselfish play, and championship success. Gasol is an extraordinary passer amongst 'Bigs' (2nd in Assist Ratio amongst centers who played 30 MPG, behind All-Star Al Horford). He has a wide arsenal of inside moves from skyhooks to fadeaway chip shots and converts efficiently for his career at .545 FG%. He is a proven winner in high pressured, one-and-done international tournaments including a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championships as well as multiple Spanish league titles. At 7’1”, 265 lbs his value increases as a rare commodity in the NBA. Gasol is more valuable."

GAY'S REP:

"Gasol may have been a dominant player in the international game, but in my humble opinion, he’s serviceable at best in the NBA. His accomplishments across the pond have no bearing and have not translated into championships in the NBA. Gay, on the other hand, has the skill and potential to be a superstar in this league. You could argue that if he played in a larger market, he’d be in that second tier of players behind Kobe, LeBron, and the other top guys. Gasol has never averaged 15ppg in any season; Gay has averaged no less than 18ppg since his rookie year. Gasol has also underachieved as a rebounder. Standing more than 7 feet tall, he’s never averaged double figures in rebounds. Gay has gotten progressively better since coming into the league, and if I had to draft him or Gasol, I would take Gay without hesitation."

WEEK 3 RESULTS

BRANDON JENNINGS (MolapoKTM) - 29%

JAMES HARDEN (L-Dog) - 71%

LUOL DENG (Lawrence) - 49%

PAUL MILLSAP (Will) - 51%

AL JEFFERSON (Phil) - 77%

CARLOS BOOZER (Andy) - 23%

KOBE BRYANT (Mary) - 51%

 
CHRIS PAUL (Canaan) - 49%

   

Thank you to all who voted!

WEEK 3, DEBATE 4: Kobe Bryant vs. Chris Paul

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Kobe Bryant or Chris Paul?

BRYANT'S REP:

"Who would you rather have on your NBA team for this season, Chris Paul or Kobe Bryant? There is really only one answer if you know basketball: Kobe Bryant. There is no one playing this game today who is as complete a player, as smart or as focused as Kobe. And, at age 33, his numbers continue to prove his excellence and durability. For the past 6 seasons, Kobe has played at least 73 regular season games, including 82 last year! During this time, he has averaged 29ppg, 5apg, 5.5rpg and .363 3pt.%. Chris Paul, though only 26, has seen his numbers decrease since the 2007-2008 season after being plagued by ankle and knee injuries. As recently as May 2011, CBS Sports reported Paul as saying, “I’ve just got to keep getting my leg stronger so I can get that lift that I once had.”

Chris Paul is a great player and person; I hope he does get healthy and plays a long time. But for now, Kobe is the player who has been on the All-NBA Team 13 times, the All-Defensive Team 11 times and has 5 NBA Championships. For 9 consecutive seasons, Bryant has been selected by an NBA GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Me too!!!"

PAUL'S REP:

"Kobe is one of the ten best players in the NBA, and probably one of the ten best players ever. The drive that has made him so great, however, has now become his enemy. His knee is such a mess that he snuck off to Germany to get experimental treatment, and his Jordan-hero complex is counterproductive considering the talent around him. With Gasol, Odom, and Bynum able to contribute, the Lakers are better served running their efficient offense (111.0 points/100 possessions, 6th in the NBA) than watching Bryant “doing work.”

Chris Paul, on the other hand, runs an offense like few others can, making All-Stars out of solid guys like David West and serviceable options out of scrubs like Marco Bellinelli. While his knee has been bulky, the lockout-break should help Paul build on his dominant Playoff series against Kobe's Lakers (22.0 ppg, 11.5 apg, 6.7 rpg, 54.5% FG, postseason-high 28.9 PER). And before you bring up that CP3's performance was in a losing effort, remember that five of the top six players in LA's rotation would be the second-best player on the Hornets (Derek Fisher excluded). If Kobe and Paul traded places, the Lakers would still be a championship contender, while New Orleans would be a fringe playoff contender. Kobe is an amazing individual superstar with unmatched will who can still overcome his age to carry his team to a win; Paul is a superstar teammate who elevates others to levels they would never approach without him."

WEEK 3, DEBATE 3: Al Jefferson vs. Carlos Boozer

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Al Jefferson or Carlos Boozer?

JEFFERSON'S REP:

"Carlos Boozer blocked 18 shots last season. Kyle Korver blocked 20. In less minutes. No that’s not a typo; Kyle Korver - the Bulls’ spot-up shooter - had a higher blocked shot rate than Carlos Boozer did last year. In fact, Boozer was 29th of the 30 starting power forwards in blocked shot rate – at less than 0.01 blocked shots per minute! (0.3 per game) Al Jefferson, on the other hand, blocked 153 shots last year, more than all but four players in the entire NBA! (Bogut, Howard, McGee, and Ibaka) And we’re just getting started. Jefferson averages more points, more rebounds, commits less fouls and turnovers, and shoots a higher percentage from the free-throw line than Boozer does. He’s missed six total games in the last two seasons; Boozer missed 23 last year alone (the fourth time he’s failed to play 60 games in nine seasons). So… why is Boozer better?"

BOOZER'S REP:

“The decline of the Utah Jazz”: Al Jefferson’s first year as a Jazz was supposed to be about Playoff contention, but instead the team implodes. Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan quits on the team midway through the season. All-Star point guard Deron Williams gets traded to the New Jersey Nets, setting up the Jazz to rebuild their team. While my opponent talks about Mr. Jefferson’s ability to block and his superior stats, he’s not a team player or veteran presence in the locker room (intangibles not measured by numbers). Jefferson’s ability to post superior stats is due to the fact that he was a one-man team for the Wolves just like Garnett before his trade to the Boston Celtics. His stats are in decline from what they once were."

WEEK 3, DEBATE 2: Luol Deng vs. Paul Millsap

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Luol Deng or Paul Millsap?

DENG'S REP:

"According to Jordan, Luol’s impact on the floor is necessary for the Bulls' success. He averaged 39.1 mins/game, 4th highest in the NBA. Come Playoffs that was upped to 43 mins/game. Luol can lock down defensively some of the NBA’s greatest stars and has shown the ability to create his own shot, as well as step back and hit from the perimeter (career-high 115 3-pointers during 2010-11). Compared to Millsap (a one-dimensional low post player), Luol has demonstrated he can play the post, play the 2, and even play the point for one of the best teams in the NBA. Millsap had 29 double-doubles when starting half of the 08-09 games. As a full-time starter, he only posted 19 double-doubles. When Millsap plays against other team’s starters, he clearly is less effective. Millsap is an awesome bench player, but against the league’s elite his ability becomes 'sapped.'"

MILLSAP'S REP:

"Your problem is that you’re focusing on the quantity of Deng’s minutes, not the quality. Deng may play lots of minutes, but what does he do with that time? Not much. In PER (player efficiency) Millsap clocks in at 19.8 whereas Deng is 15.5 (average is 15). According to the PER guide, it’s the difference between a “Borderline All-Star” and a “3rd Banana.” If Millsap is one-dimensional, then Deng must be no-dimensional, because Millsap dominated Deng in virtually every major statistical category (per 36 minutes) this last season with 2.2 more points, 2.7 more rebounds, and nearly identical assists (which is pathetic since you claim Deng can play PG). Hell, even Millsap’s three-point % is better. Deng, whose only real strength is scoring, was still the third-leading scorer on the Bulls. And how many double-doubles did Deng get last season with all those minutes? Eight. Which is fewer than 19."

WEEK 3, DEBATE 1: Brandon Jennings vs. James Harden

        

VS.

Who would you rather have this season: Brandon Jennings or James Harden?

JENNINGS' REP:

"The future. That’s how I’ll describe Brandon Jennings. In a time when it’s hard to pin-point that classic all-compassing point-guard, it’s a credit to Jennings that he continues to shine in all facets of the game – namely a high scorer and a wonderfully efficient assister. And what’s more impressive is that Jennings is improving! Although Harden has come on well himself, it’s hard to compare him to someone who’s been a starter and has carried the burden of his team. Jennings is not only a fine manager of the game but an explosive weapon on offense as shown by his 55 points against Golden State in November 2009 – at just age 19. With his array of skills, clever link-play, shooting, speed and all-round athleticism Jennings offers more pound-for-pound to a team than Harden. Jennings is an elite talent – one that will continue to wow the NBA for some time."

HARDEN'S REP:

"If I have to make a choice between these two young talents for next season, James Harden is my clear choice. Harden is a durable player that is scary when driving the lane. An instant-offense machine, Harden was the only player other than Durant that could create any offensive opportunities during OKC’s great playoff run. At an efficient FG rate of 47.5% in the playoffs and an incredible 53.5% in the Western Conference Finals, everyone was wondering why Harden wasn’t starting. Every OKC fan is hoping he gets that chance this season. Only the opposite could be said about Brandon Jennings. His inability to make shots really hurts his team. Unlike a player like Rondo, who may shoot poorly but can still dish assists, Jennings doesn’t possess that capability. He owns a sub .400 FG% paired with an inferior 49% True Shooting percentage. I have to choose Harden over Jennings."

WEEK 2 RESULTS

JASON KIDD (Richard) - 61%

DANILO GALLINARI (Canaan) - 39%

 

NENE (Will) - 41%

ANDRE IGUODALA (MolapoKTM) - 59%

JOSH SMITH (Desmond) - 39%

TIM DUNCAN (L-Dog) - 61%

KEVIN DURANT (Andy) - 37%

DWYANE WADE (Burakhan) - 63%

 

 Thank you to all who voted!