[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

An NBA star, a player people look up to, a player people copy their game to be more like them and be successful at any level they play at. Problem is, some stars are lazy and we don’t get to see their true potential. If these players hustled more on defense, didn’t give on a play more often, and gave it their all game after game, they would be MVP contenders, Defensive Player of the Year contenders, or at the very least, a lot more All-Star appearances.

1. Amar’e Stoudemire (PF/C)
One of the most physically and athletically gifted players in the NBA today. You can put him on the same list as LeBron and Dwight. We’ve all seen Amar’e actually try to rebound and he easily pulls down 11-13. When he actually tries, he can easily get 3 blocks. He and Dwight should be battling it out for Defensive Player of the Year, every year. His laziness is well known and this is the reason I don’t think he’ll succeed in any other system but a fast up-tempo system. You take away Nash, who’s going to chew his food and feed it to him in his mouth? He’s very lazy on defense and lazy on offense but his offense is covered by Nash’s brilliant passes and spotless pick and rolls. If he doesn’t have a good passer (i.e. Wade, James, Nash) on his team this next season, we will ALL see exactly how lazy he is.

2. Carmelo Anthony (SF)
He could easily pull down 8 rebounds a game. Not much definition in his arms but he is strong, quick, and has good lateral quickness. Maybe the best scorer in the league next to Kobe Bryant. His laziness on defense has been his ultimate downside. He’s still young and can improve this is he wants. Point is, he doesn’t want to. I see him getting at least 1.3bpg. His long arms, quick feet, and strong body could make him a shut down defender.

3. Lamar Odom (PG/SF/PF/C)
A guy who can easily play and defend any position. Came into the league averaging 16-7-4 and we all saw something rare. A 6’10” left handed physical stud with a 7’4″ wingspan. Unfortunately his 2nd season (17-7-5) was arguably his best season. I was high on Odom after his 2nd year and I thought he could be what we’ve been waiting for since Magic. I always thought he would easily be a 25-10-6-1.5-1.5 guy in his prime at that time. The amount of blocks he had in his first 2 years is more than the amount of blocks he’s gotten in the last 3 years. 91 steals his rookie year and he hasn’t reached 80 but once since then.

[mwardiaParticipant]

amare is my fav player, and seein him leave from phx does hurt inside lol, but i do think he can still be a great offensive talent even without nash. Amare has moves at the basket, and yes his d is horrible, doesnt really want to board either, im not sure bout melo though, i think hes motivated, he has improved his d as well, but def. great points on odom, guy couldve been a lot better player than he is today

[wd40rocksParticipant]

You forgot to mention how Carmelo WALKS back on defense 5-6 times every game.

Howard should also be in the mix, 6 years in the league and the only post move he has developed is an ugly/ineffective hook shot that he and Matt Howard seems to have mastered. Also most of his blocks come from him rotating, he is still kinda weak when guarding skilled big men in the low post, he bites on 90% of pump fakes, this all leads to him sitting on the bench with 3 fouls after playing 12 minutes.

[mwardiaParticipant]

i will admit i dont pay attention to a great enuff extent lol, but im sayin that carmelo has become a better man on man defender, but obvs. he still needs to improve… and dwight reallllly neeeds a few post moves

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

wd40rocks, you’re post made me laugh when I read “ugly/ineffective hook shot that he and Matt Howard seems to have mastered.”

Howard, 24, is skilled down low but sometimes you just don’t have the touch. I’ve seen him hit a little 7ft bank shot that I hope he unveils next year. He made a bet with a camera man, I don’t remember who, that he can make over 80 free throws out of 100 in practice.. Dwight made about 87 I believe. The guy just gets nervous.

[RickyRubio9Participant]

On Dwight..

Against Yao, he’s always seemed to struggle..

[llperez]

shaq. Dominated, but was too lazy to lose weight and would take games off all the time during the season. He has said countless times and in his own autobiography that he hated practice and he got into it with coaches all the time when they would push him in practice.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

That’s not fair. Yao is (was) the MOST skilled big man in the league. a 7’6″ who has an array of post moves but has touch up to 18ft? He even shoots the technical free throws for the Rockets. That’s like if I show you how Carmelo torched Artest in that game during the regular season and then saying Ron Artest is a bad defender. Melo is just a juggernaut on offense.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

Good post, I agree with Amare and Odom 200%!!

I think Odom couldve been a top 15 to 20 player in the league if he really wanted to be. Amare is one of the most overrated players in the NBA in my opinion. He really doesnt have a good offensive game. He scores on dunks set up by steve nash, wide open jump shots set up by steve nash, or free throws from fouls set up by steve nash. Defensively he is god aweful…I dont know about the 3 blocks per game, but he could be a better defensive player.

I agree with Howard as well. He might not be lazy, but hes not very smart. He goes for blocks that he isnt going to get sooo many times during a game and gives up rebounds because of it…I just dont understand, why he doesnt just box his man out and rebound.

I also think alot of people put to much stock into statistics on defense…just because a guy blocks shots or racks up steals doesnt neccassarily mean he is a good defender. Defense is alot more then blocks and steals, its about guarding the basketball. Both man to man and team defense.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Tracy McGrady-His eyes look like hes literally falling asleep right in front of you. Talk about no defense.

Vince Carter-Publicly admitted he wasnt playing hard in Toronto when he demanded a trade.

[sacphil_08Participant]

Dwight howard should be nowhere close to this list. Unfortunately you dont win defensive player of the year back to back seasons, AND become the first guy in NBA HISTORY to lead the league in rebounding and blocked shots in back to back seasons and be called lazy. His offensive game obviously isn’t yao’s or pau’s but hes improving and hes still young as well. As mentioned before, sometimes he doesnt have the touch and thats why you see the results you see sometimes. Lamar odom is easily one of the laziest guys in the league. He was a stud in miami and only every so often do you see him play that way now. He could be a great defensive player as well with his length and quickness, and to add to that he plays with no heart or fire. It was clear in the finals when the very undersized and just outmatched (skillwise) glen davis tore him up. Davis went at lamar odom and odom knew it was coming and did nothing to stop him and its because he has no heart, and its sad because the majority of guys in the NBA arent fierce competitors.

[mgreener_34Participant]

Rasheed Wallace. I know he’s not a star any more, but he could have been one of the best, hands down. 7 footer, with great range, and feel for the game, but he never wanted to bang down low even if he was unstoppable on the box. For a guy that big, and as that much length he should of grabbed alot more boards and blocks too.

[TRC1991Participant]

perhaps we will see demarcus cousins’ name on this list within the next year…i hope not, but he has the make-up to be a star at times but he can disappear at other times

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I think DeMarcus is a very good player and has a chance to be a franchise player but yeah his attitude, weight problems, and laziness may get in the way.

[joecheck88Participant]

rasheed wallace definately, amare is my favorite but his d sux but stop knocking his o without nash, he will be a stud scoring the ball for another 6 years, howard isnt lazy, odom yes, jr smith is nowhere near where he should be.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Amar’e can score without Nash, I’m not saying he can’t. But out of his 21ppg, 12 of them are usually from pick and rolls. Nash basically chews his food for him then feeds him. Can’t wait to see him on his own.

[tuck243Participant]

He’s been in the league for 7 years and haven’t even developed a mid-range or post up game???

I agree Amare is a lazy bum, BUT at least he added stuff to his offensive repertoire. LeBron???

Melo defensively he’s gotten better and he picked up 6.6 rebounds a game… And LeBron 7.3… Is that a huge difference??? 5-7 rebounds a game is NORMAL for a SF to get… Stop being astonished by the 7 or disappointed with 5… Its not a huge difference… Melo is NOT an athletic freak like some of the Stars in the league. His quickness is deceptive because it “LOOKS” fast, but not really is. Melo just has incredible footwork and know how to work angles. He has a deadly Pull-up game, so you have to respect his shot. If Melo didn’t have a jumper he wouldn’t even be in the league (well if Sheldon Williams still in ANYBODY has a chance). The boy isn’t that fast, so to say he’s top 3 “Lazy” superstar is ridiculous… Dirk don’t rebound (NEVER averaged a Double/Double), Steve Nash don’t play D, Chris Paul only get steals, Shaq is a horrible defender on pick n roll, Chris Bosh can’t guard a wooden fence, and Paul Perice looks disgusting on the court (extremely lazy)…

Lamar Odom is lazy EASILY could be top 5 PF to ever live. But doesn’t want it… Never improved his game, reminds me of someone………………………

[SDEParticipant]

That why i think Melo could easily be the best player in the league if he only work harder and cared more let’s be honest basketball for him is real easy he just go out and play. He only play hard against 4 people: K. Durant, Bron James, and Kobe and Artest

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

tuck, get off Carmelo’s jock.

What’s the difference between LeBron and Carmelo? Try 800 rebounds. 260+blocks. Try, 350+ steals. And don’t get me started on assists… You can double Melo’s assists and LeBron still has over 800 more.

[sc0rebuckets11Participant]

would i say Lebron is “lazy”. Dude is way too involved to be lazy. Anyone who plays Fantasy Basketball knows how ridiculous his #’s are. No one wants to play against him, in real life, or fantasy.

Melo aggravates me. I still remember one game where he had one board, with 30pts. I’d put him #1 over Amar’e, bc as elite as Melo is when it comes to buckets… he’ll settle on offense (which may be bc he never gets calls), and still end up with 25+ . It’s like he gets tired of attacking the basket, so he’ll pull up on anyone, with a hand in the face.

he’s like Ko8e w/o shaq, they can get any shot they want .. but they take these tough shots, like they are showing off..

[NarcParticipant]

I’m surprised no one has mentioned…Eddy Curry. Sure he has worked hard to lose his weight and I hear he’s even down to his original weight, but he doesn’t even try to use his size on defense. Curry has to be one of the most lackadaisical defenders I have ever seen. Plus he doesn’t even try to box out for rebounds, at one point averaging 4.6 pergame in Chicago.

[Author]

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