[LitteringAnd…Participant]

I hear a lot that the quality of stars in this league is not high at the moment, when compared to previous eras. A few bits of info from the ESPN rankings (let’s not get into those jokes) made me really think otherwise. I’d be interested to hear people’s opinions on the overall strength of the NBA at the moment.

1. KD is second only to Bird in scoring average amongst the 8 players posting 50-40-90.

2. Only CP3 and Stockton have averaged at least 15ppg, 9apg, 2spg for 6 different seasons.

3. Four players under 23 have averaged 25ppg, 5.5apg, 4.5rpg in a season – LBJ, Jordan, Oscar, Harden.

4. Curry only player in history to average at least 7 3pt attempts per game and shoot over 45% on them.

5. 3 players have averaged at least 17ppg, 12rpg, 2bpg in six different seasons – Hakeem, Kareem, Howard.

6. Kyrie, G. Hill, Oscar, Magic only players to average at least 18ppg, 5apg, 45 fg% through their first 2 seasons.

7. Love and Bird only players to put up 15ppg, 10rpg while averaging at least 35% from downtown.

8. Rose youngest MVP ever.

9. And that guy from Akron who is OK.

I think the talent in the league atm really stacks up pretty impressively against the history books.

[XYRYXParticipant]

Good post man. I was kind of thinking the same lately. I see many teams who are developing a bit from year to year right now but still don’t climb the ladder since competition is so hard. The Warriors, Clippers, Nets or Knicks have very talented teams but are only 2nd tier for me for championship consideration.

This league seems to be stacked with talent especially at the point guard and wing positions and I really think we haven’t had so many good centers in the league for years. Hibbert, Gasol, Noah, Howard, Lopez, Pek, Chandler, Bogut heck even Javale is a good player.

[XYRYXParticipant]

Good post man. I was kind of thinking the same lately. I see many teams who are developing a bit from year to year right now but still don’t climb the ladder since competition is so hard. The Warriors, Clippers, Nets or Knicks have very talented teams but are only 2nd tier for me for championship consideration.

This league seems to be stacked with talent especially at the point guard and wing positions and I really think we haven’t had so many good centers in the league for years. Hibbert, Gasol, Noah, Howard, Lopez, Pek, Chandler, Bogut heck even Javale is a good player.

[ThunderHog35Participant]

Completely agree. The talent in the league is getting better and more young players are taking leaps towards being stars. The only position I wish was better was shooting guard. All the other positions have legit players in their top 5-8. SG has Kobe, Dwade, and Harden. Paul George too, if you slot him at the 2. Other than that it’s pretty bleak….

[XYRYXParticipant]

Totally agree here, the shooting guard position may be the weakest but I another change here too. Since we have seen a lot of small ball over the last couple of years with stretch 4s and forwards playing the 5 there are a lot of teams who play two small forwards at the same time. A small forward without an outside shot is a no go today so I think the 2 and 3 position differences or the line what deines a player as a shooting guard or a small forward is not really clear. Paul George, Kawhi, Jimmy Butler, Iggy or Tyreke are listed as forwards but can also play the 2 where they play against ‘undersized’ players like Eric Gordon or Marcus Thornton. I would say wings is a better definition and the latest creation of this NBA generation perimeter players not called point guards.

It’s not always an advantage to play the taler player against an undersized 2 guard. First of all you have to held your own defensively against a smaller and often quicker player. Then you have to be able to shoot over your defender at the perimeter which is a must have for a small forward.

In the long run guys like Oladipo will play positions from 1 to 3 and this is a wing in my definition. I know the Magic play him as a point guard and he seems he gets it done but this wouldn’t be the case without Aflalo on the team who is a really good defender and can also play the 2 and 3. Nelson is not really good anymore and Dipo will play many different positions in my opinion depending on the matchup.

For sure all this young guys are exciting as hell shooting from outside and attacking the basket.

[XYRYXParticipant]

Totally agree here, the shooting guard position may be the weakest but I another change here too. Since we have seen a lot of small ball over the last couple of years with stretch 4s and forwards playing the 5 there are a lot of teams who play two small forwards at the same time. A small forward without an outside shot is a no go today so I think the 2 and 3 position differences or the line what deines a player as a shooting guard or a small forward is not really clear. Paul George, Kawhi, Jimmy Butler, Iggy or Tyreke are listed as forwards but can also play the 2 where they play against ‘undersized’ players like Eric Gordon or Marcus Thornton. I would say wings is a better definition and the latest creation of this NBA generation perimeter players not called point guards.

It’s not always an advantage to play the taler player against an undersized 2 guard. First of all you have to held your own defensively against a smaller and often quicker player. Then you have to be able to shoot over your defender at the perimeter which is a must have for a small forward.

In the long run guys like Oladipo will play positions from 1 to 3 and this is a wing in my definition. I know the Magic play him as a point guard and he seems he gets it done but this wouldn’t be the case without Aflalo on the team who is a really good defender and can also play the 2 and 3. Nelson is not really good anymore and Dipo will play many different positions in my opinion depending on the matchup.

For sure all this young guys are exciting as hell shooting from outside and attacking the basket.

[ThunderHog35Participant]

Completely agree. The talent in the league is getting better and more young players are taking leaps towards being stars. The only position I wish was better was shooting guard. All the other positions have legit players in their top 5-8. SG has Kobe, Dwade, and Harden. Paul George too, if you slot him at the 2. Other than that it’s pretty bleak….

[Bird_YearsParticipant]

I agree with your general point but only thing I’m not a big fan of is cherry picking statistics. For example, your third point chooses 5.5apg and 4.5rpg, what would the list look like if these were more rounded numbers?

[Bird_YearsParticipant]

I agree with your general point but only thing I’m not a big fan of is cherry picking statistics. For example, your third point chooses 5.5apg and 4.5rpg, what would the list look like if these were more rounded numbers?

[jperk12Participant]

Not saying the league’s talent is equal, better, or worse; but if the talent is worse, wouldn’t that mean the top talent would be playing against worse talent than the guys whose stats you are comparing them too?

[jperk12Participant]

Not saying the league’s talent is equal, better, or worse; but if the talent is worse, wouldn’t that mean the top talent would be playing against worse talent than the guys whose stats you are comparing them too?

[JoeWolf1]

 Great stats, I personally think in the quality of the league is it’s best since the early-to-mid 90’s. There are players in their twilight still playing at a high level like Duncan, Dirk, Kobe, Pierce, and KG as well as the once younger, but now in their peak stars like Lebron, Howard, Melo and a nice infustion of young stars like KD, Westbrook, Rose, Steph Curry, Harden and others…plus I like that the best teams play tough D.

[JoeWolf1]

 Great stats, I personally think in the quality of the league is it’s best since the early-to-mid 90’s. There are players in their twilight still playing at a high level like Duncan, Dirk, Kobe, Pierce, and KG as well as the once younger, but now in their peak stars like Lebron, Howard, Melo and a nice infustion of young stars like KD, Westbrook, Rose, Steph Curry, Harden and others…plus I like that the best teams play tough D.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

I agree there are a lot of stars in the league at this moment. Where I think the league’s quality is down is the amount of doormats there are in the league. There are way too many terrible teams with no shot at competing, comprised of some watered down players.

[GrandmamaParticipant]

I agree there are a lot of stars in the league at this moment. Where I think the league’s quality is down is the amount of doormats there are in the league. There are way too many terrible teams with no shot at competing, comprised of some watered down players.

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

I would say the overall talent in the late 90s and early 00s was pretty watered down. It was Duncan and the Lakers and that was pretty much it. Right now though, like you said, a lot of stars at the end and prime of their careers and a lot of young guys too.

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

I would say the overall talent in the late 90s and early 00s was pretty watered down. It was Duncan and the Lakers and that was pretty much it. Right now though, like you said, a lot of stars at the end and prime of their careers and a lot of young guys too.

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