[festar35Participant]

We know the likes of Wade, James, Granger and Anthony are number one offensive options i ask you what roll to you see the following guys play in an offense? DO NOT take what team they are playing for into account just think if they have the potential to be a number 1.

Westbrook, Rondo, Eric Gordon, Gay, Mayo, Lopez, Evans, Beasley and Thad Young. Feel free to add players.

[R-Dot-13Participant]

Rondo is too good of a passer to be a #1 option, but he can still be the best player on his team.
I dont believe Young will be a #1 option, but a very good #2
I think the rest can, and will be #1 options

[RickyRubio9Participant]

Westbrook – No
Rondo – Never
Gordon – Potential
Gay – No, mindset isn’t there, don’t think he’ll ever get it
Mayo – Potent.
Lopez – Possibly
Evans – Yes
Beasley – Nope, always a 2nd option
Thad – Heck no

[Champzilla21Participant]

I think gordan can be a #1 option hes a pure scoring machine, i see in two years he can be their

[MkadozaParticipant]

In my opinion, if you’re a true number 1 option, than you can get a shot off whenever you need it. Rondo can shoot, so please remove him from that list. (BTW if Rondo is the best player on your team, your a .500 club. He’s not Jason Kidd) Westbrook will be too inconsistent scoring wise to be a true #1. Gordon can definitely be a #1 option because he draws contact at will, great jumper, and attacks the basket with strength. Gay is the most proven #1 option on this list. He’s taken and made game winners, can score from anywhere of the court and draws contact at a rate much higher than people on the site seem to think. He has the best offensive repertoire of anyone on this list and is the hardest to guard. OJ Mayo could be with time, but I don’t know if his size will give him the post game to compliment his shot. Lopez, another maybe, but he doesnt have the aggressiveness in the post to be a premiere post scorer. If he improves his jumpshot than he’s got a great chance but shies away from contact when itd be best to draw contact in the paint. Evans could be, a shaky jumpshot and lack of explosiveness is all thats hindering him. His handling and smooth moves attacking the basket are the best of anyone on this list. Beasley has the best repertoire of skills to be a #1 scorer, as he has the talent to be unstoppable anywhere on the court. Whether his defense will warrant the PT necessary to be ‘the guy’ is the question. Thad is the rawest of the players on the list, so despite his great natural ability, he has a long way to go before being the go-to guy.

To clarify number one options (based on skill, not place in the offense) this is my list.

Lebron, Kobe, Carmelo, Wade, Bosh, Pierce, Carter, Roy, Durant, Nowitzki, Granger, Gasol, Johnson, Paul, Williams, Martin, Duncan, Parker, Arenas, Nash, Jefferson, Garnett, Allen, Howard. Thats 24 players with several on the same team (note championship contenders.) Players like Monta, Aldridge, Harris, Randolph, Boozer, Yao, Davis, Iguodala, Rose, Jennings, and Rudy Gay all have potential or question marks, but to me you have to be able to drop 30 without anyone being surprised.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Explain to me how Mayo will be a 1st option and Gay can’t. Please.

Westbrook- I don’t think so, he can get you 3rd option like points but he will never be the guy you go to at the end of games. He is a solid player all-around not a scorer

Rondo- Possibly, he is a very very good scorer right now and he has no J, If he can be a threat from the perimeter even a litlle bit I think its quite possible. But that is a big if as of now. Although I ike his improved mechanics he showcased today vs NY, It looks much better, check it out.

Eric Gordon- Maybe, Does he have the mentality of a go-to-scorer? No, as of now.

Gay- Yes Yes Yes, if you say no, you obviously don’t watch the games.

Mayo- I think he can be, He is a very good scorer. Still he has his limitations, and Id prefer someone else to create shots for themselves If it were my team.

Lopez- No I don’t think so

Evans- He has the potential but he too has his limitations, but I think the odds he can develop into a #1 option are not so high

Beasley- No

Thad Young- No

Derrick Rose-Yup.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Mkadoza=point.

Honestly, I doubt some of yall actually watch Grizz games, cause if you did, you would clearly see how talented Gay is on O.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Being a number one offensive option is more than just about skill set. A big part of it is mentality. A lot of guys with number one option type skill sets are best at being 2nd or 3rd options because of their mentality.

[Michael.S.Participant]

but Mkadoza I think you have to add Yao and McGrady on that list of yours. Ive never ever seen anyone who could even contain Yao, he is just too skilled alond with being 7-5, thats a nightmare to defend. Mcgrady is injured alot but he’s one of the most unstoppable players ive ever seen

[MagikKnickParticipant]

Westbrook – No, always a good 2nd though

Rondo – Nope

Eric Gordon – Absolutely..maybe not NOW, but he’ll develop into one

Gay – Has the potential, but I like him as a 2nd option, personally

Mayo – Yeah…highest potential on this list to be a 1st option, imo

Lopez – Can’t see it….but hes capable

Evans – Yeah, and i think he will

Beasley – I think so, you may not agree because right now hes in D-Wades shadow

Thad Young – Uh Uh

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

McGrady has a number one option type of skill set, but he’s never led his team past the first round as a number one option. I don’t think that’s all his fault, but in a lot of those games he was passive when the team needed him to take over, especially in the 4th quarter. On a great/championship team, McGrady would be best as a 2nd option.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Yay ! Thanks Tezo, I needed a good laugh.

[Champzilla21Participant]

I dont know how u dont think gordan doesnt have the mind set, he’ll shoot when he wants too drives to the basket at will and if he sees a 2-1 situation on a fastbreak he will go hard to the hole everytime, as far as skill he can get his shot off at any time because his tange is ridculous he’s as fast as anyplayer on the court and is usually alot biger and stornger then ppl guarding him, and also lets him finish when he gets into the lane

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I love T-Mac. I’m just speaking the truth though. Isn’t a number one option supposed to take over in big games when it matters?

He has the 1st option skill set, but I don’t know about his mentality. He’s a 1st option on majority of teams in the league, but on a great/championship squad… I think he’d be best as a 2nd option. I may be wrong, but that’s just me.

[Michael.S.Participant]

FYI I was just kidding, but I obviously disagree.

[Champzilla21Participant]

No i am haha thats why im so biased and how can u say t macs not a number one option when he hell did the 2nd option ever lead the league in scoring at like 32 pts a game, and didnt he like score like 14 pts in like 32 seconds or something and hit the game winner to beet the spurs?

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’m the biggest EJ supporter on this site lol… He has the mentality, but he needs to take over more, especially in the 4th quarters. He tends to play his role sometimes behind veteran guys when he should take over because he’s better than them. I think he will eventually, but he needs to do it now and just establish that he’s the man.

He’s always been this way too. I remember when he was a freshman at North Central High School in Indianapolis. AJ Ratliff (Mr. Basketball 2004 and Indiana All-Star… IU) and Anthony Passley (Indiana All-Star… Tennesse) were seniors. During regionals versus Lawrence North (Greg Oden and Mike Conley), EJ was clearly the best player on the team, but didn’t step up and take over. They ended up losing. He only averaged 13.5 points his freshman year when he could’ve averaged 20 from day one. I asked him once why he didn’t take over and he said because he just wanted to play his role with the seniors on the team though he thought he was the best player and could take over.

That’s still his mentality and he needs to change.

[MkadozaParticipant]

I agree with McGrady and Yao mikenike, but his injuries have me more than a little worried. I also question if McGrady can still be that guy, though in his prime, he was a top two scorer in the NBA. Players with his combination of length, quickness, athleticism and ball handling, especially ball handling are as rare as dominant big men. I don’t know if we’ll ever see a 6’8 player with perimeter skills that good again. And Tezo, I cant blame Mcgrady’s playoff short coming on him. None of his teams would have sniffed the playoffs without him there.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I love T-Mac lol. He used to be my favorite player. He definitely had the 1st option type skill set. He led the league in scoring, etc. I know. I just don’t think a team with him as the 1st options would ever get far in the playoffs or win a title. He gets passive in majority of the 4th quarters in big games. At least in my opinion. I’m not blaming the playoff losses on him alone, but I just feel like he could’ve been more aggressive in a lot of those games, especially in the 4th quarters.

[Michael.S.Participant]

Tezo, who’s your favorite player?

Also, Tracy McGrady, was very Clutch in the playoffs every year, Of the games I can recall, I remember a game winner against Dallas(game winners are in the fourth quarter right? lol) and a number of games where he took over vs Boston. Not to mention he has one of the highest scoring averages in the playoffs ever.

[JNixonParticipant]

Westbrook – No, he can’t shoot well enough.

Rondo – Nope, not a 1st option player. He can’t shoot well enough…but he can be the best player on a team though when you take all his skills into consideration

Eric Gordon – I definitely think he can…

Gay – He has the ability to be a 1st option, but if he is, his team will suck. He’s a 2nd option to me.

Mayo – Yea Mayo would be a good 1st option, especially later on in his career.

Lopez – He would make a PERFECT 2nd option

Evans – Yea he can, he’s got “it” offensively.

Beasley – No, he’s a tweener…as much as I love Beasley, I don’t see him as a 1st option NBA player

Thad Young – Hellllll nooo…..he’s a 4th option or at best 3rd. Look how he’s played this year when defenses pay attention to him.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I don’t really have a favorite player anymore. I’m a big fan of EJ. I support Oden and Granger. Other than that, I just am a fan of the game really.

You’re probably right about T-Mac though. I’m thinking back and his numbers were off the charts in the playoffs. His assists and rebounds were too. Maybe he just needed a better team or supporting cast.

[Michael.S.Participant]

I hope he doesn’t go to the Knicks though, thats like saying he has no chance to ever make it past the 1st round anyways. I hope that Houston keeps him.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

It’ll be interesting to see what Houston does with him. They have really good chemistry going right now with Ariza and Shane starting, and then Buddinger coming off the bench.

[JoeWolf1]

I randomly stumbled on this stat today and I think it applies to this conversation as Rondo as a #1 option. He is shooting .25% from the foul line this season. Just 4-16, for someone who cannot shoot well and relies on slashing to the basket for the majority of his shots he only gets to the line a little over 1 time per game and only hits a free throw about one time every 2.2 games. That doesn’t bode well for him to become a #3 option let a lone a #1. He does do a good job of running the break and spreading the ball around though.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Which is EXACTLY why during all of the Rondo hype, I said he wasn’t an elite point guard just yet. How can you trust a point guard with the ball in his hands, especially during crunch time, when he can shoot free-throws? I had a debate with Quincey Hodges about this.

Today vs the Knicks during the 4th quarter and a few seconds left. While the Knicks were at the free-throw line to tie the game, the guys doing the game were talking about who should get the ball for Boston. Frazier says, “Well it definitely better not be Rondo (because he can’t shoot free-throws)… They need to get him off the floor and get Allen back in.”

Not being able to shoot is a HUGE weakness in his game.

[quincey hodges]

i think mayo can
also thing gordan has the skill to but is way to unselfish, needs to get his mind back to when he first got to indiana and take over
i think rondo can but probably wont…most real good point guards are too into team game to concentrate on being a number one option
thad young-no
lopez-maybe but i see more of a 1b scoring option
beasley- yes but its very hard to see with having a great player like wade on his team

[B-ball fanParticipant]

He is a great player, but he is a passer not a big time scorer. There are not many pgs who are #1 options. Westbrook is not either, not even close. A number 1 option has to be a player you can run clear outs for, who can take the last shot, and can be a 20 ppg scorer on a good team (there are high scoring players on bad teams who shouldn’t be #1 options).
The thing about this question is that a bad team will still have a #1 option. You should just list someone who could be a #1 on a good team. I don’t think Gordon or Mayo is there yet, but they could be.

[quincey hodges]

you pretty have a very hard time winning a title with a pg who is the number one option because if hes the number one option then who is passing and making the other players better? because if hes a number one option and a pg hes gonna have the ball in his hands most of the time while looking for his shot first. of course there are exceptions

[Author]

Posts