[valentine]

 Last year it was DRussell. His side-spin and other flashy passes were supposed to make him an awesome player. Defense was an afterthought, as was his total lack of athleticism. The flashy passing made up for all of that.

This year it’s Ben Simmons. His inability to play off the ball or shoot outside are trivial, because his passing is so flashy that it will be practically impossible for his teammates to miss their shots, and Simmons will obviously deserve the credit when his teammates score.

Seriously, when was the last flashy passer to carry his team to the Finals, or to clearly make his team much better?

Rondo made the Finals twice with the Celtics, but that was back when Paul Pierce was the defacto point guard much of the time.

Ricky Rubio? His Wolves have been losers for years and years, even with Love.

Kendall Marshall? Borderline NBA player at best.

My theory is that players develop flamboyant passing to conceal major flaws in their games, usually shooting. In DRussell’s case it was his total lack of athleticism.

A simple bounce pass on the break might lead to a layup, but an unnecessary behind the back pass will get you on Sportscenter.

And a one-handed side-spin pass will lift a non-athlete from being a potential future 2nd round pick up to the #2 pick in the draft.

Jason Kidd was a flashy passer, but he really toned it down as his jump shot improved and he became a complete player, eventually winning a title with Dallas.

It’s not like guarding these non-shooting flashy passers is hard. You just play off them, dare them to shoot, and live with low % pull up jumpers all day long.

Flashy passers tend to be the biggest divas too, like the wide receivers of basketball.

Rondo, Russell, and Simmons are too cool to grind it out on defense. That’s for the little people, even if it costs game after game after game.

You guys can keep your flashy passing, high turnover, non-shooting, non-defending divas. I’ll take five 3 and D guys who can make the simple pass and put the team first.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 You ever heard of magic Johnson or Larry bird?

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 You ever heard of magic Johnson or Larry bird?

[Andrew1984Participant]

 The fallacy in your argument is that it classifies two different concepts together before leaping to its next conclusion. You put "flashiness" into the same category as "vision/passing ability." 

I would agree that any flashiness with no substance to back it up will not lead to success, and I would even take it a step farther and say that today’s emphasis on looking cool and getting attention (Thank you, And-1 Mixtapes) causes young players not to understand the finer points of basketball, and is also rooted in a selfish, egotistical, showboat, hot-dog mentality that makes a mockery of sportsmanship and common courtesy (see Chocolate, White). 

But just because a player’s strength is passing does not mean that his game is all flashiness. A player can have an exceptional understanding of where his teammates are and how to get the ball to them without being someone who just wants to be on the highlight reel. 

D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons might turn some heads with a pass here and there, but if you watch their games in their entirety, they aren’t just trying to show off; they are trying to create opportunities for their teammates and they realize that great teams move the ball, find the open man, and generate high-percentage shots. 

 

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 T Rex doesn’t simply… "watch games in their entirety".  That’s asking way to much.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 T Rex doesn’t simply… "watch games in their entirety".  That’s asking way to much.

[Andrew1984Participant]

 The fallacy in your argument is that it classifies two different concepts together before leaping to its next conclusion. You put "flashiness" into the same category as "vision/passing ability." 

I would agree that any flashiness with no substance to back it up will not lead to success, and I would even take it a step farther and say that today’s emphasis on looking cool and getting attention (Thank you, And-1 Mixtapes) causes young players not to understand the finer points of basketball, and is also rooted in a selfish, egotistical, showboat, hot-dog mentality that makes a mockery of sportsmanship and common courtesy (see Chocolate, White). 

But just because a player’s strength is passing does not mean that his game is all flashiness. A player can have an exceptional understanding of where his teammates are and how to get the ball to them without being someone who just wants to be on the highlight reel. 

D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons might turn some heads with a pass here and there, but if you watch their games in their entirety, they aren’t just trying to show off; they are trying to create opportunities for their teammates and they realize that great teams move the ball, find the open man, and generate high-percentage shots. 

 

 

 

[EspressoParticipant]

 Pistol Pete.

Wade did a bunch of flashy passes too.

 

[EspressoParticipant]

 Pistol Pete.

Wade did a bunch of flashy passes too.

 

[Chariot Org]

 Pistol Pete never won anything. Interesting that he went to LSU like Simmons.

I’m a big Pistol Pete fan, but as a showman, not a winner.

Most fans would rather watch a showman than a winner, that’s why they like Simmons over Ingram.

And Russell over Porzingis.

 

 

 

 

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 People like Simmons over Ingram because he’s better… And I’m pretty sure no one likes Russel more than Porzingis buddy… What was he, the 4th highest selling jersey???

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 People like Simmons over Ingram because he’s better… And I’m pretty sure no one likes Russel more than Porzingis buddy… What was he, the 4th highest selling jersey???

[Chariot Org]

 Pistol Pete never won anything. Interesting that he went to LSU like Simmons.

I’m a big Pistol Pete fan, but as a showman, not a winner.

Most fans would rather watch a showman than a winner, that’s why they like Simmons over Ingram.

And Russell over Porzingis.

 

 

 

 

 

[TravelinTravParticipant]

Curry is the last good/great flashy passer player, then Nash, then Jason Kidd, Jason Williams, Magic (already mentioned. On and on, so what’s the arguement? 

entm

[TravelinTravParticipant]

Curry is the last good/great flashy passer player, then Nash, then Jason Kidd, Jason Williams, Magic (already mentioned. On and on, so what’s the arguement? 

entm

[Hype Machine]

Lol this is pretty bad t-rex. 

I think Ive formed my own analytics about your threads…you have a sweet spot regarding how baked you are when u post.

The right amount and you’re wittyness and analysis rises…even if it increases the antagonistic tone. But between the trash talk is high quality insight. This is prime t-rex…and any annoyingness is surpassed by entertainment value. 

Too little cheeba….you get hypped up and write 8 posts in a row..often on a tangent involving topics such as conspiracy theories

Too much mary jane…and your mind becomes lazy and this happens lol

Gotta get back to that sweet spot.

 

 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

Lol.  Man, if this is the case, T Rex needs to come to the West coast where he won’t have to smoke that weed that turns a grown man into the most annoying man on the internet.  Must be smoking that Boston bammer all the time.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

Lol.  Man, if this is the case, T Rex needs to come to the West coast where he won’t have to smoke that weed that turns a grown man into the most annoying man on the internet.  Must be smoking that Boston bammer all the time.

[Hype Machine]

Lol this is pretty bad t-rex. 

I think Ive formed my own analytics about your threads…you have a sweet spot regarding how baked you are when u post.

The right amount and you’re wittyness and analysis rises…even if it increases the antagonistic tone. But between the trash talk is high quality insight. This is prime t-rex…and any annoyingness is surpassed by entertainment value. 

Too little cheeba….you get hypped up and write 8 posts in a row..often on a tangent involving topics such as conspiracy theories

Too much mary jane…and your mind becomes lazy and this happens lol

Gotta get back to that sweet spot.

 

 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Last year it was DRussell. His side-spin and other flashy passes were supposed to make him an awesome player. Defense was an afterthought, as was his total lack of athleticism.

————————————————————-

Except that’s not even remotely true.

People who thought he was an awesome prospect/player despite his athleticism based that on his terrific college production. The guy averaged 19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG while shooting 45/41/76 as a true freshman for a top program in a major conference. That’s what raised his stock, not his "flashy" passes.

 

 

 

[ItsVictorOladipoParticipant]

Last year it was DRussell. His side-spin and other flashy passes were supposed to make him an awesome player. Defense was an afterthought, as was his total lack of athleticism.

————————————————————-

Except that’s not even remotely true.

People who thought he was an awesome prospect/player despite his athleticism based that on his terrific college production. The guy averaged 19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.0 APG while shooting 45/41/76 as a true freshman for a top program in a major conference. That’s what raised his stock, not his "flashy" passes.

 

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 I am not seeing Sacramento Jason Williams when Simmons plays, it looks like Simmons is just doing the safe, fundamental passes.

When he is driving and getting past defenders at his height, it looks "flashy", but there hasn’t been a lot of Globetrotter stuff from Simmons.

If he is doing this highlight passing, it solidifies his spot as the top pick because then he would be the Next Magic Johnson.

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 I am not seeing Sacramento Jason Williams when Simmons plays, it looks like Simmons is just doing the safe, fundamental passes.

When he is driving and getting past defenders at his height, it looks "flashy", but there hasn’t been a lot of Globetrotter stuff from Simmons.

If he is doing this highlight passing, it solidifies his spot as the top pick because then he would be the Next Magic Johnson.

 

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

White Chocolate won a ring as the starting PG in Miami

Skip to my Lou was the starting point on an Orlando team that went to the finals

Magic won 5 rings (could’ve been more if his career wasn’t cut short)

LeBron has 2 (possibility for more)

Steph Curry…

 

I’m not sure I see where you’re going with this as far as Simmons. He just makes the right play and it’s usually a simple pass. He’s surely not the one making teammates miss the wide open shots he gets them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

White Chocolate won a ring as the starting PG in Miami

Skip to my Lou was the starting point on an Orlando team that went to the finals

Magic won 5 rings (could’ve been more if his career wasn’t cut short)

LeBron has 2 (possibility for more)

Steph Curry…

 

I’m not sure I see where you’re going with this as far as Simmons. He just makes the right play and it’s usually a simple pass. He’s surely not the one making teammates miss the wide open shots he gets them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Knicks44Participant]

Do you just try to get as many negs as possible? because every single post you write is just so bad and completely wrong……

[Knicks44Participant]

Do you just try to get as many negs as possible? because every single post you write is just so bad and completely wrong……

[Author]

Posts