All 2000's Decade Team

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

Are these requirements even valid if they bar Tony Parker and Carmelo from the conversation?

That's a good point. You could definitely make a case for Parker or Carmelo over some of the guys on Jay's list. That being said though, I think his list is spot on. Mine is identical to his. Thinking about this brings me couple of random thoughts-

1- Shaq at his peak eats Duncan for breakfast. Seriously, I don't think they're even close. I think only argument for Duncan being a better player is that he has greater longevity, and better work ethic.

2- Damn, I really, really, really miss Iverson. He was one of the players that reignited my passion for the NBA after I stopped caring in the mid-late 90's. I know how polarizing he is, and I know all the clichés people throw out to knock him- selfish, ballhog, thug, volume shooter, never won a championship etc... I won't deny that some of that reputation is fair, but I always thought it was WAY overblown. And it doesn't change the fact that he was just flat-out incredible. Hate him all you want, but he deserved every career accolade he got and every bit of his status as an icon.

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

2- Damn, I really, really, really miss Iverson. He was one of the players that reignited my passion for the NBA after I stopped caring in the mid-late 90's. I know how polarizing he is, and I know all the clichés people throw out to knock him- selfish, ballhog, thug, volume shooter, never won a championship etc... I won't deny that some of that reputation is fair, but I always thought it was WAY overblown. And it doesn't change the fact that he was just flat-out incredible. Hate him all you want, but he deserved every career accolade he got and every bit of his status as an icon.

I remember trying to figure out how to do his crossover with my brother. Felt bad for him that one year he made it to the Finals but lost to LA.

[jay3189]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

That's a good point. You could definitely make a case for Parker or Carmelo over some of the guys on Jay's list. That being said though, I think his list is spot on. Mine is identical to his. Thinking about this brings me couple of random thoughts-

1- Shaq at his peak eats Duncan for breakfast. Seriously, I don't think they're even close. I think only argument for Duncan being a better player is that he has greater longevity, and better work ethic.

2- Damn, I really, really, really miss Iverson. He was one of the players that reignited my passion for the NBA after I stopped caring in the mid-late 90's. I know how polarizing he is, and I know all the clichés people throw out to knock him- selfish, ballhog, thug, volume shooter, never won a championship etc... I won't deny that some of that reputation is fair, but I always thought it was WAY overblown. And it doesn't change the fact that he was just flat-out incredible. Hate him all you want, but he deserved every career accolade he got and every bit of his status as an icon.

Tony Parker and Carmelo Anthony played damn good in the 2000's era. But I will love to know who you would take off my list to put Parker and Melo on it, all the 12 players I listed had overall better careers and more All Star appearances than those 2. And based on my requirements, Melo would not be eligible, since he only made 3 All Stars in 2006-2007,2007-2008, and 2009-2010 seasons.

[jay3189]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

That's a good point. You could definitely make a case for Parker or Carmelo over some of the guys on Jay's list. That being said though, I think his list is spot on. Mine is identical to his. Thinking about this brings me couple of random thoughts-

1- Shaq at his peak eats Duncan for breakfast. Seriously, I don't think they're even close. I think only argument for Duncan being a better player is that he has greater longevity, and better work ethic.

2- Damn, I really, really, really miss Iverson. He was one of the players that reignited my passion for the NBA after I stopped caring in the mid-late 90's. I know how polarizing he is, and I know all the clichés people throw out to knock him- selfish, ballhog, thug, volume shooter, never won a championship etc... I won't deny that some of that reputation is fair, but I always thought it was WAY overblown. And it doesn't change the fact that he was just flat-out incredible. Hate him all you want, but he deserved every career accolade he got and every bit of his status as an icon.

I would not say "Shaq in his prime would eat Duncan for breakfast", are you forgetting Tim Duncan was killing the NBA with 2 MVPs while Shaq was in his prime. Tim Duncan became a monster in the NBA in 1999, since then, the rest is history, 2 league MVPs, 6 Western Conference Titles, 5 NBA Championships, 3 finals MVPs, need I say more? LMAO

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by jay3189

I would not say "Shaq in his prime would eat Duncan for breakfast", are you forgetting Tim Duncan was killing the NBA with 2 MVPs while Shaq was in his prime. Tim Duncan became a monster in the NBA in 1999, since then, the rest is history, 2 league MVPs, 6 Western Conference Titles, 5 NBA Championships, 3 finals MVPs, need I say more? LMAO

And during that time, Shaq was better. You list all those titles and Conference championships- like I said, Duncan had much greater longevity- and better work ethic.

But yes, Shaq on his best day eats Duncan for breakfast. I should clarify that I don't mean this in any way as a knock on Duncan. That's just how g*ddamn amazing Shaq was for those few years. At his absolute peak, I think Shaq was one of the top 3 greatest players ever. I'll take Shaq in his prime over anybody except MJ and Kareem. Wilt, Magic, Larry, you name it. He just completely controlled the game and made his opponents sh*t themselves with fear. Duncan is an absolutely phenomenal player. Greatest PF ever. Definitely top 15 all time and arguably even top 10. But he never just completely owned the game or terrified his opponents the way Shaq did from '99-02.

When the Spurs dethroned the Lakers in 2003, Shaq had already started to decline, I think. He was always fighting nagging foot injuries and was never fully healthy. That goes back to work ethic because he had a terrible habit of routinely showing up to training camp overweight. During the offseason he was always off making awful movies or worse rap albums instead of training and conditioning. Plus those last two years in LA, the Lakers locker room atmosphere was just a complete circus and they never had their heads in the game- which once again goes back to work ethic.

[jay3189]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

And during that time, Shaq was better. You list all those titles and Conference championships- like I said, Duncan had much greater longevity- and better work ethic.

But yes, Shaq on his best day eats Duncan for breakfast. I should clarify that I don't mean this in any way as a knock on Duncan. That's just how g*ddamn amazing Shaq was for those few years. At his absolute peak, I think Shaq was one of the top 3 greatest players ever. I'll take Shaq in his prime over anybody except MJ and Kareem. Wilt, Magic, Larry, you name it. He just completely controlled the game and made his opponents sh*t themselves with fear. Duncan is an absolutely phenomenal player. Greatest PF ever. Definitely top 15 all time and arguably even top 10. But he never just completely owned the game or terrified his opponents the way Shaq did from '99-02.

When the Spurs dethroned the Lakers in 2003, Shaq had already started to decline, I think. He was always fighting nagging foot injuries and was never fully healthy. That goes back to work ethic because he had a terrible habit of routinely showing up to training camp overweight. During the offseason he was always off making awful movies or worse rap albums instead of training and conditioning. Plus those last two years in LA, the Lakers locker room atmosphere was just a complete circus and they never had their heads in the game- which once again goes back to work ethic.

Shaq was a beast. I think the league created the offensive 3 seconds in the paint rule because of Shaq killing people down low. I would not say Shaq declined in 2003. From 2004 to 2007 with the Heat, he was still the best center in the league. Miami would not win the championship in 2006 without him. I still want to know how the hell Shaq's debut album 'Shaq Diesel" went gold status in 2 months. WHO THE HELL WAS BUYING THAT ALBUM? The whole NBA? LMAO

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by jay3189

Shaq was a beast, they created the offensive 3 seconds in the paint rule because of shaq killing people down low. I would not say Shaq declined in 2003. From 2004 to 2007 with the Heat, he was still the best center in the league. Miami would not win the championship in 2006 without him.

He was not as good in 2003 as he was in 2002, because he wasn't healthy. He was always nursing the same foot injury. Even though he put up roughly the same numbers, I noticed that year that he was a just a little bit slower and less explosive than the year before (because he was little bit fatter.) After that year there was a pretty steep dropoff- again, because he was always carrying a little extra weight. And yes, he was still the best center in the league for several years after that, but he was not the unstoppable terrifying juggernaut that was putting up 30 and 14 very night.

[jay3189]

Originally Posted by Thespiralgoeson

He was not as good in 2003 as he was in 2002, because he wasn't healthy. He was always nursing the same foot injury. Even though he put up roughly the same numbers, I noticed that year that he was a just a little bit slower and less explosive than the year before (because he was little bit fatter.) After that year there was a pretty steep dropoff- again, because he was always carrying a little extra weight. And yes, he was still the best center in the league for several years after that, but he was not the unstoppable terrifying juggernaut that was putting up 30 and 14 very night.

The injuries were catching up to him. But guarding Shaq one on one from 2003-2007 was still a defensive job u wanted to avoid.

[Thespiralgoeson]

Originally Posted by jay3189

The injuries were catching up to him. But guarding Shaq one on one from 2003-2007 was still a defensive job u wanted to avoid.

No argument here. He was definitely still the best center in the league all the up until 06-07 when Dwight really broke out.

Although the sad thing is that probably says more about the terrible lack of talent at the center position in the modern era than it does about Shaq or Dwight.