by Dee4Three on Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:31 am
You use your mind, Air Gordon. You watch, and compare what you see from both players. You are doing verbal gymnastics, again.
If I watch a large portion of film on Hakeem Olajuwon, and Tim Duncan... I can see the differences between both players repertories/skill levels. Olajuwon had better footwork/more moves in the post/better body control, it's also clear watching the both of them that Olajuwon was a supreme shot blocker (Better timing), and just overall a more elite defender. Also by viewing, you can see that Olajuwon would be doubled more often than Duncan, because he was a more unstoppable offensive player.
If I watch a large portion of film on Michael Jordan and Lebron James, I can easily see that Michael Jordan has the confidence in his mid range and post games, and goes to it often, and I can see the defenders and how they defend him on the floor having to respect all aspects of his Mid range/driving/post game. On the flip side, I can see that LeBron does not have the confidence in his shot, and can't rely on it the same as Jordan. Teams even back off from LeBron and allow him to shoot those shots a good portion of the time, because he is not a consistent outside shooter. I can also see that LeBron rarely goes into the post, but when he does, he will pass it out more often than not, and that his repertoire down there is extremely limited (Outside of just turning the corner or an occasional baseline spin move). When both players drive to the hoop, LeBron does not have the same body control as Jordan, he can't contort his body the same ways, and he has trouble finishing layups with a lot of contact (If he gets knocked off his shot). When you watch Jordan, he can take off from anywhere within 10 feet, and make a move contorting his body in ways LeBron couldn't dream of physically doing. Defensively, Jordan appears to be a better on the ball defender, as he looks quicker laterally, and has better hands, he is also lower in his defensive stance. LeBron can guard PF's and even some C's in the NBA Today, and could possibly hold his ground better as a post defender in general, but visually I see him as a weaker defender on the perimeter to Jordan. For example, Hakeem Olajuwon worked with LeBron, and had his steady dose of Jordan, and he stated that it's not fair to compare the two, because Jordan is a far superior basketball player. What he said, is what I believe based on watching both players play.
If I watch Allan Houston and compare him to Reggie Miller, I can see that Allan Houston has a superior mid-range game to Miller as he gets up higher on his jump shot, relies on it far more, is a superior ball handler to Miller, and has a better high post game in general, he was also stronger than Miller and you could see him getting defenders on his side and the defender having to ride him to the hoop. You would also often see Allan Houston in the post in general, because he had a post fadeaway (which Miller never showed he had), and that Houston had other moves down low (Up and under, etc).
You can visually see those things. And yes, I think if the discussion is brought up "Who is better?" you can go to what you have seen visually seen and make your case. If I see a player go to a certain move/skill set, and that he succeeds in that often and throughout his career, and I see another player who rarely shows it or doesn't show it at all, the player who has shown it, shown that he can do it, shown that he can depend on it, is superior at it. What I want to know, is how is it that my reasons above, and my reasons for believing a player is superior to another, deserve criticism, or is somehow considered a shit argument, or even a bias one? I am literally going by my belief based on what I see from each player, and have not deviated from that viewpoint.
