My overzealousness got the best of me and I have no choice but to concede on Oscar. Zeke....I guess I can't argue that CP3's better because Thomas has the hardware. But Stockton? I grew up watching 90s basketball and I recognize/respect his greatness in the pantheon of Point Guards but Paul's ability to both run the show AND score if needed puts him ahead of Stockton in my eyes. Now then, I guess, comes the interesting argument of whether or not Paul is better than even prime Nash or prime Kidd....
As much as I hate anything Utah. It was Stockton who destroyed us and not Malone. Stockton could score anytime he wanted to. He just didn't because passing was what he thought his team needed. He had a career 51.5 percent field goal percentage and his 3 point percentage was over 40 for pretty much all of the 90's. His career assists record will not be broken anytime soon. He averaged more than 12 assists per season for 8 straight years, and this was before throwing the rock to 3 point shooters was a thing.
His assist record will never be broken. Neither will Hakeem's block record. Although I had to concede years ago on here that Kareem is the real blocks leader and Hakeem is #2 unfortunately. The Lakers can suck it though.
I'm not dismissing Stockton's ability to shoot or pass. I'm simply picking Paul over Stockton because of what Paul has shown he can do in the postseason throughout his career, in addition to his regular season numbers. You or anyone could argue that Utah didn't have to rely on Stockton to store 20+ a night because they had Malone, Hornacek, etc. but that could also be a counter argument for Paul that he didn't have a Hall of Fame -level teammate until he had Harden, which was already 13 years into his career. As for Stockton's assists numbers, that is definitely a credit to Stockton's durability in the 18+ years he played in the NBA.
Oscar is the character on the Office played by the actor that plays CP's State Farm Insurance Agent in the TV ads.
He also was the gate security guard in The Italian Job that foolishly allowed Cherlize Theron's character to go in and fix the cable.
Did that 17/18 squad have Devin Booker, Miles Bridges and several other high lotto picks? Will be interesting to who gets the blame if the do not make it out of the 2nd round.
Not much difference when Harden is the clear best player. And he didn't make it past the 2nd round last year if were going to be consistent with your standard. The fact is they've always needed each other and when they were paired, it was easily the best backcourt in the league 12-13: 1st round exit 13-14: 1st round exit 14-15: wcf 15-16: 1st round exit 16-17: 2nd round exit 12-13: 1st round exit 13-14: 2nd round exit 14-15: 2nd round exit 15-16: 1st round exit 16-17: 1st round exit
Now Phoniex is one of the NBA elites? Really? Why are you missing 2 other WCF's And never getting out of the 2nd round is not much different from a guy who has been to the WCf 3 times and 2 when he was the best player. How many times has Paul lost to a lower seeded team? How many times Has Harden lost when up 3-1 and 3-2? Yeah there is a lot of difference.
Because Harden wasn't the clear best player in okc. He's only been their once with Houston by himself. The other being with cp3 and we saw how amazing he was in that run. he was never the best player in okc. Harden led teams and cp3 led teams there isn't much difference in there playoff resumes when your standard is this 2nd round as you keep mentioning
that's great. the discussion isn't who's better. It's playoff resume when both are the clear best player on their respective teams. And again there isn't much difference
That's one more than Paul and he beat Paul to get there. There is a big difference but you don't want to acknowledge it. For some reason you keep ignoring the fact that Paul has never gotten out of the 2nd round with is own team and needed Harden to get there.
big whoop 1 more. that's such an amazing difference. And funny how that 1 trip took a fluke performance to get there with him sitting on the bench the entire time I don't need to ignore it. you use it as a slight towards him as if hes that bad of a player but apparently that same standard doesnt apply elsewhere you're making it a harden vs cp3 who's better discussion. That ain't it. It's playoff resume and your 2nd round standard when both are your clear best player. And no,1 wcf appearance isn't some monumental difference. The reality is it's been damn hard for both of these guys to get past the 2nd round with the teams they've had when they were alone.
So Harden putting up 30 plus points in game 7 was a fluke? And Paul not being able to close out game 6 when they up plus 15 is a fluke? How about blowing leads of 3-2 and 3-1 is that a fluke?
How did Harden get to game 7 in the first place. Oh yeah a fluke performance while he was sitting on the bench thinking they've lost
What did Yao Ming do? What did Anthony Davis do pre-Lakers? You may not be using the right barometer of player value.
Are we talking about Yao and Davis as all time greats or the greatest? To answer your question Yao had some terrible playoffs and should be criticized accordingly. as such. and Davis had been a huge disappointment until last year and still is overrated IMO. I don't know what those 2 guys have to do with this discussion.
