So, si has this poll going about who had the greatest season in NBA history. In my opinion, if the final 2 aren't O averaging a triple double and Wilt averaging 50/25, then something's terribly wrong. My beef is... no Olajuwon season is included, yet a fat Shaq season is, as is a fat Barkley season. How do you put Barkley's 25/12 season and Shaq's 29 and 13 yet leave out Dream? He matched or surpassed Barkley's numbers twice, scored as much or more than that for 5 seasons and had as many or more rebounds during 8 seasons. Add steals and blocks and Dream had several seasons better than the Barkley one si considers one of the greatest of all time. Shaq's had several great seasons, but if he's a measure, why isn't Dream one of those on the list? Shaq blocked 3 or more shots per game for two seasons. Dream did it 9 times. Shaq's high in steals was 0.9. Dream doubled that a total of 10 seasons. Here's Shaq's stats for the year si picked: 29.7/13.6 0.5 steals, 3.0 blocks, 3.6 assists. Here's a Dream year (89-90): 24.3/14 2.1 steals, 4.6 blocks, 2.9 assists The years are comparable I think, and you could pick other Dream years. The point is that if Shaq is on this list, Dream should be as well. The fact that Chuck is on here when his year is flat out not comparable to several Dream seasons shows the ugly bias of si... a company which should rot in hell... whenever I'm at a barber shop, I "accidentally" drop an si issue and then "accidentally" step on it and twist my foot. And no, I'm not going to link to it. If you want to look at this abomination, do so on your own.
I couldn't find it, throw a link on here. I'm pretty sure it's a s#itty little list that won't include several people and probably put modern players (2000s) on there.
OK... against my better judgment... http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn....ect_picks/index.html?cat=NBA&week=4&eref=sisf What's really sad is Jordan is in 2nd place, 1 percentage point behind Wilt and a full 8% ahead of Oscar.
This list is f *cked up. But, they are included all around success from Regular Season to NBA Finals. Shaq and Barkley being on the list makes this thing a gigantic mess. 1. 90-91 wasn't MJ's best season, statistically. 86-87, he averaged over 37 ppg, while 88-89...he averaged 32.5 ppg, 8 rebs, and 8 assists with 53% FG and a defensive player of the year, honor. Next, his best Finals performances were in 93. Also, as far as playoff performances go, the 91 playoffs were one of his weaker outings. Sidenote, he averaged over 34 ppg, 7x in an entire playoff. (Everyone stop comparing him to Kobe). http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html/ 2. Wilt could've made the list, like 5x, if we were going by real pure indivdual statistics per season. He's had two season over averaging 40 ppg and 5 more over or near 35 ppg, every single one with averaging over 20 rebs. Then, later on he got unselfish on the court still averaged 24 ppg and 22 something odd rebs and 8 assists. 3. This list also didn't take account the defensive aspect of the players, since you can't really measure defense. In fact, I think if you include defense, Shaq of 99-00 and Barkley of 92-93 would not have made into top 15 or 20 list. 2. Shaq and Sir Charles having one of the best eight seasons ever for any player is a joke, too. Magic was probably the greatest point guard ever, but if we go into statistics...they are several pgs who actually trump some of his numbers. Players who probably should've been on the list or somewhere for an honorable mention. Nate "Tiny" Archibald (72-73): 34.0 ppg and 11.4 assists...those were the best season ever for a point guard, Magic never came close to that many points in a game. Rick Barry (66-67): 35.6 ppg and 9.2 rebounds, also in the top 3 for FT%. Also, his team got the NBA title that year. (67-68): 34.0 ppg and 9.0 rebounds on .551 FG% in the ABA...but still a great season. Moses Malone (81-82): 31.1 ppg and 14.7 rebs, 51% FG, 76% FT...and a defeat of the Lakers and an appearance in the NBA Finals. Hakeem Olajuwon (88-89): 24.3 ppg, 14.0 rebs, and 4.6 blks (93-94): 27.3 ppg, 11.9 rebs, and 3.7 blks (defensive player of the year and MVP) Also, Olajuwon's best playoff performances trumps Shaq's, especially from 85-89. I even think Olajuwon's NBA Finals performances in 86, 94, 95 were far more important than what Shaq did against inferior competition in 00-02. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html Kevin Johnson (88-89): 20.4 ppg, 12.2 ast, 50% , and an appearance in the Western Conference Finals, as a 2nd year player. (89-90): 22.5 ppg, 11.4 assists, and 49% FG, and another appearance in conference Finals. Also, this guy never got the same hype, like Chris Paul. Elgin Baylor (60-61): 34.8 ppg, 19.8 rebs, and 5 assists. (62-63): 34.0 ppg, 14.3 rebs, and 4.8 assist. John Havlicek (71-72): 27.5 ppg, 8.2 rebs, 7.2 assist (27.4 ppg, 8.4 rebs, 6.4 assists in the playoffs). Dennis Rodman (91-92): 9.8 ppg, 18.7 rebs, and probably should've won the defensive player of the year over David Robinson. Rodman, I think became the smallest player to lead the league in rebounds per game.
I understand the concern with the dis on Hakeem, but the winner is a no-brainer, Wilt averaged 50 & 25 for the season. The Big O averaging a triple double for the season would be my choice for second
Hakeem vs. Wilt argument. http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=nba&id=general&tid=3883809&lid=20/
I chose Jordan's 90-91 season as the best season. From start to finish, he was amazing. 61 wins, only 2 losses in the playoffs. For me, it was Jordan's 90-91 season and Bird's 85-86 season in the Finals.