It's a statistical oddity but that's it. My point about the Raptors is that Bosh being the man on a team that got upset by a six seed (and won two games in the process) and the next year took one game while getting stomped by Orlando is really no more impressive to me than what the Grizz did(/didn't do) against much better opponents in a tougher conference. You're choosing to remember Memphis as better than they were. In 03-04 they probably shouldn't have gotten beaten so badly but ultimately they were a team with Pau and a bunch of decent-to-good role players (the second-best guy was a toss up between Mike Miller, James Posey and Bonzi Wells) and they got spanked by the defending champs. The next two years they were a classic, unwatchable Mike Fratello team. The fact that they lost 4-0 instead of 4-1 each of those years doesn't mean much to me.
I admit Gasol should probably be somewhere 2nd or 1st but the gap is closer than a lot of you think. Bosh and Gasol are comparable, Gasol is a Euro of course he is going to be fundamentally sound and skilled Bosh was the more athletic one.... A more skilled one does not make him a better player overall
In hindsight, it's quite impressive that he won 50 with Mike Miller and Shane Battier as his best players. Anyway, i'm not sure it's relevant in this thread. 1. Would those other guys do better? I doubt it.. 2. The question is 'in their prime'. Pau's prime was in LA, not when he was a 24 year old trying to carry Memphis in the playoffs. 3. In the end, Pau has proven himself in plenty of big games over his career. A few game 7s for the Lakers where he was the best player on the floor, some great performances in FIBA vs. great competition. He may not be Larry Bird but overall he's been far from a choker.
I'd say right now Bosh, LMA and then Pau. Bosh is a player that is vastly underrated, the guy is a franchise player in his own regard and carried his Toronto team for years. Plus he is an ELITE midrange shooter and is very clutch in the playoffs. If he had gone down for any stretch of time last seaon Miami would have been toast. ( However he did have a sup par outing against Indiana so i can understand the criticism there) LMA is good but his teams have not done so well in the years. Portland last year had a solid starting five but still managed to miss the playoffs. However if you put Lamarcus on a team as a 2nd or 3rd option he would be a GREAT player. And Pau IMO is now washed up. He played with little fire last year and i still think he is that soft player that got abused by KG in the finals against boston. I never really liked his mental toughness.
Pau, Bosh, Aldrige. Neither of them should be your first option if you're looking to win a championship, but if you have to make one your first, make it Pau. He's more like option 1.5 than 2, really. Aldrige may pass Bosh, but as of now isn't as good IMO. Pau is the most complete out of all them and despite his reputation as "Ga-soft" is the closest out of all three to being a true big man in his prime.
He has better vertical (just my impression, i haven't seen Pau's measurements) and mobility. But prime Gasol is bigger, much longer, and still very athletic and mobile for his size.
Pau Gasol is probably the most underrated big man of the past era. I'd put him right under Duncan and KG. People will say Dirk is better and he is a better scorer but Pau has always been a far better rebounder, playmaker, and defender (of both 4's and 5's).
Trade ID Trade ID #6323941 Every trade made by fans is allocated a unique Trade ID which you can share with friends and fellow basketball fans to allow them to see your trade scenario. Try Another Trade or visit our Trade Forum. Houston Rockets Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: -15.2 ppg, -11.2 rpg, and -7.0 apg. Incoming Players LaMarcus Aldridge 28 year old , 6-11, 240 lb F-C from Texas 21.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.6 apg in 37.7 minutes Allen Crabbe 21 year old , 6-6, 197 lb SG from California No games yet played in 2012-2013 Jason Richardson 32 year old , 6-6, 225 lb G-F from Michigan State 10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg in 28.4 minutes James Anderson 24 year old , 6-6, 215 lb G from Oklahoma State 3.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.9 apg in 9.4 minutes Outgoing Players Omer Asik 27 year old , 7-0, 255 lb C from Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey) 10.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 0.9 apg in 30.0 minutes in 2012-2013 Jeremy Lin 24 year old , 6-3, 200 lb G from Harvard 13.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.0 apg in 32.2 minutes in 2012-2013 Terrence Jones 21 year old , 6-9, 252 lb F from Kentucky 5.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 apg in 14.5 minutes in 2012-2013 Donatas Motiejunas 22 year old , 7-0, 222 lb FC from Benetton Treviso (Italy) 5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.7 apg in 12.2 minutes in 2012-2013 Chandler Parsons 24 year old , 6-9, 227 lb F from Florida 15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg in 36.3 minutes in 2012-2013 * Portland Trail Blazers Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: +15.6 ppg, +19.9 rpg, and +3.2 apg. Incoming Players Omer Asik 27 year old , 7-0, 255 lb C from Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey) 10.1 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 0.9 apg in 30.0 minutes Chandler Parsons 24 year old , 6-9, 227 lb F from Florida 15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg in 36.3 minutes Thaddeus Young 25 year old , 6-8, 235 lb F from Georgia Tech 14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.6 apg in 34.6 minutes Spencer Hawes 25 year old , 7-1, 245 lb C-F from Washington 11.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.2 apg in 27.2 minutes Outgoing Players LaMarcus Aldridge 28 year old , 6-11, 240 lb F-C from Texas 21.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.6 apg in 37.7 minutes in 2012-2013 Wesley Matthews 26 year old , 6-5, 220 lb G-F from Marquette 14.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg in 34.8 minutes in 2012-2013 Allen Crabbe 21 year old , 6-6, 197 lb SG from California No games yet played in 2012-2013 * Philadelphia Sixers Trade Breakdown Change in Team Outlook: -0.5 ppg, -8.6 rpg, and +3.7 apg. Incoming Players Jeremy Lin 24 year old , 6-3, 200 lb G from Harvard 13.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.0 apg in 32.2 minutes Terrence Jones 21 year old , 6-9, 252 lb F from Kentucky 5.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 apg in 14.5 minutes Donatas Motiejunas 22 year old , 7-0, 222 lb FC from Benetton Treviso (Italy) 5.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.7 apg in 12.2 minutes Wesley Matthews 26 year old , 6-5, 220 lb G-F from Marquette 14.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg in 34.8 minutes Outgoing Players Thaddeus Young 25 year old , 6-8, 235 lb F from Georgia Tech 14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.6 apg in 34.6 minutes in 2012-2013 Spencer Hawes 25 year old , 7-1, 245 lb C-F from Washington 11.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.2 apg in 27.2 minutes in 2012-2013 Jason Richardson 32 year old , 6-6, 225 lb G-F from Michigan State 10.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg in 28.4 minutes in 2012-2013 James Anderson 24 year old , 6-6, 215 lb G from Oklahoma State 3.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.9 apg in 9.4 minutes in 2012-2013
LMA is a taller, bigger Ppat. Mediocre rebounder, below average efficiency at his position and a slow footed defender. I'd put him far below either Pau or Bosh.
He might be underrated but that sounds like a major reach. You are putting him above Dirk, Yao, Dwight, Amare, Jermaine, Big Ben. (I assume you consider Shaq and C-Webb previous generation players.) It's very generous.
He was the best player on both Lakers championship teams, but since Kobe was able to contested fadeaway himself to a higher PPG total he will never be considered as such. He is indeed underrated.
That's not totally fair. Gasol was a lot more mature when he played alongside Kobe, then Aldridge was when he played with Roy. Aldridge has become a better player since then. None of the three could carry a team in the playoffs by himself. Gasol is the best all around guy among them. Bosh and Aldridge are two of the best scoring big men in the game. I'd take LaMarcus over Bosh on a very slight edge mostly because he's more consistent.
Just shows you how much sh** NBA players take from fans and media. We forget how good Pau and Bosh are on the court. But prefer instead to make fun of their appearances and call them overrated, toss a bunch of flack at them about other stuff. (Though its fun and keeps everyone engaged :grin Dirk and Pau head to head 2011 playoffs Pau: 12.5 PTS 9.3 RBS, 4.0 AST, .422 FG% Dirk: 25.3 PTS 9.3 RBS, 2.5 AST, .574 FG%, .727 3PT% Dirk took a dump all over the defending champion Pau, Odom, Metta frontcourt. (Or maybe thats when Pau went "Gasoft") Head to heads arent everything, though they do form the narrative. Didnt leave much doubt who the better player was
