Okay, talking about these guys on here might get me killed...but whatever, it's something that occurred to me. I don't have a great deal of respect for any aspect of Karl Malone's game. First I thought it may have been bias. But then I realized...both at the time and looking back, I respect Pippen's all-around game and his positives, even if I hate him. I respect Stockton's incredible passing, high percentage shooting, and ability to run a team. And sadly, I respect Dirk's individual offensive game and ability to score. Am I not remembering enough? Or is there a reason I have no respect for Malone's game even though he scored a bunch of points and all? He turned into a great outside shooter and was a strong finisher.. but somehow, I don't feel like he was miles ahead of other guys in those aspects.
Probably because his game was pure vanilla. At least Duncan has a bag full of moves (that year when all he did was shoot bank shots was both cool and nerdy at the same time). Malone never really had a great post up game and I still believe (and I know I'm not the only one), that he succeeded because of Stockton and vice versa. That pick and roll was great because it was executed well. Other than that, his game never left you saying "Damn, did he just do that?"
exactly...I mean in terms of offensive MOVES...is there that much difference between Juwan and Malone? It sounds ridiculous to say it like that..
One of the cheapest players in terms of how he flopped and elbowed and jump-kicked folks in the nuts. But he was physically overpowering and could run the floor. Even if it wasn't pretty he got it done. Definitely not a refined post-up player.
The thing is none of those players had or have "it". The intangible that leads to championships. Except Stockton. Malone was a hard worker but I feel Stockton made him into the star. It was up to Malone to carry the team from there but never really did. Dirk hasnt showed it yet either. All the grit comes from Stack, Howard, and Terry.
I hate to admit it because he's one of my favorite players, but that's how I feel about Garnett. I watched the implosion that was the Lakers v. Timberwolves this past weekend and Garnett is still the same player he was back then. He plays with a lot of heart and fire I'll give him that, but when you look down the court and you see Kobe Bryant (who clearly has "it") taking over the game like he did, you just wonder if KG will ever get "it".
On defense, he was very difficult to post up because of his strength, and he's way, way up on the all-time list for steals, as a big man! He was a great finisher (not spectacular to look at, but he didn't need to be because he was so strong), one of the better mid-range shooters in the game, and there were few big men who were better passers. And he was obviously a beast on the boards. It's not that he was "miles ahead" of anybody that made him a top player, it was the fact that he was at or near the top of every category important to the success of a power forward.
karl had moves. He had that one where he would take a jump shot. and that other where he would kick the defender in the nut sack while taking a jump shot.
You only hate Karl Malone because he was on the Jazz teams we played against every year in the playoffs. Truth be told his game was rock solid and injury free until that fatefull knee injury when the player landed on him. He improved every aspect of his game throughout his career, he was known for his off season work ethic and will probably go down as the all time greatest power forward to ever play in the NBA. Karl Malone = G.O.A.T.
I don't like him much either, but I do recognize his greatness as a player. Most people would probably rank him as the top PF of all time. The ONLY PF today that I can see challenging Malone for that title is Duncan, but no one else IMO has a chance in hell to be compared favorably against Malone. I think the one player that should try to model his game after Malone is Stoudamire. He is strong and athletic, but he needs to work on his rebounding and develop a consistent, reliable jumper. If nothing else, he has Nash with him like Malone had Stockton.
that doesn't make me like karl malone more, that makes me like the astros less. and duncan has easily passed malone on the all-time PF list. his numbers are just as good on offense and he has been much more valuable on defense. and then there's the little matter of having 3 championships. even though pretty much everything Drexlerfan22 was true, especially being hard to post up b/c of his strength (even on the lakers duncan and kg couldn't just back him down), that's not enough to catch up to duncan and his impact, even if duncan has certainly benefitted from a great organization putting very good talent around him his whole career.
Malone was just not that good. His greatness is not from reaching the highest peak, it was from gringing out such a long career and never missing games along the way. No one would take Malone at his peak as the best PF. Barkley, Duncan, Moses Malone (who i would say was more of a forward/center than just a center, and who's closest season comparisons are pretty much all forwards) were all better at their peak.
I've never understood this argument. Utah made it to the finals twice. Does losing to Jordan really mean you're incapable of winning a championship? Or does it just mean that Jordan, widely considered the best player ever, was simply better? If Utah had won, would that have meant Jordan just didn't have "it" anymore? What happens if two players on opposing teams have "it"? Same with Barkley in Phoenix, and Gary Payton in Seattle. It's not like they didn't have the ability to lead or whatever - they just ran into the best player in the game.
Lots of ignorant hatred going on in this thread. The Rockets started losing to Utah because they got old and stopped caring, along with Malone's dominance of Barkley. No reason to hate Malone/the Jazz for that.
Huh? No one's hating Utah because they beat us that year, the hatred happened because they play dirty and had some great series with us. However, for the first half of the 90's, Utah was our b*&ch, just like we were Seattle's b*&ch. But see we don't hate Seattle as much, because they don't play as dirty.
I beg to differ. I HATED the Sonics in the 90's. They always beat the Rockets and they were anchored by the all time prick-trio of Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, and George Karl.
