Well, yes but I'll get back to that. Let me further simplify my stance on a superstar. If you can't play average defense during ANY stretch in a game your are not a superstar. I haven't. Points and possessions are of equal importance at any point in a game, except for a completely un-winnable game. I would say clutch possessions are different, teams tighten up defensively and go to their most effective offensive weapons, but not more important. It becomes more important to have players who can perform in those clutch possessions but the points count the same. So, in a clutch situation it's common to see a superstar guard repeatedly attack the basket. A player like Dirk has no ability to slow this down and for that series he's almost reduced trading baskets and hoping not to foul out.
Durant is a career 36% 3pt shooter. And he's at 37% this year. That equals one of the best 3pt shooters in history? No doubt he can shoot the 3, but you maybe overstating it a little there.
There is a huge difference between Superstar and Allstar. Only LBJ, Kobe, DWade, and Duncan are Superstars in this league. A superstar is a hall of fame player. A superstar can carry a team to the NBA Finals. Superstars average 30ppg and still play defense. Matter of fact, check that. Duncan is no longer a Superstar, but he once was.
Now, I wonder why teams would choose to tighten up defensively and go to their most effective offensive weapons, if not for the fact that those possessions are more important. Suppose you were coaching and you were playing a team of robots that played with the same defensive intensity each possession. Would you rather have your best players on the floor when the score is tied on the first possession, or have them on the floor when the score is tied on the last possession? "Equal importance" implies it does not matter.
LOL...I wonder if Reggie is trying to legitimize one dimensional players like Carmelo to validate his own career.
I do not believe it would matter, as long as I was coaching players/robots that put forth equal effort throughout the course of a game. People place importance on things like the end of games (or the end of anything for that matter) because at that moment the impending fate becomes more real. That fate changes multiple times throughout the course of a game but players are taught to worry about the next quarter, the next 5 minutes, the next play etc. because short term goals help people focus. And, eventually the pressure mounts as you realize it will all be over soon. I never said people don't feel those possessions are more important. People are just wired to perform differently in these pressure situations, we aren't robots.
I would replace Carmelo with Paul......he has a horrible supporting cast and he still puts up crazy number.....remember d-will has a great supporting cast
I don't know why you are using the word "fate", as if the outcome of the game is preordained. If I actually believed that stuff, I would agree with you that all possessions matter the same. People "feel" pressure at the end of games for logical reasons. What they do on those possessions matter more. If I miss a shot at the beginning of the game with the score tied, that does not significantly alter my odds of winning the game. If I do the same at the end of the game with the score tied, it does. That is why (rational) coaches want their best offensive players on the floor on a final offensive possession.
No, Yao can't not put a team on his back and carry them.Also, fronting has been a major weakness of yao.
Not at all. Kobe has proven himself to be one of the top 2 or 3 players in the league for several years. Carmelo is the one I was referring to.
I'd have to say there are only two true superstars in this league. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. You could throw Dwyane in the there, but it'd be very tough...
Seems Reggie only votes for the guys that are incredible athletes and make us ooh and ahh with their high-flying routine. Anyway, I voted Tim Duncan because he does the same thing, year after year after year. 4 rings. If Pop had him playing more minutes, he'd easily be a 25 and 13 guy and the Spurs would definitely have more wins. If that's not superstar, I don't know what is.
