I don't know. How were Gasol's stats contributing to wins in Memphis? How were Pierce's stats contributing to wins before they got KG/Allen?
Pierce led the celtics to the ECF before KG/Allen. Gasol was not considered a superstar in Memphis but a star and even then led his team to the playoffs consistently from 03-06
Actually KM's kings went to the playoffs during the 05-06 season. As far as contributing to wins, I don't know man, how do you think somebody who scores on 0.631% true shooting contribute to winning? It doesn't take much imagination, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually if you put your mind to it... The Nuggets have been a much better team than the Kings, why don't you compare Chauncey Billups, Nene, JR Smith and Kenyon Martin to Beno Udrih, Spencer Hawes and francisco garcia? Very few guys can carry their on their backs all by themselves, Melo obviously isn't one of those guys either. Otherwise, why would he be whining about going to NY when his Nuggets team is a lot better than 70% of the teams in the NBA?
ECF team had Antoine Walker plus a few other guys. It also doesn't explain the decade or so the Celtics spent as cellar dwellars. Pau Gasol not being considered a superstar in Memphis is further proof that people have a hard time judging individual talent in the NBA. Obviously making the Memphis Grizzlies respectable was a herculean effort, considering how he only had guys like Battier and Damon Stoudamire to rely on and his team still did way better than the Grizz now, who have Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol et al.
Martin in not a 'superstar' until he proves it in the playoffs. He's only been there maybe twice his whole career. So far he's not the kind of player to strap the team on his back and carry them.
I said "led" his team to the playoffs. KM came off the bench when the kings made it to the playoffs. and why do people bring up billups, jr smith, etc while forgetting melo took his team to the playoffs as a rookie with Andre Miller, Voshon Lenard, and Ruben Patterson before those players? Melo is leaving because imo he wants to play with a legit star next to him. This day and age you need at least 2 superstars to contend for a championship. Just like what lebron did and just like what chris paul wants. what decade did the celtics have in the dwellar? Peirce rookie season was in 1998-99 and they made it to the playoffs in 2001-02. where is the decade? and Pau was considered a star for TAKING that bum team to the playoffs but not considered a Superstar for not winning a game n the playoffs but the fact that he lead the grzzlies to the playoffs only gt hm wide recognition.
edit* didnt mean to but ruben but he was on the 05-06 plus Martin shouldv'e AT LEAST led the 07 kings to the playoffs with Bibby, Artest, Abdur-Rahim, John Salmons, and Brad Miller imo
Pierce led the Celtics to the 5th pick in the NBA draft once Walker became chubby 3 point shooter. The very next year with KG/Allen he got the championship. Gasol led the Grizz to the lottery and doing nothing. The very next he played with Kobe and got a championship. What's the reason for such improved success? You pick: They suddenly went from being losers to superstars by putting their robes and wizard hats. I pick: They suddenly have much better teammates
This is what it is for most posters here. They're waiting for the bozos on ESPN to declare him a superstar before they'll accept anything. And so far, I haven't ever had anyone produce an objective, rational, measurable definition of what a "superstar" is that can be applied to anyone in the league, regardless of their team stats, history, and crazy subjective measures like "he doesn't carry his team". Like Kobe is carrying his team these days. Back when Kobe had to carry his team and was scoring 80 points, the team sucked ****. They've been winning championships since he stopped carrying his team every night. If our team sucked so bad that Martin had to play 40 minutes a night- he'd be leading the league in scoring and carrying our team. Thank God we don't suck that bad, and how can you hold that against him as an individual player? To me, this is superstar worthy: 1) 10th and going up in the league in scoring (in spite of playing less minutes than anyone above or below him in the list. The next person in the scoring leaders who is playing fewer minutes than him is number forty-freakin-one!!). All the guys above him, and the guys immediately below him are people that are considered "superstars". 2) Second in the league in scoring per minute played. 3) For his career, ranks with the legends of history in true shooting percentage. And the insane thing is, his scoring is going up this season, but it's not at the cost of efficiency. His TSP is also above his career average! Think about what that means.
Carmelo is a perennial loser, very few players have lost in the playoffs as much as Carmelo has. When you step back and really look at it, they've had one of the top frontcourts in all of basketball for a long time and that makes it all the more sad. Martin > Carmelo all day long. Martin's never had any talent to work with, so please stop talking.
I think what he's trying to say is "He's similiar to Reggie Miller, but he has no heart and no clutchness."
keep making excuses. martin had Bibby, Artest, Abdur-Rahim, John Salmons, and Brad Miller. thats enough talent to make it to the playoffs.
