Well since I'm not thinking too highly of Yao right now I thought I'd throw something out. After reading someone mention how last year Yao and Lebron were pretty much "tied" (maybe even giving Yao a slight edge) and now seeing Lebron with a major lead it got me thinking. How would you rate the last 6 #1 picks? When I say rate I don't mean only by stats, but who you would want to build your team around? 1999 Elton Brand 2000 Kenyon Martin 2001 Kwame Brown (shouldn't even be included) 2002 Yao Ming 2003 Lebron James 2004 Dwight Howard I'd have to say: James Howard Yao Brand Martin Brown Obviously Lebron is the closest thing we've seen to Jordan in a while if you look at his all around game (I guess you could include Kobe) and seeing him shoot 50% just makes it even worse. I look at Howard and how young he is, see that he is approaching Yao very fast, and start to wonder. With all of his upside I think he'll pass Yao very soon unless someone can piss Yao off before each game. We all know what it's like to have a big man that can draw the double team, but if you can't put the right players around him then what's the point? When he gets the max contract it will put us in a bind because paying 2 players max money doesn't leave you with much to play around with. I just can't stand the fact that he's getting it largely because of the marketing and not his play. The rest of the list is pretty obvious. Brand is a great guy on any team, 20/10 on almost any night, and a good % shooter, but there's something about him that doesn't make him a player you want to build your whole team around. I'm gaining more respect for Martin seeing him start to do better without Kidd there to help him, but he's still got a ways to go before I build a team around him. Brown, well he's Brown. Before this year I never thought I'd say I'd take Howard over Yao, but seeing his play this year has really impressed me and I think he'll make big jumps from year to year unlike Yao taking his baby steps. So what order would you rate these guys in? Pugs
James Yao-Howard Brand Martin Brown i thinnk James is one of the best there is in the game now. And he is very young. Yao and Howard are even. I do not know how yao would play under a different coach, I think he is not agresive enough. howard has shown alot for his age. But Yao has also unbelievable skills. i love brand he is one of my favorite players. But i do not think he should be the main offensive option on a team. He is great imho. Martin is a ok player but nowere near the other 4(howard based on potential). Brown is a bust.
Yao Ming Lebron James Elton Brand Dwight Howard Kenyon Martin Kwame Brown I am still putting my money on Yao that his team is going win a championship before Lebron. I am also picking brand over howard, because brand plays so hard and is so solid. However, it does bug me that his team never seems to win... but i would give him the benefit of the doubt.. since the teams he has been on are the post-jordan bulls and the clippers. maybe it isn't him afterall.
I think you guys are pumping up Howard a little too much here. I think he'll turn out great, but who knows. There are so many factors. If you're just looking at stats, Elton Brand should probably be #2 on that list.
James (25, 7, 7, 2, 1 this year) Yao (18, 8, 1, 1.6) Brand (19, 8.5, 3, 2, 1) Howard (10, 10, 2, 1) Martin (14.5, 8, 3.5) Brown (7, 3) I'd be wary of getting too caught up in the Howard hype - and I say that as someone who's really impressed by him. It's far too easy to get overly whipped up over a guy in his first year. Especially a big man that hasn't shown if he can score yet (broken 20 points only once in his 22 game career). Don't forget, at this point, Wade was not even looked at by a lot of people, and a slew of people felt strongly that Melo was much better than James. This isn't to say that Howard won't become a true star. Just that we don't know yet. In addition, throughout the history of the NBA, no position has had a greater impact on team success than center. Having a dominant big man in the middle has only rarely not brought with it winning eras. And PF isn't as sure a thing in this regard as center. The value of Yao can not be understated, even if other players put up better numbers. His ups and downs are certainly frustrating, but don't get too down. If you're going to be patient with a player, Yao would be a good one to be patient with. Evan
Yao Lebron Brand Howard Martin Brown I give Yao the nod because he is always double/triple teamed and the others are not. Lebron is lucky wing players are harder to double.. Brand/Howard/Martin/Brown are not in the same category yet. J
Lebron Howard Yao Brand (stats or no, he just doesn't dominate games in any sort of way when i watch him. no one focuses their whole D on stopping him, he blocks shots but doesn't shut down the middle, and he rebounds without controlling the glass. he plays extremely hard and it's amazing he does what he does at his height and i really like him, but i just never think of him as anything other than a really good second best player on the team) KMart Kwame
FWIW, Martin is the only guy on this list who has been to the NBA Finals. Or won a playoff series for that matter. My list would go: James Yao Martin/Howard Brand Kwame I haven't seen enough of Howard, but honestly is he going to be much more than Elton Brand+a couple inches. Everything everyone has said about him hasn't really distinguished him from that yet. Brand gets the numbers, and is an all-star performer, but I think Martin is more of a weapon on offense, and is more of an impact player on defense.
My list: Lebron everyone else If you are a No. 1 overall pick and you don't turn out to be a superstar, you are a failure.
2003 Lebron James: right now it's not even close and it's only his 2nd yr in the league. 2002 Yao Ming: wish I could put him higher but he really hasn't been able to take that next step and his lack of speed is becoming an issue with weak side D. 1999 Elton Brand: solid numbers but hasn't ever made is team any better. 2000 Kenyon Martin: overrated to some extent, good player but is a product of Kidd 2004 Dwight Howard: all ready very good rebounder and has great size. Is putting up good numbers for being the 3rd and 4th option. 2001 Kwame Brown: right...
It depends on draft depth. The 2000 draft was so weak that its first round only yielded one all-star (I think) - Martin, who's probably made his last appearance. 2001 was weak as well, but even that turned out better players than Martin (Randolph, Gasol, Jefferson).
Do realize that been draft number 1 doesn't always mean the team with the first pick think that player is the best in that class, it only mean that team think the number 1 pick would fit best to the team or is what they needed the most.
No, that's the case when you don't draft No. 1 overall. When you draft No. 1 overall, your goal is to get a superstar, the best player available, regardless of position.
according to this definition, and your views on number 1s, almost all of the number 1s are busts. Why then, do you still expect #1s to turn out to be superstars?
