OT, but it needs to be posted.... Ric Bucher actually defending his top 7 NBA player list where he claims Russell Westbrook is top 7, Kevin Durant is not.

His logic: Westbrook does more, Durant just scores. Meanwhile, Kobe is #1 and he refers to Lebron as a very good 'glue guy'

I think he's literally insane.

Here's his original top 7-
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7455158

This really just baffles me.

4 months ago tafkasam 45 comments 0 recs |

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The only point I agree with is his point on Memphis denying Durant the ball

And similarly, Charles Barkley spoke on it last night on TNT. He used Dirk comparison, once Dirk developed some post game, teams couldn’t use wings on him, like the Warriors did in 2007.

Once Durant is able to use some post-game, you don’t need to worry about teams like Memphis with Battier/Tony Allen denying him the pass.

At that point he’ll officially be unguardable, as opposed to now, where he’s only 99.7% unguardable.

It’s probably only a matter of time before KD develops some sort of post game like Kobe, utilizing turn arounds, fade aways and hooks anyway.

by tafkasam on Jan 17, 2012 12:42 PM PST reply actions

Opinions, they can be pretty dumb sometimes

by KillaE415 on Jan 17, 2012 1:34 PM PST reply actions

is curry playing tonight

by ekpeudoh20 on Jan 17, 2012 2:44 PM PST reply actions

doesn't sound likely at this point

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 17, 2012 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

yeah, where the heck is the Cavs thread?!

"I am very worried about the Warriors"
-brutusbrutus

by Duby Dub Dubs on Jan 17, 2012 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

This is what you get when writers are portrayed as analysts….

by Missing Barry on Jan 17, 2012 3:00 PM PST reply actions 3 recs

This guy is effin insane. Biased idiot reality warper.

This guy has no idea what the hel l he is talking about.

Westbrook is Tyreke Evans, he must be above Durant as well. Effin idiot. This makes me so mad.

by MonstaEllis on Jan 17, 2012 7:50 PM PST reply actions

I suspect he’s coming from the angle that there’s more to the game from scoring – which is a good first step. The problem is, he clearly doesn’t have a strong grasp of what else there is to the game and how important those things are (as well as evaluating how much of an impact a players scoring has). Durant’s scoring is legitimately elite. He rebounds. His length causes problems on defense. Westbrook turns it over a lot, is often out of control, and still has too many possessions that involve him taking the ball out of Durant’s hands. He does some other good things, as well, but his overall contributions just aren’t anywhere close to Durant.

by Missing Barry on Jan 17, 2012 9:02 PM PST up reply actions

Ric's a cool guy.

He’s skilled writer too. However, he is not an analyst. I do remember him telling me in person he thought Miami only had 1 year window to win the title (which was last year) and that they missed. I was pretty confused but he took time out of his day to have a 20 minute conversation about basketball, so I’m not complaining.

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Jan 17, 2012 8:37 PM PST reply actions

I do remember him telling me in person he thought Miami only had 1 year window to win the title (which was last year) and that they missed.

Yeah, there has got to be some, uh, creative reasoning behind that one.

by olympicmike on Jan 18, 2012 10:15 AM PST up reply actions

His idea was Lebron's knees are shot, that Bosh isn't very good, and Wade doesn't fit with either of them.

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Jan 18, 2012 4:18 PM PST up reply actions

Lebron’s knees are shot? Huh? Where is that coming from?

by Missing Barry on Jan 18, 2012 4:34 PM PST up reply actions

I didn't ask him.

I’m just telling you what he said.

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Jan 18, 2012 6:31 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah that just seems like a very strange thing to speculate on.

by Missing Barry on Jan 18, 2012 7:42 PM PST up reply actions

Bosh isn't very good?

I think Bosh has played very good when it’s been 1 of them + Bosh. It’s the combo dominating ball individually, he gets lost.

I actually thought, if they were smart they’d try to trade Lebron filler for Paul + DeAndre. But somehow I doubt LAC would do it.

They can have Curry, Lee and Monta for Lebron!. Since he’s stuck under contract for 5 years, we’d have adequate time to put the pieces around, hah

by tafkasam on Jan 18, 2012 4:36 PM PST up reply actions

In my opinion, Bosh has turned himself into a very good defensive player. Even in games where he isn’t doing much offensively, he’s still contributing. Plays fundamental D and really puts the efforts in these days. Not sure you could say that about RaptorBosh

by Missing Barry on Jan 18, 2012 4:56 PM PST up reply actions

I'm a fan of the Bosh

Really unfairly scrutinized guy.

I guess that’s expected

by tafkasam on Jan 18, 2012 10:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

this

http://nbawarriors.wordpress.com/

by Brownie13 on Jan 19, 2012 11:51 PM PST up reply actions

Too bad Miami doesn't have the fortitude to trade Lebron or Wade

I really think if they traded one of those guys for an all-star PG (because they could get Paul or Deron + fillers) they’d be unstoppable. At this point, they are near unstoppable but the same problem between Wade and Lebron exists where both want the ball, neither are outside shooters.

They’ll likely win some titles anyway (1-2 seem certain, maybe I’m wrong, maybe they’ll get it and win 4-6?)

But if you think about it….Paul + DeAndre for Lebron + fillers. Wade + fillers for Deron + Humphries. It’d hard to not see them becoming a better balanced team. Bosh would get more touches and better touches in a PnR. They’d have more outside shooters on the floor (battier or miller would slot at a starting wing + either pg can hit 3s).

Maybe they could get even more. Both Lebron and Wade are tied up for 5 more years! So teams fearing they’d ‘walk’ don’t have to worry. Could get a kings random.

by tafkasam on Jan 20, 2012 9:44 AM PST up reply actions

if miami had offered wade for dwight

is there any doubt that orlando would have accepted? or any doubt that dwight wouldn’t resign with miami? or any doubt that miami would have won the championship?

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 20, 2012 10:16 AM PST up reply actions

Probably

Though trading in division, in state…. you never know. It’d be like trading Curry to LAL or something for us. Just hard to swallow

by tafkasam on Jan 20, 2012 10:20 AM PST up reply actions

if you're going to lose dwight and going to be terrible, you dont really worry about trading within the division

you just concentrate on getting better again.

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 20, 2012 10:23 AM PST up reply actions

or any doubt that miami would have won the championship?

obviously there’d have still been some doubt

http://nbawarriors.wordpress.com/

by Brownie13 on Jan 20, 2012 4:22 PM PST up reply actions

with lebron dwight and bosh?

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 20, 2012 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

i mean of course theres some, but they're pretty clear favorites at that point

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 20, 2012 5:40 PM PST up reply actions

Too bad Miami doesn’t have the fortitude to trade ~~Lebron or~~ Wade

You do not trade Lebron James, unless you absolutely have to.

by Missing Barry on Jan 20, 2012 12:34 PM PST up reply actions

this pretty much

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 20, 2012 1:32 PM PST up reply actions

You wouldn't liken the odds of Paul, Wade, Battier, Bosh, Jordan to win it all?

Granted thats a scary backcourt injury risk wise.

by tafkasam on Jan 20, 2012 1:59 PM PST up reply actions

No, I would not trade Lebron for Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan. Wouldn’t even give it a thought.

by Missing Barry on Jan 20, 2012 2:50 PM PST up reply actions

would you do it for KD, harden, and serge?

"Anthony Davis is no different than Al Farouq Aminu." - J--Ridah

by bigkino217 on Jan 20, 2012 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

No. Probably KD and Dwight Howard, though.

by Missing Barry on Jan 20, 2012 3:34 PM PST up reply actions

that's honestly the lowest offer you'd accept for LeBron James?

http://nbawarriors.wordpress.com/

by Brownie13 on Jan 20, 2012 4:25 PM PST up reply actions

Eh, I’m sure I can think of something lower…but basically, there’s no plausible scenario out there that would make me trade Lebron.

by Missing Barry on Jan 20, 2012 5:43 PM PST up reply actions

Wade is more valuable when it matters most...

Personally, I don’t feel like they should trade either. This is the path they picked, which means they think it will work. If it doesn’t, it’s their own damn fault.

http://nbawarriors.wordpress.com/

by Brownie13 on Jan 20, 2012 4:23 PM PST up reply actions

I do remember him telling me in person he thought Miami only had 1 year window to win the title (which was last year) and that they missed. I was pretty confused

I think he meant before media scrutinizes them to death, which is a legitimate point.

Atleast thats only argument I can find to it. Unless, um he thinks Wade, Lebron are declining at 27, 29?

by tafkasam on Jan 18, 2012 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

No.

He went into detail saying they should trade Bosh and that LeBron’s knees are going to be really bad soon and that they should build around Wade. He’s a really nice guy though. What national writer goes out of his way to talk basketball with 2 high school students for like 20-30 minutes?

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Jan 18, 2012 4:17 PM PST up reply actions

ooh

Interesting on Bosh and Lebron’s knees.

by tafkasam on Jan 18, 2012 4:34 PM PST up reply actions

What 7 players does he claim are better than Durant?

I can only think of three for sure: Lebron, Wade, DHo and maybe CP3, Rose, and Montay Ellis as long shots which would still leave Durant in the top 7?

Mirror on the wall
Here we are again.

by Skeptic con Urquell on Jan 17, 2012 9:46 PM PST reply actions

Monta as a long shot?

Monta is not even a Top-25 player. Durant is possibly top 3

Wanna feel real torture? Try being a Warrior fan.

by luvmydubz23 on Jan 17, 2012 10:16 PM PST up reply actions

Sarcasm.

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Jan 17, 2012 10:37 PM PST up reply actions

I WISH WISH WISHHHHHH OKC thought Monta was as good as you think he is

and we could trade him for KD straight up

by Throw up the Dub on Jan 17, 2012 10:36 PM PST up reply actions

Heck I'd trade Monta for Westbrook or Harden

by tafkasam on Jan 18, 2012 10:47 AM PST up reply actions

Or Ibaka.

Or Durant…

Gambino is a mastermind...

by GovernorStephCurry on Jan 18, 2012 4:18 PM PST up reply actions

He's purposely being a tool to draw more attention to himself.

Or perhaps he is that bad when it comes to judging/rating/evaluating

by srsrs on Jan 18, 2012 4:12 AM PST reply actions

Controversy – the internet gold mine.

If he listed the top 7 as Lebron, Kobe, Howard, Durant, Rose, CP3, and Wade then he wouldn’t be getting any attention. But throwing a curveball like this is obviously working since someone created a topic about it and we are discussing it right now.

by G-State on Jan 19, 2012 10:05 PM PST up reply actions