4 Spurs make Sporting News-NBA’s Top 50 players

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4 Spurs make Sporting News-NBA’s Top 50 players

Sporting News’ list of the 50 greatest players in the NBA today, as selected by a panel of 107 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, current players and coaches and other basketball experts.

about 2 years ago olf 9 comments 0 recs |

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Thanks, olf. And thanks for not pointing out that the Lakers have 5 on the list. ;)

I would love to see how each member of the panel voted. . . .

I have flying monkeys at my disposal, and I'm not afraid to use them.

by Lauri on Dec 3, 2009 12:07 PM CST reply actions

Bynum, Odom and Jefferson are all suspect to me. But, I can’t think of who I would put in their place.

The Spurs - now playing defense again!

by Tim C. on Dec 3, 2009 12:22 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah Bynum & Odom are crap. In fact, I suggest you guys don’t even bother guarding them. :)

The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."

by olf on Dec 3, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

In Bynum’s case, I was wondering why he was at the bottom of the list. But yeah, the only player the Spurs don’t guard is Roko Ukic.

The Spurs - now playing defense again!

by Tim C. on Dec 3, 2009 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, sorry I’m just so used to it – just a reflexive reaction on my part.

Plus, that got me thinking. . .when you play the Lakers you will generally face 2 of 3 Bynum, Gasol & Odom at the 4 & 5 as long as the game is in doubt. Here’s my expected defensive assignments:

On Duncan – Bynum as much as possible (excl foul trouble, etc.) and then Gasol
On McDyess – Gasol or Odom

How is it likely to work in reverse? Also, who is likely to be the first SA big off the bench? Bonner? Blair? They wouldn’t put RJ on Odom would they? Or better yet:

On Bynum – Who is 1st, Who is 2nd?
On Gasol – Who is 1st, Who is 2nd?
On Odom – Who is 1st, Who is 2nd?

Also, it is OK to say “I don’t know” because if you ask me who will guard Tony Parker, that is my answer.

The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."

by olf on Dec 3, 2009 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

fwiw, Here’s the count by team:

SN’s Top 50 breakdown – By team

5: Lakers
4: Celtics, Spurs
3: Hawks, Pistons, Rockets
2: Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Jazz, Magic, Mavericks, Nuggets, Raptors, 76ers, Suns
1: Bulls, Bucks, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Nets, Pacers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Wizards
0: Bobcats, Kings, Knicks, Timberwolves, Warriors

Funny to see the Pistons with 3 and the Cavs & Magic only have 2. (And I’m not saying that the list means much of anything.)

The Lakers "Too big, too strong, too long, too good."

by olf on Dec 3, 2009 12:34 PM CST up reply actions