NBA 2021-22---- NBA LEGEND Bill Russell 1934-2022 RIP

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Didn't realize that Durant will be 34 next season. I obviously knew he wasn't a young pup, but 34 is really old by NBA standards. That said, I do think that advancements in modern medicine combined with recent rule changes will allow Durant to be a great offensive player for many years to come. If he can put together one or two more great playoff runs, then he may have an argument for top ten. Tough group to break into though.

[T-ski]

Khris Middleton has been ruled out the entire Boston series. Not ideal.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Getting into the top 10 is really hard, but that's hardly crazy.  He's probably top 15 right now, and his career isn't over.  Getting over that hump to knock out #10-12 or so is very difficult though.

Man, even I can name 10 players off the top of my head that are better than him. With a bit of thinking and Google, I could probably get to 20. I’d put him top 25 at best.

MJ
LeBron
Kareem
Bird
Magic
Duncan
Bryant
Shaq
Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
Robertson

That's 12 right there that I don't see how anyone can make a reasonable argument for being below Durant, so even if you think Durant is the best of the rest, which I do not, that puts him at 13.  Heck, I'd put Curry ahead of him.

They're close, and Curry is arguably also top 15 or so.  But in two finals series in a row KD outplayed Steph (and also went to-to-toe with LeBron, and in the '12 finals as well).  Curry is a better shooter and has a bit more gravity in spacing, but KD is a better scorer and defender. 

That's pretty close to the dozen there are the best arguments for being better.  Kobe and Robertson probably have the iffiest cases.  Anyone else you can name KD will have a pretty good argument for being the equal of, if not most likely a superior case for. 

[KevShmev]

They're close, and Curry is arguably also top 15 or so.  But in two finals series in a row KD outplayed Steph (and also went to-to-toe with LeBron, and in the '12 finals as well).  Curry is a better shooter and has a bit more gravity in spacing, but KD is a better scorer and defender. 

I think Curry crushes Durant when it comes in intangibles, and I think being a great leader is one of them.   Most players as great as Curry wouldn't have put their ego aside and let Durant take over in large doses in both finals, to where he was the MVP of both, but Curry had no problem with it.  I think that is a huge checkmark in Curry's favor.

Plus, Durant gets hurt too much.  He has missed significant time due to injury in five of his last eight seasons, which should be his prime years.  This isn't like LBJ getting hurt a lot in his later 30s.  To me, being consistently durable is a big part of being great.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

That's mostly fair.  There's an argument that true alpha dog top players would never defer and let someone else ever take over, but I think it's pretty contextual when to apply it. 

Curry also hasn't played 70 or more games since '16-'17, so you could quibble with his durability as well, but Durant certainly has missed even more. 

[jingle.boy]

MJ
LeBron
Kareem
Bird
Magic
Duncan
Bryant
Shaq
Hakeem
Russell
Wilt
Robertson

That's 12 right there that I don't see how anyone can make a reasonable argument for being below Durant, so even if you think Durant is the best of the rest, which I do not, that puts him at 13.  Heck, I'd put Curry ahead of him.

Add the Mailman to that list without question.

As for 'maybe/maybe not' in the better than Durant comparison, I'd also throw out:

West
Baylor
Dr. J
That 'other' Malone
The Admiral
DW

Shit, I could even be convinced with Parrish and/or McHale

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Garnett is an interesting case because no one thinks of him as a top-ten player, but if you look at any impact metrics (raw plus/minus all the way through advanced plus/minus) he's off the charts. Sadly, we will never know how great his career could have been because the Timberwolves were such trash.

[Azyiu]

Speaking of Minnesota, perhaps they should take back the name Lakers after all… for the way they keep blowing double digits leads. 

[Nekov]

Khris Middleton has been ruled out the entire Boston series. Not ideal.

And Embid is out indefinitely with an orbital fracture. It seems Miami and Boston have the better chances right now.

[T-ski]

The Bucks reminding everyone they are the defending champs.

[TAC]

The Bucks reminding everyone they are the defending champs.

Yeah, ugly game. I kind of expected the Celts to be a bit flat. Hopefully this wakes them the hell up.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

That's going to be a fascinating series.  No Middleton and they still prove that championship experience matters.  I know it's a regular season award, but it feels like every post-season we gradually realize we might have given the MVP to the wrong player.  In the past couple decades only LeBron, Steph, and Duncan have won the MVP and the finals in the same season (and only once apiece), and Steph didn't even win FMVP (though he should have). 

The overconfident Grizzlies are looking to be down in a hole.  No second half Draymond, no Iggy, Klay still cold, Grizz at home, and they still can't win.  Ouch. 

[Dublagent66]

I don't really follow basketball but it looks like the Suns are in the playoffs again.  Up 1-0 so far.  Go Suns!

[The Realm]

The Bucks reminding everyone they are the defending champs.

Yeah, ugly game. I kind of expected the Celts to be a bit flat. Hopefully this wakes them the hell up.

The Celtics woke up.

[King Postwhore]

Man, charges are a thing of the past when it involves Giannis Antetokounmpo.

[TAC]

Man, charges are a thing of the past when it involves Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While you can't run a spell checker, I see that you can copy/paste.

[T-ski]

It was my first night of golf league so I didn’t see most of the Bucks/Celtics game. Saw it was a 25 point game at half, oof.

Bucks took one game on the road which is all you can ask for to start a series.

[TAC]

Hopefully your golf league meets again Saturday night.

[King Postwhore]

Man, charges are a thing of the past when it involves Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While you can't run a spell checker, I see that you can copy/paste.

For sure. I could spell his first name without copying. 

[T-ski]

Man, charges are a thing of the past when it involves Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While you can't run a spell checker, I see that you can copy/paste.

For sure. I could spell his first name without copying. 

I STILL can’t spell his name correctly, probably because I just go with Giannis all the time.

[bosk1]

Warriors caught some tough breaks and didn't play particularly well, but still had an opportunity to win last night.  Some good takes here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFdxoRH47Rc

But, man, Charles! 

[TAC]

Apparently Breathing On Giannis is a foul, while the guy travels through the paint, swinging elbows, and gets every fucking call.
How their coach didn't get a T for running out on the floor earlier in the game is beyond me.


Of course, if the Celtics could actually shoot, it wouldn't make a difference.

[KevShmev]

Is there a central site where all Boston sports fans converge where a consensus is determined as to what to complain about?

There has to be, because everywhere you look on the 'net, Boston sports fans are complaining about Giannis getting away with murder.

[TAC]

It's because he is. It's so fucking blatant.

[Azyiu]

So close... ouch!

[TAC]

The Celtics shooting was atrocious in the first half.

[Azyiu]

The Celtics shooting was atrocious in the first half.

Was it the Bucks' defense on him? Or he just have a cold shooting day? Tatum went 4 for 19, good for only 10 points. WTH?

[TAC]

He was cold. He had tons of open looks in the first half.

[KevShmev]

NBA superstars getting the benefit of the doubt when it comes to calls.  This has never NOT been a thing since I've been watching.

Wild finish. Celtics had their chances.

[T-ski]

Team A shot 34 free throws and Team B shot 17, yet Team A’s fans think the officiating was skewed against them.

[TAC]

Yes, that is true.

[Azyiu]

Congrats to Nikola Jokic for his second consecutive MVP award. Well deserved. 

[crazy climber dude]

Congrats to Nikola Jokic for his second consecutive MVP award. Well deserved. 

Agreed. But that is not going to be the consensus opinion, either here or in the mainstream media. It's already becoming a political football...er...basketball. 

[Azyiu]

What a 4th qtr by Boston, especially Horford. I didn't think he could score like that at this stage of his career. It will be tough to win the next one in Boston for the Bucks.

[King Postwhore]

That C's game.