Comments on: Isiah Thomas vs. Chris Paul

By: khandor

khandor — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:05:31 +0000

Reasons would include the following:
1. It’s a sign of the level of respect which I have for the man’s game … which was actually quite “regal”, and distinctive, IMO.
2. I think it’s rather “neat” that Zeke has the middle name of “Lord”, given the level of “hatred”/disdain that certain others seem to have for him amongst the basketball community. Is there anyone else that you know who has that specific middle name?
3. I had the opportunity to watch him work, up-close and personal, on occasion, when he was in-charge of the Raptors organization and it was clear at that time he was “distinctive” in his approach to the game and towards life, in general.
4. Unlike plenty of others, perhaps, I actually like the man.
5. Names are something which are very important to me, as one of the very first formative things in the development of human character. IMO, a significant part of who Zeke is, as a person and player is wrapped up in each of his names, both, of the given and adopted/nick variety.
6. To achieve what Zeke has achieved in this game [e.g. 1 NCAA Championship at IU, in his sophmore season under Bob Knight, and without the benefit of future HOFers; Olympian; back-to-back NBA Titles with the Pistons; induction into the HOF; honoured as one of the NBA's Greatest 50 of All-Time; etc.], coming from where he came, and in the circumstances he found himself, with his physical stature, was simply a monumental/distinctive accomplishment.
Hopefully that answers your question thoroughly.

By: tarsier

tarsier — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:20:53 +0000

It’s beside the point, but is there any reason you always use Zeke’s full name and not the full names of anyone else? The inconsistency is mildly distracting like in video games when the commentators refer to certain players as “number 42″ or whatever because they don’t have an audio file of that player’s name.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:00:06 +0000

Obviously, there’s no good way to quantify a subject argument, but I guess we’ll see who’s right in 10-15 years.

By: khandor

khandor — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:55:51 +0000

FWIW … Please know that I think both you and Patrick do a fabulous job of not resorting to name-calling [or threatening dissenting comment contributors] yourselves which then goes a LONG WAY towards making this a highly enjoyable [and excellent!] site to visit and participate in a lively and thoughtful discussion about the Pistons.

By: khandor

khandor — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:49:39 +0000

Dan,
From a figurative standpoint, I would be more than happy to take the opposite side of that specific wager, if you are so inclined to place it on the table.
My specific prediction is that when he retires from the game Chris Paul will not be considered as the 2nd best PG of all-time.
PS. I would also offer to make you a literal wager about this but, I do not think that you would be inclined to accept it. :-)

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:31:23 +0000

Isiah choked a coach? What? You have to explain that one.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:30:47 +0000

Just wanted to say I’ve enjoyed most of the discussion on this thread. I know I speak for Patrick when I say we appreciate the commenters who combine their passion with thoughtful arguments and don’t resort to childish name-calling. It makes these debates fun.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:23:46 +0000

Why the artificial cutoff at their first six years? I’m saying, when you compare careers, I predict Paul will be the second-best point guard of all time when he retires.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:21:28 +0000

27 percent last season. My basic point being, why so much emphasis on David West’s ability to make shots? West is a good player, but the rest of that team is pretty bad, and collectively, the other guys influence Paul’s assist totals much more than West.

By: khandor

khandor — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:51:42 +0000

IMO, the belief that championships won … as well as conference championships, playoff series wins, and playoff game wins … are strictly a TEAM accomplishment and, therefore, not also a legitimate form of INDIVIDUAL accomplishment, is a gross error in perception. Championships won IS a TEAM accomplishment, to be sure; and teams ARE, by definition, comprised of different INDIVIDUALS, each with a proportional and unique role in that major form of accomplishment. For example: i. Robert Horry was a good “role” player whose exceptional contributions to championship-winning teams elevated him well above the levels of performance associated with other also-good-but-generally-less effective role players like Kurt Thomas. [i.e. in an oranges 1 to oranges 2 comparison] ii. Isiah Lord Thomas III was a great “star” player whose contributions to championship-winning teams elevated him well above the levels of performance associated with other also-good-but-generally-less effective star player like John Stockton. [i.e. in an apples 1 to apples 2 comparison] iii. Robert Horry, as a good “role” player with exceptional contributions to a number of championship-winning teams, did NOT elevate himself above John Stockton, as an also-good-but-generally-less effective star player. [i.e. in an oranges 1 to apples 2 comparison] An accurate assessment of the relative ability level for each of these 4 players would look like this: #1. Isiah Lord Thomas III; #2. John Stockton; #3. Robert Horry; and #4. Kurt Thomas. IMO, to this point in his career, as a “contemporary star” player, CP3 fits properly into the “John Stockton” [i.e. apples 2] category, in comparison with Isiah Lord Thomas III [i.e. apples 1]. It will definitely be interesting to see how the rest of Chris Paul’s NBA career eventually plays out over the course of the next decade.