Post#2 » by penbeast0 » Tue Dec 27, 2011 3:59 am
VOTE:
Lots of Bigs: Jerry Lucas and Brad Daugherty were high efficiency/weak defense bigs. Daugherty was a terrific post passer as well while Lucas had stretch the floor range, was one of the best rebounding forwards ever, and had great court intelligence. When their contemporaries were voting for HOF, Lucas went in over Willis Reed who didn't make the cut.
Larry Nance was high efficiency and good defense. Nance is the greatest non-center shotblocker of all time and the NBA's 1st dunk champion (over Dr. J among others) but didn't get many accolades in his day for whatever reason -- more than Elton Brand though.
Mel Daniels and Bill Laimbeer were winners and . . . well . . . thugs. Two of the most physical guys to ever play. Daniels was a 2 time MVP and 3 time champion in the ABA whose career was over by age 30. Laimbeer a 2 time champion whose dirty tricks and whining to the refs made him the most hated man in the NBA. Both terrific rebounders, Daniels scored up to 20/g usually from within 10 feet; Laimbeer scored a lot less but spread the floor with his range. Jack Sikma could also fit this spot though he wasn't as physical.
For pure scoring, you have Carmelo Anthony, a prototype scoring 3. At guard, Gus Williams was the leading scorer on a Seattle team that went to two finals, winning one title. Tim Hardaway is more the classic sparkplug guy with his crossover in Run TMC Warriors then with Zo in Miami.
By the numbers it's clearly Lucas. In terms of peak play, to me it's probably Daniels whose very good defense is complemented by a series of 20/15 seasons, 2 MVPs, and 3 titles in the ABA.
I will vote for MEL DANIELS
“Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamppost; more for support than illumination,” Andrew Lang.
