Using PRINGZ to identify plausibly overrated or underrated players
Posted: Wed Feb 9, 2022 4:35 am
PRINGZ = PPG + RINGZ.
The concept is those two things are arguably most overrated by the media. RINGZ is different than rings in that it prioritizes titles as "the man". Higher PRINGZ therefore would make you a candidate to be overrated, lower underrated.
I will start with the RealGM top 10 Jordan, Lebron, Kareem, Russell, Duncan, Wilt, Magic, Shaq, Hakeem, Bird and then look at the next 10 later etc.
Obviously this isn't a final measure of a player or anything and it's just a fun exercise.
1. Michael Jordan: Easily first of this group and the PRINGZ GOAT. He has probably the greatest scoring career ever depending on you feel about Wilt, leading the league in PPG 10 times. He also has 6 rings making him 2nd most impressive of the group behind Russell.
2. Lebron James: Lebron has a great mix of 4 rings as the man, and him, Shaq and Kareem is a debate for best PPG careers after Wilt/Jordan.
3. Shaquille O'Neal: Shaq's case is similar to Lebron with 4 rings and a great scoring career. However his 4th ring is a 2nd banana so Lebron gets the ringz edge over him here to take 2nd.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Elite level scoring career, 6 rings but only 2 are really clear as the man, and even the 2nd got overshadowed a bit. You could make a case for him 2nd as his case is a little different than Lebron/Shaq as he has more rings overall, but I think they have more all important clear alpha titles.
5. Bill Russell: Obviously massive strengths and weaknesses here. By far the most rings and all of them are as the man, however by far the worst PPG career. Therefore I will rate him in the middle of the pack
6. Wilt Chamberlain: Another player with major strengths/weaknesses. 1st or 2nd in PPG impressiveness, but 1 ring as the man and another as co-star makes him 10th of this group in RINGZ value. Like Russell I didn't know where else to put him so I will go with the middle.
7. Larry Bird: Bird has a pretty complete resume with 3 rings as the man and good PPG. He is not that far below players like Lebron and Shaq as he largely just lacks the 4th ring.
8. Tim Duncan: Very solid resume with 5 rings, 3-4 as the man. His scoring however is arguably only above Magic and Russell. I have Duncan PPG as better than Magic and they have nearly identical careers in rings so he gets the edge over him.
9. Magic Johnson: His PPG career is probably 2nd worst of this group, he has 5 rings although only the last 3 are real alpha ones, overall has excellent ringz value but not enough to cancel out the lower PPG rating.
10. Hakeem Olajuwon: I have Hakeem 2 rings as the man and no others as putting his ringz value below everyone but Wilt, and his scoring while solid is still in the bottom half.
So the main takeaway of the top 10 would be Jordan = more likely to be overrated, Hakeem = more likely to be underrated using simple measure of PRINGZ. Lebron and Shaq definitely have higher PRINGZ than Magic and Duncan (better scoring, comparative ringz value) however the latter two are hardly shabby in that area or anything.
The concept is those two things are arguably most overrated by the media. RINGZ is different than rings in that it prioritizes titles as "the man". Higher PRINGZ therefore would make you a candidate to be overrated, lower underrated.
I will start with the RealGM top 10 Jordan, Lebron, Kareem, Russell, Duncan, Wilt, Magic, Shaq, Hakeem, Bird and then look at the next 10 later etc.
Obviously this isn't a final measure of a player or anything and it's just a fun exercise.
1. Michael Jordan: Easily first of this group and the PRINGZ GOAT. He has probably the greatest scoring career ever depending on you feel about Wilt, leading the league in PPG 10 times. He also has 6 rings making him 2nd most impressive of the group behind Russell.
2. Lebron James: Lebron has a great mix of 4 rings as the man, and him, Shaq and Kareem is a debate for best PPG careers after Wilt/Jordan.
3. Shaquille O'Neal: Shaq's case is similar to Lebron with 4 rings and a great scoring career. However his 4th ring is a 2nd banana so Lebron gets the ringz edge over him here to take 2nd.
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Elite level scoring career, 6 rings but only 2 are really clear as the man, and even the 2nd got overshadowed a bit. You could make a case for him 2nd as his case is a little different than Lebron/Shaq as he has more rings overall, but I think they have more all important clear alpha titles.
5. Bill Russell: Obviously massive strengths and weaknesses here. By far the most rings and all of them are as the man, however by far the worst PPG career. Therefore I will rate him in the middle of the pack
6. Wilt Chamberlain: Another player with major strengths/weaknesses. 1st or 2nd in PPG impressiveness, but 1 ring as the man and another as co-star makes him 10th of this group in RINGZ value. Like Russell I didn't know where else to put him so I will go with the middle.
7. Larry Bird: Bird has a pretty complete resume with 3 rings as the man and good PPG. He is not that far below players like Lebron and Shaq as he largely just lacks the 4th ring.
8. Tim Duncan: Very solid resume with 5 rings, 3-4 as the man. His scoring however is arguably only above Magic and Russell. I have Duncan PPG as better than Magic and they have nearly identical careers in rings so he gets the edge over him.
9. Magic Johnson: His PPG career is probably 2nd worst of this group, he has 5 rings although only the last 3 are real alpha ones, overall has excellent ringz value but not enough to cancel out the lower PPG rating.
10. Hakeem Olajuwon: I have Hakeem 2 rings as the man and no others as putting his ringz value below everyone but Wilt, and his scoring while solid is still in the bottom half.
So the main takeaway of the top 10 would be Jordan = more likely to be overrated, Hakeem = more likely to be underrated using simple measure of PRINGZ. Lebron and Shaq definitely have higher PRINGZ than Magic and Duncan (better scoring, comparative ringz value) however the latter two are hardly shabby in that area or anything.