RealGM

Point guards only play against point guards, small forwards only play against small forwards, centers only player against centers, etc.,

Suppose there's some giant 1 on 1 tournament, players play 1 on 1 up to 11, best of 5, they only play against players at their positions (using positions they would generally be considered under for all-time lists, so LeBron and KD would be at the 3)

If you want, please list who the runner up would be.

Point guard - Chris Paul

Probably the hardest one for me to decide on this list - As a Warriors fan I would still go with Chris Paul - probably the most well-rounded two way player and has the least gaps in his game. Runner up I'm kind of tempted to say Magic Johnson just because his size would be huge advantage. Kyrie would also be quite entertaining here.

Shooting guard - Michael Jordan

Possibly the easiest? Kobe would be the runner up and could probably beat Michael depending on the nights they are having. I think James Harden would be a darkhorse in this tournament.

Small forward - Kevin Durant

Better scorer overall, not that LeBron wouldn't be able to post everyone up if his shot wasn't falling. LeBron would be the runner up.

Power forward - Kevin Garnett

He would be able to guard everyone, then kill everyone with the mid range jump shot. Tim Duncan would be boring but probably win every game unless someone is just super hot on offense. Kevin McHale is also an interesting choice... I'll just go with Duncan at runner up.

Center - Hakeem Olajuwon

Most skilled and unguardable center. I think in 1-on-1 Shaq gets 'neutralized' if you can keep him from getting to his position from the top of the key. Gonna throw Embiid in there as the runner up.

Curry
MJ
LeBron/Durant
Giannis
Kareem

How would Paul be able to guard Magic, or even someone like Oscar?

Wouldn't it just be the biggest guys with a post game?

Mentioning Chris Paul makes it seem like you are talking about 1 vs 1 in the context of a 5 vs 5 game which is entirely different.

Magic
Jordan
LeBron
Giannis
Wilt

HeartBreakKid wrote:Wouldn't it just be the biggest guys with a post game?

Mentioning Chris Paul makes it seem like you are talking about 1 vs 1 in the context of a 5 vs 5 game which is entirely different.

The NBA for a few years had a one on one tournament and while it was sometimes won by centers, it was also sometimes won by guards (and this was in the days of no 3 point shot!).

With a 3 point shot it seems we are talking about the most efficient scorer that can guard 1 on 1 and beat guys from 3 except maybe the big men. The small guys will beat the big ones with speed, the big ones beat the small with size.

I'd do:
PG Curry
SG Jordan
SF Durant
PF Bird (if he counts here as this was his better position)
C Kareem (can use hack a shaq/hack a wilt -- Hakeem had a beautiful post game but not a particularly efficient one)

A lowkey pick for guard may be james harden, if only because he may actually be able to guard magic post-ups decently enough that magic misses once in a while

If it was curry vs magic it would also be interesting, but i cannot imagine magic having any issue scoring every time out of the post-up and i suppose curry would eventually miss some shots

All Curry has to do is make more than 2/3 of his 3's (anyone else, that "all" would be facetious) even if Magic makes 100% of his postups. If Magic makes 75% of his postups (a more reasonable number) curry would have to shoot better than 50% from 3 to win.

HeartBreakKid wrote:Wouldn't it just be the biggest guys with a post game?

Mentioning Chris Paul makes it seem like you are talking about 1 vs 1 in the context of a 5 vs 5 game which is entirely different.

If its all 1's, then maybe? If its played with 1's and 2's, Curry is probably nearly unbeatable in this format. That 200% multiplier becomes just too big of an advantage to overcome.

Magic
MJ
LeBron
Malone
Kareem

1vs1 games should be played with 3's and 2's always

1's and 2's is dumb

I hate playing 1's and 2's, with casual players it rewards laziness. As players tire, they shoot from 3 anyway because it's easier than driving and working for your shot. Not even all that thrilled with 2's and 3's in casual play although it does give the little guy more of a chance.

Gregoire wrote:Curry
MJ
LeBron
Giannis
Kareem

Curry
MJ
Michael Beasley
Giannis
Kareem

Fixed it for you

not sure I've ever played a pickup game in my life that wasn't all 1's or 1's and 2's. Curious where you guys are playing pick up that has 2 and 3's? Don't know if its a regional thing? But its always 1's and 2's.

I agree its stupid to assign that much value behind the arc, but that's always been the way its been scored over my 35 years of pickup. And selfishly as a guy whose knees are shotter than shot, my set shot 3 being worth 2 helps make me playable as my days of beating guys off the dribble are basically over.

-Curry
-I probably lean Harden slightly over Jordan because 2 >>>>>> 1. Dumb ruleset.
-LeBron, KD is a good pick as well
-Hardest one by far. Kinda like KG's underrated post-game and range, probably the best of the post-up monsters. Heavily disagree with Giannis. But the more I think about this one, the more I lean Dirk, as a better Bird.
-Shaq (I mean, we all know pickup rules, offensive fouls don't exist), I like Kareem better vs the field (a guy like KAT may have a winning matchup against peak Shaq) but I think Shaq edges out their particular matchup.

Texas Chuck wrote:not sure I've ever played a pickup game in my life that wasn't all 1's or 1's and 2's.

Same

giordunk wrote:Point guards only play against point guards, small forwards only play against small forwards, centers only player against centers, etc.,

Suppose there's some giant 1 on 1 tournament, players play 1 on 1 up to 11, best of 5, they only play against players at their positions (using positions they would generally be considered under for all-time lists, so LeBron and KD would be at the 3)....

Nowhere in OP does it say 1's and 2's; could be everything counts 1 point, especially since it is just to 11. Have to ask Giordunk.

If we go with 2s and 3s, instead of 1s and 2s:

PG: Oscar Robertson
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Kevin McHale
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

With that being said, we all know that Adrian Dantley is beyond any competition here

Also, I think Barkley could be considered here, especially if you rank him as a SF.

Surprised at the lack of Kyrie picks. I’m not a fan but feel he’d cook in 1 on 1. Can’t see Curry beating him.

70sFan wrote:Also, I think Barkley could be considered here, especially if you rank him as a SF.

If he's a 3 AND you go only by 1's, Barkley (and Dantley, but I'd go with Barkley) may actually become a very strong contender. Not my top pick with LeBron, Erving, etc. as candidates even by 1's but strong.