Better Peak: Klay Thompson or Gilbert Arenas

MiamiBulls · Post #1 » by **MiamiBulls** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:44 am

Which player had the higher peak at their absolute best!

HeartBreakKid · Post #2 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 9:42 am

I'll probably get heat for this because Gilbert is branded as a loser and probably one dimensional (he's more diverse than that but I think it's his reputation), but I would take Arenas without hesitation.

he's a really high tier shot creator. His passing is not bad for a score first guy either.

His sample size in the post season is really low though so his peak is more like the year he was just the hottest. But feels like hes just another tier of scorer and I'm not sure if the 3&D of Klay makes up for that.

GSP · Post #3 » by **GSP** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 12:43 pm

HeartBreakKid wrote:I'll probably get heat for this because Gilbert is branded as a loser and probably one dimensional (he's more diverse than that but I think it's his reputation), but I would take Arenas without hesitation.

he's a really high tier shot creator. His passing is not bad for a score first guy either.

His sample size in the post season is really low though so his peak is more like the year he was just the hottest. But feels like hes just another tier of scorer and I'm not sure if the 3&D of Klay makes up for that.

Dont think its a hot take. Arenas ushered in a lot of guard pullup 3pt shooting we see now or at least popularized it. Kobe and Tracy were on it too but not as known and Agent 0 had iconic game winners with it too

Tbh Arenas prolly comparable peak for peak to a Dame than Klay

Pelly24 · Post #4 » by **Pelly24** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 1:43 pm

This is Gil easily. Klay has always been a bit overrated. Consider that when the Cavs zeroed in on Steph in the 2016 Finals, he couldn't even take advantage. He still averaged like 18 ppg. Gilbert would have slaughtered the Cavs if in the same situation. Not the same defender, arguably not as portable but his pure ability is just much more valuable in a vacuum

Wallace_Wallace · Post #5 » by **Wallace_Wallace** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:44 pm

Arenas and Thompson have completely different styles both offensive and defensively. Thompson is easier as far as integrating him into a team, and Arenas is more explosive as an onball scorer. I would choose Gilbert Arenas to run with the Warriors pre/post KD, but Klay Thompson during the cheat code years.

Would it be more comparable to do Gilbert Arenas with Damian Lillard instead? Klay Thompson vs Mikal Bridges?

Cavsfansince84 · Post #6 » by **Cavsfansince84** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 9:29 pm

I don't think there's a right/wrong answer here. Arenas didn't quite prove enough as a #1 to easily take him over a guy who was a key part of the most dominant run maybe ever by rs and in ps since the Bulls. I think overall I'd give it to Gil but I think he's one of those classic guys who can be a top 10-12 player as a #1 but not really lead a team anywhere and prob can't fully accept being a #2 either.

LukaTheGOAT · Post #7 » by **LukaTheGOAT** » Mon Dec 11, 2023 10:17 pm

My instinct is to say Arenas who was really ahead of his time in terms of 3 pt shot volume.

Gilbert Arenas from ‘05-‘07 put up (per 75):

• 26.1 points
• 4.0 rebounds
• 5.4 assists
• 1.8 steals
• 2.5 3PM on 6.8 3PAs
• 57.0 TS% (+3.5 rTS%)

Per the old BPM, he actually lead the entire league in O-BPM in 2007.

Heej · Post #8 » by **Heej** » Tue Dec 12, 2023 12:23 pm

Gil was basically a bigger Dame lol this isn't even a contest. He had a scoring stretch one year that had us all calling him East Coast Kobe in high school. Klay literally could never. He doesn't have the ball skills

SpreeS · Post #9 » by **SpreeS** » Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:11 pm

MiamiBulls wrote:Which player had the higher peak at their absolute best!

Watch on YouTube

What are we comparing here? Elite 3nD player with guy who was responsible for the whole offence? You can see off ball/on ball offence, cutting, shooting, slashing, passing, ball handling, catching n shooting in one video.

xinxin · Post #10 » by **xinxin** » Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:33 pm

While Klay can be considered an elite 3&D guy at his peak, he was never the no 1 option , unlike Arenas.

I do remember Arenas stint with the wizards when he battled against a young Lebron in a couple of playoffs. Those were fun series & He showed up to play.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Silvie Lysandra · Post #11 » by **Silvie Lysandra** » Tue Dec 12, 2023 1:58 pm

Arenas, comfortably. Peak Gilbert had superstar level impact and was generating Kobe/LeBron/Wade level offensive impact and overall value. And his supporting cast was very, very mediocre (even Butler and Jamison - Butler in particular was neutral at best on offense, and probably a negative, whereas Klay got to play with Curry, Durant and Green)

Post #12 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Tue Dec 12, 2023 8:30 pm

For all of Arenas' faults, single season peak you could definitely make the argument for him. The '06 wizards weren't good enough to beat the Cavs, but he had an excellent series against them: 34 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.2 SPG on 59.7% TS and lost game 6 by a point. Jamison and Butler on the other hand provided inefficient support with 19.2 + 18.5 PPG on 51.9% + 48.8% TS respectively.

DirtyDez · Post #13 » by **DirtyDez** » Tue Dec 12, 2023 11:32 pm

Gil in today’s game is a perennial MVP contender.

Cavsfansince84 · Post #14 » by **Cavsfansince84** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:00 am

I also think that Klay would be remembered differently had they ran it back in 2017/18/19 without adding KD and won another ring or two with Klay as the #2 scorer/3rd best player. Once KD joined the team he sort of got demoted to role player status.

oaktownwarriors87 · Post #15 » by **oaktownwarriors87** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:26 am

Gilbert is a better 1st/2nd option

Klay is a better 3rd option

Cavsfansince84 · Post #16 » by **Cavsfansince84** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:57 am

oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Gilbert is a better 1st/2nd option

Klay is a better 3rd option

Let me ask you this, if you put Gil in Klay's spot on the 2016 team do you think they win close to 73 games or 67 and a title the year before? I mean its fine if you say yes but I don't think its a given he's a better 2nd option. You also have to factor in that Klay intangibles wise is a pretty easy going guy who was also a good defender. Gil had a crazy side and not sure he would actually cede being the #1 option to any guard in the league outside of prime MJ.

HeartBreakKid · Post #17 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 2:32 am

Cavsfansince84 wrote:
oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Gilbert is a better 1st/2nd option

Klay is a better 3rd option

Let me ask you this, if you put Gil in Klay's spot on the 2016 team do you think they win close to 73 games or 67 and a title the year before? I mean its fine if you say yes but I don't think its a given he's a better 2nd option. You also have to factor in that Klay intangibles wise is a pretty easy going guy who was also a good defender. Gil had a crazy side and not sure he would actually cede being the #1 option to any guard in the league outside of prime MJ.

Being a good ball handler does not mean you are an inferior second option

Klay Thompson was nothing special in those playoff series, so why are you mentioning that they went to the finals as if he carried them there or played out of his mind?

I have no idea if they'd win as many games, they haven't won as many games when they literally had Klay Thompson and just added Kevin Durant so it doesn't seem like a great indicator of ability. There is no practical use to winning 73 games over 66 games.

Cavsfansince84 · Post #18 » by **Cavsfansince84** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 3:08 am

HeartBreakKid wrote:

Being a good ball handler does not mean you are an inferior second option

Klay Thompson was nothing special in those playoff series, so why are you mentioning that they went to the finals as if he carried them there or played out of his mind?

I have no idea if they'd win as many games, they haven't won as many games when they literally had Klay Thompson and just added Kevin Durant so it doesn't seem like a great indicator of ability. There is no practical use to winning 73 games over 66 games.

I in no way, shape for form inferred anything about Klay in those playoffs. I simply asked you a question and you are free to answer it however you wish. I simply stated what the Warriors were able to accomplish with Klay as their #2 option and asked if you thought they could do as good or better with Gil in his place. My point being I don't think its a given he is better as a second option.

oaktownwarriors87 · Post #19 » by **oaktownwarriors87** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 12:44 pm

Cavsfansince84 wrote:
oaktownwarriors87 wrote:Gilbert is a better 1st/2nd option

Klay is a better 3rd option

Let me ask you this, if you put Gil in Klay's spot on the 2016 team do you think they win close to 73 games or 67 and a title the year before? I mean its fine if you say yes but I don't think its a given he's a better 2nd option. You also have to factor in that Klay intangibles wise is a pretty easy going guy who was also a good defender. Gil had a crazy side and not sure he would actually cede being the #1 option to any guard in the league outside of prime MJ.

Well, Gilbert and Curry play the same position so it's not exactly a fair comparison because you are now creating a two PG lineup.

That being said, Gilbert would have torn defenses apart if teams tried to double/triple Steph. Having Curry work off he ball next to Gilbert would have been pretty insane as well. I imagine their ability to win championships would improve.

eminence · Post #20 » by **eminence** » Wed Dec 13, 2023 1:13 pm

HeartBreakKid wrote: I have no idea if they'd win as many games, they haven't won as many games when they literally had Klay Thompson and just added Kevin Durant so it doesn't seem like a great indicator of ability. There is no practical use to winning 73 games over 66 games.

Somewhat funnily, '16 is the only season in NBA history where there was some practical use to winning 73 instead of 66 (#1 seed over the Spurs).

Agreed with the general point though.