GOAT 1v1 player (PF Edition)

[EasternHeretic]

Who do you have as your greatest Power forward in 1 on 1, in a game of Twenty-one.

[Matt15]

1v1 im going with Barkley

[70sFan]

Defense would be hard, but Barkley was an unbelieveable one on one player. Possibly the best ever p4p.

[HeartBreakKid]

21 is a different game from basketball. I think a player like Kevin McHale might be the way to go here despite him being way worse than everyone else bar couple guys.

[70sFan]

21 is a different game from basketball. I think a player like Kevin McHale might be the way to go here despite him being way worse than everyone else bar couple guys.

McHale shooting touch around the basket is unmatched by anyone else here.

[penbeast0]

21 is a different game from basketball. I think a player like Kevin McHale might be the way to go here despite him being way worse than everyone else bar couple guys.

McHale shooting touch around the basket is unmatched by anyone else here.

Barkley is more efficient around the basket and better on the boards but no defense. I'm going Giannis because he has the best handles as well as great athleticism, scoring efficiency, and defense plus he is one of the few that will force the opponents to guard him at the 3 point line to set up interior scoring.

Note: looked it up and I was definitely overrating Giannis from outside. Not sure who I would pick overall and he's a candidate but I think he's bad enough from 3 that opps could play for the drive and let him shoot 3's as long as he didn't have unlimited space.

[70sFan]

21 is a different game from basketball. I think a player like Kevin McHale might be the way to go here despite him being way worse than everyone else bar couple guys.

McHale shooting touch around the basket is unmatched by anyone else here.

Barkley is more efficient around the basket and better on the boards but no defense. I'm going Giannis because he has the best handles as well as great athleticism, scoring efficiency, and defense plus he is one of the few that will force the opponents to guard him at the 3 point line to set up interior scoring.

Barkley is more efficient, but I don't think it's because of his shooting touch (though he's very good inside the paint).

Giannis theorethically should be at the top here, but I struggle to see him dominating sturdy defenders one on one in halfcourt, as I have seen him struggling to do so many times before.

[penbeast0]

I see Giannis forcing them to come out to guard him with the threat of the 3 pointer (or 2 pointer if you are playing 1's and 2's), then using his superior speed/handles to go around them. I see Barkley putting his defender on his butt and backing him right under the basket and he did a good job holding post players from backing him in (if nothing else defensively) so he'd be my second choice. Probably the second best handles too fwiw. McHale didn't dribble well and wasn't all that strong so I think he'd have more trouble backing his opponent down but defensively, he'd be one of the best. I see votes for Garnett and he's great defensively too but can't see him as being quite as efficient offensively either down low or from 3 and the midrange game isn't what you want in 1 on 1.

[Texas Chuck]

Dirk is going to get the full 5 points every time he scores. Then gets to keep the ball. I know he never gets run in these things because of his defense, but format matters and the format of 21 really favors him.

[pancakes3]

picking a "right answer" for this would be more matchup-dependent than based on the individual strengths and weaknesses of the whoever is picked. my gut says KG as the best and most versatile defender, and has more spots on the floor he can get to and reliably score buckets.

there are also a bunch of other guys who deserve noms over Zion and McHale. Melo, Lebron, and KD, if you count them as PFs.

Kings Webber, Phoenix Stoudemire, Toronto Bosh, Memphis Pau, and Sheed. Probably Elvin Hayes too but I never watched him play.

Markkanen and Banchero could probably beat healthy Zion now.

[penbeast0]

Dirk is going to get the full 5 points every time he scores. Then gets to keep the ball. I know he never gets run in these things because of his defense, but format matters and the format of 21 really favors him.

I don't think Dirk does. Not because of his defense, though he is in the lower half here in terms of keeping opponents from getting easy close in shots, but because what made him so valuable on offense, an unstoppable midrange move, goes from an efficient to an inefficient shot when you are comparing it to single coverage without help on a close to the basket scorer like Barkley or Giannis. He is the best outside shooter here so he could force opponents to guard him at the 3 point line (a lot better than Giannis or Barkley in that respect) and use that to set up drives, but his handles and quickness aren't as high. If it's 1's and 2's, then maybe he becomes a favorite, but I wouldn't take him in 2's and 3's.

[penbeast0]

picking a "right answer" for this would be more matchup-dependent than based on the individual strengths and weaknesses of the whoever is picked. my gut says KG as the best and most versatile defender, and has more spots on the floor he can get to and reliably score buckets.

there are also a bunch of other guys who deserve noms over Zion and McHale. Melo, Lebron, and KD, if you count them as PFs.

Kings Webber, Phoenix Stoudemire, Toronto Bosh, Memphis Pau, and Sheed. Probably Elvin Hayes too but I never watched him play.

Markkanen and Banchero could probably beat healthy Zion now.

I don't think versatility on either offense or defense is stressed here as much as the ability to get close to the basket and defend either getting or scoring close to the basket. That's the key in these particular matchups. None of these players are 3 point kings (Durant or Sheed added would be a different game, especially Durant) though Dirk could try to win from there.

I don't think anyone is suggesting Zion in these matchups.

[Heej]

1v1 NBA player style (1 shot, 3-4 dribbles, elbow catch) I'm going with Michael Beasley over any PF in NBA history everyday and twice on Sunday.

[MyUniBroDavis]

1v1 NBA player style (1 shot, 3-4 dribbles, elbow catch) I'm going with Michael Beasley over any PF in NBA history everyday and twice on Sunday.

Warriors KD?

[Heej]

1v1 NBA player style (1 shot, 3-4 dribbles, elbow catch) I'm going with Michael Beasley over any PF in NBA history everyday and twice on Sunday.

Warriors KD?

Both of em grew up together in MD and KD had an interview talking about how talented Beasley is as a scorer and how he gave everyone buckets, including KD. That's why he's stamped for me. KD should win the SF one tho not the SF and PF

[MyUniBroDavis]

1v1 NBA player style (1 shot, 3-4 dribbles, elbow catch) I'm going with Michael Beasley over any PF in NBA history everyday and twice on Sunday.

Warriors KD?

Both of em grew up together in MD and KD had an interview talking about how talented Beasley is as a scorer and how he gave everyone buckets, including KD. That's why he's stamped for me. KD should win the SF one tho not the SF and PF

I mean beasley cooked bron lol

[OhayoKD]

McHale shooting touch around the basket is unmatched by anyone else here.

Barkley is more efficient around the basket and better on the boards but no defense. I'm going Giannis because he has the best handles as well as great athleticism, scoring efficiency, and defense plus he is one of the few that will force the opponents to guard him at the 3 point line to set up interior scoring.

Barkley is more efficient, but I don't think it's because of his shooting touch (though he's very good inside the paint).

Giannis theorethically should be at the top here, but I struggle to see him dominating sturdy defenders one on one in halfcourt, as I have seen him struggling to do so many times before.

I don't have the data on me(though I believe i've posted this before), but as of 2022 iirc his matchup data have him torching everyone but gobert(who he does better than against anyone besides jokic and kat). He does especially well vs embid

[Texas Chuck]

Dirk is going to get the full 5 points every time he scores. Then gets to keep the ball. I know he never gets run in these things because of his defense, but format matters and the format of 21 really favors him.

I don't think Dirk does. Not because of his defense, though he is in the lower half here in terms of keeping opponents from getting easy close in shots, but because what made him so valuable on offense, an unstoppable midrange move, goes from an efficient to an inefficient shot when you are comparing it to single coverage without help on a close to the basket scorer like Barkley or Giannis. He is the best outside shooter here so he could force opponents to guard him at the 3 point line (a lot better than Giannis or Barkley in that respect) and use that to set up drives, but his handles and quickness aren't as high. If it's 1's and 2's, then maybe he becomes a favorite, but I wouldn't take him in 2's and 3's.

No you are missing my point. All these guys are going to be impossible to defend 1 on 1. Dirk isn't at the huge disadvantage people assume because all these guys are going to get good shots.

The difference is whether you shoot from the FT line or the 3 pt line, Dirk is going to make all 3 free shots at the highest percentage. And because he does, he also keeps the ball. Other guys won't get the full 5 points as often and will lose possession which kills you in a make it take it game like 21.

The format is in Dirk's favor over every other player, and none of these players are so much better than him, to justify taking them. Maybe you guys play 21 differently? But the 3 free shots and keeping possession is just so huge.

[Heej]

Warriors KD?

Both of em grew up together in MD and KD had an interview talking about how talented Beasley is as a scorer and how he gave everyone buckets, including KD. That's why he's stamped for me. KD should win the SF one tho not the SF and PF

I mean beasley cooked bron lol

Bro used to smoke Bron lmfaoo that's why I'm saying 1v1 tourney NBA style no one is holding his jockstrap at PF imo. He got held back because he was too low IQ to deal with NBA level help defense but he's a 1v1 gawd

[JLei]

1v1 NBA player style (1 shot, 3-4 dribbles, elbow catch) I'm going with Michael Beasley over any PF in NBA history everyday and twice on Sunday.

I'm taking Dirk over Beasley IMO.