Building a team for today: Moses vs AD

[durantbird]

Who would you prefer to build around a team for today, Moses Malone or Anthony Davis?

[MyUniBroDavis]

It’d be nice to build a team around AD that actually looks like it was built around AD lol

[Gibson22]

I see no arguments for moses. Moses is only a better rebounder and inside scorer than AD. Ad is a better shooter, ball handler, pick and roll player, rim protector and perimeter defender. The things that moses excelled at, aren't very valued today, and he isn't a functional big for today's game, he isn't either a pick and roll big or a stretch big, or a post up creator (like jokic or sabonis), he also wouldn't be great at switching. Ad, if it wasn't for iq/health, would be a perfect big for today, only thing he lacks is playmaking/playing well in the flow of an offense.

[SickMother]

I see no arguments for moses. Moses is only a better rebounder and inside scorer than AD. Ad is a better shooter, ball handler, pick and roll player, rim protector and perimeter defender. The things that moses excelled at, aren't very valued today, and he isn't a functional big for today's game, he isn't either a pick and roll big or a stretch big, or a post up creator (like jokic or sabonis), he also wouldn't be great at switching. Ad, if it wasn't for iq/health, would be a perfect big for today, only thing he lacks is playmaking/playing well in the flow of an offense.

I think the main argument for Moses would be health. Sure, AD is more skilled, but his chances of making it to the playoffs healthy are considerably worse.

It's kinda like Moses is a $50 dollar bill and AD is a coin flip where you either get a Benji or walk away empty handed.

If one could guarantee a healthy season, give me AD. But since that is impossible I lean Moses because he provides much more certainty.

[kcktiny]

Anthony Davis is already 29 years of age but Moses Malone played more minutes in the regular season than Davis ever did 9 times.

Davis never played more than 36 min/g in a season. Malone had 9 seasons where he averaged playing 37-42 min/g, including 5 seasons where he played 3000+ minutes and 3 where he played 41 min/g.

Both were great when on the floor, but Malone was simply available to play much more.

[Statlanta]

Going with Moses. Maybe the point forwards of today can mask his weaknesses more than an entire team can mask AD health

[henshao]

IMO offensive rebounding has never been more valuable than today, granted Moses was a bit inflated by rebounding his own misses

[Dooley]

Isn't Malone going to be a problem on defense in the modern era? I wouldn't be enthusiastic about having Malone defending pick and rolls and being in space

AD's a risk in terms of health but it's a risk I'd take

[70sFan]

Isn't Malone going to be a problem on defense in the modern era? I wouldn't be enthusiastic about having Malone defending pick and rolls and being in space

AD's a risk in terms of health but it's a risk I'd take

I don't think Moses would struggle more in space than Jokic for example.

[Dooley]

Isn't Malone going to be a problem on defense in the modern era? I wouldn't be enthusiastic about having Malone defending pick and rolls and being in space

AD's a risk in terms of health but it's a risk I'd take

I don't think Moses would struggle more in space than Jokic for example.

But Jokic's defense gets treated as a huge issue.

(I also think that Jokic is significantly ahead of Malone offensively - presumably others disagree with me on this)

[70sFan]

Isn't Malone going to be a problem on defense in the modern era? I wouldn't be enthusiastic about having Malone defending pick and rolls and being in space

AD's a risk in terms of health but it's a risk I'd take

I don't think Moses would struggle more in space than Jokic for example.

But Jokic's defense gets treated as a huge issue.

(I also think that Jokic is significantly ahead of Malone offensively - presumably others disagree with me on this)

It's a problem compared to the best players in the league, not to Davis who can't play a full healthy season.

[Dooley]

I don't think Moses would struggle more in space than Jokic for example.

But Jokic's defense gets treated as a huge issue.

(I also think that Jokic is significantly ahead of Malone offensively - presumably others disagree with me on this)

It's a problem compared to the best players in the league, not to Davis who can't play a full healthy season.

If you're guaranteed to get 2017-2020 levels of AD health, does your answer to the question change?

[No-more-rings]

AD is the better talent in a vacuum, but I don’t trust his health at all.

[MyUniBroDavis]

I don't think Moses would struggle more in space than Jokic for example.

But Jokic's defense gets treated as a huge issue.

(I also think that Jokic is significantly ahead of Malone offensively - presumably others disagree with me on this)

It's a problem compared to the best players in the league, not to Davis who can't play a full healthy season.

I think it’s been a legitimate playoff issue for awhile, in the sense that so far he is playoff defense has legitimately been a horrendous issue at least as much as the other bototm tier nba defenders but in the RS Jokic is a pretty solid defender, very smart in the p and r and I know he wings it

It’s just in space he really struggles, but I don’t have a problem with him being a top 10 Center defender in the RS and a bottom tier defender in the playoffs, especially depending on matchup (teams that attack in space and quick guards in space, which is a lot of players Tbf)

[70sFan]

But Jokic's defense gets treated as a huge issue.

(I also think that Jokic is significantly ahead of Malone offensively - presumably others disagree with me on this)

It's a problem compared to the best players in the league, not to Davis who can't play a full healthy season.

If you're guaranteed to get 2017-2020 levels of AD health, does your answer to the question change?

I don't know, even in that period he has injury problems. I think people often view Davis as a perfect bigman for modern league, but I just don't see the same when I watch him. His 2020 postseason run was incredible, but wasn't really better than 1983 Moses.

[70sFan]

But Jokic's defense gets treated as a huge issue.

(I also think that Jokic is significantly ahead of Malone offensively - presumably others disagree with me on this)

It's a problem compared to the best players in the league, not to Davis who can't play a full healthy season.

I think it’s been a legitimate playoff issue for awhile, in the sense that so far he is playoff defense has legitimately been a horrendous issue at least as much as the other bototm tier nba defenders but in the RS Jokic is a pretty solid defender, very smart in the p and r and I know he wings it

It’s just in space he really struggles, but I don’t have a problem with him being a top 10 Center defender in the RS and a bottom tier defender in the playoffs, especially depending on matchup (teams that attack in space and quick guards in space, which is a lot of players Tbf)

Jokic's problem is that on top of being relatively slow, he is a poor rim protector. Moses wasn't all-time great or anything either, but I think he was clearly a better shotblocker