Highest reasonable ranking for Peak D-Rob?

Matt15 · Post #1 » by **Matt15** » Thu May 4, 2023 10:37 pm

What’s the highest you could see D-Rob be ranked all time Peak wise? Can you see a case for him being Top 5?

KobesScarf · Post #2 » by **KobesScarf** » Fri May 5, 2023 12:03 am

Below

Wilt
MJ
Bron
Russell
Duncan
Bird
Shaq
Moses
Kareem
Kobe
Hakeem
Magic
West
Barry
Baylor
Petit
Havlicek

And roughly even with Dr J, Oscar & Curry.

Post #3 » by **trex_8063** » Fri May 5, 2023 1:17 am

imo, top 5, no. Too flawed offensively (though still much better there than he's often given credit for). But the playoff drop in offensive effectiveness shifts him out of that rarified territory [for me].

Case for top 10 can be made, imo. And I would say that top 15 status [for peak only] is perhaps even likely??? (again: imo).

Narigo · Post #4 » by **Narigo** » Fri May 5, 2023 2:08 am

Top 10

Colbinii · Post #5 » by **Colbinii** » Fri May 5, 2023 2:57 am

You could convince me he belongs in the high teens. I have a hard time justifying him Top 10.

iggymcfrack · Post #6 » by **iggymcfrack** » Fri May 5, 2023 8:05 am

I have him #10. Could probably see him as high as #7. It's a pretty tough bridge to cross to put him ahead of Hakeem with how much better the Dream looked head-to-head, but I could easily see him ahead of Garnett and Curry due to his consistency of matching great scoring seasons with unbelievably dominant defense.

70sFan · Post #7 » by **70sFan** » Fri May 5, 2023 11:20 am

Top 10 is fair to me, though I wouldn't have him that high

HeartBreakKid · Post #8 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Fri May 5, 2023 12:51 pm

11 or 12.

I think he is punished too hard for 'only' having 2nd option tier type of scoring. Maybe if his RS numbers were not so crazy his lack of post season scoring wouldn't be so jarring. I think though a guy who is one of the best defenders of all time who also is a premium #2 at scoring can be a top tenish player.

rk2023 · Post #9 » by **rk2023** » Fri May 5, 2023 1:58 pm

Perhaps high teens (same level I see Giannis/West/Wade/Kobe).

I think basketball goodness can be attributed towards continuity and repetition. Back in Greatest Peaks project, I remember seeing Robinson being mentioned as 'having to be MJ on offense and Russell on defense for the Spurs'.. or something along those lines, unsure from whom. Though not literally, having such a responsibility on both ends worked in some contexts but not others.

If there was better guard play around him or some option making him a '2-O' rather than San Antonio or a given random teams' focal point, perhaps his RS impact doesn't stand out *as* much. On the other hand, perhaps he maintains more value going from Regular Season into Playoffs while ramping up defense. Of course, this train of thought is more theoretically than pragmatically / played-out.. but I think it goes to show situation matters and can hold ramifications towards player development just as much as it does for 'goodness'.

migya · Post #10 » by **migya** » Mon May 8, 2023 8:23 am

If 1995-96 is his peak, hard to see ten better peaks than that. His defense and effective offense, carrying his team like few have, is definitely high up there.

70sFan · Post #11 » by **70sFan** » Mon May 8, 2023 9:04 am

migya wrote:If 1995-96 is his peak, hard to see ten better peaks than that. His defense and effective offense, carrying his team like few have, is definitely high up there.

It all depends on the criteria of course, but I don't find it particularly hard to find 10 bigs with arguably better peaks than 1996 Robinson, so finding 10 players overall shouldn't be impossible.

CodeBreaker · Post #12 » by **CodeBreaker** » Fri May 12, 2023 8:48 am

KobesScarf wrote:Below

Wilt
MJ
Bron
Russell
Duncan
Bird
Shaq
Moses
Kareem
Kobe
Hakeem
Magic
West
Barry
Baylor
Petit
Havlicek

And roughly even with Dr J, Oscar & Curry.

Peak Curry is at least top 10.