Howard, Paul or Bryant

[huge4]

There is a poll at the bottom of the daily dime on ESPN asking who had the more impressive first round, Kobe, Chris or Dwight. Right now Dwight is only getting 15% of the vote.

I voted for Dwight (obviously) but am a little surprised that non-homers rate his series so far behind the other two. For the series:

Chris Paul: 24 pts, 5.6 reb, 12 ast
Kobe Bryant: 28 pts, 6.3 reb, 5.4 ast
Dwight Howard: 22 pts, 18 reb, 3.8 blk

I know points are the flashiest stat, but for the series I think Dwight's numbers are more impressive. I think it's much harder to average 8 more ppg than 8 more rebounds as in Kobe to Dwight. And Dwight's 8 block game was incredible.

Granted I did not watch all the Lakers and Hornets games, but of the ones I saw I don't think either Bryant or Paul were unquestionably more dominant than Dwight.

Dwight's impact on the defensive end, with the countless number of shots he altered and intimidated, and the amount of constant attention he commanded on offense made everyone elses job easier.

Obviously both Paul and Bryant are more potent scorers but I think a big man in the paint who can score attracts more attention from the defense and puts more pressure on them than a scoring wing or guard. Even though Howard isn't a threat to go off for 40 like Kobe or Paul, I think he requires more defensive energy and thus opens the game up more for his teammates.

If I'm going to try and be unbiased, I'd rank it Paul (12 ast is just gaudy), Howard, Bryant.

[ORL]

Those Howard numbers are off. He did 22.6 ppg and 18.2 rpg with 3.8 bpg.

[MoGrAdY]

Dwights #'s VS Toronto:

PPG: 22.6
RPG: 18.2
APG: 1.6
SPG: 0.8
BPG: 3.8
FG%: 64.0


Im a homer but I have to go with Dwight. Chris Paul is easy to pick here IMO too however. But 22/18 is insane, 3 20/20 games.. The guy is a freakin beast..

[huge4]

Those Howard numbers are off. He did 22.6 ppg and 18.2 rpg with 3.8 bpg.

Fixed. I though they were off but I was going off what ESPN has on the series page.[/i]

[mhectorgato]

It's hard to pick one. Besides being a key guy to their team, each brings something very different and has different roles.

If I had to, Dwight would be my choice - simply because he's done something that has been done in 36 years. Think about the number seasons and the number of series that have happened in that time span, and since Wilt, only Dwight has accomplished that. Besides, he was going up against an all-star big man.

[theTHIEF]

i dont see this poll FYI

[huge4]

i dont see this poll FYI

It's #10 on ESPN's Daily Dime

[Pancho_Pantera]

Homer aside, I have to go with Chris Paul.


Kobe - played well against the Nuggets, but then again, it's the Denver Nuggets. Plus he had a really bad game one in that series. He wasn't as consistent. And again, this was against the Nuggets.

Howard - Dominated as always, but similar to Kobe, he played against Bosh and Rasho. Two guys nothing to fear about. If he did this against Detroit, then I would tip my hat off to him.

Paul - Clearly the most dominant. He's six feet tall, he completely controlled that series. He also did it against a better team than Kobe or Howard. So I have to go with Paul, followed by Howard.

[mhectorgato]

I don't see the poll here http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime

[mhectorgato]

It's #10 on ESPN's Daily Dime

That section is blank for me.

[huge4]

Try this one.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime ... ime-080430

[MagicMadness]

Toss up between Paul and Howard.

I'll go with Howard because he averaged almost a 20/20 for the series. Sheer dominance - though against a relatively weak frontline.

Paul was dominant as well, and did so against Jason Kidd. Sheer dominance - though against a relatively weak (older) J-Kidd.

And that's why I call it a toss-up, with the nod towards Howard, who averaged a statline that hadn't been accomplished since the '70s.

[Typhoon20]

Honestly ?

1-Chris Paul

2-Dwight Howard

3-Kobe Bryant

[mhectorgato]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-080430

Thanks!

CP 56%
Bean 30%
Superman 15%

Responses: 18,508

[theTHIEF]

[Dwightmare]

Split between Howard and Paul, and thats probably because Kobe didnt want/need to be more dominant.

Paul was very special in that first series, so was Dwight. Thing is that Paul did it against a pretty good defensive PG and Dwight went up against a bunch of softies.

[NEM]

kobe's series is regular kobe numbers so it's not as dominating as if say hedo put up those numbers or rashard...it's a toss up between cp3 and dwight...im a homer but cp3 is my favorite player aside from the big 3 in orlando

[mhectorgato]

Split between Howard and Paul, and thats probably because Kobe didnt want/need to be more dominant.

Paul was very special in that first series, so was Dwight. Thing is that Paul did it against a pretty good defensive PG and Dwight went up against a bunch of softies.

[drsd]

The last guy with 3 20/20s was Wilt in 1972. That's 35 friggen years, and that gets my vote!

[magicmamma]

That section is blank for me.

They must know about you, mhec.