T-Mac or Iverson

[Storm Surge]

Iverson still gets abused on defense.

Iverson is one of the hardest players to build a team around.

He is a SG chucker in a PGs body. He can't defend SGs so by default you have to have a PG that is big that can defend SGs, how many of those are in the NBA?

Unless you want to get killed, you have to put Iverson at PG, in which case, he can't run the offense because he doesn't have the skills a PG has. Iverson has also been a lot more selfish than T-Mac, he hasn't really deferred to Carmelo like he said he would do.

Denver doesn't play any system offense because they CAN'T. Who is going to run it? Anthony Carter? Iverson certainly can't. That's why Karl changed it into a fast break style when it is easy. Other than that, in the half court, the only thing they do is go isolation, a little bit of pick and roll, or Melo goes off a quick screen.

All the stats are not applicable because Iverson plays in an inflated Denver offense. They leak out on fast breaks and are all about trying to score the ball as fast as possible. The Rockets play an entirely different offense where they slow the ball down and take the best shots possible.

How many lay-ups does T-Mac get a game on a fast break? How many does AI?

[Malinhion]

If Houston slows it down to get better shots, why did Iverson shoot 4% better from the field than TarMac?

[Storm Surge]

If Houston slows it down to get better shots, why did Iverson shoot 4% better from the field than TarMac?

iverson has a lot more offensive help. Tmac was by himself on offense. Every other player can only score by set shots that are wide open. He didnt even play with Yao most of the year. Its about getting the best shots for your players entirely not just 1 star player.


You honestly think iverson would shoot better in houstons offense?

[MnM_McgradyMing]

Tmac, and quite easily for me.

[etopn23]

If Houston slows it down to get better shots, why did Iverson shoot 4% better from the field than TarMac?

Because McGrady shot sub 40% after February due to injury. Don't act like you didn't know this.

[ambiglight]

Easily AI

t-mac could have been great, but he hasnt done anything

AI has been the better player most of his career, and even now AI is a better scorer, passer, and less injury prone.

[Malinhion]

Because McGrady shot sub 40% after February due to injury. Don't act like you didn't know this.

Everyone in the NBA experiences dips in their stats when playing through injury. How are we supposed to discount this when McGrady basically either has to play hurt or only play 50 games each season?

iverson has a lot more offensive help. Tmac was by himself on offense. Every other player can only score by set shots that are wide open. He didnt even play with Yao most of the year. Its about getting the best shots for your players entirely not just 1 star player.

Okay, then if he has no help, why doesn't McGrady score more points?

Good players on bad teams will have higher volume, lower efficiency.

Good players on good teams will have lower volume, higher efficiency.

We can do this all day. Iverson is better in terms of efficiency and volume. It's not even close.

[Storm Surge]

Because McGrady shot sub 40% after February due to injury. Don't act like you didn't know this.

Everyone in the NBA experiences dips in their stats when playing through injury. How are we supposed to discount this when McGrady basically either has to play hurt or only play 50 games each season?

iverson has a lot more offensive help. Tmac was by himself on offense. Every other player can only score by set shots that are wide open. He didnt even play with Yao most of the year. Its about getting the best shots for your players entirely not just 1 star player.

Okay, then if he has no help, why doesn't McGrady score more points?

Good players on bad teams will have higher volume, lower efficiency.

Good players on good teams will have lower volume, higher efficiency.

We can do this all day. Iverson is better in terms of efficiency and volume. It's not even close.

Maybe because T-Mac doesn't like shooting over constant double teams and would rather pass to the open man??? And when he DOES shoot, it's contested.

I don't see what's so hard to understand.

Iverson gets lay-ups in Denver's offense, he has the added benefit of having multiple offensive weapons, Carmelo, JR Smith, Kleiza, even Najera got into the action with the threes. In addition, teams are rarely set on defense because Denver pushes the ball so hard, so it's sometimes a mismatch on Iverson.

Not to mention Denver's pace, which would mean more fast break opportunities and opportunities for wide open looks.

Your argument makes no sense. Both take 19 shots a game, how is it that McGrady is SUPPOSED to score more points?

It, in fact, IS close in terms of efficiency and volume, however Iverson I feel is a little bit better.

But you only took one sentence out of my post.

How about my points of Iverson being a severe pain to build around, and him bringing glaring weaknesses to his teams?

[Malinhion]

Well, yes, he is a total pain in the ass to build around. But you *can* build around him, and it has been proven. How many players are there in the NBA that you can build a legit contender around? Not many, and its always a pain in the ass anyhow. So I think that argument kind of goes by the wayside. Now...He slacks in practice. He is just as much fo a ballhog as McGrady. He can't play good defense, but that's a product of his size, not his effort. When he was younger he had the quickness to stay in front of guys and get steals, but those days are gone. I concede all these points.

But I would still rather have him than McGrady. McGrady has never shown that you could build a contender around him. He has only statistically excelled on terrible teams. Compare this to players like Kobe and Wade, who lead their teams to the Finals. They have their best seasons on their best teams, not the other way around. McGrady misses a fair amount of practice, too, not because of effort, but because of injury concerns. He routinely needs to skip a practice here or there to rest his back (this is going off memory, correct me if I'm wrong). McGrady's defense has not improved, it has fallen off like his offense. While he is a better man defender than Iverson (due to size), I don't agree that this makes up the difference on offense.

[Alex_De_Large]

tracy mcgrady by far.

[ITK9]

give me the former mvp over a guy that always watch the playoffs at home.

[TAI8]

TMac pretty easily.