Sleepy51 wrote:Everybody needs to stop using the "pass first" cliche.
There have been two contending level NBA talents at PG who were pass first players in my lifetime: Stockton & Kidd. Both had HOF talent, and neither won a ring. When you look at their teams and where they fell short, they both should have put the ball in the hole more. If your point guard is your best player, 1) occupying major salary, 2) major shelf space in your talent pantry, 3)and time with the ball, they have to be a scorer. Magic, Isiah, Cousy, Big O, Tiny, these guys were all potent and willing scorers. Cousy was a 19ppg guy over his career. Big O put up 30 per game in his greatest season. Pass first pg works as a secondary player, with a Shaq or Kobe or Olojuwan or Jordan or Dr. J or Bird as a truly dominant scoring best player out in front. It does not win rings if your best player is a "pass first" guy. It's beautiful basketball, but it's the wrong formula for a ring. Kidd and Stockton were always the best player, but they did not score enough for being the best players to deliver against the likes of the Magic's and Isiah's of the world. A lot of what makes the game easier for guys who play next to truly great scoring PG's is that the entire defense has to honor helping out agianst the PG. IF the playmaker is always a threat to score, none of the other 4 defenders can play thier own men honest. AC Green becomes a heck of a lot more player when you have to cheat off of him. Thrul Bailey & Blue Edwards don't become that player when you can count on Stockton giving up the ball "making the right basketball play" as long as one defender does their job on him.
The issue isn't avoiding your own shot to fit some purist archetype. The issue is to not be a dumbass with the ball, and get GREAT shots for yourself or a teammate. A "best player" Point guard's primary job is to break down the defense, get defenders switching and into motion. Doing that by giving up the ball isn't necessarily better than doing it by torching your man for 25 (at high efficiency.) A great point guard makes the best decision even if it's to get their own shot. As long as the defense ends up broken and someone gets an easy shot it has a cumulative effect over the course of a game, and everyone ends up getting easier shots as the D starts cheating to compensate. But the team HAS to take the best shot, and if you are a 50% shooter, your number is going to come up a lot, and it should.
How was Malone not exactly the kind of primary player you're talking about?
BTW. He averaged more than Olajuwon and Bird ever did.
Ofcourse, if there was no Jordan-led bulls Stock would probably have about two rings.