From: rda452j@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (R.A. Misajon)
Subject: Re: BEST POINT GUARD IN NBA
Summary: isiah
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 01:55:22 GMT

In article <w0q-7GC@engin.umich.edu>, martyp@engin.umich.edu (Martin Pochmara) writes:
> 
> > STOCKTON
> > - leads league in assists every year
> > - lead league in steals in 91-92
> > - scores about 15 points a game
> > - team leader
> >
> > HARDAWAY
> > - scores more than Stockton (about 22 a game)
> > - not as many assists
> > - more turnovers
> > - less steals
> > - not as good defensively
> > - but penetrates the lane better than Stockton (with that "killer" UTEP 2 STEP)
> > - more of a flashy point guard than Stockton
> > 
> >                    I need as many replies as possible
> >
> 
> You are an idiot if you think statistics can rate a player. Everyone
> here on the net seems to think that how many points, rebounds,
> assists, (other useless stats), can somehow rate a player. There
> are so many intangible factors that people don't think about
> when rating a player. Off the top of my head, how about:
> (In General) the west scores higher than the East; therefore,
> players from the west should have higher averages. BUT, people
> here don't take that into consideration, player X is a better
> scorer because he scored 15.7 points to player Y's 14.9. 
> That's BULLSHIT! There are so many other factors that people
> here on the net have not mentioned, like: 1) What is player
> X's role on the team 2) Is team X a offensive team or defensive
> team? 3) How much talent is on the team? 4) How well does
> he match up when guarded by other players? 5) How smart does
> the player play,6) How much heart does the guy have?
> , and a zillion other factors....
> 
> An example of reason 1) would be Scottie Pippen. Would he
> be a better scorer on another team? I think yes, because
> on another team he would be the GO-TO guy instead of
> playing second notch behind Jordan IMHO. 
> 
> Reason 2) The Pistons are a defensive team and not known for
> their offensive aggresiveness(sp?), but Denver is a offensive
> team not known for their defense, but do you think Woolridge
> when he played there was a better scorer than Isiah Thomas?
> The stats said so, but I don't think so...
> 
> Reason 3) In 1986 the Celtics had many All-Stars on their team.
> If everyone of them was an All-Star, and they played so well
> together. They all put up great stats, but don't you think
> Bird might have had more assists if he played on a team with
> lesser talent, or Dennis Johnson may have scored more
> if he played somewhere that needed a go-to guard. Parish
> could have had more rebounds if McHale and Bird didn't
> steal so many of them. The point is, stats didn't tell
> half the story about how good some of the players
> on the team were. Many examples of this with scoring,
> rebounding, assists, etc...
> 
> 4) If Jordan was guarded by (Joe Dumars, Ritchmond, or any
> other player that Jordan said was the best player to ever
> guard him) every night, then Jordan wouldn't score
> as many points. Jordan said Michael Cooper was the best to
> guard him, but Michael Jordan only plays(ed) him twice
> a year. What if Cooper was in the same division as Jordan...
> That could affect his scoring average.... Again,
> many examples of this....
> 
> 5) How does the player react when something happens that
> he doesn't expect? Will he catch a ball that bounced off
> his head? Dive for a ball dribbled off his foot? Keep
> driving to the lane even though his ankle turned on a 
> players foot? Not panic when the other team hits a 
> miracle three-pointer with 2 seconds left, but somehow
> inbounds a full-court pass to a player for a
> go-ahead lay-up as time expires....
> 
> 6) How bad does the guy want to win? Will he pass up a shot
> in the big game for a victory? Will he sit on the
> bench for two mintues in the fourth because a bench-
> role-player is doing well? Does he play over an
> injury? Does off-the-court problems follow him onto
> it? IMHO this is the key to a winner....
> 
> There are so many factors to deal with that it becomes
> nearly impossible to evaluate a player, especially
> based on a few simple stats. All I know is that
> I try to take everything I see, know, and read into
> consideration and then evaluate a player. 
> I think Magic and Bird are better than Jordan as of
> now because of all the intangibles. If Jordan keeps      
> playing like he is, in a few years, I will consider
> him as good or better than Magic/Bird....But, as for
> point guard...that is the best point guard in the NBA,
> I have to go with Isiah Thomas for all the stats
> plus the intangibles. NOBODY HAS MORE HEART FOR THE
> GAME....
> 
> 			MHO,
> 				Marty Pochmara
> 

i agree completely with everything you said. Zeke must have the biggest heart
of any player I have ever seen. He's not afraid to take the clutch shots and
make them . He has helped the Pistons to 2 championships, passes well, and 
knows how to "ride ": the "hot hand" on the team but despite all this there 
is still people who critize him and dont give him the credit he deserves.
I guess people either hate him or love him, but he has proven himself many timesover,I really don't think he is the best point guard in the NBA right now 
because of his age,this has to go to Stockton. but he still has to rate in the
top 5.