If every player is ranked by his single best game...

[iamgine]

Lets imagine that every player is evaluated NOT by peak season, NOT by prime, NOT by career nor accomplishment, but simply by a singular game in that player's career where he performed the best. Only that game determines a player's worth. Taking context (defense, rules, competition, etc) into account, how should the GOAT ranking look like then?

[HorryIsMyMVP]

Lets imagine that every player is evaluated NOT by peak season, NOT by prime, NOT by career nor accomplishment, but simply by a singular game in that player's career where he performed the best. Only that game determines a player's worth. Taking context (defense, rules, competition, etc) into account, how should the GOAT ranking look like then?
uh Wilt Chamberlain right? this thread is stupid

[3peated]

kobe in all rankings you listed is #1, wasted thread.

[KG215]

I'm sure jlauber will come in here and tell us why Wilt's top 5 or 10 games are better than any other single game by any other player in NBA history.

[ZeN]

Bill Walton would be top 5 easily if we put heavy weight on percentages..

[jstern]

If it was determine by one game, being the playoff, I would say those 13 seconds where Miller defeated the Knicks just by pure clutchness would be consider the best. Maybe. Goat, able to just go off with a few seconds left to win a very important game.

Perhaps also the NBA Finals game where Jordan scored 13 FGs in a row.

Of recent memory, that game 6 by Lebron, with his whole legacy on the line.

There's just too many games.

[JBull]

uh Wilt Chamberlain right? this thread is stupid
This.

[coin24]

Sick of hearing about wilt this offseason:facepalm
Jlaubers rants:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[IGotACoolStory]

Skiles is the second greatest PG ever?

[JaggerCommaMick]

kobe in all rankings you listed is #1, wasted thread.


Not if importance of the game counts. In fact if you only included postseason in this theoretical, mate, Kobe aint even top 100.

Of course, point totals against the Toro to Raptors in the regular season is where a players true value lies.

Cheers, mate. :cheers:

[Freedom Kid7]

Does that mean Tony Delk is one of the best players then :lol

[lilgodfather1]

LeBron's game 5 against the Piston's is likely one of the top 5 of all time.

[Psileas]

Lets imagine that every player is evaluated NOT by peak season, NOT by prime, NOT by career nor accomplishment, but simply by a singular game in that player's career where he performed the best. Only that game determines a player's worth. Taking context (defense, rules, competition, etc) into account, how should the GOAT ranking look like then?

Not GOAT, but Alvan Adams would be a top-20 player ever.

[Kobr]

81 pts

[lilgodfather1]

81 pts
In a meaningless regular season game. Not even top 50...

[Kobr]

A single game is a single game.

[lilgodfather1]

A single game is a single game.
A Euro league game > College game > A tourney game an > Olympic game >>>>A RS NBA game >> A first round game >> a second round game >>>> CF game >>>>>> A finals game

[ZeN]

In a meaningless regular season game. Not even top 50...

Kobe has a myriad of spectacular games..and thats one of them..

[DStebb716]

kobe's 81 is the single greatest game of all time

[Mr. I'm So Rad]

A Euro league game > College game > A tourney game an > Olympic game >>>>A RS NBA game >> A first round game >> a second round game >>>> CF game >>>>>> A finals game

You seem to be confused on your greater than signs.

[Kobr]

A Euro league game > College game > A tourney game an > Olympic game >>>>A RS NBA game >> A first round game >> a second round game >>>> CF game >>>>>> A finals game

What? I don't even... what?

[lilgodfather1]

You seem to be confused on your greater than signs.
Yep you're right. Switch that all around lol.

[INDI]

Not if importance of the game counts. In fact if you only included postseason in this theoretical, mate, Kobe aint even top 100.

Of course, point totals against the Toro to Raptors in the regular season is where a players true value lies.

Cheers, mate. :cheers:

But that's not the rules and I would definitely rank Kobe's 81 by far as number 1. To me wilts 100 isn't cutting it after I found out that his team wouldn't even take open layups so they could give it to him.

[tmacattack33]

Since 1996 and up:

1. Lebron's vs Detroit 2007 ECF Game 5

2. Dirk vs OKC 2011 WCF Game 1: 48 points on 12/15 FG and 24/24 FT for a .939 TS% ...seriously.

3. MJ vs Orlando 1996 ECF Game 4: 45 points on 16/23 FG and 10/14 FT for a .772 TS% ...ridiculous efficiency as well.

4. Shaq vs Indiana 2001 Finals Game 1: 43 pts and 19 reb on .639 TS%

5. Wade vs Dallas 2006 Finals Game 3: 42 points and 13 reb on .619 TS%




Those are good ones I can remember, from 1996 and up.

I'm sure Duncan had a good one or two that could be placed up here as well. But as we all know, he likely did it "quietly" and by using fundamentals and the media probably didn't pay it any attention, so i just don't remember any one specific game from him.

[RRR3]

T-Mac 13 in 33 seconds to win the game versus Spurs dynasty :pimp:

T-Mac=GOAT by this criteria

[Nash]

Kobe's 81 point game will not the the single best. That game against Toronto meant nothing.

[RRR3]

Kobe's 81 point game will not the the single best. That game against Toronto meant nothing.
It's not even Kobe's best game.

[L.Kizzle]

Pee Wee Kirkland.

135 points in one game.

[Odinn]

Duncan's best game ever; 2003 Finals Game 1.
32 points 20 rebounds 6 assists 7 blocks 3 steals, only 1 turnover on 11-17 fg 10-14 ft (.691 ts) / 57 EFF / 40.8 GmSc / 145-79(ortg-drtg/one of the biggest difference I've ever seen)

His best game ever in regular seasons, imo, in 2002-03 season against the Suns (against Marion and rookie Amare)
35 points 21 rebounds 8 assists 4 blocks 2 steals 2 turnovers on 14-18 fg 7-9 ft (.797 ts) / 62 EFF / 44.7 GmSc

[Heilige]

Duncan's best game ever; 2003 Finals Game 1.
32 points 20 rebounds 6 assists 7 blocks 3 steals, only 1 turnover on 11-17 fg 10-14 ft (.691 ts) / 57 EFF / 40.8 GmSc / 145-79(ortg-drtg/one of the biggest difference I've ever seen)

His best game ever in regular seasons, imo, in 2002-03 season against the Suns (against Marion and rookie Amare)
35 points 21 rebounds 8 assists 4 blocks 2 steals 2 turnovers on 14-18 fg 7-9 ft (.797 ts) / 62 EFF / 44.7 GmSc



What do you feel is Kobe's best reg. season game ever, and his best playoff game ever?

[Optimus Prime]

By a single game?

1. Wilt (100 points)
2. Kobe (81 points)
3. MJ (too many to count but the Flu Game is probably my favorite)

:kobe:

[KrizMiz]

David Robinson Februar 17th 1994 - 34 pts, 10 rebs - 10 blocks - 10 assist - 2 steals !

[TheeBeast]

Kobe Bryant 81/6/2/3/1
Shaq: 28/20/9/8
David Robinson: 34/10/10/10/2
Scott Skiles: 22/6/30/2/4

[Odinn]

What do you feel is Kobe's best reg. season game ever, and his best playoff game ever?
IMO, his best ever 62 points in 3 quarters against the Mavs. Outscoring an entire team in 3 quarters is more impressive than his 81 point game. Unlike Duncan, Kobe's best game is a regular season game.

His best playoff game ever, 48/16/3/2/1 game against the Kings in 2001 playoffs first comes to mind.
But I think
49 points 4 rebounds 10 assists 1 steal 1 block 2 turnovers 18-27 fg 8-9 ft (.791 ts) / 53 EFF / 43.6 GmSc / 157-113 (ortg-drtg)
game against the Nuggets in 2008 playoffs was his best.

[Heavincent]

His best playoff game ever, 48/16/3/2/1 game against the Kings in 2001 playoffs first comes to mind.
But I think
49 points 4 rebounds 10 assists 1 steal 1 block 2 turnovers 18-27 fg 8-9 ft (.791 ts) / 53 EFF / 43.6 GmSc / 157-113 (ortg-drtg)
game against the Nuggets in 2008 playoffs was his best.

Those games are both pretty underrated. You don't hear about them that much for some reason.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Rajon Rondo moves up the charts a bit under this rule eh?

[KOBE143]

kobe's 81 is the single greatest game of all time
this

by far better than Wilt 100 against 5ft white boy, Jordan 63pts double OT in no defense era and all other former/current players.. And its not even close..

[NumberSix]

King James. Game 6.

[DatAsh]

But that's not the rules and I would definitely rank Kobe's 81 by far as number 1. To me wilts 100 isn't cutting it after I found out that his team wouldn't even take open layups so they could give it to him.

Kobe's game would certainly be up there, but I don't really see the argument for it being number one, unless we're just completely ignoring context(playoffs vs regular season), rebounds, assists, efficiency, blocks, steals.

If we're just going by points scored, then Wilt would be my number one and Kobe would be my number two, but if were looking for the best games in a general statistical sense, my list would look a bit different.

1. Wilt Chamberlain - 78 pts 43 reb 3 ast, 100pts 25 reb 2 ast, 53 pts 32 reb 14 ast, ..., take your pick
2. Karl Malone - 61 pts 18 reb 2 ast on 81%
3. Michael Jordan - 69 pts 18 reb 6 ast on 62%
4. Elgin Baylor - 71 pts 25 reb on 58%
5. David Robinson - 71 pts 14 reb 5 ast on 64%
6. Shaquille Oneal - 61 pts 23 reb 3 ast on 69%
7. David Thompson - 73 pts 7reb 2 ast on 73%
8. Kobe Bryant - 81 pts 6 reb 2 ast on 61%
9. Pete Maravich - 68 pts on 60% (79 with a 3-point line)
10. Hakeem Olajuwon - 49 pts 25 reb 6 blks on 58%


Of course that's only looking at it statistically. A lot of these games probably wouldn't be the player in questions best games if you asked them personally. A lot of what goes in to answer for a question like this can't be seen on the stat sheet, and when taking those things in to account I have a feeling my list would change quite dramatically. You'd have to include guys like Bill Russell(30-40 game in the finals with extraordinary defense), Tim Duncan and Magic Johnson.

[andgar923]

Lets imagine that every player is evaluated NOT by peak season, NOT by prime, NOT by career nor accomplishment, but simply by a singular game in that player's career where he performed the best. Only that game determines a player's worth. Taking context (defense, rules, competition, etc) into account, how should the GOAT ranking look like then?

If we're talking about context as a whole, then there probably isn't anything bigger then the biggest stage of all

[macmac]

Charlie Villanueva's 48pts against the bucks and Brandon Jennings 55pts against the warriors, both as rookies would rank them quite a few hundred spots higher than they will be at when their careers are over

[iamgine]

[QUOTE=andgar923]If we're talking about context as a whole, then there probably isn't anything bigger then the biggest stage of all

[andgar923]

Doesn't have to be finals. But of course Finals usually carry a little more weight than first round. But that's just one factor. First round or even regular season could carry more weight if the competition was tougher. For example, if Gary Payton defended you in the regular season vs if Steve Nash defended you in the Finals, then regular season could be seen as tougher. That's context.

True.

But the pressure as a whole (aside from an individual matchup) is generally greater in the Finals. Sounds cliche to say, but every possession truly counts.

[iamgine]

True.

But the pressure as a whole (aside from an individual matchup) is generally greater in the Finals. Sounds cliche to say, but every possession truly counts.
It's just one context factor is all I'm saying.

[andgar923]

It's just one context factor is all I'm saying.

Not disagreeing.

So which one would hold more weight?

[PyrrhusX]

Sick of hearing about wilt this offseason:facepalm
Jlaubers rants:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

Oh the irony coming from a laker fan.
No offense but we have had sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many threads on how the lakers will win it all and how the lakers team will be unstoppable.
:rolleyes:

[iamgine]

Not disagreeing.

So which one would hold more weight?
Depends

[sekachu]

81 pts





No way. OP said taking context "defense, rule and competition" into account.

[Poetry]

Scott Skiles: 22/6/30/2/4

:biggums: Seems like such a fluke to me.

Stockton: 23 pts, 3reb, 24 assists, 5 steals in a PLAYOFF game vs Magic/Kareem Lakers

Even Stockton's regular season high of 28 is more impressive than Skiles 30 assists game vs the 20-62 Nuggets.

Stockton 20 pts (.667 fg%), 3 reb, 28 assist, 8 steals against the eventual 55-27 D-Rob Spurs.

[Snoop_Cat]

McGrady wouldn't be known as a choker.

[Miserio]

1. Magic
2. Wilt
3. Baylor
4. Michael
5. Barkley

[LBJ 23]

McGrady wouldn't be known as a choker.


He's not known as a choker in my eyes...

[TheCorporation]

LeBron's game 5 vs the Pistons
One of Wade's games vs the Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals
Michael Jordan's game 6 vs the Utah Jazz
LeBron's game 6 vs the Celtics

[kwajo]

Let's not forget Duncan's game 6 in the 2003 NBA Finals where he finished off the Nets with one of the best finals performances of all time, 21/20/10/8

[TheBigVeto]

In a meaningless regular season game. Not even top 5000...

FTFY

[RRR3]

He's not known as a choker in my eyes...
:applause: :applause: :applause: will rep when I can

[Psileas]

Since I didn't see anyone comment on my Alvan Adams reference, I'll say he had a 47/18/12 game against the Braves, who might not be a great team, but George Johnson, his opponent, was a very good defender.