Very simple formula for ranking all-time greats

[Showtime80']

This whole ESPN rankings thing got me thinking about a away a sportscaster here in Puerto Rico ranked players back in the 90's and it was very simple.

Forget all about the regular season awards, titles or averages, forget about their teammates, basketball is about money time! So the simple question becomes:

After watching the greats and how they performed in pivotal games, in game 7 of the NBA Finals for all the marbles, who do you have the most confidence to roll with as your top dog in that situation?

Is it Bird, Lebron, Dr J or KD?

Is it Magic, Isiah or Curry?

Is it Jordan, Kobe, Drexler, West?

Is it Kareem, Olajuwon, Russell or Shaq?

Is it Duncan, Malone, McHale or Barkley?

To me the answers to who actually ARE THE BEST instantly pop up when you see those names. Basketball ultimately is a team game and the ultimate accomplishment is the NBA TITLE, everything else IS SECONDARY!

[Orlando Magic]

Forget all about the regular season awards, titles
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Later in the same post...
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Basketball ultimately is a team game and the ultimate accomplishment is the NBA TITLE, everything else IS SECONDARY!

You're one dumb ****.

[Showtime80']

I was talking about number of titles each player won in their respective careers since that is a controversial ranking quality. The championship is the most important thing in basketball and that is the root of the question but for this formula forget HOW MANY TITLES each player won individually as a measure for their greatness.

Just take into account what you saw with your own eyes forgetting everything else that I said INCLUDING number of titles, in a game 7 for the title, who do you go with?

[90sgoat]

One thing is for sure, and that is when you tally the greats, the regular season is meaningless, only playoffs matter.

I don't care about Wilts regular season stats when he drops 10-15 points average in the playoffs.

I don't care about Lebron's regular season bonanza when he averages much less in the finals and playoffs.

[Showtime80']

For example, a highly debated comparison, Stockton vs Isiah.

Forget the titles Isiah won, forget the numbers for each guy or accolades, just go with what you saw out of each player, game 7 of the NBA Finals who do you have the most confidence in to be the PG of your team?

9 out 10 people would take Isiah and it is not even close. This ranking takes into account things like heart, grit, toughness, leadership etc... qualities that get lost when you look at raw numbers.

Same thing with LeBron versus Bird? Who would you take and have the most confidence as your main guy in game 7 of the NBA Finals?

[Orlando Magic]

One thing is for sure, and that is when you tally the greats, the regular season is meaningless, only playoffs matter.

I don't care about Wilts regular season stats when he drops 10-15 points average in the playoffs.

I don't care about Lebron's regular season bonanza when he averages much less in the finals and playoffs.

Everything must be taken into account.

There's not some simple yes or no answer to such an incredibly complex and layered question.

If not, your ass sure as hell better be moving Robert Horry way up your list of all time greats.

[Showtime80']

That's why with this formula the cream is GUARANTEED to rise to the top.

Robert Horry was NEVER even an all-star superstar player and this formula would absolutely be brutal to him when compared with other truly great all-star caliber players.

I don't care if Horry won 20 titles, would you honestly take him over Adrian Dantley, Mark Aguirre, James Worthy or Bernard King as your main guy from the SF spot in a game 7 of the NBA Finals? HELL NO!!!

[SpaceJam]

Jordan didn't play a finals Game 7 :(

[zeerghit]

This whole ESPN rankings thing got me thinking about a away a sportscaster here in Puerto Rico ranked players back in the 90's and it was very simple.

Forget all about the regular season awards, titles or averages, forget about their teammates, basketball is about money time! So the simple question becomes:

After watching the greats and how they performed in pivotal games, in game 7 of the NBA Finals for all the marbles, who do you have the most confidence to roll with as your top dog in that situation?

Is it Bird, Lebron, Dr J or KD?

Is it Magic, Isiah or Curry?

Is it Jordan, Kobe, Drexler, West?

Is it Kareem, Olajuwon, Russell or Shaq?

Is it Duncan, Malone, McHale or Barkley?

To me the answers to who actually ARE THE BEST instantly pop up when you see those names. Basketball ultimately is a team game and the ultimate accomplishment is the NBA TITLE, everything else IS SECONDARY!

ok ok we agree horry > Kobe its all good

[Orlando Magic]

Jordan didn't play a finals Game 7 :(

There haven't even been that many finals game 7s. Op is a *******.

[Showtime80']

I can see people here are a little short sided and have very little capacity for HYPOTHETICALS!

I'll try again, HYPOTHETICAL game 7 for the NBA title, rank these SF's from 1 to 10 in the order you would have the most confidence as your MAIN GUY going into that game:

Bird
LeBron
Dr J
Durant
Dominique
Horry
Worthy
Carmelo
Pippen
King

[K Xerxes]

Same thing with LeBron versus Bird? Who would you take and have the most confidence as your main guy in game 7 of the NBA Finals?

I'm guessing you'd want Bird, but LeBron is historically a great game 7 performer. Arguably the greatest along with MJ. It's not as simple as that.

[Showtime80']

No guessing, simple answer:

From what you have watched in their careers, in your heart of hearts, from watching them play, you're the HYPOTHETICAL coach of this HYPOTHETICAL team in this HYPOTHETICAL game 7 for the title, who would you want as your main guy leading you into battle?

Bird or LeBron?

Jordan or Kobe?

Isiah or Curry?

Kareem or Shaq?

[Dr Hawk]

No guessing, simple answer:

From what you have watched in their careers, in your heart of hearts, from watching them play, you're the HYPOTHETICAL coach of this HYPOTHETICAL team in this HYPOTHETICAL game 7 for the title, who would you want as your main guy leading you into battle?

Bird or LeBron?

Jordan or Kobe?

Isiah or Curry?

Kareem or Shaq?

Can't decide the last two

[90sgoat]

For example, a highly debated comparison, Stockton vs Isiah.

Forget the titles Isiah won, forget the numbers for each guy or accolades, just go with what you saw out of each player, game 7 of the NBA Finals who do you have the most confidence in to be the PG of your team?

9 out 10 people would take Isiah and it is not even close. This ranking takes into account things like heart, grit, toughness, leadership etc... qualities that get lost when you look at raw numbers.

Same thing with LeBron versus Bird? Who would you take and have the most confidence as your main guy in game 7 of the NBA Finals?

Let's not denigrate Stockton to prop up Isiah. Stockton is also an all time great with his share of great playoff moments.

[Psileas]

For example, a highly debated comparison, Stockton vs Isiah.

Forget the titles Isiah won, forget the numbers for each guy or accolades, just go with what you saw out of each player, game 7 of the NBA Finals who do you have the most confidence in to be the PG of your team?

9 out 10 people would take Isiah and it is not even close. This ranking takes into account things like heart, grit, toughness, leadership etc... qualities that get lost when you look at raw numbers.

Same thing with LeBron versus Bird? Who would you take and have the most confidence as your main guy in game 7 of the NBA Finals?

Funnily enough, these specific players prove this "7th final" argument insufficient:
1) Stockton never played in a 7th Final, so who can tell with confidence?
2) Thomas did once and didn't perform well (was injured, though).
3) Bird did once and didn't play up to his usual standards.

It's generally an argument based on a very limited sample size (even if you include all kinds of series) and not suitable for a league built on "best of x" series. It would be more suitable for ranking NCAA players.

[Ca$H]

This whole ESPN rankings thing got me thinking about a away a sportscaster here in Puerto Rico ranked players back in the 90's and it was very simple.

Forget all about the regular season awards, titles or averages, forget about their teammates, basketball is about money time! So the simple question becomes:

After watching the greats and how they performed in pivotal games, in game 7 of the NBA Finals for all the marbles, who do you have the most confidence to roll with as your top dog in that situation?

Is it Bird, Lebron, Dr J or KD?

Is it Magic, Isiah or Curry?

Is it Jordan, Kobe, Drexler, West?

Is it Kareem, Olajuwon, Russell or Shaq?

Is it Duncan, Malone, McHale or Barkley?

To me the answers to who actually ARE THE BEST instantly pop up when you see those names. Basketball ultimately is a team game and the ultimate accomplishment is the NBA TITLE, everything else IS SECONDARY!

Peak Play ranking + Career Ranking(cumulative statistics and achievements like MVPs, FMVPS, all NBA teams, all NBA defensive teams, NBA titles) = sum divided by 2 = answer +/- 1 = approximate ranking

Jordan has the #1 peak play ranking and the number 3 career ranking

1 + 3 = 4/2 =2 +/- 1 = 1-3 Jordan can be ranked anywhere from 1-3 on the GOAT list based on this formula.

[La Frescobaldi]

if i read that right you mean who is the most clutch of all in game 7s. Which that would be Sam Jones of the Celtics.

[Showtime80']

This is hypothetical guys!!! Don't overanalyzed EVERYTHING Jesus!

Bird or LeBron?

[Quickening]

I don't care about Lebron's regular season bonanza when he averages much less in the finals and playoffs.

Lebron averages 28, 7 and 9 rebounds in the playoffs you dumb fck.

He averages 27, 7 and 7 in the regular season.

[ShawkFactory]

One thing is for sure, and that is when you tally the greats, the regular season is meaningless, only playoffs matter.

I don't care about Wilts regular season stats when he drops 10-15 points average in the playoffs.

I don't care about Lebron's regular season bonanza when he averages much less in the finals and playoffs.
Blatantly false information

[Jasi]

:oldlol:
The amount of misunderstanding the OP in this thread is ludicrous.

I actually think it is a very good criteria.