Well, the 3 years their primes overlapped from '88-'90, they were basically on the exact same level. Some would say Isiah's prime was earlier, but I believe he was in his prime at the time, and Drexler's prime was from '88-'92.
Isiah was superior at creating off the dribble due to his ball handling ability, that's a huge edge he had over Drexler who wasn't the best ball handler. Clyde relied on transition opportunities quite a bit for his scoring, though he was as good of an offensive rebounder as we've seen at the guard position, an excellent post up guard and he did go to a spin move a fair amount. His size and athleticism were a big advantage he had over most guards, and size does allow you to impact the games in ways that small players can't. Both were streaky outside shooters. Isiah was obviously a great passer, but Drexler was about as good of a passer as you'll find at the shooting guard position. His ball handling brings him down a notch in playmaking, though.
Of course, you also have to go forward a bit and factor in Drexler's peak in '92, and go back and factor in what Isiah was doing in '84, '85, '86 ect. Back then, Isiah was playing on an up tempo team more similar to Drexler's Blazers, albeit without the same talent. And you can see how much better Isiah's numbers were than when he played on the slowed down Bad Boys sharing ball handling duties and playing with so many scoring options.
Drexler was arguably on the most talented team in the league from '90-'92, and Isiah was on probably the deepest, most stacked team himself at one point. A lot of Detroit's success was based on their defense, rebounding and having so many scoring options. They liked to ride the hot hand and go to either Isiah, Dumars, Aguirre, Edwards or Vinnie Johnson depending on who had it going that night instead of relying on 1 or 2 stars every night.
Isiah did do a very good job of running the offense, and he could get red hot on take over a game. He was streaky, and not the most efficient player, but I think he had an extra gear that Drexler didn't, as well as being more clutch. Drexler would do a bit of everything, but Isiah was the better offensive player. Despite the numbers, Isiah seemed like he could be a more dangerous scorer as well.
I think he had an extra gear that Drexler didn't, as well as being more clutch.
I know that Drexler wasn't the closer in those Blazers teams and that Porter was but in '95 when he won the title with Hakeem and the Rockets. Do you happen to know who was closing out those post-season games, Drexler or Hakeem? I've seen highlights of those playoffs games but never the entire game so I'm curious if you've seen the entire games of those or not.
You had already highlighted Drexler's biggest weakness which was weak ball-handling which meant that he couldn't break down players off the dribble and create something out of nothing like a Kobe could or a Pierce, etc. which is necessary to close out games unless your post game was unstoppable. I'm curious to know how much his ball-handling limited him.
Last edited by StateOfMind12 : 07-01-2012 at 02:13 AM.
I know that Drexler wasn't the closer in those Blazers teams and that Porter was but in '95 when he won the title with Hakeem and the Rockets. Do you happen to know who was closing out those post-season games, Drexler or Hakeem? I've seen highlights of those playoffs games but never the entire game so I'm curious if you've seen the entire games of those or not.
You had already highlighted Drexler's biggest weakness which was weak ball-handling which meant that he couldn't break down players off the dribble and create something out of nothing like a Kobe could or a Pierce, etc. which is necessary to close out games unless your post game was unstoppable. I'm curious to know how much his ball-handling limited him.
All I know is Clyde won a lot of games for the Rockets that season. I remember 2 buzzer beater, one vs Denver and another vs another team. In the playoffs they went to him down the stretch a lot. Hell, game one vs Magic in the Finals, they went to him for that driving finger roll over Shaq. He missed but Dream was there for the tip. He's also the eason Houston cam bck when down 18 in the first half.
All I know is Clyde won a lot of games for the Rockets that season. I remember 2 buzzer beater, one vs Denver and another vs another team. In the playoffs they went to him down the stretch a lot. Hell, game one vs Magic in the Finals, they went to him for that driving finger roll over Shaq. He missed but Dream was there for the tip. He's also the eason Houston cam bck when down 18 in the first half.
I knew about this instance but I was wondering how common it was that Clyde would close out games though.
If closing out and taking over games wasn't a problem for Clyde then I don't know how Clyde wasn't better to be honest. He was more efficient, bigger, had more size, more athletic, was more versatile, more well-rounded, etc. He would pretty much have Isiah beat at close to everything except accomplishments such as the Finals MVP and an extra championship ring.
Who do you think was better or do you have ranked higher in your all-time list?
I knew about this instance but I was wondering how common it was that Clyde would close out games though.
If closing out and taking over games wasn't a problem for Clyde then I don't know how Clyde wasn't better to be honest. He was more efficient, bigger, had more size, more athletic, was more versatile, more well-rounded, etc. He would pretty much have Isiah beat at close to everything except accomplishments such as the Finals MVP and an extra championship ring.
Who do you think was better or do you have ranked higher in your all-time list?
I have Zeke ranked slightly higher (maybe about 5-8 spots) because of him leading the Pistons twice to the promise lane (and once over Drexler at that in 90.)
Clyde could close out games, but he was (how would I call it) LeBron-esque in those situations. It's like, he could get you to the point right before the win, but sometimes he couldn't get you the win if you know what I mean.
I remember a book saying would you take Clyde or some other player, (forgot the player's name.) That person said they would take Clyde for the first 46 minutes ...
But to answer, yes Clyde could close out games. I've seen him do it before. Vs the Suns in the 92 WCF, vs. Utah in the 95 playoffs with Houston. He did it a few times in 97.
He performed well in big games, I never remember him pulling a LeBron vs. Mavs, or goin completely Karl Malone vs Bulls in 97. His playoff average is actually the exact same form the regular season 20.4 ppg (but, it includes his rookie season playoff numbers which dropped from 7.7 in the regular season to around 2 ppg.) Other than that, every season in the playoff, he raised his ppg, apg and rpg.
Re: Clyde Drexler vs. Isiah Thomas
