ISH Vote #4: Top 20 Players in the NBA

[Fudge]

Kobe

[KG215]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZyhTQibk2k

Now let me express my reaction again

I watched that series as a Laker fan. First 3 quarters he was easily the best Thunder player.

Admittedly that was a bad team/example to use. The Lakers had no one that could guard Westbrook until they would use Kobe on him for stretches. While he wasn't much good for anything else, MWP was still a very tough match-up for Durant.

It's not like Durant was a complete no-show in the first three quarters of every game that series. Westbrook was brilliant in game 5 and, without him, they don't win.

Let me put it this way: I think if you start a team from scratch, and build around Durant, that team can contend for a championship and go further than a team built around Westbrook. Of course I have no statistical analysis to back this up. How could I? Durant just has a bigger impact on the game. Again, I LOVE Westbrook and the only PG I would trade him for is Chris Paul. His arrogant in your face persona is the perfect balance to Durant's more laid-back/silent assassin personality.

However, at this point in his career, Westbrook still has stretches in games where he takes bad shots, holds the ball too long, and kills offensive rhythm. I personally think he's better playing off the ball but I couldn't trust a team with Westbrook as their best player/alpha male to do more than win 50-55 games in the regular season and top out by making the second round. And to me, that means he's a top 5 player. He's on the cusp of that and, if he continues at his current progression rate, he could be there as soon as next season; but I'm basing this on his career to date.

I'm not saying Westbrook is a bad player; he's an exceptional player and arguably the best second banana in the league right now alongside Wade. But Durant means more and is more valuable to the Thunder. Maybe not by a wide margin, but he's the more valuable player.

[josh99]

Do we factor in health?

[chazzy]

CP3

[RRR3]

CP3 needs 3 more to advance. Let's get it going, number 5 should start to be more interesting and debatable!

[Legends66NBA7]

CP3 needs 3 more to advance. Let's get it going, number 5 should start to be more interesting and debatable!

Did you count my Paul pick from the previous thread ?

Would make sense, if you did...

[RRR3]

Did you count my Paul pick from the previous thread ?

Would make sense, if you did...

no but I will now

[b1imtf]

Kevin Love

[Legends66NBA7]

no but I will now

Keep that in mind, if my selection (if I make a pick again) doesn't make it or get enough votes, to count it for the next thread.

[chips93]

if rose was healthy, he would be my pick here, but he isnt so:

Chris Paul

[Snoop_Cat]

CP3 needs 3 more to advance. Let's get it going, number 5 should start to be more interesting and debatable!

This is going to take way longer once the consensus best players on board are no longer there, we should bring it down to 15.

[red1]

kobe or cp3, leaning towards kobe

[RRR3]

This is going to take way longer once the consensus best players on board are no longer there, we should bring it down to 15.

25 is good for now.

[RRR3]

kobe or cp3, leaning towards kobe

So mark you for Kobe?

[longhornfan1234]

Cp3.