Category Archives: Basketball

H2H 142: Chauncey Billups vs. Kevin Johnson – Who was Better?

Point guards act as the “floor generals” for a basketball team and often set the tone as the heart and soul of a team, thus serving as an imperative piece of a winning franchise.  For the Phoenix Suns in the 1990s and the Detroit Pistons in the 2000s, the two teams played very different styles of basketball (a fast-paced frenetic offensive style for the former, a more defense-minded, grind-it-out mentality for the latter), but were linked by the common factor of having an elite point guard in Kevin Johnson and Chauncey Billups, respectively.  Though neither was ever regarded as THE best point guard in the NBA, both were top-tier floor generals for roughly a decade for among the winningest teams of their eras, thus bringing up the comparison:

Who was better – Chauncey Billups or Kevin Johnson?

Continue reading

Countdown 110: Top 10 Preps-to-Pros Players in NBA History

Who are the top preps-to-pros players in NBA history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

Continue reading

Countdown 107: Top 10 Detroit Pistons of All Time

Who are the top Detroit Pistons of all time?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

Continue reading

H2H 136: Michael Finley vs. Joe Johnson – Who was Better?

Swingmen/wings (i.e. basketball players that can play either shooting guard or small forward) are typically among the most versatile basketball players on the court; moreover, one of the best abilities is availability, so add in durability to a diverse skill set and you have a very valuable player.  Two NBA stars who fit this description nearly to a “T” were Michael Finley and Joe Johnson – at their respective peaks, both were iron men on the court who played roughly 40 minutes a night and scored 20+ points per game with solid rebounding and assists totals as well.  Given their similar abilities and career trajectories, it is only natural to compare the pair and ask:

Who was better – Michael Finley or Joe Johnson?

Continue reading

Countdown 102: Top 10 Philadelphia 76ers of All Time

Who are the top Philadelphia 76ers of all time?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

Continue reading

H2H 131: Carlos Boozer vs. David West – Who was Better?

While some NBA stars are known for their flashiness, others are characterized by their consistency; such was the case with Carlos Boozer and David West in the 2000s – both steady producers night in and night out, they were among the best power forwards of their generation.  One was a nightly double-double threat in his prime, the other more of a hard-nosed rebounder and defender, yet still outstanding offensively, each was an integral part of winning franchises throughout his career.  For two stars who perhaps never quite received the recognition or acclaim they deserved, the comparison between their overlapping careers is in many ways a natural head-to-head matchup:

Who was better – Carlos Boozer or David West?

Continue reading

Countdown 98: Top 10 Dunkers in NBA History

Who are the top dunkers in NBA history?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

Continue reading

H2H 127: Richard Hamilton vs. Jerry Stackhouse – Who was Better?

After Michael Jordan came out of his second retirement to join the Washington Wizards as a player-owner, the team made a blockbuster trade by sending a young Richard Hamilton to the Detroit Pistons along with Bobby Simmons and Hubert Davis for Jerry Stackhouse, Ratko Varda, and Brian Cardinal.  It would be a career-defining trade for the centerpiece players in the deal, as an ascendant Hamilton would go on to become an All-Star and a key cog on a championship team for the Pistons, while marking the beginning of Stackhouse’s slow decline from top scoring option to reserve player.  With their careers being inexorably intertwined, it is only natural to compare the two shooting guards and ask:

Who was better – Richard Hamilton or Jerry Stackhouse?

Continue reading

Countdown 94: Top 10 Golden State Warriors of All Time

Who are the top Golden State Warriors of all time?  Here is our top 10 countdown:

Continue reading

H2H 124: Steve Francis vs. Stephon Marbury – Who was Better?

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury were two of the top point guards in the NBA, though both were also regarded as mercurial personalities with often selfish tendencies.  In fact, their playing styles were similar enough that many basketball pundits and fans alike were puzzled when the New York Knicks paired the duo together in an ill-fated backcourt; moreover, both players wore out their welcomes with numerous teams and eventually fizzled out of the Association completely, though Marbury later rose like a phoenix and resurrected his career in China.  In looking back at two of the most talented, but perhaps also misunderstood players of their generation, the question is:

Who was better – Steve Francis or Stephon Marbury?

Continue reading