Category Archives: Basketball

H2H 34: Oscar Robertson vs. Jerry West – Who was Better?

Posted on September 6, 2019 | Leave a comment

When you think about iconic NBA players of the 1960s and 1970s, a few players come to mind – the great Russell vs. Chamberlain rivalry (and the great Celtics teams and players in general), Oscar Robertson and his triple-double season, Jerry West gracing the NBA logo with his silhouette, just to name a few.  Much like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 1980s, the careers of Oscar Robertson and Jerry West were closely intertwined and highlighted by many of the same contrasts between the two players, e.g. black vs. white, East vs. West, etc. Today, both are remembered as among the all-time greats, with West’s silhouette gracing the NBA’s logo, but it is impossible not to compare the two players and ask:

Who was better – Oscar Robertson or Jerry West?

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H2H 30: Kevin Garnett vs. Dirk Nowitzki – Who was Better?

Posted on August 9, 2019 | Leave a comment

Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, Kevin Garnett 2008-01-13, CC BY-SA 2.0

Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, Dirk Nowitzki 2, CC BY-SA 2.0

Note: Updated for Kevin Garnett’s 2020 Hall of Fame selection.

Throughout most of the NBA’s history, seven-foot centers and forwards have traditionally played close to the basket and focused on scoring and rebounding in the paint.  In the mid to late-1990s, however, the first wave of “unicorn” players began to emerge in the shape of versatile seven-footers who could dribble, pass, and shoot with the skills of a guard (yes, that included making three-pointers).  Two of these early unicorns were high schooler Kevin Garnett and German-born Dirk Nowitzki, who went from being raw, but talented teenagers to franchise faces and league MVPs. With both players having retired in recent years, the landscape of the NBA has changed dramatically since when they first entered the league – now, positionless seven-footers such as Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kristaps Porzingis are becoming increasingly valuable for their unique skill sets.  As we look back upon a couple of the prototypes of the modern basketball player, a natural question arises:

Who was better – Kevin Garnett or Dirk Nowitzki?

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H2H 26: Clyde Drexler vs. George Gervin – Who was Better?

Posted on July 12, 2019 | Leave a comment

Any discussion of the best shooting guards in NBA history usually starts with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant at the top of the list, though the historical roster of great two-guards is deep and versatile, ranging from the recently retired Dwyane Wade to offensive dynamos such as James Harden to silky smooth shooters like Ray Allen and Reggie Miller.  Among this group, two of the more underrated and perhaps under-appreciated shooting guards/wings are Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and George “The Iceman” Gervin, franchise mainstays who quietly went about doing their thing on a nightly basis and were always among the best players in the league, but never quite “The Man”. Nevertheless, both players are rightfully immortalized in Springfield and deserve mention in any conversations about top shooting guards throughout the Association’s history – however, between the two:

Who was better – Clyde Drexler or George Gervin?

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H2H 21: Tim Duncan vs. Karl Malone – Who was Better?

Posted on June 7, 2019 | Leave a comment

Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, Tim Duncan, CC BY-SA 2.0

Note: Updated for Tim Duncan’s 2020 Hall of Fame selection.

Over time, the role of the NBA power forward has evolved from a big, bruising player who, together with the center, does most of his work close to the rim (think Bob Pettit) into a more agile, versatile player who can play all over the court (e.g. Kevin Love).  However, even as the profile of the power forward has changed over time, any discussion of the greatest power forwards in league history continues to revolve among a few names, including Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz. Both were multiple-time MVP winners and consistent First Team All-NBA performers – in comparing their careers side-by-side, the question is:

Who was better – Tim Duncan or Karl Malone?

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H2H 18: Jason Kidd vs. Steve Nash – Who was Better?

Posted on May 17, 2019 | 1 comment

Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, Jason Kidd, CC BY-SA 2.0

Keith Allison from Baltimore, USA, Steve Nash, CC BY-SA 2.0

As the so-called “floor general” of the team, a point guard’s primary responsibility is to make the offense flow and to create opportunities for scoring, whether it  be for teammates or himself. Throughout the history of the NBA, there have been many great point guards who have helped guide their teams to success and championships, whether it be Bob Cousy of the Celtics, Magic Johnson of the Lakers, Isiah Thomas of the Pistons, Steph Curry of the Warriors, etc.  The recent 2018 Basketball Hall of Fame class included two of the most dynamic point guards of the 2000s in Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. During careers that overlapped as both teammates and opponents, the duo were usually at or near the top of the assists leaderboard each season and helped revitalize a few moribund franchises, which begs the question:

Who was better – Jason Kidd or Steve Nash?

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H2H 12: Hakeem Olajuwon vs. David Robinson – Who was Better?

Posted on April 5, 2019 | Leave a comment

While today’s NBA game values finesse and shooting (particularly from the three-point line), the 1980s and 1990s saw a different style of play that focused on power and physicality.  As such, the old-school NBA was dominated by towering seven-foot centers that controlled the paint both offensively and defensively, and often formed the foundation of successful teams during that time.  In an era that featured centers like Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Brad Daugherty, and Dikembe Mutombo, just to name a few, two of most dominant big men were Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets and David “The Admiral” Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs.  Each player was a number one overall pick, an MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA champion, leading to inevitable comparisons and the obvious question:

Who was better – Hakeem Olajuwon or David Robinson?

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H2H 7: Ray Allen vs. Reggie Miller – Who was Better?

Posted on March 1, 2019 | Leave a comment

Keith Allison, Ray Allen dribble, CC BY-SA 2.0

Flickr user Philadelphia 76ers, Reggie Miller crop, CC BY-SA 2.0

In today’s modern NBA game, especially with the use of analytics, the three-pointer is becoming increasingly popular.  At the forefront of this new era of sharpshooters is point guard Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors; having already set a number of single-season three-point shooting records, Curry has moved quickly up the list of career three-point shooting and is likely to be regarded as the greatest shooter (not player, or even scorer – there is an important distinction there) in NBA history when all is said and done.  However, prior to Curry’s emergence, the two men most commonly associated with the unofficial title of best shooter in NBA history were Hall of Fame shooting guards Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. As the current record-holder and second place, respectively, for career three-pointers made and with the focus on the three-ball today, the question is:

Who was better – Ray Allen or Reggie Miller?

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H2H 1: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson – Who was Better?

Posted on January 19, 2019 | Leave a comment

The 1980s NBA landscape was dominated by its two flagship teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, who combined for eight championships over the course of the decade.  While each team was loaded with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, the rivalry was defined by two of the most iconic players in NBA history – Larry Bird of the Celtics and Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Lakers.  As linchpins for their respective franchises, their careers have been inexorably intertwined in history and their personal rivalry is highlighted by many of their stark differences (white vs. black, East Coast vs. West Coast, shooter/scorer vs. playmaker, grit vs. flash, etc.).  Though it has been more than 25 years since the two players last set foot on a basketball court together, not as rivals, but as teammates on the legendary 1992 Olympic Dream Team, the question continues to be asked and debated today:

Who was better – Larry Bird or Magic Johnson?

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