NFL 2016 Playoff Predictions! Wildcard Round (And A Look Back At the Season Predictions)

January 9, 2016 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Let’s look back at our Season Predictions to see how we did! Actual records are in parentheses.

NFC East

Giants: 11-5 (6-10)
Cowboys: 10-6 (4-12)
Eagles 9-7 (7-9)
Redskins 6-10 (9-7)

Man was this division bad. Washington actually pulled it off at 9-7. Tony Romo got hurt and that was that for Dallas, and Tom Coughlin and Chip Kelly lost their jobs.

NFC North

Vikings: 11-5 (11-5)
Packers: 11-5 (10-6)
Lions: 8-8 (7-9)
Bears: 7-9 (6-10)

Pretty much nailed this division as I was only a game off with Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago (but we got the order correct). I knew Minnesota would be better.

NFC South

Panthers: 10-6 (15-1)
Saints: 8-8 (7-9)
Falcons: 7-9 (8-8)
Buccaneers: 4-12 (6-10)

Close with this one too, although Carolina did a lot better than 10-6. Atlanta started super hot then did as the Falcons do and faded when it mattered.

NFC West

Seahawks: 12-4 (10-6)
Rams: 6-10 (7-9)
Cardinals: 5-11 (13-3)
49ers: 4-12 (5-11)

Carson Palmer at 35 returned from his injured ACL as a MVP candidate, so I really missed there. Everything else played out normally.

AFC East

Patriots: 12-4 (12-4)
Bills: 9-7 (8-8)
Dolphins: 7-9 (6-10)
Jets: 6-10 (10-6)

Perhaps I should have had more confidence in my Jets despite that they blew a playoff opportunity at the end. Despite the good records this division feels weaker that it looks.

AFC North

Ravens: 11-5 (5-11)
Steelers: 9-7 (10-6)
Bengals: 6-10 (12-4)
Browns: 3-13 (3-13)

Really underrated the Bengals here. I thought they’d fall off after season after season of an early round playoff exit, but that didn’t happen at all. I also thought Baltimore due to good coaching would get back on track, but injuries never let them have a chance (they didn’t seem that great when healthy either).

AFC South

Colts: 12-4 (8-8)
Texans: 6-10 (9-7)
Titans: 5-11 (3-13)
Jaguars: 3-13 (5-11)

I don’t even know what happened to the Colts, but it’s clear the team needs to build around Andrew Luck (although they somehow won more games with Matt Hasselbeck. Weird season.). Houston basically did the same thing as last year but this time it won them the division.

AFC West

Chiefs: 11-5 (11-5)
Chargers: 11-5 (4-12)
Broncos: 10-6 (12-4)
Raiders: 6-10 (7-9)

I almost got the story right for this division. It did look like Denver’s QB woes and change in coaching philosophy was going to coast them the division, only they pulled it off in the very last game. I absolutely missed on the Chargers here.

For the record, Cam Newton should be the league MVP. If that wasn’t obvious.

Ok, Wildcard predictions! We went 9-2 last year so matching that would be an accomplishment!

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ Houston Texans (9-7)

First, an odd note about all the Wildcard games this season. All the road teams are arguably better. How crazy is that?

Kansas City has been the hottest team in the league really, winning 10 straight games to get to the playoffs. They beat Houston Week 1 in Houston for whatever that’s worth. The KC defense should theoretically eat Brian Hoyer…or worse, if Hoyer goes down again Brandon Weeden…alive. Andy Reid’s known to make some playoff mistakes and usually his team (or the Chiefs historically for some reason) shouldn’t be trusted in the playoffs. But I mean, we’re one bad hit away from Brandon Weeden here!

The Texans’ best chance is that they shut down that 5-20 yard passing zone (which they do well, apparently) and J.J. Watt harasses Alex Smith all day. That’s possible! Too bad Kansas City probably only needs about 20 points to win this one.

Chiefs 20, Texans 6

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) @ Cinncinati Bengals (12-4)

So how much does Andy Dalton matter here? Even though the Steelers beat an A.J. McCarron-led Bengals team in Week 14, it wasn’t like McCarron was awful there or Ben Roethlisberger was all that great. And while McCarron hasn’t been amazing he’s been fine not taking chances and not turning the ball over. Did you know the Steelers defense thrives on takeaways? If McCarron plays safe and Jeremy Hill has a big game on the ground, it should be tough for Pittsburgh play well defensively. This is the style of attack I think we’ll see from the Bengals considering we’re getting a zero degree game.

Still, Big Ben could win this game with some big plays on his own. I think the weather conditions and whether or not Martavis Bryant wakes up will be the best chance for Pittsburgh. But I don’t think it’ll be enough. DeAngelo Williams going down left Pittsburgh with pure hopelessness on the ground and in those freezing games sometimes that matters. That, being on the road and Big Ben with only a 1:3 TD:INT ratio against the Bengals this year are all big enough factors that should hold back Pittsburgh.

Plus, it’s not like a questionable QB never beat the Steelers in the playoffs recently. I had to get a Tim Tebow reference in there somehow.

Bengals 20, Steelers 18

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) @ Minnesota Vikings (11-5)

Speaking of freezing games, this may rival the coldest playoff game in history or something close. And while I like Teddy Bridgewater more than most, I think he’s getting eaten alive here once Seattle slows down Adrian Peterson. Seattle, easily the hottest team in the league right now, is going to get beat by Bridgewater in -7 degree weather after they stack the box against Peterson (this is what Kam Chancellor’s for). Not going to happen.

And Seattle gets Beast Mode back.

Vikings one hope: the Rams always seem to beat Washington and did so in Week 16…and that’s like the poor man’s Vikings right?

Seahawks 21, Vikings 3

Green Bay Packers (10-6) @ Washington Redskins (9-7)

What the heck happened to the Green Bay Packers. Injuries to Jordy Nelson and Sam Shields just killed them on both sides of the ball down the stretch, eh. The Shields one matters here as this should be a shootout now.

Crazy stat: Kirk Cousins actually had just as good a season as Aaron Rodgers. 31 TD, 8 INT, 3,821 Yards, 6.7 YPA, 60% Completion for Rodgers this year. Cousins went for 29 TD, 11 INT, 4,166 Yards, 7.7 YPA, 70% Completion. How crazy is that. Of course, Rodgers did this will most of his main weapons down or falling apart. So both of these teams will score a lot this weekend, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I’m going to ride Cousins and the Redskins here. The Packers just looked bad the last two months. They lost to Detroit once, beat them a 2^nd time because of some crazy Hail Mary, lost to the Bears and are coming off getting spanked by Arizona and losing the division to Minnesota in Green Bay. Sure, Washington hasn’t beaten anyone significant this year, but I really like how they played down the stretch to win their division and make the playoffs. It’s rare that I go with the momentum pick, but Green Bay just doesn’t look good.

Redskins 35, Packers 30

Basketball

Top 100 Greatest Basketball Players Of All-Time: The Top 10

January 6, 2016 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#10. Kobe Bryant

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’08)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’09, ’10)

NBA All-1^st Team: 11x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ‘13)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’00, ’01)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’99, ’05)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 9x (’00, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’01, ’02, ‘12)

NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team: 1x (’97)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 4x (’02, ’07, ’09, ‘11)

NBA All-Star: 17x (’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Points Leader: 4x (’03, ’06, ’07, ’08)

NBA Top 10 Points: 12x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’03, ’06, ‘08)

NBA Top 10 PER: 11x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 8x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 7x (’00, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’08, ’09)

NBA Career Points: 3rd

NBA Career Assists: 29^th

NBA Career Steals: 14th

NBA Career Win Shares: 15th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’09 Lakers, ’10 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Three Champions: ’00 Lakers, ’01 Lakers, ’02 Lakers

Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’04 Lakers, ’08 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 8th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 10th

I probably don’t have to argue that Kobe Bryant is a top 10 player in basketball history, but I probably do I have to defend my stance that he’s not in the top 5. So while it isn’t my intention to write a negative Kobe Bryant piece…there’s a chance it’ll come off that way.

First, let’s go over the arguments of why Bryant is in the top 10 and why he should receive some recognition for even being ranked higher.

First, he has five rings. Many will say that he was at least even with Shaq for those first three rings (which isn’t true, although it’s arguable for 2002). Of course the five rings (and two other Finals appearances) is great, but it can’t be forgotten that Bryant wasn’t even All-NBA 1^st team for two of them.

The 81 point game. It’s obviously quite impressive. He arguably could have done this twice too with his 62 point game no one remembers against Dallas (a much tougher opponent than the terrible Raptors team he scored the 81 against) where he only played 32 minutes, sitting out the entire 4^th. Of course, when you were allowed to shoot as much as Kobe could in 2006 (2 assists in the 81 point game, 0 in the 62 point game) an explosion like that was definitely on the table.

He took Smush Parker to the playoffs! Yes, the ’06 and ’07 Lakers were pretty awful and Kobe getting them to the playoffs is a hell of an achievement. We’ll get to that.

Ok, so why isn’t Kobe higher than 10?

He arguably was never the best player in the league for one. He wasn’t even the correct choice for MVP when he won it in 2008 (Chris Paul was). You can argue that he correctly was never the MVP of the league (although, I think I’d give it to him in 2006). Every other player on this list, with perhaps the exception of one, clearly was the best player in the league at one point. Amazingly, for a big time scorer, Bryant was never super efficient, failing to crack 47% shooting for a season even once in his career. His advanced metrics are slightly disappointing.

Secondly, Kobe Bryant was given everything to succeed. He began his career with arguably the greatest low post presence in NBA history. After that he got Phil Jackson as his Head Coach. After pissing off both Shaq and Jackson (read Jackson’s book “The Last Season”. It’s shocking Kobe and Phil got back together after that), he went through a tough season and got Jackson back. When he couldn’t get out of Round 1, he was gifted not only a budding Andrew Bynum, but Pau Gasol for basically free. Has another other big name superstar received so much help in his career? It should be pointed out that without elite help, Kobe could never get past Round 1. He had a chance to in 2006 against the Suns up 3-1. The Lakers lost 4-3.

Twice early on when everyone thought Kobe and Shaq were equals, Kobe had a chance to lead the Lakers but failed. The first time was in the 2002 season, where Kobe led Laker teams were 5-8 while Shaq was out. The 2^nd time was the 2004-2005 season. Despite hand checking being outlawed and the league moving to a perimeter based game, Kobe suffered without Shaq and Jackson, and failed to enter the group of players that guaranteed you a playoff berth when healthy and in their peak.

Lastly, Kobe Bryant’s “clutchness” is slightly overblown. He actually didn’t have a great shooting percentage late in 4^th quarters and absolutely bombed and was saved in the biggest game of his career (Game 7 vs. the Celtics in 2010, Bryant shot 6 for 24, but the Lakers came back with Kobe on the bench). I would probably say he was very good, but not great, when it mattered.

Kobe will historically never be treated fairly. Everyone wanted him to be the next Michael Jordan and while he clearly never was that…he still was great overall and his accomplishments can’t be denied.

#9. Hakeem Olajuwon

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’94)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’94, ‘95)

NBA All-1^st Team: 6x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93, ’94, ‘97)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’86, ’90, ‘96)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’95, ‘99)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2x (’93, ’94)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’87, ’88, ’90, ’93, ‘94)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 4x (’85, ’91, ’96, ‘97)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 2x (’89, ‘90)

NBA Blocks Leader: 2x (’90, ’93)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 5x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91)

NBA Top 10 Points: 8x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ‘97)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 10x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 2x (’89, ’90)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 14x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘99)

NBA Top 10 PER: 13x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘99)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93, ‘94)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 13x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 5x (’86, ’87, ’89, ’93, ‘94)

NBA Career Points: 10th

NBA Career Blocks: 1st

NBA Career Steals: 8^th

NBA Career Rebounds: 13th

NBA Career Win Shares: 15^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 4^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 18^th

NBA Career WS/48: 44th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’94 Rockets, ’95 Rockets

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’86 Rockets

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 11th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 13^th

Hakeem Olajuwon gets the nod over Kobe for one big reason: there’s a two year stretch where without a shadow of a doubt Hakeem was the best player in the league. After having a huge 1993 and bringing the Rockets back to relevancy, Hakeem followed up with a great 1994 and filled the void left by the retirement of Michael Jordan. Hakeem had a 27-13-4-4 season, leading the Rockets to 58 wins despite not having a real 2^nd guy (Kenny Smith? Otis Thorpe?). The Rockets ripped through the playoffs, only going the distance against Charles Barkley’s Suns in seven games. In the Finals against a superior Knicks team, Olajuwon owned Patrick Ewing and the Rockets came back down 3-2. Hakeem in Game 6? A 30-10-4. In Game 7? A 25-10-7-3. While the Rockets struggled record wise in 1995, Hakeem again led them throughout the playoffs. After getting through Malone’s Jazz and Barkley’s Suns, Hakeem went against 1995 MVP David Robinson and showed him who the real MVP was. Go on youtube and see for yourself, the video is titled Hakeem dominates Robinson. Hakeem would go on to average a 33-12-6 in the Finals against Shaquille O’Neal, and Shaq has gone on record about just how great Hakeem was.

If that doesn’t convince you, Hakeem was always great anyway. He came into the league and immediately led the Rockets to the playoffs. In his 2^nd year he was good enough to lead the Rockets to the Finals with Ralph Sampson and came within two games of upsetting the 1986 Celtics. The Rockets around him imploded basically making Hakeem an earlier version of Kevin Garnett, leading bad teams to the playoffs every year. The best example of Hakeem’s no help? In the 1988 Playoffs, Hakeem averaged 38-17-2-3 including a 41-26 game, yet the Rockets still lost in four. Maybe that shouldn’t have surprised anyone since the season before in Game 6 against Seattle he put up a 49-25 in a losing effort.

Hakeem is the greatest defensive center of the modern era. He beat all of his rivals (Ewing, Robinson and Shaq) in big moments in a two year span and left no question about who the best player in the NBA was when Jordan was gone. And speaking of Jordan, well, one city that doesn’t seem to care that they drafted someone else ahead of Jordan is Houston. That’s how great Hakeem is.

#8. Shaquille O’Neal

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’00)

NBA Finals MVP: 3x (’00, ’01, ‘02)

NBA All-1^st Team: 8x (’98, ’00, 01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ‘06)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘95)

NBA All-3rd Team: 4x (’94, ’96, ’97, ‘09)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’00, ’01, ‘03)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’93)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’93)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 3x (’00, ’04, ’09)

NBA All-Star: 15x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ‘09)

NBA Points Leader: 3x (’95, ’99, ’00)

NBA FG% Leader: 10x (’94, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’09)

NBA PER Leader: 5x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’00, ’01)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 2x (’00, ’02)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 1x (‘00)

NBA Top 10 Points: 9x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 8x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’03, ‘05)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 8x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’00, ’01, ’03, ’04, ‘05)

NBA Top 10 PER: 14x (’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ‘06)

NBA Top 6 Win Shares: 7x (’94, ’95, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 6 WS/48: 8x (’94, ’95, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05)

NBA Career Points: 7th

NBA Career Blocks: 8th

NBA Career Rebounds: 14th

NBA Career Win Shares: 15^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 4^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 11th

NBA Career WS/48: 15th

Best Player on Three Champions: ’00 Lakers, ’01 Lakers, ’02 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’06 Heat

Best Player on One Runner-up: ’95 Magic

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-up: ’04 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 12th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 4th

Shaquille O’Neal could have been #1 on this list. There are two trains of thought of why he never reached those heights. The first is that he never really took basketball as seriously as he could have except for 2000. For a while I agreed with this, reading stories about Shaq not being in shape and several players over the years complaining about that. But once I read Shaq’s book and he wrote about how his body needed to recover more than others due to the pounding he took, I changed the course on my opinion about Shaq’s effort. His body was unique and in a lot of ways its incredible he didn’t break down like Yao or others that were bigger than the standard (well he did at the end). So I tend to agree with the 2^nd course, that if Shaq went all out his body would have fallen apart, and he maximized the strengths his body gave him.

And maximized he did. Shaq dominated the NBA for most of his career and especially in the early 2000s. He was taken for granted, with fans complaining he was only good because of his power and not talent (which was ridiculous). Didn’t matter to Shaq. Once Phil Jackson came into play Shaq was able to channel his focus and energy and basically kicked the NBA’s ass; absolutely dominating in 2000. He probably should have been the 2001 MVP as well (and 2005) and destroyed Dikembe Mutombo in the 2001 Finals.

The Lakers would eventually choose Kobe over Shaq, and Shaq made them pay by winning a title in 2006 (and possibly would have in 2005 had Wade not went down in the Conference Finals). Shaq still had some solid years left at the end of his career too, playing decently in 2009 and becoming a great role player in 2011.

While Tim Duncan held the “best player alive” title for perhaps one season in 1999 post-MJ, Shaq owned it through 2002. During those early 2000s years no could go toe to toe with Shaq. Not Mutombo, not Duncan, not anyone.

#7. Larry Bird

Resume

NBA MVP: 3x (’84, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’84, ‘86)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘90)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’82, ’83, ‘84)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’80)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’80)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘82)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’90, ’91, ‘92)

NBA FT% Leader: 4x (’84, ’86, ’87, ’90)

NBA PER Leader: 2x (’85, ‘86)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’85, ‘86)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 2x (’85, ‘86)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 4x (’80, ’81, ’84, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 7x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ‘85)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’81, ’84, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 PER: 7x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 9x (’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA Top 6 WS/48: 7x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ‘88)

NBA Career Points: 31st

NBA Career Rebounds: 50th

NBA Career Win Shares: 23rd

NBA Career WS/48: 20th

Best Player on Three Champions: ’81 Celtics, ’84 Celtics, ’86 Celtics

Best Player on Two Runner-ups: ’85 Celtics, ’87 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 5th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 9th

The moment Larry Legend stepped onto the court he was the best player in the NBA. Boston, during a rare slump, had missed the playoffs two straight seasons and came off a 29-53 year. Bird showed up, and here are your win totals for his first nine seasons: 61, 62, 63, 56, 62, 63, 67, 59 and 57. With Magic, he’s credited with saving the NBA. And how did he do it? Be being great. By being a winner and creating and being a big reason each and every NBA season was compelling. He had a competitive streak that only guys like Jordan and Russell matched. For the stat counters he’s arguably the reason Fantasy Basketball was created (PTS+AST+REB, the Larry Bird League).

We also loved how Bird played. At times he would run around to the opposing team’s bench just to hit a three pointer in their face. He once asked an opposing crowd to get louder when shooting a free throw. He walked into the inaugural three point contest and asked “who’s coming in second?” then of course, won the contest. He led teams that ripped through the two best young players in the league in Jordan and Olajuwon. If it weren’t for Magic and the Lakers, the Celtics might have just won four straight titles.

As for dominance, look at his 1985 season: 28.7 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 52-43-88%s. And it wasn’t like the other seasons were much worse. Even after his back betrayed him, he had a great 1990 and put up solid efforts in 1991 and 1992.

He’s 7^th only because of that. If Bird had started earlier or had been able to extend his career, perhaps he could be in the Top 5, but the six players ahead of him were just so dominant at certain points I just can’t put Bird ahead.

#6. LeBron James

Resume

NBA MVP: 4x (’09, ’10, ’12, ‘13)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’12, ‘13)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’05, ‘07)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’14)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’04)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’04)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’06, ‘08)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA PER Leader: 6x (’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 5x (’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Top 10 Points: 12x (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 7x (’05, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 5x (’05, ’08, ’09, ’11, ‘12)

NBA Top 10 PER: 11x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Top 4 Win Shares: 10x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘14)

NBA Career Points: 17^th

NBA Career Assists: 22^nd

NBA Career Steals: 30th

NBA Career Win Shares: 10th

NBA Career WS/48: 6th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’12 Heat, ’13 Heat

Best Player on Four Runner-ups: ’07 Cavs, ’11 Heat, ’14 Heat, ’15 Cavs

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 20th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 31st

Like Wilt, LeBron gets criticized for the times he falls short way more than he should be, and his successes aren’t given enough credit. Let’s look at those criticisms and tear (most of) them apart.

He’s 2-4 in the NBA Finals.

Only one of these losses go against LeBron, which is the 2011 Finals where he failed to assert himself in a very winnable series. Other than that, you can’t really blame him. He ripped apart the ’07 Pistons and that Cavs team (absolutely awful without LeBron) stood no chance against the ’07 Spurs. In 2014 the Heat weren’t as strong as the year before as they battled injures (especially to Dwyane Wade) and Kwahi Leonard stepped up and became a superstar. Remember, people thought the 2013 Spurs were the best team in NBA history to not win the NBA title. In 2015 the Warriors from top to bottom were so much better than the Cavs it might have been the biggest mismatch in NBA history once Kyrie Irving went down. LeBron still got it to six games. Has anyone gotten to the Finals with less talent than LeBron on his team?

He’s not clutch.

Yeah, he is. Once again everyone like to point out the failures (like him missing the potential game winning shot in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals) and totally ignore the successes (the 48 Special against Detroit in 2007, the shot vs. Orlando in 2009 and the shot against Chicago in 2015). He has a high FG% late in games, much higher than someone like Kobe.

He gave up on Cleveland.

This was admittedly pretty bad. The 2010 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals was quite embarrassing for LeBron, and we still don’t know what was going on there. But it’s not as if other great players didn’t let their teams down late either. The only ones who escape this really are Jordan, Russell, Duncan and Bird.

The East has been weak throughout LeBron’s career.

It was in Jordan’s too. And it wasn’t like they were all bad teams. Those early Wizards teams had talent (Gilbert, Butler and Jamison), Detroit had won a NBA title and nearly won a 2^nd one, and Chicago was no slouch in 2011 or 2015. Plus he averaged a triple double against the 60 win Hawks last year.

So let’s look at the positives.

He has some of the most clutch games ever.

He has the highest Game 7 scoring average in NBA history. His Game 5 against Detroit in the Conference Finals (the 48 special) gave him no ceiling whatsoever as a player (48-9-7, scored 25 of the last 26 Cleveland points). In perhaps the most important game of his career (up to that point), down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals to Boston with no titles yet to his name, in Boston, he went for a 45-15 on 19/26 shooting, ending Boston’s last shot at a title. He clinched the title with a 26-13. He followed that up in the 2013 NBA Finals, once again down 3-2, with two spectacular games: a 32-10-11 and a 37-12 in the clincher. And in losing, he averaged a 36-13-9 in the 2015 NBA Finals (admittedly did shoot poorly).

He has some of the best Advanced Metrics ever.

In the modern era, he has the best WS/48 season ever (better than Jordan) and four of the top 11 overall. He’s already 10^th on the career win shares list. He had a staggering .399 WS/48 in the ’09 playoffs.

He was undoubtedly the best player in the NBA for six straight years.

Sorry Kobe fans, but give LeBron Pau Gasol in ’09 or ’10 and he’s winning the title too. ’11 Derrick Rose won the MVP and got owned by LeBron in the Conference Finals. ’12 and ’13 are obvious. ’14 Durant might have won the MVP, but it was unclear how effective he was without Westbrook.

LeBron still has a shot at the top 3 (even #1, unlikely as that is). I expect Cleveland to be in the Finals again in ’16 too.

#5. Tim Duncan

Resume

NBA MVP: 2x (’02, ‘03)

NBA Finals MVP: 3x (’99, ’03, ‘05)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ‘13)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’06, ’08, ‘09)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 1x (’15)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 8x (’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’07, ‘08)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 7x (’98, ’04, ’06, ’09, ’10, ’13, ‘15)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’98)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’98)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘00)

NBA All-Star: 15x (’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ‘15)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 1x (’02)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’02, ’03)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 4x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’13)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 1x (’02)

NBA Defensive Win Shares Leader: 5x (’98, ’99, ’01, ’06, ’07)

NBA Top 10 Points: 4x (’98, ’99, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 8 Rebounds: 12x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 15x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’11, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Top 10 PER: 13x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘13)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 9x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03 ,’04, ’07, ‘10)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 13x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘15)

NBA Career Points: 14th

NBA Career Rebounds: 7th

NBA Career Blocks: 5th

NBA Career Win Shares: 6th

NBA Career WS/48: 13^th

Career Defensive Rating: 2nd

Best Player on Five Champions: ’99 Spurs, ’03 Spurs, ’05 Spurs, ’07 Spurs, ’14 Spurs

Best Player on One Runner-up: ’13 Spurs

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 7th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 8^th

Without a doubt the most consistent superstar ever. I don’t think I have to defend Duncan’s high ranking, but I probably have to defend putting him above Kobe Bryant. The fact of the matter is Duncan got two advantages in his career, and one didn’t really pan out until 2005ish. He was lucky to end up in a great system with Gregg Popovich and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili very good 2^nd and 3^rd options (but not great). Unlike Kobe, Duncan came into the league and was immediately great (NBA All-1^st Team his Rookie Year!), and in year 2 he became the face of the Spurs over David Robinson. He temporarily grabbed the “Best Player Alive” Championship in only his 2^nd year, winning the 1999 Championship and holding off Shaq. Even in Shaq’s three year era of dominance, Duncan (rightfully) took a MVP and took back the Best Player Alive title. His dominant 2003 season is one of the best ever in regards to carrying a team. He wins MVP, gets San Antonio by the Lakers with little help (roster that year, a 19 year old Parker, Stephen Jackson, Bruce Bowen, a washed up Robinson and Manu, who was still a low minute bench guy).

Still, he spanked the Lakers in the 2^nd Round (games of 28-7-8, 28-11, 36-9, 27-14 and 37-16 in the clincher in LA no less). With the Spurs falling apart around him, he carried them in the 2003 NBA Finals with one of the best Finals performances ever (the Spurs had used Speedy Claxton at some points because Parker wasn’t playing well…Speedy Claxton!) Here’s Duncan’s 2003 NBA Finals: A 32-20-6-7Blk in Game 1, a 21-16-7 in Game 3, a 23-17-7Blk in Game 4, a 29-17 in Game 5 and a 21-20-10-8blk in the clincher (that’s right, a near quadruple double no one talks about today for some reason).

He hit a clutch shot right before Fisher’s miracle .4 seconds shot that no one remembers because of Fisher. He won the ’05 title, dealing with Ben and Rasheed Wallace in the Finals. In 2007 with the league changing to favor offense, Duncan’s defense shut down any teams that had a slasher (like LeBron in the ’07 Finals). Continually was one of the best players in the league through 2015, saving himself for the playoffs and taking less money to let the Spurs build their roster (he averaged a 15-10 with 58% shooting in the ’14 Finals win). Even in a loss, he played great in his last playoff series as well, averaging a 18-11 in the Round 1 exit last year against the Clippers (who had DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin in the middle). That included a 27-11 in the Game 7 loss. In Duncan’s entire run in the NBA, he never played for a team that won less than 50 games (’99 lockout season they won 37, but the winning % was higher than a 50 win season).

Today Duncan’s taken a smaller role than ever, but I wouldn’t rule him out for having a big playoffs. It may be Leonard’s team now, but I think everyone knows who the top guy is in the Spurs locker room.

#4. Magic Johnson

Resume

NBA MVP: 3x (’87, ’89, ‘90)

NBA Finals MVP: 3x (’80, ’82, ’87)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘82)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’80)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’90, ‘92)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’80, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ‘92)

NBA Assists Leader: 3x (’83, ’86, ‘87)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (‘87)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (‘87)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 11x (’80, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 4x (’80, ’82, ’83, ‘84)

NBA Top 10 PER: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘91)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 8x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’89, ’90, ’91)

NBA Career Assists: 5th

NBA Career Steals: 19th

NBA Career Win Shares: 20th

NBA Career WS/48: 8th

Career Defensive Rating: 3rd

Best Player on Two Champions: ’87 Lakers, ’88 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Three Champions: ’80 Lakers, ’82 Lakers, ’85 Lakers

Best Player on Two Runner-ups: ’89 Lakers, ’91 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’83 Lakers, ’84 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 4th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 6^th

Took the “Best Player Alive” title from Bird in 1987, only to kind of co-hold it with Jordan for the next few years until he retired. He gets the edge on Bird because he was able to peak when Bird unfortunately fell apart.

Magic was also great right away. While he didn’t make All-NBA teams right away, his performance in the 1980 Finals made him a legend as a rookie. With Kareem being out, Magic played center and had a 42-15-7. Then, we almost lost him, as Magic almost became one of those young guys given way too much too soon. Of course, LA thought it was a good idea for Magic to share point guard duties with Norm Nixon for some reason. Magic rebounded in ’82 with a near season average of a triple double. Magic would peak after Nixon was traded, but still in the 1984 Finals he had one of the most unclutch performances by a top guy in NBA history (threw ball away on a potential game winning play in Game 2, missed two clutch free throws in Game 4 and had two late turnovers to cost LA in Game 7). Still, Magic helped win the ’85 title, then took over for an aging Kareem as the alpha dog on the Lakers. After Hakeem and Sampson roughed up Kareem in 1986, Magic became the best player in the league, leading the Lakers to four more Finals appearances in the next five years, despite Kareem falling apart and retiring. In that five year span: Two Rings, Two MVPs, Four Finals appearances. We also have no idea if LA could have come back in ’89 as Magic got injured in the series.

It should be noted that when Magic joined the Lakers, LA had the following win totals: 60, 54, 57, 58, 54, 62, 62, 65, 62, 57, 63 and 58. He made the Finals nine times in 13 seasons (not counting what comeback in ’96). He took over for Kareem naturally and extended the Laker Dynasty which wouldn’t really return until Shaq and Kobe showed up. And who knows what happens in ’92 if he doesn’t get HIV.

#3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Resume

NBA MVP: 6x (’71, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’77, ‘80)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’71, ‘85)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’84, ‘86)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 4x (’70, ’78, ’79, ‘83)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 5x (’74, ’75, ’79, ’80, ’81)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 6x (’70, ’71, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’84)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’70)

NBA Rookie All-1^st Team: 1x (’70)

NBA All-Star: 19x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ‘89)

NBA Points Leader: 3x (’70, ’71, ‘72)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 2x (’76, ’77)

NBA Blocks Leader: 4x (’76, ’77, ’79, ’80)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 9x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 9x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80)

NBA PER Leader: 9x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’81)

NBA Top 10 Points: 13x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 12x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ‘85)

NBA Top 10 PER: 17x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83,’84, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 16x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 16x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ‘86)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 5x (’78, ’80, ’81, ’83, ‘85)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 6x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80)

NBA Career Points: 1st

NBA Career Assists: 40th

NBA Career Blocks: 3rd

NBA Career Win Shares: 1st

NBA Career WS/48: 7^th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 37th

NBA Career Defensive Rating: 24th

Best Player on Four Champions: ’71 Bucks, ’80 Lakers, ’82 Lakers, ’85 Lakers

3^rd Best Player on Two Champions: ’87 Lakers, ’88 Lakers

Best Player on two Runner-Ups: ’74 Bucks, ’84 Lakers

3^rd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’89 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 3rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 7th

Kareem’s resume basically speaks for itself. He had an unstoppable (literally) shot with his Sky Hook and that shot became the surest two points in NBA history. He won in the early 70s all the way throughout the late 80s. His longevity is remarkable and is only matched by Duncan in terms of playing at a high level.

Bill Simmons also showed that when considering eras, opponents and minutes played, Kareem’s early 70s stats may have been on par or even better than Wilt’s in the 60s. He helped Oscar win a title and bridged the gap to helping Magic win titles.

Again, not much to say. Best statistical center ever, overall winner, he even won tons of awards too (six MVPs, and probably shoulda won a seventh!)

#2. Bill Russell

Resume

NBA MVP: 5x (’58, ’61, ’62, ’63, ‘65)

NBA All-1^st Team: 3x (’59, ’63, ‘65)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 8x (’58, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’64, ’66, ’67, ‘68)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (‘69)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ‘69)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 4x (’58, ’59, ’64, ‘65)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 11x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ‘69)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 4x (’63, ’64, ’65, ‘67)

NBA Top 10 PER: 8x (’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’62, ’64, ’65, ’67)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 11x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’69)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ‘67)

NBA Top 3 Defensive Win Shares: 13x (’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69)

NBA Career Rebounds: 2nd

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 1^st

NBA Career Win Shares: 17^th

NBA Career WS/48: 24th

Best Player on Eleven Champions: ’57 Celtics, ’59 Celtics, ’60 Celtics, ’61 Celtics, ’62 Celtics, ’63 Celtics, ’64 Celtics, ’65 Celtics, ’66 Celtics, ’68 Celtics, ’69 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 2nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 3^rd

Russell single handedly modernized basketball the first time, laying waste to the career of 50s centers like Walt Bellamy. He was the most destructive force in the NBA throughout his entire career (even though it should have been Wilt). His peers respected him so much that the voted him for five MVP awards (even during the year Wilt averaged a 50-27). Russell always stepped it up in the playoffs as well, usually limiting Chamberlain when playing against him, and setting some records himself (24.9 playoff RPG, 40 rebounds in a game, 32 in a half). Russell, a lot like Duncan right now, only brought it when he needed to. If Wilt wanted to score 60 or whatever points one night and the game was virtually over, Russell would let him.

Every player from that era (other than, again, Wilt) reveres Russell, and today the Finals MVP trophy is named after him. And as we proved with earlier sections, Russell didn’t always have the most stacked team either. (It should be pointed out he coached the last two titles too).

#1. Michael Jordan

Resume

NBA MVP: 5x (’88, ’91, ’92, ’96, ’98)

NBA Finals MVP: 6x (’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘85)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1x (’88)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 9x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 3x (’88, ’96, ’98)

NBA All-Star: 14x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’02, ‘03)

NBA Points Leader: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Steals Leader: 3x (’88, ’90, ’93)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 9x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97)

NBA Offensive Win Share Leader: 8x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 8x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ‘97)

NBA PER Leader: 7x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93)

NBA Top 4 Steals: 9x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 1x (’88)

NBA Top 4 PER: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 2 Win Shares: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 3 WS/48: 11x (’85, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’97, ’98)

NBA Top 6 Defensive Win Shares: 8x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’96, ’98)

NBA Career Points: 4^th

NBA Career PPG: 1st

NBA Career Assists: 42^nd

NBA Career Steals: 3^rd

NBA Career Win Shares: 4^th

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 19th

NBA Career Win Shares: 17^th

NBA Career WS/48: 1st

Best Player on Six Champions: ’91 Bulls, ’92 Bulls, ’93 Bulls, ’96 Bulls, ’97 Bulls, ’98 Bulls

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 1st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 1st

I assume I don’t really need to argue this. Let’s just close up the top 100 list with some Jordan facts/stories.

Jordan holds the record for playoff PPG as well at 33.4.

Pistons Coach Chuck Daly basically said he was so good it was an embarrassment to the league, and it was insane how hard it was to gear his entire team to stop one man.

Not only was he the best offensive player in NBA history, he was one of the best defensive players as well, even winning Defensive Player of the Year!

His destruction of the Trail Blazers and Clyde Drexler in Game 1 of the 1992 Finals stands tall as the greatest “FU” performance in NBA history.

Averaged a 41-9-6 in the 1993 Finals.

Basically won Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals by himself. (scored 45 of Chicago’s 87 points, Pippen was injured and played limited minutes, layup, steal of Karl Malone, famous game winner ending sequence).

Just to list some of his famous playoff game winners: The Shot vs. Cleveland, The Shot II against Cleveland in ’93, the ’97 Finals Shot against Utah, and of course, the famous Game 6 winner in ’98 against Utah.

There are countless other great game winners out there for Jordan. For example, looking up the “Shot II” I found a video of Jordan beating Cleveland when playing for Washington with a game winner called “The Shot III”.

Scored 63 against the ’86 Celtics in the playoffs. With all the crazy high scoring numbers from Wilt etc., this actually stands as the highest total ever.

Look, MJ’s the best ever. I wouldn’t be writing anything new here. Maybe LeBron has a 1% shot of getting here, but I don’t like his chances.

Uncategorized

Top 100 Greatest Basketball Players Ever: #20-#11

December 19, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#20. Dwyane Wade

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’06)

NBA All-1^st Team: 2x (’09, ’10)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’05, ’06, ’11)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 3x (’07, ’12, ’13)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team 3x: (’05, ’09, ’10)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’04)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘10)

NBA All-Star: 11x (05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’09)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (’07)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’05, ’06, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 3x (’05, ’09, ‘10)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’06, ’09, ’10)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’06, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’06, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12)

NBA Top 10 PER: 8x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

Best Player on One Champions: ’06 Heat

2^nd Best Player on Two Champions: ’12 Heat, ’13 Heat

2^nd Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’11 Heat, ’14 Heat

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 28th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 49th

Dwyane Wade’s two peaks are better than what most great players can do in their careers. The 2006 NBA Finals may have been heavily weighted in Wade’s favor (no hand-checking, refs calling everything for him), but that shouldn’t discount what he did to Dallas to win the 2006 Championship. 35 PPG, 8 REB including a 42-13 in a must win Game 3, a 36 point game in Game 4 to even the series, a 43 point game in Game 5 and and a 36-10-5-4-3 in the clincher. Wade’s 2006 Finals performance was one of the best over. It also can’t be forgotten that if he doesn’t get hurt in the 2005 Conference Finals, perhaps Wade adds another Finals appearance…and maybe ring…to his resume.

In 2009 and 2010, Wade became the best shooting guard in the league. In fact his 2009 season: 30 PPG, 5 RPG, 7.5 APG on 49% shooting was probably the best Jordan impression we ever got since Jordan.

He was so good in 2010 that when LeBron left Cleveland to join Wade in Miami, people thought Wade might have been the better player. Of course these problems led to some chemistry issues that were ultimately resolved when Wade got hurt and scaled back a little bit in 2012.

Speaking of which, Wade transformed into a great 2^nd banana for LeBron as the Heat went to the Finals every year LeBron was there.

When Wade was healthy and in his prime, the Heat were either a title contender or a 20 win team that somehow made the playoffs. So why is Wade only 20^th? Because he wasn’t healthy enough. The last four seasons? He missed 17, 13, 28, and 20 games. He also had injury problems earlier in his career.

It’ll take a late career surge for Wade to be considered any higher. But 20^th is pretty good.

#19. Karl Malone

Resume

NBA MVP: 2x (’97, ’99)

NBA All-1^st Team: 11x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ‘99)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’88, ’00)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 1x (’01)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team 3x: (’97, ’98, ‘99)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’88)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’86)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’89, ‘93)

NBA All-Star: 15x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ‘02)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (’97)

NBA Win Share Leader; 2x (’98, ’99)

NBA Top 4 Points: 13x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ‘00)

NBA Top 10 Points: 14x: (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’02)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 13x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’00)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 14x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’03)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 13x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01)

NBA Top 5 PER: 13x ((’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01)

NBA Career Points: 2^nd

NBA Career Rebounds: 6^th

NBA Career Steals: 10^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 3^rd

NBA Career WS/48: 18^th

NBA Career PER: 15th

Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’97 Jazz, ’98 Jazz

Role Player on One Runner-Up: ’04 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 18th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 18^th

Karl Malone makes it this high because of his gaudy totals and he was usually a top 5 to 10 guy in the NBA season after the season. But despite what seems to be a Top 10 resume there’s no way Malone can be that high. Everything worked in Malone’s favor other than Michael Jordan returning to the NBA in the late 90s. Season after season Malone led Jazz teams disappointed in the playoffs and when they finally made the Finals (see the John Stockton section for why they made it there) Malone’s Jazz never had a real chance to beat the Bulls. Malone had a prime chance to win the NBA Title in the lock-out shortened 1999 season where again everything lined up perfectly (no more Jordan, everyone came into the season out of shape because of the lock-out, NBA still with a super slow pace), only the Jazz surprisingly dropped a six game series to the up and coming Trail Blazers (with Malone giving an 8 point effort in the deciding game). I’m not even thinking about all the missed clutch free throws (Game 1 in the ’97 Finals and Game 7 in the ’96 Conference Finals immediately come to mind) or the fact that with the game on the line Malone lost the ball to Jordan before Jordan’s iconic ’98 Finals Game 6 shot. It should be pointed out Malone’s WS/48 takes a steep drop for his playoff career. Don’t even get me started on the fact that Malone had Stockton for his whole career. Karl Malone was great, but when push came to shove, he was always the one who lost.

#18. Charles Barkley

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’93)

NBA All-1^st Team: 5x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ‘93)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 5x (’86, ’87, ’92, ’94, ’95)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 1x (’96)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’85)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘91)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ‘97)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 2x (’89, ’90)

NBA Win Share Leader: 2x (’98, ’99)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 9x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’99)

NBA Top 5 Steals: 1x (’86)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 11x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’95, ’97, ’99)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93)

NBA Top 10 PER: 14x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99)

NBA Career Points: 24th

NBA Career Rebounds: 18th

NBA Career Steals: 24th

NBA Career Win Shares: 13th

NBA Career WS/48: 9th

NBA Career PER: 11th

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’93 Suns

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 19th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 20^th

Just going by resume it seems like Malone should have a big edge over Barkley. But I’ll take Barkley for the following reasons.

I feel as if teams had a better chance to win with Barkley than Malone. We covered Malone’s inadequacies in his section. Barkley’s problem was that he thought he was better than he was and played that way. The difference is that it never worked in Malone’s case, where Barkley gave his ’93 Suns a legitimate chance in the 1993 NBA Finals.

Malone had Stockton his whole career. Barkley had no sense of stability ever and was still a dominate force. How great is Malone without Stockton? Impossible to tell.

Barkley was a historically great rebounder going by rebounding percentage. Malone was merely very good.

Barkley outshined Malone in the 1992 Olympics, becoming the team’s 2^nd best player while Malone played a bench role.

Barkley’s career regular season WS/48 was .216 and in the playoffs it was .193, a reasonable drop (because you on average play tougher opponents in the playoffs). Malone went from a .205 to a .140. Ouch.

Malone took care of himself better and as a result had a longer career…but I’ll take Barkley any day.

#17. Julius Erving

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’81)

ABA MVP: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA All-1^st Team: 5x (’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ‘83)

ABA All-1^st Team: 4x (’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’77, ‘84)

ABA All-2^nd Team: 1x (’72)

ABA All-Defensive 1st Team: 1x (’76)

ABA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’72)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’77, ‘83)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87)

ABA All-Star: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 2x (’81, ’82)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (’80)

ABA Points Leader: 2x (’74, ’76)

ABA Win Shares Leader: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA WS/48 Leader: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA PER Leader: 4x (’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Defensive Rating Leader: 1x (’76)

NBA Top 10 Points: 5x (’77, ’79, ’80, ’81, ‘82)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 3x (’80, ’81, ’82)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 2x (’80, ’82)

NBA Top 10 PER: 6x (’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 6x (’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 3x (’80, ’81, ’84)

ABA Top 5 Points: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 5 Assists: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 Rebounds: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 Steals: 4x (’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 Blocks: 4x (’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 WS/48: (’72, ’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 5 Offensive Rating: 1x (’76)

ABA Top 2 Defensive Rating: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA+NBA Career Points: 6th

ABA+NBA Career Rebounds: 33rd

ABA+NBA Career Steals: 7th

ABA+NBA Career Blocks: 22nd

ABA+NBA Career WS/48: 26th

ABA+NBA Career Win Shares: 13th

2^nd Best Player on One NBA Champion: ’83 Sixers

Best Player on Three NBA Runner-Ups: ’77 Sixers, ’80 Sixers, ’81 Sixers

Best Player on Two ABA Champions: ’74 Nets, ’76 Nets

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 16th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 16th

Dr. J dominated the ABA. Absolutely owned it. If he had kept up that pace throughout his NBA Career we perhaps would have had a Top 10 player. But once the merger took place Dr. J was great, but not transcendent like he was in the ABA.

Erving averaged from 27-31 points per game around 11 rebounds per game (including 15.7 his rookie season) and around 5 assists per game in his ABA career. His first NBA season? 22-9-4. It’s not as if those are bad stats, but if you are putting Doc in your Top 10 and using his ABA career as the reason you need to acknowledge that the ABA was a weaker league.

With that being said, Dr. J still had a great NBA career. He got to the Finals four times (but needed Moses to actually get him the ring) and got close two other seasons. He won a MVP in 1981. He also was a solid player all the way through 1987, so longevity helps his case too.

Of course, Dr. J might be the most ground breaking player in NBA history, basically making dunking cool in basketball. That counts for something too.

#16. Oscar Robertson

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’64)

NBA All-1^st Team: 9x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ‘69)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’70, ‘71)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’61)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 3x (’61, ’64, ‘69)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72)

NBA Assists Leader: 6x (’61, ’62, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’69)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (’65)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 4x (’61, ’64, ’68, ’69)

NBA Top 6 Points: 9x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67 ,’68, ’69)

NBA Top 7 Assists: 13x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 1x (’62)

NBA Top 5 PER: 10x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 11x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 11x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71)

NBA Career Points: 11^th

NBA Career Assists: 6^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 9^th

NBA Career WS/48: 16^th

NBA Career Offensive Win Shares: 3rd

2^nd Best Player on One NBA Champion: ’71 Bucks

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’74 Bucks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 10th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 5th

To be honest, if it weren’t for one crazy statistical deal we probably wouldn’t even be talking about Oscar they way fans do. Like Wilt, Oscar’s reputation hinges upon that one statistical feat. We’ll get to Wilt soon. Oscar’s is that he averaged a triple double (with about 30 PPG no less) for the first five seasons of his career.

It’s arguably the most impressive stat on paper (even better than Wilt’s). 30-10-10 for five straight years? How could Oscar not be top 5 or at least top 10? Let’s break down why Oscar, while an impressive player, didn’t quite match his hype. His early teams during his statistical dominance admittedly weren’t as great as Russell’s or Wilt’s teams, but they had some talent. It didn’t stop Oscar’s Royals from being dispatched by a 37-43 Detroit team in the playoffs in ‘61, or the fact that he only led one team to 50+ wins in that span. He always lost to Russell’s Celtics or Wilt’s Sixers. Later Royal teams would outright miss the playoffs. Is this completely fair to Oscar? Yes and no. On one hand, it’s not his fault his team wasn’t as talented as others in a small league. On the other he never was able to rise to the occasion and pull off the big upset. This was despite those crazy statistics.

Speaking of which, sportswriters at the time didn’t seem to really respect those statistics either. Frank Delford stated that Oscar arrived at those numbers like a “.333 hitter who went 1 for 3 every game”. Heck, the Royals didn’t even want him near the end of his career, and he was traded for Charlie Paulk and Flynn Robinson. Paulk played 120 games. Robinson made one All-Star team.

Here’s Bill Simmons’ hypothetical: Imagine if 2009 Dwyane Wade played against Steve Blake and Jason Terry for 70 games and only in 12 did he play against an elite guy like Kobe and Pierce. Then add in that every power forward was 6’6” and there were only seven elite centers in a 30 team league. Lastly, imagine that there wer e8- rebounds available and 120 FG attempts every game. Would Wade average Oscar’s stats? Seems fair, right?

We didn’t even get into the fact that Oscar terrified his teammates, nevermind the idea of trying to make them better.

He makes it this high because you can’t ignore those stats either and he became a solid #2 guy for Kareem on the ’71 Bucks. It’s also worth going into the heavily racist history Oscar went through In college. It’s sadly horrifying.

#15. Wilt Chamberlain

Resume

NBA MVP: 4x (’60, ’66, ’67, ‘68)

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’72)

NBA All-1^st Team: 7x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’64, ’66, ’67, ’68)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’63, ’65, ’72)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’60)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘60)

NBA All-Star: 13x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

NBA Points Leader; 7x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 11x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’71, ’72, ’73)

NBA Assists Leader: 1x (’68)

NBA PER Leader: 8x (’60, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 8x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’66, ’67, ’68)

NBA Top 3 Points: 9x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69)

NBA Top 2 Rebounds: 13x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’71, ’72, ’73)

NBA Top 7 Assists: 4x (’64, ’66, ’67, ’68)

NBA Top 10 PER: 11x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’71)

NBA Top 4 Win Shares: 13x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’71, ’72, ’73)

NBA Top 7 WS/48: 12x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’73)

NBA Career Points: 5th

NBA Career Rebounds: 1st

NBA Career Win Shares: 2nd

NBA Career WS/48: 3rd

NBA Career Offensive Win Shares: 2^nd

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 3rd

Best Player on One Champion: ’67 Sixers

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’64 Warriors

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’72 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Three Runner-Ups: ’69 Lakers, ’70 Lakers, ’73 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 6th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 2nd

Think about this. Isn’t it the greatest coincidence of all time that both Oscar and Wilt put up their crazy stats in the same era?

Chamberlain’s the greatest statistical player of all time. No doubt. But despite having Hall of Fame players with him (guys like Greer, who we covered earlier) Chamberlain often fell short in the playoffs. He routinely put up absolutely insane statistics (a 100 point game, a 55 rebound game) against inferior competition. An example. In 1962 he scored 50.4 PPG in 48.5 MPG on 50.6% FG. In the playoffs that year? Same 48 MPG, but 35 PPG on 46.7% FG. In fact, Chamberlain wouldn’t win the title until the first season he took less than 25 shots a game (he took only 14). He later went on a statistics kick and went out of his way to lead the league in assists. This included passing to teammates and ignoring wide open shots.

There was also the no foul outs streak (so he’d stop playing defense if he had five fouls), his crappy FT% that actually cost his team the game (because in the famous Havlicek steals the ball moment, he said he knew the pass was never going to Wilt because he was afraid to get fouled in big moments) or most famously, the time Willis Reed limped out in MSG with a broken leg and still hit a shot despite Chamberlain being the opposing center.

Like Oscar, he dominated those he could dominate and struggled against those who could beat him. Yes, he’s great, but he’s nowhere near as great as his statistics say.

#14. Kevin Garnett

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’04)

NBA All-1^st Team: 4x (’00, ’03, ’04, ‘08)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 3x (’01, ’02, ‘05)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 2x (’99, ‘07)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1x (’08)

NBA All Defensive 1^st Team: 9x (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’08, ’09, ’11)

NBA All Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’06, ’07, ’12)

NBA All Rookie 2^nd Team: 1x (’96)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘03)

NBA All-Star: 15x (’97, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘13)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’04)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 2x (’04, ’05)

NBA PER Leader: 2x (’04, ’05)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’04, ‘05)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’04)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 2x (’08, ’12)

NBA Top 10 Points: 4x (’00, ’03, ’04, ‘07)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 9x (’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 3x (’97, ’98, ’04)

NBA Top 10 PER: 9x (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ‘08)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 7x (’00, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ‘08)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 7x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’08, ‘09)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 9x (’04, ’05, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Career Points: 15th

NBA Career Rebounds: 9^th

NBA Career Assists: 46^th

NBA Career Steals: 16^th

NBA Career Blocks: 17th

NBA Career Win Shares: 8th

NBA Career WS/48: 32nd

NBA Career Defensive Rating: 23^rd

NBA Career Defensive Win Shares: 7th

Best Player on One Champion: ’08 Celtics

Starter on One Runner-Up: ’10 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 22nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 30th

Garnett over Wilt and Oscar?

He’s the thing. Unlike Wilt and Oscar, Garnett was great in an era where his position as loaded with talent. Throughout Garnett’s career he faced off with Barkley, Malone, Duncan, Nowitzki, Webber, Gasol, Bosh and Kemp. And those are just the power forwards. He often had to deal with the opponent’s center as well. Despite this, he put up numbers during his peak that only few have accomplished in their career, and those who did do it never did it later than 1976. Garnett’s MVP season? 24-14-5. No one’s touched that since 1976. And the players who touched that were Wilt in the 60s, Baylor in the 60s, and Kareem in the 70s. Despite being 7 foot he could guard all five positions in his prime, and could even play all five if he really needed to.

Garnett never had any real help until 2004. His beat teammates were a selfish Stephon Marbury, Wally Z (who never did anything without Garnett), a past his prime Terrell Brandon, and before his prime Chauncey Billups and Tom Gugliotta. When he finally got help, a past his prime Latrell Sprewell and the underrated Sam Cassell, Garnett put up his MVP year and the T-Wolves won 58 games and made the Conference Finals. Any thoughts of KG not being clutch were put to rest in the 2004 playoffs when he finished off the Kings in his first Game 7 ever with a 32 PT, 21 REB, 4 STL, 5 BLK game shooting 12 for 23. Unfortunately, Cassell went down in the Conference Finals and despite playing some point guard, it wasn’t enough to get the Wolves past the Lakers.

Garnett’s career hit a crossroads here. While he still put up huge numbers, his prime was wasted as Sprewell got worse and Cassell stayed hurt. The Wolves made some more terrible moves…adding Ricky Davis for example and Minnesota missed the playoffs three straight years, twice having win totals in the low 30s. Garnett’s dedication to Minnesota resulted in him never demanding a trade, but luckily for his career one happened anyway when he was sent to Boston.

You can make a great argument that Garnett deserves the 2008 MVP. His stats were way down because he played less minutes…and also become the single most important defensive player in the league. He transformed the career of Rajon Rondo. He helped Paul Pierce become a winner. He brought to Boston a sense of teamwork and intensity that showed that Garnett could be a Championship level player. Only two players have ever had a season with at least an 118 offensive rating and a least a 94 defensive rating. 1992 David Robinson and ’08 Garnett. While Garnett at times looked bad in the playoffs, he still came through with some big performances (26-14-4 to clinch the title).

Garnett hung around a few more years in Boston, anchoring a top defense each year and helping Boston nearly win another title in 2010. But all that stuff about helping teammates and coming through in the clutch and such, well, you’d never hear that about Wilt or Oscar.

#13. Dirk Nowitzki

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’07)

NBA All-1^st Team: 4x (’05, ’06, ’07, ‘09)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 5x (’02, ’03, ’08, ’10, ‘11)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 3x (’01, ’04, ‘12)

NBA All-Star: 13x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’06, ’07)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 3x (’05, ’06, ’07)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (‘06)

NBA Top 10 Points: 11x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’12, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 3x (’02, ’04, ‘05)

NBA Top 10 PER: 11x (’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ‘14)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 11x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11, ’14)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 6x (’01, ’02, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’14)

NBA Career Points: 7th

NBA Career Rebounds: 35th

NBA Career FT%: 14^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 7th

NBA Career WS/48: 19th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 23^rd

Best Player on One Champion: ’11 Mavericks

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’06 Mavericks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 39th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 55^th

What a crazy career we have here! Nowitzki early on seemed like nothing more than a lanky German kid who would be deemed too soft. He quickly became one of the best offensive forwards we’ve ever seen, perhaps the best since Bird. With Garnett’s career stuck in Minnesota, Nowitzki tried to lay claim…and came close…to taking that “best power forward alive” title from Duncan from 2005 through 2007. Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 60 wins in 2006 and got to face off with the Spurs in Round 2. Dallas prevailed in seven games, with Nowitzki putting up performances of 27-15 on nine shots, 28-9 on 12 shots, 31-10-4, 26-21-5 and, in the clincher, a 37-15. He added to Steve Nash’s misery in the Conference Finals, putting up a 50-12 in a crucial Game 5 that helped the Mavericks get to the NBA Finals. Dallas took a 2-0 lead on the Heat, then everything seemed to change for the worse.

You can blame Dallas’ failure in the 2006 NBA Finals on a lot of things that didn’t involve Dallas: the referees, Wade going bonkers, the huge coaching mismatch (Pat Riley vs. Avery Johnson). And while all of that is true Dallas still blew the series. They had a 9 point lead late in the 4^th that would have given them a 3-0 series lead. Nowitzki fell apart. 2 for 14 with 16 points in Game 4. Only 8 for 19 shooting in a one point Game 5 loss. While he had a strong Game 6 it wasn’t enough as Miami stole the title. For a while though, things still seemed fine. Nowitzki had a great 2007. While we all mocked him for his MVP (and I did too), once we saw Stephen Curry eight years later and appreciated advanced metrics some more we realized Dirk really was the MVP that year. But then the Golden State series happened. The Warriors six game upset of the Mavericks was one of the most surreal playoff series I’ve ever seen, with Golden State doing whatever they wanted to Dallas. Nowitzki shot 38% for the series and took less shots than Josh Howard. And we all read about the toll this took on Nowitzki. While still quite good for the next three years Dallas fell into the 50-55 win range, losing in the early rounds of the playoffs. It seemed clear that Nowitzki’s chance to be a top guy on a title team was over.

And then 2011 happened. When Dallas had their best team in years, a 57-25, 3^rd seeded team, no one still gave them a chance. When they went against a tough Portland team in Round 1, many pegged that to be the upset series (including Bill Simmons, who felt Portland had four of the best five guys in the series). Nowitzki trashed them with 27 points per game. Next up were the defending champs, and Nowitzki led to an at the time shocking sweep, with big games in 1 and 3. Next up were the up and coming Oklahoma City Thunder, with young superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Once again Dallas wasn’t given a chance. Nowitzki averaged 32 a game in the series on 56% shooting, including a beautiful 48 point opener on merely 15 shots, as the Mavericks easily won the series in 5. Lastly, the ultimate test. Nowitzki was given a chance to get revenge on the Heat from five years ago. This time the Heat not only had Wade, but LeBron and Bosh as well. Nowitzki averaged a 26-10 for the series and won the Finals MVP.

Nowitzki’s has continued to be a strong player since, even nearly leading Dallas to an upset of the 2014 San Antonio Spurs in the first round (no one else remotely touched San Antonio in those playoffs). Once a disappointing MVP, Nowitzki became the player that we failed to recognize earlier because of our lack of understanding advanced metrics. He more than proved himself in 2011 and has been the reason that the Dallas Mavericks became one of the premier franchises in the NBA.

#12. Jerry West

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’69)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’70, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’68, ‘69)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 4x (’70, ’71, ’72, ’73)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’69)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’72)

NBA All-Star: 14x (’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ‘74)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (‘70)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (‘65)

NBA PER Leader: 2x (’69, ‘70)

NBA Top 10 Points: 8x (’62, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’70, ’71, ‘72)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 10x (’62, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

NBA Top 10 PER: 12x (’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 9x (’62, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’69, ’70, ’71, ‘72)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 11x (’62, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ‘73)

NBA Career Points: 20th

NBA Career Assists: 27th

NBA Career Win Shares: 19th

NBA Career WS/48: 10th

Best Player on One Champion: ’72 Lakers

Best Player on Eight Runner-Ups: ’62 Lakers, ’63 Lakers, ’65 Lakers, ’66 Lakers, ’68 Lakers, ’69 Lakers, ’70 Lakers, ’73 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 9th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 11th

It’s not really fair that Oscar gets credit for his averaging a triple double, but things that would have helped West (a three point line, more All-Defense team recognition), didn’t exist. West averaged 30 a game anyway. Year after year he carried his teams to the Finals just to get beat by Russell’s Celtics, and yes, perhaps if the Lakers had won at least one of those series West would get pushed to the Top 10. He actually had his own brand of jaw dropping statistics as well, only no one talks about them because they aren’t as catchy as “triple double” or “100 points in a game”. But in 1966, West finished in the Top 10 in nine different categories ranging from points per game to percentages, something no one has ever done. In the ’65 playoffs he averaged 46.3 PPG in the first round to carry the Lakers without Baylor, and averaged 40.6 PPG the entire playoffs. So yes, he had his “holy shit” stats too.

He was called Mr. Clutch, and Russell himself that West’s Game 1 in the 1969 Finals was “the greatest clutch performance ever against the Celtics”. He had 53 and 10 that game. He was so good in that series, a seven game loss for the Lakers, that the first ever Finals MVP, a trophy named after Bill Russell today, didn’t go to Russell but went to the losing West. Of course, when the ’72 Lakers were rolling, led by West, they won a record 33 games in a row, a record that still stands today and won the title.

Also, there was a time when the Warriors offered Wilt for West and LA said no. That’s worth something, right?

#11. Moses Malone

Resume

NBA MVP: 3x (’79, ’82, ’83)

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’83)

NBA All-1^st Team: 4x (’79, ’82, ’83, ’85)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 4x (’80, ’81, ’84, ‘87)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (’83)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 1x (’79)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89)

ABA All-Star: 1x (’75)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 5x (’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85)

NBA Offensive Rebounds Leader: 8x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’90)

ABA Offensive Rebounds Leader: 1x (’75)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’82, ’83)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (‘83)

NBA PER Leader: 2x (’82, ‘83)

NBA Top 10 Points: 7x (’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ’86)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 13x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’88, ’89, ‘90)

ABA Top 10 Rebounds: 1x (’75)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 2x (’77, 83)

ABA Top 10 Blocks: 1x (’75)

NBA Top 10 PER: 8x (’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ‘87)

ABA Top 10 PER: 1x (’75)

NBA Top 4 Win Shares: 6x (’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85)

ABA Top 4 Win Shares: 1x (’75)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’79, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’85, ‘87)

NBA Career Points: 8th

NBA Career Rebounds: 5^th

NBA Career Offensive Rebounds: 1st

NBA Career Win Shares: 14th

Best Player on One Champion: ’83 Sixers

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’81 Rockets

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 13th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 15^th

Moses’ peak is so great that he was able to knock on the door of the Top 10, but couldn’t quite get in. Despite Magic and Bird coming in, Moses remained the top dog in the NBA in the early 80s, leading a flawed Rockets team to the ’81 Finals (where they lost to the Celtics) and dominating the 1983 season and taking the Sixers to the Finals.

Moses Malone is one of the greatest rebounders of all time, and his pairing with Charles Barkley in the mid-80s could have been the greatest rebounding duo of all time. For some reason Philly traded him I guess to build around Barkley, but they didn’t get enough in return. For whatever reason, Moses didn’t match what he was doing in Houston and Philly. He was still quite good, but he wasn’t nearly as dominant.

Nonetheless, if you surrounded him with a quality supporting cast, Moses Malone guaranteed you an NBA title no matter what. Even if he had to face Kareem to do it (26-18 for Moses in the ’83 Finals, 24-8 for Kareem).

Other (DC, Marvel, Disney etc.)

RDT Reviews Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

December 14, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Big spoilers here. Of course, any prequel discussion invites comparison to the originals.

Say what you want about the prequels, but the fact of the matter is the prequels did end on a strong note with Revenge of the Sith. With expectations mostly gone due to Episode I and II’s direction, all Revenge of the Sith had to deliver was the birth of Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker’s transition to Darth Vader. And for the most part, it does that. But we get so much more out of Revenge of the Sith that gets buried by the failures of the previous two prequels (I know I gave Episode I a great review, but this was and still is the fan perception).

So why does Revenge of the Sith work? Because it took out most of the stuff the hardcore fans didn’t like in the first place. There’s no comic relief here. There’s no horrid love story. We’re all-in on the demons Anakin is facing. The film from beginning to end is almost non-stop action, and each scene seems to matter. Another big reason it works is because Hayden Christensen went from an F in Attack of the Clones to about a solid C+ here. While a C+ doesn’t sound all that great, he absolutely has his moments this time around. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Natalie Portman’s Padme.

It’s satisfying to see Palpatine’s evil plan come to fruition. Ian McDiarmid is great here once again. And while one may roll their eyes at McDiarmid hamming it up in some scenes, that is how the Emperor acted in Return of the Jedi as well.

As for the action, there are no less than five lightsaber battles and they range from good to awesome. Anakin getting revenge on Count Dooku? Really good, especially the finish. Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. General Grievous, really fun. About Grievous, stupid cough aside, I thought he was a really fun side villain that also seemed like a bad ass. Mace Windu vs. The Emperor himself is probably the weakest of the battles, but still solid. Of course, the finish to that is Anakin’s turn to the dark side. The two finals battles are also a lot of fun, as Yoda takes on the Emperor and Obi-Wan and Anakin have the best lightsaber battle in the whole series. There’s so much more action here too. The opening sequence is probably in my top 5 favorite openings. We get to see some battles on other planets, including one with all the wookies. That’s also pretty awesome. The actual Order 66 declaration sees the Jedi get gunned down by their former allies, a combination of more action and some really good emotion.

I mentioned earlier there wasn’t a horrid love story here. But there is a decent, even ranging on good one here. Yes, some of the dialogue still sucks. But when Anakin and Padme aren’t going for cheesy lines they’re providing some strong emotional scenes. The scene where Padme tells Anakin she’s pregnant? It’s pretty awesome and Hayden really pulls it off with a mix of concern and happiness. How about when they’re both in separate rooms when Windu is going to face the Emperor and Anakin starts crying? That’s pretty awesome too.

One more point about Anakin. Once he turns evil…he looks awesome. I have little doubt at that point that he is Darth Vader. When he destroys Gunray he looks awesome. When he’s standing on that small flying droid in the battle against Obi-Wan, he looks awesome. It always felt earlier that Anakin was held back, to see him go on an all-out assault on Obi-Wan is satisfying.

Yeah, there are some silly scenes at the end. When Vader becomes Vader, we get a ridiculous NOOOOO! And we also learn Padme died of a broken heart, which was hilarious in itself. But we also get a few chilling scenes too…with Vader looking at the Death Star from a Star Destroyer, and Owen holding a baby Luke.

I didn’t even get into the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise, Obi-Wan Kenobi being pretty fun here or a bunch of other stuff. What can I say, it’s a film with a lot of good stuff in it.

Pros:

+Hayden Christensen is passable, and sometimes even more than passable, this time around.

+The transition from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader works well.

+Some of the love scenes are actually pretty good this time around.

+Action scenes are really good.

+Lightsaber battles are really good.

+Emperor Palpatine is really good.

Cons:

-Some silly scenes still.

-Natalie Portman is still pretty bad.

Revenge of the Sith, without a doubt, is the best Star Wars film. It may get the same grade as Empire, but Revenge had a lot more to it and didn’t have the benefit of being able to shock people like the “I am your father” line did. Revenge of the Sith had almost everything. And if this was the only Star Wars prequel ever made, people would regard it highly as well.

Grade: A

Other (DC, Marvel, Disney etc.)

RDT Reviews Beauty and the Beast

December 13, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Massive spoilers here…the film has been out for 24 years now.

Once Disney rediscovered the formula to win back movie goers and fans that they had lost through the 70s and 80s it was inevitable that Beauty and the Beast would be made. Beauty and the Beast was considered way back in the 30s, and Disney found out with The Little Mermaid that the animated epic fairy tale was the way to go.

And wow what a film Disney produced here. To be clear, Beauty and the Beast arguably has no weaknesses (although I’ll argue one in a bit). It has two great primary protagonists in Belle and The Beast. A great villain in Gaston. Incredible supporting characters. A great story. Great songs. Great animation. Great everything.

There are two main stories here. The first one, told by stain glass windows (awesome idea in itself) tells of a selfish Prince who turned away an old woman who offered a rose in order for shelter in the castle. The Prince refuses, then is shocked as the old woman turns into a beautiful enchantress and puts a spell on not only the Price, but his servants and castle as well. In order to break the spell he must find someone to fall in love with him before the rose wilts away. If he fails, he remains a beast forever. The second one involves Belle, the most attractive woman in the village who lives with her father. She’s a bookworm who also is quite bored of the life she’s living in the village. Gaston, the town hero, believes because he’s the most attractive man and that Belle is the most attractive woman that they should be married and constantly asks Belle to marry him. She rejects him at every turn. When her father takes a wrong turns and ends up a prisoner at the castle, Belle goes out to find him and exchanges herself for him. The clock is ticking now for the Beast, who’s running out of time to break the spell, to get Belle to fall in love with him. It’s a great set-up, with the Beast being very aggressive about the situation and Belle having none of it.

Speaking of Belle, she’s one of the all-time great Disney characters. She’s strong willed, sacrifices herself to save her father and doesn’t give into any situation she’s not interested in. She’s constantly made fun of by the town for how she acts (with her head always in a book) and how she resists Gaston (who every other woman wants), yet she never changes course. Of course, the one weakness of the film regards her as well…she’s arguably too perfect.

The Beast is just as awesome. There’s so much anger within him and it shows from the first moment you see him meet Belle’s father. Even when he realizes that he needs to be charming, his anger still comes out (I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO COME DOWN FOR DINNER…I’LL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR!). It’s easy to fall in love with the character throughout the film and if you don’t it’s hard not to at the end when he makes the ultimately sacrifice because he truly loves Belle.

Before I get to Gaston, let’s talk about the supporting characters. They’re all awesome. Lumiere and Cogsworth are a great comedy duo, while Mrs. Potts and Chip also have their moments. They all represent The Beast’s family in a way and they’re all memorable. Belle’s father Maurice has his moments, as does Gaston’s sidekick LeFou.

So why is Gaston so awesome? Well, he’s really not a villain. He’s the town hero! He’s the most handsome man in town! Everyone loves him! Instead of Disney just telling us he’s the bad guy, or making it clear he’s the bad guy, he’s just a guy who just wants what he believes he deserves. He doesn’t want to take over the castle, or kidnap Belle or anything, he just wants to marry her! And that’s why he’s such a great bad guy. We have other reasons not to like him. He’s arrogant. He’s brash. We probably see someone like this in our lives all of the time. When Gaston says things like “It’s not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas and thinking…” you know he believes it. He’s also who the Beast was before he was transformed…only the Beast was punished for it while Gaston gets away with it. Even when Gaston’s jealousy over Belle’s feelings for the Beast leads him to wanting to kill the Beast…there’s an argument to be made that he might honestly be doing the right thing. I mean, how safe really is the village with a Beast in a castle not too far away? And remember, the whole town goes with him in this because logically, it makes sense. What a great character.

Yeah, the songs are great too. “Be Our Guest”, “The Mob Song”, “Gaston’s Song”, “Tale as Old as Time”, “Little Town” and even the 2002 released “Human Again” are all memorable.

The animation is great as well. Some of the indoor scenes in the castle just look beautiful.

+Every character is memorable and great.

+Animation is amazing.

+Songs are great.

+Main characters are exceptional.

+Belle and the Beast actually take time to develop their relationship.

+Gaston is a unique and ultimately great Disney villain.

Cons:

-Is Belle too perfect?

No surprise this was nominated for Best Picture in 1992. First animated film ever to accomplish that.

Grade: A+

Basketball

Top 100 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time: #30-#21

December 8, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#30. Willis Reed

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’70)

NBA Finals MVP: 2x (’70, ’73)

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (’70)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 4x (’67, ’68, ’69, ‘71)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 1x (’70)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’65)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’65)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’70)

NBA All-Star: 7x (’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ‘71)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (’69)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’69)

NBA Defensive Win Shares Leader: 1x (’69)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’65, ‘67)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 6x (’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ‘70)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’68, ’69, ’70, ‘71)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’68, ’69, ’70, ‘71)

Best Player on One Champion: ’70 Knicks

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’73 Knicks

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’72 Knicks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 30th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 32nd

Despite Chamberlain still being in the league, or Kareem entering the league, it was Reed who, for at least a brief moment, took the NBA Big Man Championship belt after Russell retired. At his peak, Reed was probably the best center in basketball, averaging a 25-14 in 28 playoff games against Unseld, Russell, Kareem and Wilt.

It also can’t be understated how big of an impact Reed has on his teammates and the city of New York. His big moment…”Here Comes Willis” in Game 7 of the 1970 Finals swayed the entire series (and somehow Wilt didn’t take advantage of Reed playing with a torn quad).

Reed would be higher, but his career was a bit short (650 games) and as a result, like Frazier he wasn’t great for a long time. But he was great.

#29. Rick Barry

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’75)

NBA All-1^st Team: 5x (’66, ’67, ’74, ’75, ‘76)

ABA All-1^st Team: 4x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘73)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’66)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’66)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’67)

NBA All-Star: 8x (’66, ’67, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ’78)

ABA All-Star: 4x (’69, ’70, ’71, ’72)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’67)

NBA Steals Leader: 1x (’75)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’66, ’67, ’74, ’75, ’76, ‘78)

ABA Top 10 Points: 2x (’71, ’72)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 1x (’66)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 4x (’74, ’75, ’76, ’77)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’66, ’67, ’74, ’75, ‘76)

ABA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’69, ’72)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’66, ’67, ’74, ‘75)

ABA Top 10 WS/48: 2x (’70, ’71)

NBA + ABA Career Points: 21^st

ABA Career PPG: 1st

Best Player on One Champion: ’75 Warriors

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’67 Warriors

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 26th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 21st

There are two trains of thought about Barry. The first is that he’s one of the top three best offensive forwards in basketball history with Larry Bird and LeBron James. He was a great passer, a great shooter (scoring 35.6 PPG in ’67) and overall just a great player. He was the best player on a tea that took the ’67 Sixers to six games in the NBA Finals and outright won a NBA Title in 1975.

The second? He was probably the biggest asshole in the history of professional basketball. Before you think that doesn’t matter, here’s why it does. Not only did Barry throw away a potential Championship (1976 Western Conference Finals, Barry stopped shooting after a fight with Ricky Sobers allegedly because his teammates didn’t have his back and they dropped Game 7 to the 42-40 Suns), he also lost five years of his prime in the ABA just to follow around his father-in-law. He would abandon the Warriors again later in his career too. If his teammates got along with him, and Barry wasn’t a jerk, could the Warriors have been an early 70s dynasty? Maybe, right?

#28. Bob Cousy

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’57)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’52, ’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ‘61)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’62, ‘63)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2x (’54, ‘57)

NBA All-Star: 13x (’51, ’52, ’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ‘63)

NBA Assists Leader: 8x (’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60)

NBA Top 10 Points: 8x (’51, ’52, ’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’59)

NBA Top 4 Assists: 13x (’51, ’52, ’53, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ‘63)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’52, ’57, ‘59)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 2x (’57, ‘59)

NBA Career Assists: 16th

2^nd Best Player on Six Champions: ’57 Celtics, ’59 Celtics, ’60 Celtics, ’61 Celtics, ’62 Celtics, ’63 Celtics

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’58 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 21st

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 24th

The first real point guard in NBA history, Cousy was the first version of guards like Nash. While clearly the best point guard of his era, I can’t rank him much higher as we’re talking about the 50s and early 60s here. I also can’t rank him much higher because before Russell showed up, Cousy’s Celtics teams were losing in the playoffs every year. Still, once Russel showed up Cousy was able to run the offense and help win titles, and that justifies the Top 30 ranking.

#27. John Stockton

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 2x (’94, ‘95)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 6x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’92, ’93, ‘96)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 3x (’91, ’97, ’99)

NBA All Defensive 2^nd Team: 5x (’89, ’91, ’92, ’95, ’97)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (‘93)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’00)

NBA Assists Leader: 9x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ‘96)

NBA Steals Leader: 2x (’89, ’92)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 3x (’96, ’00, ’01)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 17x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 15x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’00, ’02, ’03)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 11x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘00)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 14x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 12x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02)

NBA Career Assists: 1^st

NBA Career Steals: 1^st

NBA Career Points: 41^st

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 4^th

NBA Career Win Shares: 5th

2^nd Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’97 Jazz, ’98 Jazz

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 25th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 22nd

Bill Simmons nailed it on the head: Stockton was often very very good, but rarely great and had some luck towards the end of his career. Like Ewing, Stockton was often in a slightly lesser class than his contemporaries. You’d never put Stockton in the same class of Magic or Isiah. He would sometimes end up behind Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Penny Hardaway on All-NBA Teams. Gary Payton took the best PG in the NBA championship belt from him pretty much the moment he was ready to (and proved it in the 1996 Western Conference Finals where he destroyed Stockton). Simmons claims assists were easier to get in the early 90s, but I don’t know how true that actually is.

Why is Stockton so high then? Well, he was very good for very long. While I normally would take elite peaks over a long period of very good (like we did with Durant), Stockton’s was so long that it was hard to ignore. Plus, it wasn’t like he was just another good PG, he was still the 2^nd best PG in the NBA in the late 90s. Of course, luck had a big factor in that too. Other than Payton, all the other point guards of the 90s fell apart, and it wasn’t until Kidd and others showed up that point guard became deep again. Stockton’s head to head match-ups. In the late 90s, after the ’96 Conference Finals against Payton, he avoided any top tier point guard. In the 1997 playoffs, we went up against Derrick Martin, Nick Van Exel, Matt Maloney and Steve Kerr. In ’98 it was Maloney, Avery Johnson, Van Exel and Kerr.

Lucky as that seems, there is one thing that I think could have helped Stockton greatly. If Stockton came along ten years later, I think he benefits the same way (if not better than) Steve Nash did when he won two straight MVPs. I don’t mean to discredit Stockton. He was still the most fundamentally sound PG ever and he helped Karl Malone greatly.

#26. David Robinson

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’95)

NBA All-1^st Team: 4x (’91, ’92, ’95, ’96)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’94, ‘98)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 4x (’90, ’93, ’00, ‘01)

NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1x (’92)

NBA All Defensive 1^st Team: 4x (’91, ’92, ’95, ’96)

NBA All Defensive 2^nd Team: 4x (’90, ’93, ’94, ‘98)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’90)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’90)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’00, ‘01)

NBA Points Leader: 1x (’94)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 2x (’91, ’96)

NBA Blocks Leader: 2x (’91, ’92)

NBA PER Leader: 3x (’94, ’95, ’96)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 2x (’94, ’95)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 5x (’94, ’95, ’98, ’99, ’01)

NBA Offensive Win Shares Leader: 2x (’94, ’95)

NBA Defensive Win Shares Leader: (’91, ’95, ’96)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 5x (’92, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’90, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 8x (’90, ’91, ’93, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 11x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 2x (’92, ‘95)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 11x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 12x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ‘02)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 2x (’94, ‘95)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 13x (’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03)

NBA Career Points: 36th

NBA Career Blocks: 6th

NBA Career Rebounds: 30^th

NBA Career PER: 4th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 28^th

NBA Career Defensive Rating: 4th

NBA Career Win Shares: 12th

2^nd Best Player on One Champion: ’99 Spurs

Role Player on One Champion: ’03 Spurs

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 25th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 29th

The question about Robinson is this: how much does a killer instrict, or lack thereof, matter in basketball? In Robinson’s case it seemed to matter a lot. Despite jaw dropping statistics at points of his career (he has a 23-12-2-4.5 season) when push came to shove Robinson seemed to come up short. Robinson got to be the face of the 1988 US Olympic Team…the team that shockingly won the Bronze and let to the Dream Team. He took a couple of years off to fulfill his military commitments…turned the Spurs around and led them to season after season of early playoff exits (in his first ever Game 7, he put up a 20-16…but shot 7 for 21 in a tough three point loss to the Blazers with Kevin Duckworth as the opposing center). The next year his Spurs were shocked by the seventh seeded Run TMC Warriors.

When Michael Jordan retired for the first time, the field was wide open. Could Robinson become the alpha dog of the NBA? He already was dominating the league statistically.

No. In 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon took the torch from Jordan, and the Spurs lost an opening round series despite homecourt advantage.

David Robinson won the NBA MVP in 1995. This time he finally got the Spurs to the Conference Finals. Then he was destroyed by Hakeem. And that was that. Despite a great ’96 season the Spurs would go through another early playoff loss, and then Robinson went down in 1997. Tim Duncan, who never was statistically dominant as Robinson had the killer instinct Robinson lacked. Duncan would lead the Spurs to the title in 1999 (and again in 2003). Robinson was a great 2^nd guy in ’99, but he was a mere role player in 2003.

So what happened? This was someone that according to Simmons had been up in trade discussion for Jordan! This is someone with a 71 point game and a quadruple double! I guess a killer instinct does matter. Robinson had the potential to be one of the best, if not the best ever, but instead he’s merely great. How weird is it that being great is considered a disappointment?

#25. Elgin Baylor

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’67, ’68, ‘69)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’59)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’59)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’59)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’67, ’68. ’69)

NBA PER Leader: 1x (’61)

NBA Top 10 Points: 10x (’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’67, ’68, ‘69)

NBA Top 10 Rebounds: 7x (’59, ’60, ‘61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 4x (’59, ’61, ’63, ’65)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 4x (’59, ’60, ’61, ‘63)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 4x (’60, ’61, ’62, ’63)

NBA Career Points: 28^th

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’59 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Seven Runner-Ups: ’62 Lakers, ’63 Lakers, ’65 Lakers, ’66 Lakers, ’68 Lakers, ’69 Lakers, ’70 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 15th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 12th

Most difficult player for me to rank for sure. I have tons of respect for Jerry West and can’t look past the fact that Baylor retired and the Lakers finally won the title after that.

Baylor put up some holy shit stats in na era of racism (as we’ll get to with Oscar) and while also performing military. How crazy is that? At the same time, we know not to put that much stock into statistics at that time. Baylor helped show that the NBA game was more of a vertical one than a horizontal one…but does that mean he’s a top 15 guy like everyone else seems to think. I don’t know. For some reason, I don’t think so.

#24: John Havlicek

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’74)

NBA All-1^st Team: 4x (’71, ’72, ’73, ’74)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 7x (’64, ’66, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’75, ’76)

NBA All-Star: 13x (’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, ‘78)

NBA Top 10 Points: 6x (’64, ’67, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 7x (’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74)

Top 10 Win Shares: 6x (’67, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73, ’74)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (’73)

NBA Top 10 PER: 4x (’67, ’70, ’71, ’72)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 11x (’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’73)

NBA Career Points: 13^th

NBA Career Assists: 32^nd

2^nd or 3^rdBest Player on Seven Champions: ’64 Celtics, ’65 Celtics, ’66 Celtics, ’68 Celtics, ’69 Celtics, ’74 Celtics, ’76 Celtics

Role Player on One Champion: ’63 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 14th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 17th

Had a modern game, perhaps more modern than Baylor. I take him above Baylor though for succeeding a little later, being a part of Championship teams and also for being a great defensive player. Havlicek was also known for making clutch plays…for example “Havlicek steals the ball”.

He’s just as difficult to rank as Baylor considering the era he peaked in and a question of how well his game would translate to today, modern or not. Like Baylor, his Advanced Metrics aren’t anything special. Still one of the all-time great Celtics though.

#23: Bob Pettit

Resume

NBA MVP: 2x (’56, ’59)

NBA All-1^st Team: 10x (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (’65)

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1x (’55)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 4x (’56, ’58, ’59, ’62)

NBA All-Star: 11x (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65)

NBA Points Leader; 2x (’56, ’59)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 1x (’56)

NBA Win Shares Leader: 1x (’59)

NBA PER Leader: 4x (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59)

NBA Top 5 Points: 10x: (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64)

NBA Top 5 Rebounds: 10x: (‘55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 10x (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 11x (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65)

NBA Top 5 PER: 11x (’55, ’56, ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65)

NBA Career Points: 35^th

NBA Career Rebounds: 17th

Best Player on One Champion: ’58 Hawks

Best Player on Three Runner-Ups: ’57 Hawks, ’60 Hawks, ’61 Hawks

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 17th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 14th

Why Pettit over Baylor? Pettit did more (like win the Championship) with a lot less than Baylor had to work with. Pettit dominated for a solid decade and didn’t falter when Russell entered the league. He was clearly the top dog before Russell, winning a pair of MVPs and being a mainstay on the 1^st team. He also gets the nod over Havlicek simply for because of better Advanced Metrics as well.

Why is Pettit so low? Unlike Baylor, Pettit’s game probably wouldn’t work today. It’s a small detriment. But Pettit beat whomever was in front of him (including Russell) and there’s something to be said about that.

#22: Scottie Pippen

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 3x (’94, ’95, ’96)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’92, ‘97)

NBA All-3^rd Team: 2x (’93, ’98)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 8x (’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 2x (’91, ’00)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 1x (’94)

NBA All-Star: 7x (’90, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97)

NBA Steals Leader: 1x (’95)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 1x (’95)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’92, ’95)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 1x (’92)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’92, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 5x (’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ‘98)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 5x (’91, ’92, ’94, ’95, ’96)

NBA Career Steals: 6th

NBA Career Assists: 30th

2^nd Best Player on Six Champions: ’91 Bulls, ’92 Bulls, ’93 Bulls, ’96 Bulls, ’97 Bulls, ’98 Bulls

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 24th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 27th

There are two trains of thought when it comes to Scottie Pippen.

#1: Overrated. Only succeeded because he player with Michael Jordan.

#2: Most destructive perimeter defender off all-time. Best 2^nd banana of all-time. The best all-around player of his generation.

I’m in camp #2. Did Pippen benefit by playing with Jordan? Of course he did. But he learned from that. Playing with Jordan allowed Pippen to be one of the most focused players in NBA history. When Scottie Pippen locked you down…he locked you down. There wasn’t anything you could do about it. Since the advent of the three point line, only two players have ever led the NBA in Defensive Rating that wasn’t a power forward or center. Kawki Leonard did it last season (14-15). The other is Scottie Pippen. Consider that in Pippen’s prime you had great defensive players like Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Dikembe Mutombo, Gary Payton and even Michael Jordan. The fact that Pippen never won a Defensive Player of the Year award was astonishing.

Last bit about Scottie, his 1994 season was brilliant. Losing Jordan for nothing, Scottie led the Bulls to 55 wins and arguably was cheated out of a trip to the Conference Finals. He led his team in five categories. He also was a major part in taking the 2000 Trail Blazers to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Jordan didn’t play on either of those teams.

#21: Isiah Thomas

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’90)

NBA All-1^st Team: 3x (’84, ’85, ’86)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’83, ’87)

NBA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’82)

NBA All-Star Game MVP: 12x (’84, ‘86)

NBA All-Star: 12x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ‘93)

NBA Assists Leader: 2x (’84, ’85)

NBA Top 10 Points: 1x (’83)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 10x (’82, ’83, ’84, ’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ‘93)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 1x (’85)

NBA Career Assists: 7th

Best Player on Two Champions: ’89 Pistons, ’90 Pistons

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 23rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 19th

I hope you’re ready to throw Advanced Metrics out the window for this one. Bill Simmons points out that when the Pistons clinch the Championship, the entire team raises him to the sky, clearing indicating who their leader was. Despite stats saying otherwise, Isiah is what made those Pistons teams go.

It’s hard to give Isiah’s career proper justice because some of his stats are so bad. In fact, when the Detroit won the title, Isiah’s counting stats weren’t close to his peaks. Yet there Detroit was each year in the late 80s, contending for the title. To be clear though, a list of 80s stars would go Magic, Bird, Jordan…then Isiah. And let’s not forget when the 1992 Dream Team was selected there was outrage about Stockton making it over him.

Of course, it doesn’t change that Isiah was great when he needed to be. Isiah damn near broke his ankle (officially a severe sprain) in Game 6 of the 1988 Finals, yet he gutted it out and scored 25 in the third quarter in what was a one point loss. He also dropped 16 points in the 90 seconds in a playoff game against the Knicks. Just amazing clutch performances.

Other (DC, Marvel, Disney etc.)

RDT Reviews Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie

December 4, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Big spoilers here. Not that anyone’s really going out of their way to see this one…

You know how everyone decreed that the Star Wars Prequels were absolutely awful and such? Well, Star Wars: The Clone Wars actually is that awful.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars was basically made as a commercial for the Clone Wars animated series. While not the strongest reason to make this film, I’m surprised (and not in a good way) by the direction the film went.

The story on paper sounds solid. Set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are battling the separatists all over the galaxy on behalf of the republic. Jabba the Hutt’s son has been kidnapped, and since the Hutts control important routes through space that would aid either side in the war, Yoda has Kenobi and Skywalker rescue the Hutt child. Count Dooku though is in fact setting the republic up, making it seem like the Jedi were in fact the ones who kidnapped the child, and Dooku himself is going to rescue him. Also, Yoda decides Skywalker can have an apprentice and Ahsoka Tano comes along for the adventure.

Let’s get the good out of the way because it’s quick: the action scenes are pretty cool. In fact, if the entire film was just action scenes it would have served as a great commercial for the TV show. Also, Asajj Ventress, a Sith warrior, is also pretty cool.

Alright the bad. Everything else. Skywalker’s apprentice is one of the most annoying characters I’ve seen in a feature film. Between calling her Skywalker “Skyguy” and complaining about almost everything Skywalker asks she’s unbearable. There’s a scene where Skywalker and Tano are hiding in a container, Tano actually complains about now being able to crouch too long and that she needs to stand up, blowing their cover. This is someone who wants to be a Jedi. She does have the occasional moment I guess. Speaking of unbearable, once the Hutt child comes into the picture the story moves from the Clone War to taking care of a sick Hutt. The Hutt son is just as annoying, if not worse. It’s also a lot less interesting.

Obi-Wan Kenobli could also obtain the unbearable tag, although luckily in small doses. Everything he says is some positive cliché, and he’s also involved in one ridiculous scene where he tries to set up a surrender. I won’t spoil it here, but if you ever watch it try not to shake your head on how stupid the idea is.

There’s also an entire 3^rd act that’s completely unnecessary involving Jabba’s uncle, Queen Amadala and a storyline twist that seemed completely random.

But hey, the actions scenes were good.

Pros:

+Action scenes.

Cons:

-Annoying characters.

-Stupid plot choice.

-Missing major Clone Wars characters. Where’s Savage Oppress, Darth Maul and General Grevious?

Avoids an F for one reason…the action scenes really are cool.

Grade: D

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWE Summerslam 2013

November 29, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

WWE Summerslam 2013
August 18, 2013
Los Angeles, CA

YES!

YES?

YES!

Daniel Bryan is finally getting his moment.

We’re a year and a half removed from Bryan getting kicked in the face and beaten by Sheamus in 18 seconds. Ever since then fans all over the world have chanted YES! Louder and louder for Bryan. When John Cena announced he picked Bryan to be his opponent at for Summerslam the Barclays Center came unglued (trust me, I was there). Bryan has a chance to truly break the glass ceiling and follow in the footsteps of CM Punk. It was a hot storyline and a huge win over Cena that took Punk from jobber to the stars to top level star. It could be Bryan’s turn now. It SHOULD be Bryan’s turn now.

Speaking of Punk, he wasn’t happy. Punk had burnt himself out over the last year as the top guy and felt he was screwed out of the Wrestlemania 27 main event (I agree). He looked to take some time off, only to be asked to come back early (he wanted to be off till Summerslam, but he came back at Payback). Worse yet, he was upset that he had to job to Brock Lesnar because Lesnar was a part time guy.

Still, Summerslam had two really hot main events here with Cena vs. Bryan and Punk vs. Lesnar.

The Card

The Miz is our host and he hypes out main events. Why are we hyping main events when the show already started? Not sure.

Fandango comes out and the Miz mocks his dancing. Unfortunately, this was a good representation of why face Miz sucked.

No idea why Fandango was out dancing though. It’s not like he had a match.

We get the National Anthem too. No problem with that, but it seems like we’re wasting time early on.

Ring of Fire
Kane vs. Bray Wyatt

The Wyatts had just debuted and of course WWE put Kane against them. The Wyatts were an exciting new addition though, especially Bray.
I guess lighting someone on fire isn’t PG, so even though there is fire around the ring, the match ends by pin or submission. Oddly, Kane would be on fire next May anyway.

As with all Inferno matches, the match gets a lot of easy pops because the flames expand on all the big moves.

While funny at some points, the story of the match seems to be “how will Harper and Rowan get by the flames”, which sucks to be honest.

Harper and Rowan find their way in and destroy Kane.

Bray Wyatt pins Kane in 7:49. Sister Abigal (although it wasn’t called that yet) for the win. The whole Ring of Fire deal seemed pointless. Match wasn’t much of anything either. Harper and Rowan slam the stairs on Kane’s head in a way where there’s no chance it actually hit him. This would be the last we’d see Kane until he returned as Corporate Kane. Interestingly enough, Bray Wyatt may be one of the worst booked characters in WWE history if going by wins and losses (and how those wins were earned). I mean Kane pretty much destroyed him here. Not a good way to start the show.

Even Paul Heyman can make the story of David vs. Goliath seem interesting. And it’s a revisionist history nonetheless!

Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow

Team Rhodes Scholars broke up when Sandow stole the MITB match where Rhodes had it won, then declared Rhodes the “holder of the case”. This feud was great for both, and while Sandow was buried a few months later it allowed Rhodes to become one of the most popular stars on the roster…but he never got a big push out of it.

Sandow with a great line before the match: “I’m going to send Cody back to his family of carnival acts.” He’s not wrong there.

Cody Rhodes busts out a Muscle Buster. Take that Samoa Joe.

JBL on commentary states that statistically Sandow will be the next World Champion due to owning the MITB briefcase. Poor Sandow.

Cody Rhodes pins Damien Sandow in 6:40. Cross Rhodes for the win. Really fun and fast paced, but too short for sure. If this went double the time we would have had a great match here for sure. This should have been the opener.

For both Wrestlemania and Summerslam in 2013, the World Heavyweight Title basically held the role of a midcard title. The World Heavyweight Title soon was merged with the WWE Title, so at least WWE was recognizing it. Anyway, the World Heavyweight Title was pretty hot in the months between Mania and Summerslam, as a red hot Dolph Ziggler cashed in MITB and won the title from Del Rio, but injuries and strange booking ruined that. Any popularity Del Rio got from his face turn in late 2013 died in the Ziggler feud, and people were sick of him as a heel.

Oddly, this match is being promoted as possibly Christian’s last big match. I actually don’t know when Christian retired as that was never made clear. While Christian’s 2011 run was fun, and he was still over in 2013, it was a little too late for fans to really believe he could be a top guy with a top belt.

This is when Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez were on the outs, which was the end of Ricardo (although there was a terrible feud with RVD involving him after this).

Pretty good so far. Del Rio has controlled, but he takes a huge bump to the outside that turns the tide.

Christian comes flying off the top and takes out Del Rio on the floor!

Backstabber off the turnbuckles! Really fun match so far.

Top rope hurricanrana from Christian! Fans really want Christian to win the title here.

We get a “This is Awesome” chant and the fans are right. This is awesome.

Huge pop for a spear from Christian, but he sells the injured shoulder!

Alberto Del Rio retains via submission in 12:30. Del Rio takes advantage of Christian’s injury and locks in the Cross Armbreaker (and put his hand on Christian’s eyes/face to lock it in which was a great touch). Really good match. I wish it was longer! Del Rio needs more opponents like Christian these days.

We get a Del Rio promo about Mexican fans needing a hero. Since we’re in LA, the fans get behind him. This was odd considering he was a heel at this point.

Brie Bella vs. Natayla

Basically a Total Divas commercial.

We get a JBL chant which tells you how much the crowd cares here. A Michael Cole chant follows…then a Jerry chant!

Brie Bella broke the Sharpshooter! There’s a spot I didn’t expect.

Natayla wins via submission in 5:19. Sharpshooter wins. Fans didn’t care for this obviously. No worse than any other Diva matches. Maybe a bit long.

Ryback bullies some cook in the back. There was an ill-advised heel turn.

No DQ
CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar

Story is this: Paul Heyman believes that the Best in the World was him and Punk, and that Punk ruined that by losing the WWE Title and losing to The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Punk meanwhile tried to distance himself from Heyman. Heyman betrayed Punk at Money in the Bank and the next night brought out Brock Lesnar to punish Punk.

Off to a great start highlighted with a suicide dive by Punk! Crowd is clearly pro-Punk here.

Punk is hitting Lesnar at all angles with flying clotheslines. Great booking to allow Punk to get tons of offense in early on and not just get killed.

Lesnar is now destroying Punk. He puts a piece of table on Punk and jumps on it! Then a belly to belly on the floor. Great match so far.

Lesnar beats the crap out of Punk for about 5 minutes and it’s awesome. What a match.

Punk comeback time…although Lesnar almost gets an F5 out of Punk high knee. That was a creative spot.

Lesnar counters the Go 2 Sleep with the Kimora Lock! Great reversal!

Punk counters into a Triangle Chock! Great wrestling!

Lesnar counters with a running powerbomb and both men are down. What a match!

Top rope elbow drop with a chair from Punk…and Brock still survives!

One of the most creative counters to the F5 ever…Punk holds onto Heyman’s tie!

GTS…but Heyman breaks it up!

Punk nails the F5 into a DDT counter perfectly! Lesnar still kicks out!

Brock Lesnar pins CM Punk in 25:17. Punk knocks Heyman out and locks him in the Vise, but Lesnar beats the living crap out of Punk with a chair and hits the F5 for the win. There was only one thing I didn’t like about this match, which was that Punk kept turning his back on Lesnar to deal with Heyman. Other than that, this is a Match of the Year contender for sure. This was CM Punk’s last great match and it’s a shame WWE decided to waste him on Curtis Axel and Ryback after this.

Dolph Ziggler and Kaitlyn vs. AJ Lee and Big E. Langston

Somehow Ziggler went from hottest young guy in the company to midcard fodder in the span of a few months. Worst part is Ziggler never would recover. This feud began when Ziggler broke up with AJ Lee.

Really…how did Ziggler at this point of his career end up in the death slot between Lesnar-Punk and Cena-Bryan? Baffling. Crowd is dead for this obviously.

Kaitlyn did have a great spear, that’s for sure and she levels AJ with it.

Dolph Ziggler and Kaitlyn win when Ziggler pinned Langston in 6:45. Zig Zag wins it. Nothing really notable here. Crowd’s just waiting for the main event here.

I admit Fandango interrupting Miz all night is a bit funny…but Miz disappointingly knocks him out.

After being pretty much the most entertaining performer in WWE since Wrestlemania 28 a year and a half earlier, WWE listened and finally gave Bryan the shot. The rest of the story after Cena announced Bryan as his opponent, Vince McMahon thought Bryan had to change his look to be a major star. This was the start of the B+ player angle.

Awesome monkey flip sequence early on.

Cena counters the surfboard by using his strength, which I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before actually.

Cena suplexes Bryan off the top of the steel steps, also an original spot.

Cena’s subtly heeling it up here, which only adds to the story that Bryan is the underdog.

We get some rolling German Suplexes, but Cena again uses his strength to get out of it.

Bryan begins to bust out the moveset with a front choke. While I thought the match did get a bit slow, it’s really picking up here.

Bryan superplexs Cena off the top rope, but hooks his legs so he doesn’t crash to the mat, which is brilliant. Flying headbutt follows up! Cena kicks out.

Cena hits his flying legdrop on a standing Bryan. That was awesome.

Another example of Cena’s strength, as Bryan goes for a top rope hurricanrana but Cena just blocks it and jumps down…then locks Bryan in the STF. Good storyline with Cena’s strength vs. Bryan’s wrestling here.

AWESOME clothesline from Cena that Bryan sells by spinning in the air. Wow!

Bryan goes for his top rope flip again, but Cena catches him for a AA…but Bryan counters that into a DDT!

Daniel Bryan wins the title by pin in 26:55. Bryan nails a flying dropkick (Shining Wizard) to win the title. Crowd was a little surprised there as this was the first time Bryan used it, but the fans are happy enough. Cena puts Bryan over clean. Another great match tonight…it would be match of the night probably any other PPV except this one because of Lesnar-Punk. Cena and Bryan shake hands and really Bryan couldn’t have been more put over.

During the celebration…MITB holder Randy Orton shows up…and referee HHH suddenly turns on Bryan! HHH pedigrees Bryan, and Orton cashes in!

Randy Orton wins the WWE Title by pin in :08. Pin is academic and Orton wins the title to close the show.

We had two or three great matches (depending on how you feel about Del Rio-Christian) and another really good one in Rhodes vs. Sandow. All the main events hit their marks for sure. There were some tough parts too…the Diva’s match was meh, Kane vs. Wyatt was meh and Ziggler was wasted. And then there’s this, despite how great the main events were nothing changed in WWE. In fact, historically this card practically meant nothing. WWE almost didn’t give Bryan his run on top…somehow we almost got Orton vs.Batista at Wrestlemania until the fans forced their hand. Despite the fact that Bryan had crazy momentum here they let Orton win their feud and moved Bryan down to a feud with the Wyatts. Punk feuded with Ryback and Axel, Heyman’s guys, which honestly was a huge step down from where Punk was. Lesnar should have been Punk’s end boss and instead Punk was just there to put Lesnar over. Unfortunately, that didn’t matter either since Lesnar’s feud with HHH killed his star power a bit…and Lesnar had to cheat in this one anyway (Lesnar would have to break Taker’s streak to get that star power back). Del Rio-Christian meant nothing as Del Rio dropped the World Title to Cena a couple months later, leading to Cena vs. Orton again. The only thing that seemed to matter was that HHH turned heel. What a waste.

Still a great show. Too bad WWE failed to capitalize.

Final Grade: A-

Other (DC, Marvel, Disney etc.)

RDT Reviews The Little Mermaid

November 28, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Massive spoilers here…the film has been out for 26 years now.

Let’s talk history first. The Little Mermaid was THE film that began the Disney Renaissance. The first fairy tale animated film since Sleeping Beauty, Disney knew they had to do something different than what they did over the past 15 years to regain the critical success they had achieved earlier. To say they succeeded with The Little Mermaid would be an understatement. You know how it seems like Disney owns everything right now? ESPN? Star Wars? ABC? Marvel? Well you can trace all of that back to the success of the The Little Mermaid.

Now just because The Little Mermaid made money; it nearly became the first animated film to gross $100 Million and sold 64% better than Disney’s previous film Oliver and Company, doesn’t necessarily mean it was a great film. Did it stand the test of time? Is it still a great film?

The answer is a resounding yes. This was my first viewing in probably over a decade and The Little Mermaid somehow is better than I remembered it…and I remembered it as being great in the first place. The Little Mermaid hits everything. The characters are awesome. The songs are timeless. The animation at times would probably be considered great for 2015 (if 2015 still did non-computer animated stuff) so I can only imagine how well it was regarded for 1989. Disney needed to hit a homerun here and it ended up hitting the ball not only over the wall, but out of the whole damn ballpark.

So let’s talk about our characters. We have Ariel, a 16 year old Mermaid. Within five minutes we already get great characterization regarding her. She’s rebellious. She doesn’t always follow the rules. We don’t get told this, we get shown this right away when Ariel doesn’t show up to a concert performance (and Sebastian, who we’ll get to, mentions she never comes to recital). It turns out she’s off exploring a sunken ship looking to add items to her collection of things from above the shore. Within five minutes, we know her motivations and we know the character. Awesome.

We have Prince Eric. Big bonus here as unlike some Disney films where the Prince is kinda just there, Eric has his own personality. He’s fun. He jokes around. His associate Grimsby makes a statue for him and he has no issue pointing out just how stupid it looks. He has a personality.

King Triton may be the best character in the film. He’s the King of the Seas and Ariel’s father. His actions towards Ariel could be considered overbearing, but at the same time older viewers (especially parents) may find them appropriate. He doesn’t want Ariel to go towards the surface or even remotely interact with humans, but not because he’s a jerk, but because he wants her to be safe. And everytime he gets angry with Ariel or puts his foot (fin?) down, he does it convincingly. But each time he looks away from Ariel you see the pain in his face (especially after he destroys some of her stuff). Those few frames of animation that show a pained Triton really established the character.

The last main character, Ursula is a sea witch who once ruled the seas. She is another really well done character. You could even make the case that she’s not completely evil until later on. Yeah, she “looks evil” and isn’t the nicest, but she made a fair deal with Ariel and she just wants the Kingdom for herself. It’s not until she interferes with the deal to make sure she wins where you can say she’s evil no doubt. Evil is a point of view after all.

The minor characters are all memorable as well. Flounder is Ariel’s friend and even he has a whole personality of his own (while Ariel is rebellious and a risktaker, Flounder is much more cautious). Sebastian provides tons of comic relief as a crab who is tasked to look over Ariel, and basically everything he does is memorable. Buddy Hackett’s Scuttle is also hilarious.

The songs are incredible. The three main ones: “Part of Your World”, “Kiss The Girl”, and “Under The Sea” are all timeless. “Part Of Your World” is especially incredible; you really feel for Ariel and want her to accomplish her goals.

Lastly, some of the animation is incredible. When I saw Ariel come to the surface while fireworks follow Eric’s ship I can’t help but think “wow”. There are tons of moments in this film like this as well.

Are there any criticisms? There’s one that’s debatable. The Nostalgia Chick pointed out that Ariel didn’t really learn anything. She wants something, there are obstacles, she overcomes them and gets what she wants. But I disagree. The sequence where she apologizes to her father about the situation she’s in I think is her realizing she went too far.

Pros:

+Every character is memorable and great.

+Animation is amazing.

+Songs are incredible and timeless.

+Father-daughter relationship with Ariel and Triton is really well done.

+Price Eric and Ariel actually take some time to fall in love and is also really well done.

+Ursula is a top tier Disney villain.

Cons:

-Did Ariel learn anything or did she just get what she wanted in spite of everything?

Film is amazing. No wonder the Disney Renaissance began here.

Grade: A+

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWF Survivor Series 1987

November 27, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

WWF Survivor Series 1987
November 26, 1987
Richfield, OH

The inaugural Survivor Series was a big middle finger to Jim Crockett and the NWA. When Crockett announced Starrcade on PPV on Thanksgiving, Vince McMahon countered with Survivor Series and didn’t allow cable companies to air both shows (you can read more in my Starrcade ‘87 review).

The Survivor Series was the first non-Wrestlemania PPV (other than the Wrestling Classic) and set in motion the idea that the WWF would be offering multiple PPVs over the course of a calendar year.

The WWF was still hot at this point and while near the end, we were still in the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant feud that made Mania III a huge success. So did Crockett stand a chance? Not really. Let’s see how the first Survivor Series plays out.

The Card

Survivor Series Match
The Honky Tonk Man, Hercules, Danny Davis, Ron Bass and Harley Race vs. Randy Savage, Jim Duggan, Jake Roberts, Ricky Steamboat and Brutus Beefcake

Honky Tonk Man in a prematch promo says this is the greatest Survivor Series ever assembled. It’s the first afterall, so I mean, he’s right!

I wonder if Harley was ever embarrassed to be a King in the WWF.

It’s worth writing that wow is Elizabeth beautiful.

Savage has turned face and got a huge reaction. No surprise he’d be champ by Mania.

You know, say what you want about Beefcake (and I usually say a lot)…but he was over.

We lose both Duggan and Race to a double countout.

Beefcake nails Bass with the high knee and Bass is gone. This has been fun so far.

Shake Rattle and Roll takes out the Barber. Good storytelling with Ventura and Gorilla explaining how Beefcake needed to make the tag but didn’t.

Jake spikes Davis with a DDT and he’s gone. Danny Davis shouldn’t be going toe to toe with Jake anyway.

Savage is so active outside the ring, running all over the place, going to the top rope. It really adds to the match and his character.

Steamboat mocking Honky’s dance was quite a sight.

Savage drops the big elbow and Hercules is gone.

Team Savage wins, Sole Survivors: Savage, Roberts and Steamboat. Honky Tonk Man fights Savage for a bit before he gets beat down, and then decides to leave realizing he’s down 3-1. Fun opener that showed the Survivor Series format works for sure. Smart booking to have Honky left with all the IC Title contenders.

Survivor Series Match
Judy Martin, Leilani Kai, Dawn Marie (no, not that Dawn Marie), Donna Christanello and Sensational Sherri vs. The Jumping Bomb Angels, Velvet McIntyre, Rockin’ Robin and The Fabulous Moolah

Sherri had recently won the Women’s title from Moolah, which is the main story here.

I won’t lie, I don’t know most of these people. Marie, Christanello and the Angels are new to me.

McIntyre gets Christanello out with a nice victory roll.

McIntyre is pretty good, nice hurricanrana!

Robin takes out Marie with a crossbody.

I don’t know the names of the Angels, but one of them is awesome.

The other just did a flying armdrag off the top rope! Where were these two in WWF history?

Robin’s clearly not the best worker in the match. She’s botched almost anything and just botched a monkey flip.

Sherri takes Robin out with a vertical suplex.

McIntyre is good too. Spinning crossbody? That’s pretty cool.

The Galmour Girls take out Moolah with a double clothesline. Bit of a surprise, but her chain wrestling was pretty boring anyway.

McIntyre and the Jumping Bomb Angels left on one side? That’s awesome. This has been really fun so far.

Small screw up with the timekeeper as he rings the bell when one of the Angels bridge to get their shoulder up.

Velvet gets Sherri with a giant swing!

She gets Sherri with a victory roll! I assume that was the next Women’s title feud.

Crazy sunset flip. I feel bad I don’t know the Bomb Angels from each other. But they’re awesome.

Electric chair drop by Kai takes out McIntyre. Once again, a great story was told as the announcers focus on how McIntyre’s back was injured. It was also great psychology as McIntyre had been getting eliminations with all of these victory rolls. Down to the Bomb Angels and the Glamour Girls.

Kai is eiliminated by a crossbody.

Jimmy Hart even takes a bump to the outside!

Team Moolah wins, Sole Survivors: The Jumping Bomb Angels. Great clothesline for the win. Wow. I need to research more about the Jumping Bomb Angels because they are awesome. Apparently this set up a Women’s Tag Team title feud between these two teams. Anyway, great match! Maybe the best Women’s match I’ve ever seen in the US.

Survivor Series Match – 10 vs. 10
Strike Force, The Young Stallions, The Fabulous Rougeaus, the Killer Bees and the British Bulldogs vs. The Dream Team, The Bolsheviks, Demolition, The Islanders and the Hart Foundation

Let’s just throw all the tag teams in at once! This could be nuts.

Interesting rules: if one member of the tag team gets eliminated, the other is gone too. This is a cool concept that would be cool to see today, although there isn’t enough teams for that.

Zhukov gets eliminated by Santana, so the Bolsheviks are gone.

I don’t really like the pacing for this one. Too many quick tags and way too many guys involved.

Ax takes out Jacques when he missed a crossbody. We are at 4 teams vs. 4 teams.

The Demos get DQed when Smash shoves the referee away.

Strike Force get eliminated when Bret breaks up a pinfall by Santana on Anvil, then Anvil pins Santana? How weak was that?

No falls for a while, and we keep getting move after move. On one hand it’s awesome, non-stop action. On the other, there’s no real story being told, it’s just move after move.

Dynamite goes for a flying headbutt on Haku and hits it…but knocks himself out and Haku takes him out with a kick to take out the Bulldogs.

Roma gets Greg Valentine with a top rope sunset flip to take him out. That was nice. Best move I ever saw Roma do.

Down to the Harts and Islanders vs. the Bees and Young Stallions. This match really seemed like it was designed to get the Stallions over.

Bret gets eliminated when Tama knocked Jumping Jim over when he holding Hart…but he rolled through and got the pin. Down to the Islanders against Bees and Stallions.

Team Strike Force wins, Sole Survivors: The Killer Bees and the Young Stallions. B. Brian Blair puts on a bee mask and gets a sunset flip on Tama even though he’s the illegal man, and Jumping Jim puts on a mask as well. Sure, why not. I thought this went way too long and while it was mostly nonstop action, I could never really get into this. Still, I wouldn’t say it was bad.

We get to see how ”The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase celebrates Thanksgiving. He tells us money is the key to survival. He’s not wrong. We do get the hilarious moment where Dibiase tells a kid to dribble a basketball 15 times for $500, then kicks the basketball after the 14th dribble. Great stuff.

Ventura mentions that he’s never seen female wrestlers do the movies the Jumping Bomb Angels did. He’s right! They were awesome.

We get a Honky Tonk Man promo. For some reason we’re killing a lot of time before the main event.

Survivor Series Match
Hulk Hogan, Paul Orndorff, Don Muraco, Ken Patera and Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Andre the Giant, Rick Rude, One Man Gang, Butch Reed and King Kong Bundy

Crazy team Hogan promo. Hogan looked like he was in a trance at the end.

Huge cheers for Bigelow. Too bad he didn’t work out in his first stint.

Orndorff also gets huge cheers. Him and Hogan were feuding earlier in the year.

Hogan makes quick work of Reed and drop the leg for the elimination.

Hogan vs. Andre time…no, Hogan tags out to Ken Patera. Way to go Hogan.

Andre, great heel that he is, motions that Patera isn’t worth it and tags in Bundy.

OMG lands on Patera and gets rid of him.

Man Bam Bam is over. Huge cheers when Hogan tagged him in.

Surprisingly Orndorff is gone after Rude rolls him up and holds the tights.

Powerslam from Muraco takes out Rude. That’s a shame, Rude was the best worker here by far.

Big splash from OMG takes out Muraco. Hogan and Bigelow vs. Bundy, Andre and OMG.

Bigelow escapes Andre and we have Hogan vs. Andre!

OMG pulls Hogan out of the ring as h was beating on Andre, but Hogan takes out both OMG and Bundy. Hogan gets counted out!

This leaves Bigelow vs. Bundy, OMG and Andre.

Bigelow keeps fighting and hits a slingshot press to take out Bundy!

OMG misses a top rope splash (looked awful) and Bigelow gets the pin, leaving Bigelow vs. Andre.

Team Andre wins, Sole Survivor: Andre the Giant. Andre hits a butterfly suplex for the win. Everything from Hogan vs. Andre to the end was pretty bad to be honest, but crowd was definitely in it which is what matters. Match also seemed designed to get Bigelow over, and while it kinda worked Bigelow (backstage) wasn’t ready for that kind of push. Hogan comes back and takes out Andre to let the crowd go home happy.

Overall, this PPV was solid. I liked the first two matches a lot. The tag survivor match was quite long, but it wasn’t bad, and the main event did what it was supposed to. While the PPV meant nothing in the long run, it crushed Crockett’s NWA PPV. Somehow, the NWA show was worse quality wise than the WWF show, which was rare for that time and happened at the absolute worst time possible for the NWA.

Final Grade: B

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