FanNation - The Republic of Sport

The Ram said 05/14, 11:22 AM
This TD is to attempt to prove that even though one player may hold a large statistical edge over another, that does not definitively make him a better basketball player.

Here is my case: I will argue that Tayshaun Prince is a more valuable basketball player than Carmelo Anthony. Since they'll obviously be brought up, let's get the stats out of the way:

Prince: 12.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 46.3 fg %, 36.5 3-point %, 1.2 turnovers

Anthony: 24.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 46.2 fg %, 29.4 3-point%, 3.1 turnovers

*To those who vote on names or who wins in stats, feel free to vote for my opponent now*

At his best, Anthony is a sub-par defender. He's slow on rotations, and would never be counted on to stop an opposing teams best player. Prince has made 4 consecutive NBA All-defensive teams while being matched up against the best scorers of the opposing teams. He makes critical defensive plays in big games.

On offense, Carmelo is more talented. However, Prince is better at playing within an offensive system. He doesn't score 25 a night, because that is not his role on his team.

If you want glory stats and highlights, take Melo. If you want to win, you take Prince.

The Ram said 05/14, 09:13 PM
Wait...you're saying Melo's stats are better? Gee. Thanks. I hadn't noticed.

"Carmelo Anthony has achieved more than Tayshaun Prince in so many statistical categories"

That's great! Has he achieved any, you know, actual success? Pretty stats win you fantasy leagues not necessarily basketball games. Does Melo make his team better? Or does he just jack up shots until his ppg is pretty? Why is ANYONE who shoots 29% from 3, jacking up 800+ threes in 5 years? For his teams good? Or for his shoe contracts good?

Ever see Melo in the playoffs? His "screw-passing-just-drive-and-shoot" game gets stuffed by teams playing good defense (39% fg and 4 turnovers per assist in the playoffs).

Melo received votes for the MVP? Yeah, his best finish is 13th. Awesome. Dominique Wilkins once finished 2nd in MVP voting, but do you want him on your team for a Finals game 7, or just in a dunk contest?

Melo's 25 ppg are pretty worthless if the guy he's guarding goes for 35. With Prince on my team I can make an opposing player the calibur of Kobe cry in futility, and demoralize his team (see Finals, 2004). Guys like that help you WIN, which is why you play the game.

The Ram said 05/15, 10:16 AM
I LOVE how you left out that Prince had 9 assists in EACH of those games. (I guess you cherry-pick stats like you do TD's? :-)

How about we look at more than 2 games?

Average game of Melo when guarded by Prince:

7 fg on 19 attempts (37%), 18.4 points, 5.2 reb, 2.9 asst, 2.5 TO

Average game of Prince when guarded by Melo:

5 fg on 10 attempts (50%), 12.5 points, 4.1 reb, 3.5 ast, 1.2 TO

Prince's team is 8-2 in those games. If you're shooting 37%, you're hurting your team.

I've heard the "without him they're garbage" argument about AI, Grant Hill, Vince Carter, etc. It's rarely true.

Prince has an excellent post game, can use either hand to finish, has a good mid-range shot, and can hit the 3. Were he a selfish player, he could pull a Joe Johnson and find his way onto a losing team where the offense is all about him. Johnson averaged 14 ppg in his role on a winning team. He went to Atlanta and instantly scored 22 ppg and started making All-Star teams. But not because he was a better player.

This isn't fantasy basketball, its real. If you've ever been on a court, you know a team of 5 Tayshuans whould horsewhip a team of 5 Melo's anytime, anyplace.