ESPN top 10 ranking has KD ranked 6th??

[coco]

...and this is why I think BS is such a great coach.  Three EC Finals without a top ten or even top 15 on the roster.

[RJ87]

Durant was never seen as an alpha performer in the playoffs, either, until he joined a 73 win team.

Disagree

He was good when OKC made it to the finals.  But Westbrook became trigger happy and didn't understand the real go to guy was KD. 

Same story the playoffs prior to joining GSW

GSW understood this....until Draymond Green screwed things up

He was part of a team that choked away a 3-1 lead and then joined the team that did it to him.

What is KD going to do when Westbrook shoots 10 for 27??  And team loses by 6 pts?   digest on that for a sec

Westbrook thought he was the "man".  Clearly he was delusional

The team was up 3-1 and needed 1 win to advance. Instead, they lost 3 in a row. We're supposed to look for reasons other than Durant as to why he couldn't pull his team through in that situation, while also solely blaming Giannis for his team losing in the postseason last year?

None of that comes off as a double standard to you?

This thread is going to go in circles. I'm out.

[Moranis]

Giannis is the best player in the league and has been the last two seasons.

yeah...no

not in the playoffs.   Lets be clear about this

The last 2 playoffs Giannis has averaged 26 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.6 bpg with a TS% of 58.5% and a PER of 28.1.  His WS/48 are .226. And the Bucks are 15-10 in those games (15-9 in the games he played).

Not exactly terrible numbers especially considering he is the only All NBA player on his team.  Whereas everyone else is playing with at least 1 other All NBA Team Member (I guess technically Luka isn't since the Zinger only made the All-Seeding 2nd Team and not the regular All NBA team).  And not just currently, not a single Buck has made an All NBA Team at any point in their career, except Giannis.   Holiday and Lopez have both made the All Defense (Bledsoe did as well though only his 2 full seasons with Giannis), but not the actual All NBA Teams indicating a top 15 season.

[Tr1boy]

Durant was never seen as an alpha performer in the playoffs, either, until he joined a 73 win team.

Disagree

He was good when OKC made it to the finals.  But Westbrook became trigger happy and didn't understand the real go to guy was KD. 

Same story the playoffs prior to joining GSW

GSW understood this....until Draymond Green screwed things up

He was part of a team that choked away a 3-1 lead and then joined the team that did it to him.

What is KD going to do when Westbrook shoots 10 for 27??  And team loses by 6 pts?   digest on that for a sec

Westbrook thought he was the "man".  Clearly he was delusional

The team was up 3-1 and needed 1 win to advance. Instead, they lost 3 in a row. We're supposed to look for reasons other than Durant as to why he couldn't pull his team through in that situation, while also solely blaming Giannis for his team losing in the postseason last year?

None of that comes off as a double standard to you?

This thread is going to go in circles. I'm out.

yes

Why do you think Durant left?

Durant was pretty much fed up with Westbrook

That was not a KD performance problem. That was an internal problem. 

With Giannis, it is a performance related.  When his one bread and butter skill (pathway to the rim) is taken away

look at Raptors and Heat  vs Buck playoff series

[Roy H.]

1. Lebron
2. Giannis
3. Durant
4. Kawhi
5. Davis

After that it’s a mix of elite guys who focus primarily on offense (in no particular order):

Curry
Jokic
Doncic
Harden
Lilliard

[Tr1boy]

Giannis is the best player in the league and has been the last two seasons.

yeah...no

not in the playoffs.   Lets be clear about this

The last 2 playoffs Giannis has averaged 26 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.6 bpg with a TS% of 58.5% and a PER of 28.1.  His WS/48 are .226. And the Bucks are 15-10 in those games (15-9 in the games he played).

Not exactly terrible numbers especially considering he is the only All NBA player on his team.  Whereas everyone else is playing with at least 1 other All NBA Team Member (I guess technically Luka isn't since the Zinger only made the All-Seeding 2nd Team and not the regular All NBA team).  And not just currently, not a single Buck has made an All NBA Team at any point in their career, except Giannis.   Holiday and Lopez have both made the All Defense (Bledsoe did as well though only his 2 full seasons with Giannis), but not the actual All NBA Teams indicating a top 15 season.

Put aside those stats for a sec.  With 5 min left in a tight ECF/WCF playoff game...who would you rather have the ball/make the buckets/plays?

KD vs Giannis?
Butler vs Giannis?
Leonard vs Giannis?
Donic vs Giannis?
Jokic vs Giannis?

[Tr1boy]

...and this is why I think BS is such a great coach.  Three EC Finals without a top ten or even top 15 on the roster.

Butler(NCAA) all over again at the NBA level

When is Brad going to get to the finals?  At this rate, he is going to be known as the Buffalo Bills of NBA coaches

[Moranis]

Giannis is the best player in the league and has been the last two seasons.

yeah...no

not in the playoffs.   Lets be clear about this

The last 2 playoffs Giannis has averaged 26 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.6 bpg with a TS% of 58.5% and a PER of 28.1.  His WS/48 are .226. And the Bucks are 15-10 in those games (15-9 in the games he played).

Not exactly terrible numbers especially considering he is the only All NBA player on his team.  Whereas everyone else is playing with at least 1 other All NBA Team Member (I guess technically Luka isn't since the Zinger only made the All-Seeding 2nd Team and not the regular All NBA team).  And not just currently, not a single Buck has made an All NBA Team at any point in their career, except Giannis.   Holiday and Lopez have both made the All Defense (Bledsoe did as well though only his 2 full seasons with Giannis), but not the actual All NBA Teams indicating a top 15 season.

Put aside those stats for a sec.  With 5 min left in a tight ECF/WCF playoff game...who would you rather have the ball/make the buckets/plays?

KD vs Giannis?
Butler vs Giannis?
Leonard vs Giannis?
Donic vs Giannis?
Jokic vs Giannis?

I'll just leave you with this.  Kawhi Leonard's 4th quarters against the Nuggets.

Game 7 - 0-5, -12
Game 6 - 3-7, -10
Game 5 - 3-7, -11
Game 4 - 2-4, +0
Game 3 - 1-7, +8
Game 2 - 0-3, +1
Game 1 - did not play

So in the 4th quarter of a series they lost in 7 after blowing massive 2nd half leads in the final 3 games, Kawhi was 9 of 33 or 27.3% and his team was -24 with him on the floor in those 4th quarters.


Or this, while choking away a 3-1 series lead, Durant shot 26.9% from 3 and 39.5% overall while averaging just 7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in those 3 games.  In the 4th quarter of game 5 he was 3 of 10, in the 4th quarter of game 6 (a game they led by 8 entering the 4th quarter) he was 1 of 7, and in the 4th quarter of game 7 he was a better but still not good 4 of 9.  So while his team was collapsing, Durant was 8 of 26 (30.8%) in the 4th quarter.  And while everyone loves to rag on Westbrook he was 8 of 19 (42.1%) in the 4th quarters of those 3 games.

[Tr1boy]

Giannis is the best player in the league and has been the last two seasons.

yeah...no

not in the playoffs.   Lets be clear about this

The last 2 playoffs Giannis has averaged 26 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.6 bpg with a TS% of 58.5% and a PER of 28.1.  His WS/48 are .226. And the Bucks are 15-10 in those games (15-9 in the games he played).

Not exactly terrible numbers especially considering he is the only All NBA player on his team.  Whereas everyone else is playing with at least 1 other All NBA Team Member (I guess technically Luka isn't since the Zinger only made the All-Seeding 2nd Team and not the regular All NBA team).  And not just currently, not a single Buck has made an All NBA Team at any point in their career, except Giannis.   Holiday and Lopez have both made the All Defense (Bledsoe did as well though only his 2 full seasons with Giannis), but not the actual All NBA Teams indicating a top 15 season.

Put aside those stats for a sec.  With 5 min left in a tight ECF/WCF playoff game...who would you rather have the ball/make the buckets/plays?

KD vs Giannis?
Butler vs Giannis?
Leonard vs Giannis?
Donic vs Giannis?
Jokic vs Giannis?

I'll just leave you with this.  Kawhi Leonard's 4th quarters against the Nuggets.

On Leonard

It was one bad playoff series performance vs all the other good ones

He hit that iconic game winner vs 76ers . He was one of the only few players that was able to guard Lebron James. He has been a clutch playoff performer.  He has won multiple rings

[JBcat]

I’m going on record that with Lebron soon to be age 36 with a short offseason you will start to see some slippage, and many of these players could have a better statistical season like Davis, Doncic, Leonard, Giannis, Durant, Harden, and Jokic.  I think Lebron could be on cruise control for many of the regular season games until the playoffs hit, but how many times can he turn it up a notch as he gets older is the big question.

[Tr1boy]

I’m going on record that with Lebron soon to be age 36 with a short offseason you will start to see some slippage, and many of these players could have a better statistical season like Davis, Doncic, Leonard, Giannis, Durant, Harden, and Jokic.  I think Lebron could be on cruise control for many of the regular season games until the playoffs hit, but how many times can he turn it up a notch as he gets older is the big question.

Two more seasons unfortunately

He is a physical marvel. Like Serena Williams. Nick Lidstrom. Federer

[footey]

Kawhi seems to have lost some of his physical prowess.

If KD is back to his play pre-injury, and all indications are that he is, KD should be ranked the 2nd best player in the NBA.

If Brooklyn spanks Lakers in NBA finals (which is what I predict will happen), KD will regain his crown as the best.

Giannis is just too weak from outside, and too easily schemed against in playoffs, to be worthy of ranking within top 2. 

Stat nerds will continue to claim otherwise.

I judge by championship worthiness.

[jambr380]

Kawhi seems to have lost some of his physical prowess.

If KD is back to his play pre-injury, and all indications are that he is, KD should be ranked the 2nd best player in the NBA.

If Brooklyn spanks Lakers in NBA finals (which is what I predict will happen), KD will regain his crown as the best.

Giannis is just too weak from outside, and too easily schemed against in playoffs, to be worthy of ranking within top 2. 

Stat nerds will continue to claim otherwise.

I judge by championship worthiness.

This is exactly why Giannis should have declined his extension and joined up with another superstar or two. People like you will claim that Giannis isn't good enough, while ignoring the fact that KD signed with a 73 win team to get a Title; and AD and Lebron desperately needed each other to get theirs.

I also get the Harden personality questions, but realizing HOU has no chance and wanting to be a part of a contender is totally normal. We should all be so thankful that Giannis decided not to break the league like KD did back in 2016.

[blink]

When I saw the title of this thread, I assumed the creator thought he was ranked too high. Like, how could he possibly be ranked ahead of so many great players when he hasn't played basketball for 18 months?

As for Giannis - that's pretty much nonsense. Other than maybe Luka, there is not a more desired player in this league. We talk about whether or not we would give up Brown for Harden; well, there is an argument to be made that you could give up Brown and Tatum and still come out on top in a Giannis deal.

I pretty much agree with all of this.  I agree a lot of question marks for KD.

And, as much as I love Tatum and Brown (especially) even I would have to think twice about dealing both if it got us Giannis.  (I probably still wouldn't do it) Lebron and Giannis are pretty much a tie as the best players in the NBA.  Lebron at some point is going to be losing a step, but he is such a smart player, he may be at that 1A/1B position for a couple years with Giannis.

[Moranis]

Kawhi seems to have lost some of his physical prowess.

If KD is back to his play pre-injury, and all indications are that he is, KD should be ranked the 2nd best player in the NBA.

If Brooklyn spanks Lakers in NBA finals (which is what I predict will happen), KD will regain his crown as the best.

Giannis is just too weak from outside, and too easily schemed against in playoffs, to be worthy of ranking within top 2. 

Stat nerds will continue to claim otherwise.

I judge by championship worthiness.

Giannis is absolutely championship worthy, his supporting cast has not been.  With Holiday they are better, but as I indicated earlier, the only Buck that has ever made an All NBA Team at any point in their life is Giannis and it isn't like they are a team of young up and comers.  They are in their prime.  The last time a team won the NBA championship with only 1 player having been on an All NBA Team at the time of the Finals, was the 04 Pistons (Ben Wallace made his 3rd straight that year).  Before that it was the 94 Rockets.  The 79 Sonics didn't have any one make an All NBA Team until after the title season.  I didn't go back further than that, but you get the idea.  It is rare.  That is the company that Giannis would be in if he willed the Bucks to a title.