Tim Legler "Derrick Rose is the best since Magic Johnson"

[anthony83]

Derrick Rose is a very good player, but please, Allen Iverson is unique and incomparable.
 Iverson scored 50 points and 10 assists ... please, some have short memories, is incredible.

 To my Rose is like Marbury, but comparing Iverson with Rose ...

 AI is a legend, a hall of fame, 24368 points.

 If Iverson had been playing with Boozer, Noah and these Bulls? in those Sixers was empty.

  GO CELTICSSS¡¡¡

[CelticG1]

Didn't he say that right now D Rose is the most dominant PG since Magic?

If someone is talking about RIGHT NOW than any top MVP candidate can be compared to a top MVP in the past because it is RIGHT NOW. Anyone, or I should say the top player's in todays game can be on a Jordan, Magic, Bird level for a season or in stretches.  I don't think it means that he necessarily thinks that Rose's career will be as successful as Magic's just that right now as this regular season is culminating he is being as dominant a PG since Magic. I don't know if this is true or not but for as dominant as Rose has been for this season (especialy the second half)he can't be too far off base

[Chris]

ESPN is a joke when it comes to its NBA coverage.  

None of this should be surprising.  That network is the ultimate hype machine and gets more caught up in the moment than any other sports outlet by far.

To be fair, you pretty much get it from all sides.  The guys on TNT have their own types of hyperbole, and Webber and crew on NBATV are always over the top.

Even our own Tommy thought Ryan Gomes was the next Elvin Hayes, and Al Jefferson was the next Moses Malone.  

[soap07]

IMO, Paul has not replicated that season since.  He is still really good, and probably still the best in the league (although Rose does have an argument for this season), but unless he comes all the way back from the knee injury and regains the quickness he had a few years back, I think the "Best PG ever" label could be tough to obtain for him.

Fair, for sure, but I thought we were discussing whether Paul is the best point guard since Magic based on the subject line. I would agree that best of all-time is a bit much for Paul at this point...

[pearljammer10]

He is a 2011 Allen Iverson/Steve Francis

That's really about as deep as you have to look into it

I think this is a better comparison than Magic johnson. Rose is certainly going to have a lengthy career at a higher rate of play than Francis. And Rose will probably leave more of a legacy than Iverson in the end because I predict he's gonna win a few championships.

[OsirusCeltics]

Well I think everyone has their opinion, but Derrick Rose is a great player, a great PG, a franchise player, a 1 every 5 years type player.  I think right now I would take him as a PG over just about everyone including Chris Paul (only due to Paul's injury risk and the fact that Rose steps up better in the playoffs).  Most people who ridicule him will say he isn't a point guard because he scores so much.  That is total nonsense.  He has the ball in his hand to run the offense whether he is the scorer or passer.  He also is responsible for bringing the ball up the court which some of you think is required as a PG.  

There has not been anyone who can defend him especially in clutch time.  When the top defender on your team needs to guard Rose because the normal PG can't that is saying something.  Rose, during the crunch time, goes against the best of the best defenders and still comes through.  His defense has definitely improved this year whether its because he totally kills his opponents confidence with his offense or whether he simply got smarter defensively.  Who knows.

People will look at his 44% FG percentage and cry but he is taking many more 3pointers this year which is distorting that FG%. His TS% is actually up this year despite his lower FG%.  

He was a freaking monster the last two years in the first rounds of the playoffs.  

He has the type of game that can simply take over a game.  Not many PGs can do that as both a scorer and distributor.  

The reality for Derrick Rose is that he needs to bring it in the playoffs and lift his team to playoff success.  Last year, he almost single handedly helped his team gain a monumental upset. This year, he has help, and he will need to prove to everyone that he has what it takes when it matters most.  That will change all the doubters minds.

Rose steps up better in the playoffs?!    
Wow what has Rose done since that game 1 in 2009 against the Celtics?

Chris Paul is the best closer at the point guard position. Even though I love Rondo, Paul is a step above. The way the tore apart that Mav team in 2008 like it was his own playground. Not to mention going to 7 games to the defending champion Spurs in the next round. Was the best player in those two rounds He is the most efficient point guard. His team does not have alot of consistent offensive options besides David West. He dominates the game offensively and defensively, something I can't say for Rose

[nyceltsfan]

My issue is the long careers that John Stockton, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash had/have and their stats are mind-boggling.  Nash has won 2 MVP's and Kidd should have at least one.

However, if you look at the 3 PG's I mentioned, there is one glaring problem - no title.  Rose wins this year and he vaults to the top of the list, as the best player on a championship team.

[indeedproceed]

CP3's season in 2007-2008 was much better than Rose's this year.

One could argue that CP3's season is better this year too. Paul is top 5 in PER and leading the league in Win Shares/48 - FWIW. Also has a better TS%, eFG%, more steals (leading the league, in fact), more assists, slightly better rebound rate...

I've watched more Bulls games than Hornets games so I don't know if I'm the best guy for this..but I don't know anyone who would argue CP3 is having a better year. I've even read people questioning whether or not he's playing with a full heart.

EDIT: I'm not contesting your statistics..just from what I've seen on the court, and read from other people.

[OsirusCeltics]

Derrick Rose is a very good player, but please, Allen Iverson is unique and incomparable.
 Iverson scored 50 points and 10 assists ... please, some have short memories, is incredible.

 To my Rose is like Marbury, but comparing Iverson with Rose ...

 AI is a legend, a hall of fame, 24368 points.

 If Iverson had been playing with Boozer, Noah and these Bulls? in those Sixers was empty.

  GO CELTICSSS¡¡¡

TP exactly!!
Derrick Rose is NOWHERE NEAR the level of Iverson. Like you said people have short memories  

[snowball]

Absolutely no successful argument can be
made for Derrick Rose over Allen Iverson.

[soap07]

CP3's season in 2007-2008 was much better than Rose's this year.

One could argue that CP3's season is better this year too. Paul is top 5 in PER and leading the league in Win Shares/48 - FWIW. Also has a better TS%, eFG%, more steals (leading the league, in fact), more assists, slightly better rebound rate...

I've watched more Bulls games than Hornets games so I don't know if I'm the best guy for this..but I don't know anyone who would argue CP3 is having a better year. I've even read people questioning whether or not he's playing with a full heart.

EDIT: I'm not contesting your statistics..just from what I've seen on the court, and read from other people.

You may be right. But then again, I think the supporting cast (well, the franchise in general really) is garbage. Small market as well, so who, out of us, is getting a ton of exposure to Paul the way Rose gets?

[indeedproceed]

CP3's season in 2007-2008 was much better than Rose's this year.

One could argue that CP3's season is better this year too. Paul is top 5 in PER and leading the league in Win Shares/48 - FWIW. Also has a better TS%, eFG%, more steals (leading the league, in fact), more assists, slightly better rebound rate...

I've watched more Bulls games than Hornets games so I don't know if I'm the best guy for this..but I don't know anyone who would argue CP3 is having a better year. I've even read people questioning whether or not he's playing with a full heart.

EDIT: I'm not contesting your statistics..just from what I've seen on the court, and read from other people.

You may be right. But then again, I think the supporting cast (well, the franchise in general really) is garbage. Small market as well, so who, out of us, is getting a ton of exposure to Paul the way Rose gets?

While Rose is more often on TNT or ABC or whatever, plus whatever local markets you have (I'm in NY, so I get Nets and KNicks)..NOH is on league pass just like everyone else. Though, to be honest watching Hornets games is right up there with watching Bobcats games, Grizzlies games, and Sixers for games I cannot stand and have no emotional attachment to.

But that said...I haven't seen the same urgency I'm used to seeing from CP3...I wouldn't say he looks bored, but I don't know what word I woudl use in its stead..maybe resigned?

[RebusRankin]

Isaiah Thomas
John Stockton
Kevin Johnson
Penny Hardaway
Gary Payton

Tim Legler, your history reading awaits you.

[2short]

I like legler as he seems to be one the few espn guys who isn't pumping up ratings for espn or tooting his own horn.  He generally uses common sense and has good bb knowledge.
That said...well to be fair I didn't get exact quote.  Magic was magic.
As of now I would say derrick rose is a lot like an old friend of ours, tiny archibald when he was with kc.  Tiny led the nba in scoring and assists but was so ball dominating and the rest of team was subpar so its kind of a forgotten season.
If rose can bring his team to a title his rookie year but being arguably the best player on the floor like magic did than that is something.  Oh yeah he already passed his rookie season.
He's great and a top 5 pg, someone I'd rate higher than rondo.  BUT I will take rondo come playoff time, its a team game!

[indeedproceed]

Isaiah Thomas
John Stockton
Kevin Johnson
Penny Hardaway
Gary Payton

Tim Legler, your history reading awaits you.

To be fair to Legs (who almost always chooses the Celtics in playoff matchups, so he deserves some defense)...only Gary Payton has had a year out of those guys that is statistically similar to Derrick Rose.

http://bkref.com/tiny/yqG1e