James and Wade the top 2 players in the NBA?

[Mr October]

Are James and Wade the top 2 players in the NBA?

This playoff run of theirs is very impressive. The man to man defense, the passing lane defense, the help defense around the rim, the clutch shooting, the passing, the driving, the range, the speed, the power, the durability, the rebounding... Frustratingly amazing.

My thoughts on the other top candidates:

Kobe's skills have deteriorated, and I think he has slipped to somewhere around 4 or 5.

Dirk's playoff performances are amazing this playoff run. And with KG declining, Pau slipping into some sort of funk, Dirk has claimed the top spot at Power Forward. Yet Dirk is nowhere near the defender that James and Wade are.

Durant isn't 100% ready for prime time playoff defenses. He gets frustrated and resorts to bricking from the outside at times. I'd love to see him attack closer to the basket like Dirk does against tough, physical defense. And again like Dirk, he doesn't have the defensive skill that Wade and James have.

And then Dwight Howard is an athletic beast at center with solid defensive skill. But his offensive skill isn't quite there. He can't shoot well from the outside, and unlike Shaq (who also couldn't shoot from the outside), he can't dominate in the post.

My top 6:

1. James
2. Wade
3. Nowitski
4. Bryant
5. Howard
6. Durant

After that I'd plug in Rose (kind of a modern Iverson), C Paul, D Williams and either P Gasol or Stoudemire to round out the top 10.

Your thoughts? Your top 10?

[KCattheStripe]

1. Wade
2. James
3. Howard
4. Dirk
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. ZBO
8. Paul
9. Deron Williams
10. Blake Griffin

More of a favorites list.

[CelticG1]

I think it's very hard to tell if they are the top 2. I really don't think Wade is. I think Lebron is pretty clear at number one and obviously makes it easier for Wade and other guys on the team.

Of course you could probably plug in Wade's name there and say the same thing but I just think James is easily superior to Wade and a lot better defender. I think Wade is a good defender but people give him to much credit here. James is a dominant defender and Wade is not

[pearljammer10]

1. Wade
2. James
3. Howard
4. Dirk
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. ZBO
8. Paul
9. Deron Williams
10. Blake Griffin

More of a favorites list.

Wade is definitely an underrated superstar in the league. He is just ridiculous and can play at extremely high levels on both sides of the floor. I was scared of him beating us LAST playoffs when he had the team to himself, now after watching him this season, its tough to not put him as the best overall player in the league... My top ten, (as of today anyway, what a hard list to come up with)

1. Wade
2. Kobe
3. Durant
4. James
5. Nowitzki
6. Melo
7. Howard
8. Rose
 after that its tough for me; Paul, Aldridge, Williams, Pierce, Rondo, Gasol, Amare... A case could be made for any of these guys.

[BASS_THUMPER]

right now at this moment yes...

they in the runnin for a ring..

if we were still in it paul and kevin would be...

[PosImpos]

James is the best.  I'd probably have Wade at 2 or 3.

So the answer to your question is yes, probably.

[ManUp]

James
Howard
Wade
Dirk
Kobe

I went with just the top 5 because after that it gets ridiculously hard. This is in terms of impact on a game.

I used to always knock Dwight's offense, but saying his offense "isn't quite there" after this season is just wrong. Dwight has been just nasty in the post and he's becoming almost impossible to stop down there. Even Perk won't be able to stop him one on one anymore. Seriously, the dude averaged 27 and 15 in the play-offs on 63% shooting. He is going to be dangerous when he gets a legit team around him.

[Assassin70]

right now at this moment yes...

they in the runnin for a ring..

if we were still in it paul and kevin would be...

I was with you for the first 2 sentences...then the 3rd one came up.

I love my guys especially PP but he was never ever ever ever ever a top 2 player in his era.  KG in his prime you could make an argument...but not these days.

Back to the topic Lebron is a stud plain and simple.  Dwade is a superstar.

Dwade already had the "fire" and "heart"

Lebron had the "wind" cuz all he would do is talk.  And "water" from all the tears shed from losing with the Cavs every year.

Add Bosh the "earth" to keep the other 2 grounded and to be the whipping boy.

By their powers combined they form Captain Planet!



Together with the NBA ref's no one can hope stop this force.

[KCattheStripe]

James
Howard
Wade
Dirk
Kobe

I went with just the top 5 because after that it gets ridiculously hard. This is in terms of impact on a game.

I used to always knock Dwight's offense, but saying his offense "isn't quite there" after this season is just wrong. Dwight has been just nasty in the post and he's becoming almost impossible to stop down there.

If he could pass, he'd be deadly.

[ManUp]

James
Howard
Wade
Dirk
Kobe

I went with just the top 5 because after that it gets ridiculously hard. This is in terms of impact on a game.

I used to always knock Dwight's offense, but saying his offense "isn't quite there" after this season is just wrong. Dwight has been just nasty in the post and he's becoming almost impossible to stop down there.

If he could pass, he'd be deadly.

He's no KG, but he's a decent passer. That stuff will get better with time and under the right system. In my opinion, SVG really has no idea how to use him. I don't know when it happened, but he's basically a glorified Jim O'brien these days.

[CelticG1]

1. Wade
2. James
3. Howard
4. Dirk
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. ZBO
8. Paul
9. Deron Williams
10. Blake Griffin

More of a favorites list.

Wade is definitely an underrated superstar in the league. He is just ridiculous and can play at extremely high levels on both sides of the floor. I was scared of him beating us LAST playoffs when he had the team to himself, now after watching him this season, its tough to not put him as the best overall player in the league... My top ten, (as of today anyway, what a hard list to come up with)

1. Wade
2. Kobe
3. Durant
4. James
5. Nowitzki
6. Melo
7. Howard
8. Rose
 after that its tough for me; Paul, Aldridge, Williams, Pierce, Rondo, Gasol, Amare... A case could be made for any of these guys.

So according to you the best player in the league is underrated? Interesting. If anything he is rated just right. I don't know to many people that think he is not a top 5 player in this league.

You can say I underrate him if you want jeez the media certainly doesn't underrate him. If I'm picking who I'd want to start on my playoff team this year I'd at least pick James, Howard, Paul and Durant over him and probably some others too (maybe Dirk, Melo, Rose)

[wdleehi]

No.



James
Howard
Durant
Paul
Wade
Rose
Dirk
Williams

[Assassin70]

James
Howard
Durant
Paul
Wade
Rose
Dirk
Williams

/co sign

[KCattheStripe]

No.



James
Howard
Durant
Paul
Wade
Rose
Dirk
Williams

Yes.



My list.



See above.

[LakersFan_33]

No, Lebron James and Dirk Nowitzki are the top 2 players in the NBA.

I would put Dwight Howard 3rd and Wade 4th. I have Kobe behind CP3 and Durant.