I want a sammich; don't think I'm getting one though :(. Seriously if i get some time i'll try to do it.
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Not trying to join the gang-up-on-Tron-athon here but I agree. I hate the use of such subjective terminology passed off as objective. Star, Superstar, whatever doesn't mean anything.
What matters is a player's impact for his team. Was Jeremy Lin any kind of star on the warriors? Was he in New York? Did he vastly improve his game or was he utilized differently? Can we measure a player's impact on a game? We can look at plays where a player helped his team directly or indirectly and that is as close as we can get. We can recite stats and records but there is no objective way to measure a player's usefulness. We can all agree that Lebron is a better overall player than Harden, but there are things that Harden can do better than Lebron. Because of that Harden could have a team built around him where he can be more effective than Lebron. Star, Superstar, those are all false accolades we give to players in some kind of ranking system in our heads. What we should look at is skills and roles and how they fit together in the larger part of a team.
Personally if you don't play both sides of the ball, you're not a superstar in my mind.
Finally something we don't agree on!
Star Superstar may not mean anything, but sports fans love rankings and rankings imho are even more subjective than the "superstar" debate here.
For instance, saying Paul George is a top 3 SF doesn't really show he's not even in the same stratosphere as Durant and Lebron. He just seems pretty close. He's not.
Regarding the Harden reference, there is no instance that i can even conjure up where he is as effective as Lebron except with one of Lebrons limbs missing. He doesn't play 1/2 of the game (defense).
Our own Anthony Davis thinks Love is the hardest guy in the game to guard. So that's saying something.
No one's saying Love isn't good...
HAHAHA didn't mean to sound so demanding. I noticed that a lot of the confusion and anger towards you are based on misquotes/miscommunication/misunderstanding. So I wanted to prevent that from the root i.e. you explaining your POV that leaves any reason for doubt as to what you mean.
I like Love's game. (barring the occasional defensive lapse)
I think he's a great 2nd option for a championship team. He has yet to prove that he can be the leader of a team but possesses great skills for the #2 guy. (rebounding, 3s, post scoring)
I don't know whether it's a mental thing or what but until he makes that next jump, he'll stay a #2 guy.
Na it's all good I definitely don't have a problem explaining myself and would prefer for someone to ask me to be specific as opposed to assuming things.
I'll try to simplify the whole superstar vs star thing as best I can while still getting my point across.
1st there's a grading system right. So if LeBron is an A+ player, Durant is an A player, then C. Paul is an A- player. Then you have guys like Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Step Curry, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, etc are B+ players
So based on grading A players are superstars so by my account theirs 3 superstars and the rest of the big time players at this point in their careers are stars. Some like Kobe Bryant(B+) and Duncan use to be A+ players but age has reduced their play to B+ players. Likewise a Player like D. Wade was an A player in is prime now he's a B to B- player. Than you have some guys that are on the cusp of being A to A- players like Curry, Griffin, Aldridge, and Harden (if he ever decides he wants to play defense).
So basically superstars are player A+ to A- players and star players are B+ to B- players. It is subjective and people may grade their superstars on a curve. Which I don't have a problem with and I'm sure I've probably done from time to time.
Keeping this on Kevin Love I would say right now he's a B player. Which would put him on par with guys like Harden(Who I think is highly overrated) Bosh, Ibaka, Noah and M. Gasol.
Honestly,
I think Lebron and Durant are the only 2 superstars in the league right now.
He's a number one scorer. he needs someone else to initiate the offense though, you can't throw it to him in the post like prime duncan and have him pass it out of the double team for an eventual open shot. He could be like Dirk though with the right pieces
When it comes to George he seems to just be missing that "something" that makes the difference between stars and superstars but e's walking that line like no one I've ever seen before, thinking off the top of my head. If he had it he would more consistent in his spectacular play, in his case it would probably be higher scoring games.
This season Love was a better offensive player and rebounder per 36 than Duncan or AD. He beat them in points, rebounds, and assists. His lack of an above-the-rim game and his sullen persona keeps him from being the superstar that his statistics would otherwise make him. His rebounding is an elite skill, and he can also score in a variety of ways. He can pass as well as any big man. Doesn't foul a lot, but that may be because he doesn't defend hard.
The "hasn't won anything" argument used to be applied to LeBron and Garnett, and I think it is pretty weak. If Love ever gets a good core around him and a solid coach at the same time, I think he can lead a team to the playoffs. If he goes to the East he might not need a core....
Garnett reached the conference finals iirc and lebron the nba finals
Love has been reaching for a way out. Can't recall him reaching the playoffs a single time. There's "hasn't won anything" and "hasn't won anything". Chris paul with a horrid squad nearly carried the hornets to the PO in his first season. Love? Meh
His PER did have a nice jump, mainly due to his increased FTr (and Ft%) and taking more shots. I wonder if that had anything to do with his star status. TS% is directly calculated by adding FTr in it and even then it was less than 3% increase. Go look at all his other stats, either flatlined or decreased.
Even if I conceded PER and TS% that doesn't indicate the "big leap" that you tried to say happened every year. Especially when you can argue he had a worse year in 12-13 than 11-12.
I think the comparison the Duncan and AD is poor since no one is calling them a superstar yet or anymore. Love's above the rim game doesn't affect me not viewing him as a superstar. It's his poor to average play on the defensive end. To me, you have to be from the Good-Great range on both sides of the ball. If he becomes a good defender and keeps getting abetter on offense, he will enter the conversation. We all know he won't become a rim protector, but if he can just be solid he'd have an argument.
paul george doesn't have the killer instinct.