Is Courtney Vandersloot the Greatest Point Guard of All Time?

[UConnCat]

Ah, my bad on the facts then. either way, she's been on USA basketball's orbit, just never enough to make the push past bird or whalen.

True, though as I mentioned above, Whalen didn't make her first WNT until she was 28 years old. I sat watching Plum and Clarendon struggle in Tenerife last year and wondered if VanderSloot mght have been on the World Cup team had she remained in USA BB's orbit. Oh well.

 

[WiseOne]

Short answer: NO
Long answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Her team lost last night in the playoffs. She missed 7 of ten shots taken. Otherwise, 4 rebounds, a steal and 12 assists.

BTW, Vandersloot is listed as the all-time WNBA leader in assists per game in playoff games.

All Time Leaders

The all time official leaders for the NBA.

stats.wnba.com

So I'll let this go now. Sue is tremendous. Just wonder whether we'll see Vandersloot greatness acknowledged in the future.

We'll see.....

 

[Vowelguy]

So I'll let this go now. Sue is tremendous. Just wonder whether we'll see Vandersloot greatness acknowledged in the future.

We'll see.....

If you wanted to have a thoughtful discussion, you would've phrased the subject as "Will CV _become_ the greatest ever." But to go the more aggressive route and argue that a player with no titles, no Olympics, and 2 W all-star appearances in 9 years is already the greatest was bound to inflame.
Why do I think you already knew that?

 

[Fairfield Fan]

If you wanted to have a thoughtful discussion, you would've phrased the subject as "Will CV _become_ the greatest ever." But to go the more aggressive route and argue that a player with no titles, no Olympics, and some good stats is already the greatest was bound to inflame.
Why do I think you already knew that?

Sorry, but a player who after nine years is the leading point guard in assists per game, registered the three highest seasons with average assists per game, and leads the WNBA in assists per game in playoff games, deserves a discussion as to whether she's the best point guard.

Last year, Jacob de Grom won the Cy Young award, while winning just nine games with the lowly New York Mets. One has to look at individual metrics of greatness, and not just whether one has been excellent on great teams.

I was being "thoughtful," not "aggressive", and had no intention to "inflame." Indeed, I believe that comment is out of bounds.

 

[Justavisitor]

Bird is more offensive minded. She's much better at calling her own number and she's a much better scorer. It's been a rare occurrence for Sloot to even average double digits in scoring.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Just checking. Scoring average was totally overrated in the ROY debate, but in this comparison it's important, is that correct? Just want to make sure. FTR their career scoring averages aren't that far apart, 12.1 ppg compared to 9.7 ppg. I think "much better scorer" is stretching it. Difference of 2.4 ppg? Maybe getting Sloot confused w/ Penicheiro, who averaged 6.1 ppg.

 

[CTBballfan243]

She is already ranked 6th in total assists, and first in assists per game. She's recorded 6.2 assists per game, compared with 5.6 by Sue Bird. She's getting better with age, having put up 9.1 assists/game this past season, her best ever. Indeed, each of the past three years, she's set a new personal record. She's about to move up from sixth all-time to fifth all-time, as she only 23 assists behind the great Becky Hammon.

All Time Leaders

The all time official leaders for the NBA.

stats.wnba.com

Is she better than Sue Bird was? I know it sounds like heresy to pose the question. But the numbers she's been putting up are astounding. Is she that good?

Simple answer......,,, NO!!!!!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Bird is more offensive minded. She's much better at calling her own number and she's a much better scorer. It's been a rare occurrence for Sloot to even average double digits in scoring.

But V averages just under 10 points per game, while Sue's career average is just over 12 ppg. Not a huge difference there.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm as big a fan of UConn as anyone, but just wonder whether V and Sue might be closer than we emotionally want to admit.

That is just silly. Before today, I never once heard or read anyone of note posit that this player was better than Sue Bird.

 

[Waquoit]

Come on now, she had no chance of making any Olympic teams w/ Bird and Whalen firmly entrenched throughout her entire career.

Doesn't that support the no answer? How can one claim she's the best all-time today when she couldn't beat out an old lady just a few years ago?

 

[mbr33ct]

Just checking. Scoring average was totally overrated in the ROY debate, but in this comparison it's important, is that correct? Just want to make sure. FTR their career scoring averages aren't that far apart, 12.1 ppg compared to 9.7 ppg. I think "much better scorer" is stretching it. Difference of 2.4 ppg? Maybe getting Sloot confused w/ Penicheiro, who averaged 6.1 ppg.

Not correct. In the end, IMO the ROY award had nothing to do with "average scoring" and had everything to do with being more than a "one dimensional player"...as is the case with this other topic.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Of course the title of this thread on a UConn board makes me LOL, because of course it's meant to stir the pot. I haven't watched much WNBA over the years but did watch some of the Sky-Aces game Sunday. Sloot looked excellent and there is little argument she was the best PG in the league this year. Her figures have improved with age and she likely still has some great years left.

Bird is to me the all time best point guard but I can't deny playing with Lauren Jackson and Breanna Stewart helped get her those titles. If EDD and or Fowles elected to remain in Chicago perhaps the Sky would have been more successful. As far as the Olympics, Sloot got caught behind Bird and Whalen. Hammon (and to an extent Parker in 16) found themselves on the outside of an organization that has the luxury of a deep talent base and seems to be highly political. I hope Bird and Taurasi are able to make a go of it in 2020 and stay healthy. Sloot would have probably been on the World Team last year with all the injuries and no shows for lack of a better word.

There is no reason to tear down either woman in order to proclaim one is "the best".

 

[Carnac]

I believe she called out MVP Lauren Jackson for not running the play that was called. Sue is the E.F. Hutton of the WNBA.

She did. That video has been featured by a poster here in the yard.

 

[Justavisitor]

Just checking. Scoring average was totally overrated in the ROY debate, but in this comparison it's important, is that correct? Just want to make sure. FTR their career scoring averages aren't that far apart, 12.1 ppg compared to 9.7 ppg. I think "much better scorer" is stretching it. Difference of 2.4 ppg? Maybe getting Sloot confused w/ Penicheiro, who averaged 6.1 ppg.

No. I'm not stretching it. Just watch the on court play. Sue is comfortable with taking on a scoring role, while Sloot seems to use it as her last option. Sue is reserved in shooting, but when necessary, she can turn it on. Meantime, Sloot seems almost uncomfortable if she is put in a position where scoring from herself is necessary. I didn't go look, but based on the eye test of watching Sue's career, I'm betting she averages many more 20 plus scoring games than does sloot.

 

[Justavisitor]

Of course the title of this thread on a UConn board makes me LOL, because of course it's meant to stir the pot. I haven't watched much WNBA over the years but did watch some of the Sky-Aces game Sunday. Sloot looked excellent and there is little argument she was the best PG in the league this year. Her figures have improved with age and she likely still has some great years left.

Bird is to me the all time best point guard but I can't deny playing with Lauren Jackson and Breanna Stewart helped get her those titles. If EDD and or Fowles elected to remain in Chicago perhaps the Sky would have been more successful. As far as the Olympics, Sloot got caught behind Bird and Whalen. Hammon (and to an extent Parker in 16) found themselves on the outside of an organization that has the luxury of a deep talent base and seems to be highly political. I hope Bird and Taurasi are able to make a go of it in 2020 and stay healthy. Sloot would have probably been on the World Team last year with all the injuries and no shows for lack of a better word.

There is no reason to tear down either woman in order to proclaim one is "the best".

LOL...Parker found herself on the outside and I'm also betting depth had nothing to do with it...but I'm not allowed to go there on this board.