One of the G.O.A.T talks about a Rising Superstar...

[hoophuskee]

You don't think Russell is among the top 5 centers ever? I'm sorry but I would take the word of almost every NBA player who has ever seen him play or played against him over your or my opinion.

First off I had to peak. Glad it was nothing to do with DT vs Maya. But . . . No No NO NO NO!!! You got me ALL wrong!

I think Bill Russell is 2nd greatest player ever. You are new I see. Some will mention to you as I am - read all the posts. I respect wally a a lot it may not seem that way. In this subject I think we both got disgusted with one another. That happens. Nothing too bad. I mentioned on this thread to all that Wally got me to re-think Tina vs Lobo. So on those threads I said nothing.

And I apologize wally if I am mistaken here - but connman read from the start. Wally seems to be suggesting stats matter an awful awful awful lot. After those who say DT is ahead he asks "why?" Absolutely legit question. But anyhow he mentions stats a lot. I just try to make a point that stats don't tell everything. He may never have said they do-- but I just want to bring up that they don't. So for those that say DT- imo they are primarily saying "Stats don't mean everything." Look at a post between wally and uvauconn fan. They are both agreeing - "how can anyone say DT was better?"

I brought up Russell because his stats are nowhere near Wilt's. Yet couldn't both wally and uvauconnfan ask the same question of Russell vs Wilt if there was a thread asking who was better for those that chose Russell? As I mentioned on this thread - recently Phil Jackson asked who would he take with the overall 1st pick- he said Russell. So it's not like picking a player because of certain intangibles is out in left-field. So if you are picking Russell over Wilt then obviously you aren't picking him because of stats. SO further I mentioned - if you like stats so much -- why would you have Russell near the top? You are going to place him all-time top ten for example because of his "rebound numbers per game?" I don't think that satts drives Russell. Anyways, for those that pick DT, why bother to mention stats to them as a comparison? IMO to pick DT is a "feel" is just like it is to pick "Russell." And if stats show so much - then before last night's game -- Gabby had overall better stats than Tuck. But no way she is better. So stats aren't everything.

Just curious who do you think is greater, Russell or Wilt? I choose Russell. You can see Wally chooses Wilt. There is nothing wrong with either imo. But if you are choosing Wilt, one thing you are definitely looking at are stats, right? Nothing wrong with going with Maya or DT either imo.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Diana's take on the G.O.A.T.:

"There better be a statue of her around here," Taurasi said. "Right next to Jonathan [outside Gampel Pavilion]. How can you not say she's the best ever to play college basketball? It would be hard to argue with the things she has done. If you put it against anyone's resume, it would be really hard to argue."

Guess who she is referring to?

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-jacobs-column-usa-basketball-0222-20160221-column.html

 

[Wally East]

Well, no, not really. I'm saying people could explain why they think DT is better because here are a bunch of statistical reasons why one could believe Maya is better. For example, earlier in this thread, I said:

"And negative 10 points to anyone who says that Diana has three rings to Maya's two. You have to do better than that because we're talking about individual players over the course of their careers"

"If you can't explain why player X is better than player Y, even in a qualitative manner, your dismissal of arguments you don't care for is little more than nattering." ( ... I could've been nicer about that)

In response to meyers7 saying he'd pick DT over Maya:

Okay. Fair enough.

Why?

and then again to meyers7 regarding a hypothetical draft of all UConn players:

what makes you think D is the best player available?

There was also this, in regards to the idea that stats can be made to whatever you'd like to them to say: "If one can find stats that will say anything, then find them. Find the stats that say D was better than Maya."

But, anyway. People just say that DT is better than Maya just because that's what they want to believe, which, hey have at it. I'm always curious as to why but if people can't articulate it, I chalk up their belief to blind faith.

There are blind alleys to the discussion like she won three titles to Maya's two and she won with a less experienced team (a claim that is borderline, at best). Those don't *really* have to do with either of them directly.

But, seriously: Whatever. DT was certainly truly great. She undoubtedly had a greater flair for the dramatic and making dramatic shots than anyone who played at UConn, maybe of any player I've ever seen. She didn't lose at the Final Four (except for that one time when she did) (she saved her losses for teams like Villanova (twice) and Boston College). She did get to beat Tennessee a bunch and punch a stanchion and Maya didn't because Pat was obviously scared of playing UConn with Maya (which should be a point for Maya but never seems to be )

Think what you want. Supply reasons or not. Include stats or not. It literally does not matter in the slightest