<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>As the New Year arrives and I think of all the greats who have blessed the basketball courts in my era, Michael Jordan is often called the perfect player. If he wasn’t perfect, he was very close. That got me wondering on how to construct the perfect player Frankenstein-style. Which parts of which players would I use? The first part, which allows the body to function is the heart. This has to come from the player who has no fear of failure and a killer instinct: Kobe Bryant. The brain obviously is also vital. I need someone who understands his strengths and limitations and also understands his players and coaches to a great degree. That’s Jason Kidd. Vision helps separate the truly great players from the very good ones. And no one sees the floor quite like Steve Nash. If this is going to be the perfect player, he shouldn’t lack for athleticism. Not only should he be able to go by people, but also through or over them. Give me LeBron James’ combination of speed, quickness and muscle. There are faster players baseline to baseline than James, but they don’t have his size and leaping ability. The hops go to Josh Smith. He’s the new-age Dominique Wilkins. The strength of a basketball player is underrated. Skinny players like Reggie Miller and Rip Hamilton don’t need bulk to dart around screens. But give a player the strength of Dwight Howard and now you have a monster. The longer the wingspan, the better the ability to grab rebounds, deflect passes and make other plays your opponents can’t make. So give me Kevin Garnett’s reach. The best players shoot with a quick release. They can get off a shot while their defender is still flatfooted. Which is why I’ll need Ray Allen’s wrists. Soft hands are essential. You want someone with a good touch who can catch all kinds of passes. That would be Tim Duncan. The feet give you balance. They help you change direction, tightrope the baseline and stay in front of your man on defense. Give me the feet of Manu Ginobili. The other parts that make up a great player aren’t as tangible. Like timing. The best shot blockers have great timing. Jump too soon and your opponent can duck into you and draw a foul. Jump too late and you’ll get dunked on. I want the timing of Marcus Camby. Savvy comes from experience. The most battle-tested players know what to expect before it happens. And few players are more battle-tested than Chauncey Billups. Patience is important. Great players know when to attack. They know how to set up their opponent with a fake. They don’t rush and they rarely force a bad shot. Is there anymore more patient than Duncan? He’s my first and only two-time part member. Lastly, no one likes a sore loser or a bad winner. That’s why I value sportsmanship. To be a true winner, you have to be gracious. Like Michael Redd. Now this is a player who’s truly the sum of his parts.</div> Source: Yahoo Sports How would you construct your ultimate player based on those categories? Heart Brain Vision Athleticism Hops Strength Wingspan Wrists Hands Feet Timing Savvy Patience Sportsmanship
Heart - Kobe Bryant Brain - Duncan Vision - Chris Paul Athleticism - LeBron James Hops - Josh Smith Strength - LeBron Wingspan - Durant Wrists - LeBron Hands - Kidd Feet - Duncan Timing - Kobe Savvy - Wade Patience - Nash Sportsmanship
OOO, Funs. Heart: Allen Iverson Brain: Dwayne Wade Vision: Jason Kidd Athleticism: Andre Igoudala Hops: LeBron James Strength: Dwight Howard Wingspan: Tyson Chandler Wrists: Ray Allen Hands: Ron Artest Feet: Tim Duncan Timing: Camby Savvy: Ginoboli Patience: (I don't know what this means in terms of basketball) Sportsmanship: Tim Duncan
Heart- Kenyon Martin Brain- Nash (Kidd doesn't really use his head off the court, zing) Vision- Kidd Athleticism- Lebron Hops- James White Strength- Dwight Howard Wingspan- Sean Williams Wrists- Ray Allen Hands- Timmy D I guess Feet- Tony Parker Timing- Camby Savvy- KG Patience- Kobe Sportsmanship- Rasheed Wallace, because sportsmanship is for bitches edit: ok but if I had to get someone's sportsmanship, I'd take Jason Collins. The dude gets boo'ed by his own fans, and yet deflects all forms of praise to his teammates when he has a good game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GM3 @ Jan 3 2008, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>OOO, Funs. Heart: Allen Iverson Brain: Dwayne Wade Vision: Jason Kidd Athleticism: Andre Igoudala Hops: LeBron James Strength: Dwight Howard Wingspan: Tyson Chandler Wrists: Ray Allen Hands: Ron Artest Feet: Tim Duncan Timing: Camby Savvy: Ginoboli Patience: (I don't know what this means in terms of basketball) Sportsmanship: Tim Duncan</div> Per Kenny Smith's definition .... Patience is important. Great players know when to attack. They know how to set up their opponent with a fake. They don’t rush and they rarely force a bad shot. Is there anymore more patient than Duncan? He’s my first and only two-time part member.
Heart: Smush Parker Brain: Smush Parker Vision: Smush Parker Athleticism: Pat Garrity Hops: Brian Cook Strength: Sasha Vujacic Wingspan: Sasha Vujackc Wrists: Samaki Walker Hands: Kwame Brown Feet: Chucky Atkins Timing: Chris Mihm Savvy: Brian Cook Patience: Lamar Odom Sportsmanship: Ron Artest
Heart- Allen Iverson Brain- Steve Nash Vision- Jason Kidd Athleticism- Josh Smith Hops- Josh Smith Strength- D Howard Wingspan- Muhammad Sene Wrists- Ray Allen Hands- hmmm Feet- Tim Duncun Timing- hmm Savvy- T Mac Patience- Tim Duncun Sportsmanship- im Duncun today the closest thing to the perfect player is Tim Duncun or KG imo.
Heart - Kobe Brain - Kidd Vision - Kidd Athleticism - LeBron Hops - Josh Smith Strength - Dwight Howard Wingspan - Tayshaun Prince Wrists - Ray Allen Hands - Duncan Feet - Duncan Timing - Camby Savvy - Kobe Patience - Duncan Sportsmanship - Duncan
Heart-Kobe Brain-Nash Vision-Kidd Athleticism-LBJ Hops-Kobe Strength-D.Howard Wingspan-Durant Wrists-Allen Hands-C.Paul Feet-Duncan Timing-D.Wade Savvy-Kobe Patience-Nash Sportsmanship-
I'm assuming this is just current players. Heart: Allen Iverson Brain: Jason Kidd Vision: Jason Kidd Athleticism: LeBron James Hops: James White Strength: Dwight Howard Wingspan: Mohammed Sene Wrists: Ray Allen Hands: Rajon Rondo Feet: Tim Duncan Timing: Theo Ratliff (assuming this has to do with shot blocking) Savvy: Tim Duncan Patience: Tim Duncan Sportsmanship: Ray Allen
Heart: Wade Brain: Duncan Vision: Nash Athleticism: Nate Robinson Hops: Nate Robinson Strength: artest Wingspan: T-MAc Wrists: Ray Hands: Dwyane Wade Feet: Tim Duncan Timing: J-Smoove Savvy: Kobe Patience: McGrady Sportsmanship: Duncan
Heart - Andres Nocioni Brain - Grant Hill Vision - Jason Kidd Athleticism - Shawn Marion Hops - Nate Robinson Strength - LeBron James Wingspan - Rasheed Wallace Wrists - Gilbert Arenas Hands - Carlos Boozer Feet - Kevin Garnett Timing - Elton Brand Savvy - Sam Cassell Patience - Chauncy Billups Sportsmanship - Dwight Howard
Heart : Ronny Turiaf (not literally) Brain : Jason Kidd Vision : Steve Nash Athleticism : Lebron James Hops : Nate Robinson Strength : Joey Graham Wingspan : Ike Diogu Wrists : Jason Kapono Hands : Antawn Jamison Feet : TJ Ford Timing : Marcus Camby Savvy : Grant Hill Patience : Tim Duncan Sportsmanship : Anthony Parker
Heart : Allen Iverson Brain : Jason Kidd Vision : Steve Nash Athleticism : Lebron James Hops : Jamario Moon Strength : Chris Bosh Wingspan : Tayshaun Prince Wrists : Jason Kapono Hands : Richard Hamilton Feet : TJ Ford Timing : Chauncey Billups Savvy : Paul Pierce Patience : Tim Duncan Sportsmanship : Chauncey Billups
Heart - Dwyane Wade Brain - Steve Nash Vision - Steve Nash Athleticism - Lebron James Hops - Dwight Howard Strength - Dwight Howard Wingspan - Ike Diogu Wrists - Michael Redd Hands - Allen Iverson Feet - Baron Davis Timing - Josh Smith Savvy - Tim Duncan Patience - Tim Duncan Sportsmanship - Dirk Nowitzki...just kidding. Steve Nash.
Why do people want a whinny little baby like Tim Duncan for Sportsmanship? He complains about every foul called on him and believes he is fouled on every single play. Plus he takes Phil Jackson style shots at the refs after any game he doesn't feel went his way. He is nothing close to a good sport
Heart - Kobe Bryant Brain - Jason Kidd Vision - Steve Nash Athleticism - Lebron James Hops - James White Strength - Dwight Howard Wingspan - Tayshaun Prince Wrists - Michael Redd Hands - Kwame Brown Feet - Kobe Bryant Timing - Josh Smith Savvy - Derek Fisher Patience - Tim Duncan Sportsmanship - Shane Battier
Heart - Kobe Bryant Brain - Brent Barry Vision - Steve Nash Athleticism - Al Thornton Hops - Gerald Green Strength - Dwight Howard Wingspan - Saer Sene 7'8 longest in the league! Wrists - Ray Allen Hands - Shaq Feet - Manu Ginobili Timing - Marcus Camby Savvy - Kobe Bryant Patience - Chauncey Billups Sportsmanship - Shane Battier
