1. Lebron 2. Kobe 3. Durant

[AnotherLoan]

Howard isn't a force on the offensive end. His post moves are atrocious. Gasol is the most skilled big man in the league today.

[williams22]

Easily. Kobe might even be the best 1 on 1 perimeter defender ever to play. He's a better defender than Jordan. I don't care what anyone says.

Artest is better. Sefalosha is better currently. Battier is better depending on what aspects you focus on (pure athleticism versus outsmarting the opponent).

Wade is a tremendous off-ball defender and strong on the ball, but not the best.

[williams22]

Howard isn't a force on the offensive end. His post moves are atrocious. Gasol is the most skilled big man in the league today.

I'd put Chris Bosh in that discussion. Howard is awful offensively given how athletic he is. I will also never consider him great until he learns to temper his emotions and not commit 4 brain-dead fouls a game.

[ijrod21i]

Phil Jackson, who has forgotten more about Basketball than we'll ever know, said he'd choose Dwight Howard first if they re-drafted every NBA player.

[williams22]

Phil Jackson, who has forgotten more about Basketball than we'll ever know, said he'd choose Dwight Howard first if they re-drafted every NBA player.

Then that solidifies my opinion that Jackson is the most overrated 10-ring coach ever.

[Goat Milk]

Artest is better. Sefalosha is better currently. Battier is better depending on what aspects you focus on (pure athleticism versus outsmarting the opponent).

Wade is a tremendous off-ball defender and strong on the ball, but not the best.

Bro your not serious? Did you just say Sfalosha is a better defender than Bryant right now? Or even Wade? We'll just see who makes first team all defense this year.

I can't believe you just mentioned Sefalosha. wow.

[williams22]

Bro your not serious? Did you just say Sfalosha is a better defender than Bryant right now? Or even Wade? We'll just see who makes first team all defense this year.

I can't believe you just mentioned Sefalosha. wow.

Yes, Sefolosha is currently a better defender than Kobe, but I would say Wade is better. Kobe cant play hard D for a full game anymore. Sefalosha is quickly becoming one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Artest is still the best.

Of course Sefolosha wont make the all-defense team, many of the writers who vote wont even know of him and only recognize stars.

[ijrod21i]

Then that solidifies my opinion that Jackson is the most overrated 10-ring coach ever.

*Sigh* Very illogical that you think you know more about basketball players than Phil Jackson. But i'm not going to argue because you can't fix stupid.

[Goat Milk]

Yes, Sefolosha is currently a better defender than Kobe, but I would say Wade is better. Kobe cant play hard D for a full game anymore. Sefalosha is quickly becoming one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. Artest is still the best.

Of course Sefolosha wont make the all-defense team, many of the writers who vote wont even know of him and only recognize stars.

I believe Sefolosha got shit on last night. And Kobe locked up Westbrook for two straight games...

Sefalosha was always a good defender, he'll never improve, he will stay at this level (a top 15 perimeter defender) until he retires. Your overrating Artest just cause he played Durant solidly for 1 series then all of the sudden he's the best? Remember what Kobe did to Artest last year? Or what Wade has done to him? Or Brandon Roy?

Artest can only shut someone down with his strength, he's slow bro.

[williams22]

*Sigh* Very illogical that you think you know more about basketball players than Phil Jackson. But i'm not going to argue because you can't fix stupid.

There are at least 5 players I would pick to form a team around before choosing Howard. First, his offensive skills are pathetic. He has yet to develop any sort of touch around the rim and his go to move is a right handed runner falling away from the hoop, not exactly what I want my freakishly athletic center doing.

Second, he can't keep himself on the court to save his life. He doesn't get fouls from playing hard either, he gets them from being dumb. At least once a game he gets frustrated and flings someone's arm off of him right in front of a ref, getting called every time.

Finally, he's an awful leader. No one on Orlando will say Dwight is the leader of the team, it's Jameer's team. He's a young kid who doesn't know how to focus and take things seriously when need be. It got so bad this year that Adonal Foyle had to call him out on it in front of the whole team.

[Goat Milk]

Phil Jackson, who has forgotten more about Basketball than we'll ever know, said he'd choose Dwight Howard first if they re-drafted every NBA player.

that sucks for Phil then because he would have 0 rings following the 6 he won during the Jordan era. What an insult to Kobe that statement is. Dwight is just a dominant defender right now, nothing else.

[jsmithj88]

Although sometime soon we might have to move Durant up to #2

get outta here man. durant is a good scorer which is all he does rite now. hes not even in the top 5 players.
westbrook was their best player vs the lakers, people need to calm down with this durant nonsense.
the dude has 1 good season and every1 is calling him a top player?

[williams22]

I believe Sefolosha got shit on last night. And Kobe locked up Westbrook for two straight games...

Sefalosha was always a good defender, he'll never improve, he will stay at this level (a top 15 perimeter defender) until he retires. Your overrating Artest just cause he played Durant solidly for 1 series then all of the sudden he's the best? Remember what Kobe did to Artest last year? Or what Wade has done to him? Or Brandon Roy?

Artest can only shut someone down with his strength, he's slow bro.

One game means nothing, plus we all know that good offense beats good defense any day.

Artest has slowed some, but he still has the quickest and strongest hands of any perimeter defender in the league.

[jsmithj88]

that sucks for Phil then because he would have 0 rings following the 6 he won during the Jordan era. What an insult to Kobe that statement is. Dwight is just a dominant defender right now, nothing else.

phil was prolly talkin out of his ass

[ijrod21i]

There are at least 5 players I would pick to form a team around before choosing Howard. First, his offensive skills are pathetic. He has yet to develop any sort of touch around the rim and his go to move is a right handed runner falling away from the hoop, not exactly what I want my freakishly athletic center doing.

Second, he can't keep himself on the court to save his life. He doesn't get fouls from playing hard either, he gets them from being dumb. At least once a game he gets frustrated and flings someone's arm off of him right in front of a ref, getting called every time.

Finally, he's an awful leader. No one on Orlando will say Dwight is the leader of the team, it's Jameer's team. He's a young kid who doesn't know how to focus and take things seriously when need be. It got so bad this year that Adonal Foyle had to call him out on it in front of the whole team.

Again, you just said you know more about basketball players than Phil Jackson. I don't care how passionate you are about a subject, please don't let emotion cloud logic.

[AnotherLoan]

Didn't Phil say that before the Finals? Probably just said that to fukk with Dwight's mind.

[Goat Milk]

get outta here man. durant is a good scorer which is all he does rite now. hes not even in the top 5 players.
westbrook was their best player vs the lakers, people need to calm down with this durant nonsense.
the dude has 1 good season and every1 is calling him a top player?

most of these posters are newbies. They've been watching ball for a few years and they don't understand that to be a top 3 player you have to be dominant on both sides of the floor. Durant is not even a dominant offensive player yet, he can't make plays for others that's why he can't even average 3 assists per game. He's just a scorer.

Give him 2-3 years though, he'll be in the discussion.

[mkasad23]

stick with hockey your way off

[williams22]

Again, you just said you know more about basketball players than Phil Jackson. I don't care how passionate you are about a subject, please don't let emotion cloud logic.

"Because Phil said so" is not a good argument. Try to back up that ridiculous claim. Phil was most likely saying it to irk Kobe a bit, nothing new. There isn't a coach in the league who wouldn't pick Lebron, Wade, or Deron Williams first (I'm not including Kobe because you wouldn't choose him to build a team for the future).

[jsmithj88]

most of these posters are newbies. They've been watching ball for a few years and they don't understand that to be a top 3 player you have to be dominant on both sides of the floor. Durant is not even a dominant offensive player yet, he can't make plays for others that's why he can't even average 3 assists per game. He's just a scorer. Give him 2-3 years though, he'll be in the discussion.

exactly, they cant even formulate a proper case for durant being a top player. 1 good season, 1 playoff appearance, horrible playoff debut, not a good defender, not a playmaker, etc... i mean where is the evidence?

[jsmithj88]

i think phil jackson is overrated as a coach. hes won titles with jordan, pippen, shaq, kobe, some of the best players to ever play the game.
i compare phil to joe torre, how hard is it to win if u always have the best players

[THE HITMAN]

Had Okla on a season over bet, so I did a fair amount of watching Durant. He is verrrrry impressive, seems to play under control, doesn't complain alot and hits from all over the place. A major superstar in the wings if you ask me.

[stealthyburrito]

i think phil jackson is overrated as a coach. hes won titles with jordan, pippen, shaq, kobe, some of the best players to ever play the game.
i compare phil to joe torre, how hard is it to win if u always have the best players

That means he has to deal with a bunch of alpha male egos, many coaches don't have the ability to control their star(s) players.

[SwisherSweet420]

you asked who would you rather have for the next 5 seasons and I agree because in 5 years Kobes gonna be 36 hahah. My question is who would you rather have in the last 3 seconds tied game 100 100

[aznjeff07]

do'nt agree with those poll numbers except number one