Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
A number of things to get to here, so let's go one-by-one with these.
1. Wouldn't it be awesome if the New York Knicks struck out on this year's "Big Three" and wound up getting a much better version in 2011 (Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony)? Odds of this actually happening are maybe 5%, yes. But not 0%.
2. There's only one New York Post. If we're looking for wild speculation and sensational rumors, it might as well come from the purple-y experts from Manhattan:
It was a wedding toast heard from Broadway to Bourbon Street. [...]
Take that, LeCon.
According to a person who spoke with wedding attendee Amar'e Stoudemire, Paul made the reference during a speech of a potential union of himself, Stoudemire and Anthony, saying, "We'll form our own Big 3," Paul allegedly said.
3. "According to a person who spoke with wedding attendee Amare Stoudemire." Not exactly an ironclad source there, guys. Information that's coming secondhand, from a player that's prone to exaggeration... Sure. Why not, right?
4. So, yeah: Probably a little early to plan the elaborate welcome party at Madison Square Garden where they call themselves the greatest trio ever (before they've played a game together).
5. But come on: it's pretty fun to think about. For a number of reasons, actually. On the one hand, it'd be pretty fantastic if someone could beat the Miami Heat at their own game.
But that's just the superficial stuff. Remember: this was a toast at Carmelo's wedding. Far more interesting than this ridiculous rumor... Is that what these guys do in their daily life? Like, here's how I imagine Chris Paul's itinerary this past weekend:
...And that's how NBA History was made.
Is this really what goes on among NBA superstars? Maybe.
A few months ago, I would have said no way. But now? With LeBron and Chris Bosh in Miami?
Maybe.
22 comments
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Anybody else stop reading after #1?
When Mr. Sharp suggested that Amare, Paul, Melo is a “much better” Big 3 than LeBron, Wade, Bosh??? Hyperbole much? That’d be a solid 3, but it’s not close to Miami’s.
When you combine two top 5 players with Bosh, it’s deadly. Paul is probably also top 5, while Melo is top 10, but Amare couldn’t sniff the jock of any of the other five in terms of a complete game.
NY would be fortunate to put such a trio together, but it would still be the second-best trio is the game, without question.
by psporer on Jul 12, 2010 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
a center, wing and pg is better than 2 wings and a forward
by ryanwk628 on Jul 13, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s why last year’s Nets were better than the 90’s Bulls!
by calling all toasters on Jul 14, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
its why CP3 could take Tyson Chandler and nothing else and make NO relevant.
by ryanwk628 on Jul 15, 2010 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Really?
Amare’s as good as Bosh, and while CP3+Melo doesn’t equal Wade/LeBron in terms of sheer talent, it’s a decent bet that they’d be more cohesive than two superstars that play the same position.
by Andrew Sharp on Jul 12, 2010 9:55 AM EDT reply actions
I think that's what is important here:
Talent-wise clearly this new trio is inferior to the Miami trio. But the potential NY Trio actually fits together better position-wise. How novel!
Go Tartans!
by voteprime on Jul 12, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
SG-SF-PF doesn't fit well???
Huh?? Is it really that much different than PG-SF-PF?
by psporer on Jul 12, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Wade is a shooting guard. LeBron is a small forward.
by diehardNFFLbarnone on Jul 12, 2010 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
But they both take 25 shots a game, so...
What’s the difference? Still a chemistry issue
by Andrew Sharp on Jul 12, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Based on what??
You’ve totally pulled this chemistry thing out of thin air. Not to mention neither has ever averaged 25 shots a game. In fact, Wade has only once averaged OVER 20. They averaged 20 apiece last year.
Teams take 80-85, where’s the issue again? Even if you abide by your made up figures, that’s still 50 shots for them and then 35 for the rest. Bosh will take 15-17 of those leaving 18-20 for the rest of the team.
Of course there will actually be 10 free shots since you overestimated Lebron and Wade by 5 each.
And you probably still think they both play the same position!!!
C’mon man, it’s OK to admit you’re wrong.
by psporer on Jul 12, 2010 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Lebron is basically a PG, both lebron and wade averaged over 8 APG
You can’t say there’s a chemistry issue until you see them play together. It’s not fair to judge a team you haven’t seen play yet.
by Dolphins21MZ on Jul 13, 2010 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Amare had steve nash, who did Bosh have?
Nash made Amare’s life easier, plus Amare can’t even average 9 RPG.
by Dolphins21MZ on Jul 13, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
@ psporer
What’s with all you folks who downgrade Stoudemire? He’s as good or better than Bosh—both statistically and in terms of more intangible stuff.
by paul a on Jul 12, 2010 10:12 AM EDT reply actions
Re: Amare
I was no doubt a bit hyperbolic myself in suggesting Amare couldn’t sniff the jock of any of the other five. I actually really like him and think Phoenix didn’t appreciate him enough, but he’s a one-way player. Given that, Bosh has an edge, even if not a dramatic one.
I don’t think your decent bet on cohesiveness is anything but conjecture. They actually don’t play the same position, you do know that, right? LeBron is a 3 while Wade is a 2. Looking at the history of all four to this point, I don’t see why anyone would suggest Melo/Paul to automatically be the more cohesive pair.
The only one of the four to show attitude/work ethic issues has been Melo. That doesn’t automatically mean he’d be any sort of malcontent in NY, but again if you’re going on pure conjecture as you are, that would lead to CP/Melo having strife before Wade/LeBron.
The biggest issue I had was with you calling it a “much better” version when that’s simply not anywhere close to true. It would be a nice trio and it would improve the Knicks 90 bajillion fold, but it wouldn’t be better than the Heat 3.
by psporer on Jul 12, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: Amare
i tend to agree with sharp here. inevitably, by joining two players as dominant as wade and james, who tended to completely control the game offensively for their previous teams, they are going to lose some of individual ability. much more of a sacrifice than melo and chris paul would have to. Bosh and Amare seem to cancel each other out in my opinion. both simply make it easier for the other two by spreading the floor, rebounding, etc. A dynamic point guard + small forward combo has much less crossover than a shooting guard + small forward combo, especially when lebron basically played both of those positions for the cavs. not necessarily a better “big 3” but i think with much less questionable chemistry, at least hypothetically.
by seadams22 on Jul 13, 2010 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
chemistry
i think what is meant by chemistry, probably the wrong term, before the teams haven’t played together, is: maximizing each player’s individual talent while working together effectively. this possible knick’s trio i think has a better chance of achieving that.
by seadams22 on Jul 13, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Much better version?
No Andrew…
by Jack7 on Jul 12, 2010 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Exactly.
That’s where you lost readers, Andrew.
by psporer on Jul 12, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Amare is injury prone while Bosh has proven to be more healthier
also Amare is not a good rebounder and overall Bosh was rated as a better defender.
by Dolphins21MZ on Jul 13, 2010 12:04 AM EDT reply actions
8.9 RPG for Amare
10.9 RPG for Bosh
And Bosh averaged more points. Amare had steve nash. Amare is overrated.
by Dolphins21MZ on Jul 13, 2010 12:08 AM EDT reply actions
+1
by psporer on Jul 13, 2010 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Remember, folks
The #1 player + a top 5 player + a top 10 player is less than a top 5 player + a top 20 player + a top 50 player. Because 50 > 1, you see.
by calling all toasters on Jul 14, 2010 5:19 PM EDT reply actions
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