Comments on: Baller of the Day: John Stockton http://ballerblogger.com/2008/09/23/baller-of-the-day-john-stockton/ NBA blog Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:58:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: A-Train http://ballerblogger.com/2008/09/23/baller-of-the-day-john-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-2358 A-Train Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:50:31 +0000 http://ballerblogger.com/?p=518#comment-2358 Stockton is one of those few players many people will either call underrated or overrated. For me, I see him both ways. Yes, he accumulated a ton of steals and played hard defense, but it's not like Stockton was going to lock anybody down--he certainly wasn't going to defend anybody bigger. I'd call him a great team defender and a solid one-on-one defender (against guys his size). Also, people tend to forget that Stockton accumulated the bulk of his assists during a period in which the NBA game was uptempo and scoring was high. Thus, Stockton getting 14.5 assists per game in 1990 IS NOT like someone getting 14.5 assists today. In 1990, the league average for points scored in a game by a team was 107. In 2004, that number fell to 93. So, let us keep this in mind when we talk about his assists totals. At the same token, I feel Stockton did far more for Karl Malone than visa versa. Stockton always looked to feed his big man, and often got him the ball in the right spot. Really, if Malone had a lesser point guard, I don't think he would have had as great of a career. I thought Stockton was one of the best shooters I ever saw. He definitely didn't shoot enough. If he really wanted to, he could scored 20+ points per game, easily. But he was the textbook point guard. Great player, but I'd still take Cousy, Magic (obviously), and Kidd over him. Stockton is one of those few players many people will either call underrated or overrated. For me, I see him both ways. Yes, he accumulated a ton of steals and played hard defense, but it’s not like Stockton was going to lock anybody down–he certainly wasn’t going to defend anybody bigger. I’d call him a great team defender and a solid one-on-one defender (against guys his size).

Also, people tend to forget that Stockton accumulated the bulk of his assists during a period in which the NBA game was uptempo and scoring was high. Thus, Stockton getting 14.5 assists per game in 1990 IS NOT like someone getting 14.5 assists today. In 1990, the league average for points scored in a game by a team was 107. In 2004, that number fell to 93. So, let us keep this in mind when we talk about his assists totals.

At the same token, I feel Stockton did far more for Karl Malone than visa versa. Stockton always looked to feed his big man, and often got him the ball in the right spot. Really, if Malone had a lesser point guard, I don’t think he would have had as great of a career.

I thought Stockton was one of the best shooters I ever saw. He definitely didn’t shoot enough. If he really wanted to, he could scored 20+ points per game, easily. But he was the textbook point guard.

Great player, but I’d still take Cousy, Magic (obviously), and Kidd over him.

]]> By: King_Kaun http://ballerblogger.com/2008/09/23/baller-of-the-day-john-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-2332 King_Kaun Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:24:25 +0000 http://ballerblogger.com/?p=518#comment-2332 STOCKTON!!! STOCKTON!!!

]]> By: Brandon Hoffman http://ballerblogger.com/2008/09/23/baller-of-the-day-john-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-2318 Brandon Hoffman Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:21:28 +0000 http://ballerblogger.com/?p=518#comment-2318 Tsunami, Stockton was a great passer. And he accumulated a lot of his steals doubling down on forwards and centers. He wasn't a very good man-to-man defender though and I always felt that he didn't look to shoot enough. Stockton's toughness and durability stand out the most to me. Tsunami,

Stockton was a great passer. And he accumulated a lot of his steals doubling down on forwards and centers. He wasn’t a very good man-to-man defender though and I always felt that he didn’t look to shoot enough.

Stockton’s toughness and durability stand out the most to me.

]]> By: Tsunami http://ballerblogger.com/2008/09/23/baller-of-the-day-john-stockton/comment-page-1/#comment-2312 Tsunami Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:03:43 +0000 http://ballerblogger.com/?p=518#comment-2312 Nice! Stockton was fun to watch. A pure point guard in every sense. Nice! Stockton was fun to watch. A pure point guard in every sense.

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