May 1, 2025 • 43 mins
Today we pay homage to the bucket-getters who perfected the art of scoring at the cup. The players who brought their hard hats to work and put their backs to the basket to bang and bump on the low block, and to assert their wills physically and mentally. The baseline ballerinas who dizzied and confused defenders with their immaculate footwork and timing. And the skilled technicians who frustrated opponents with indefensible jump hook & fadeaway packages. Don’t be confused, we’re not just speaking of big men. Tune in to hear who performed best in the paint during an era where high percentage two’s still had a dominant role in the NBA game of basketball.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I mean Shaq was Actually he made it entertaining because,
like I said, he was hanging on that rim, he
was finishing, he was dominating opponents, and a lot of
times in the two thousands, teams were looking around the league,
around the world literally just to find guys who could
guard him for forty eight minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Like you had.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
You had to sign a big on your team just
to have six files to deal with him every night.
So and he's accepting to the rule to me, like
for a post player, to me, if I'm going to
throw the ball a bunch of times, you gotta be
a good free throw shooter.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Welcome back to another episode of Goat Greatest of Their Era.
I'm your host, Trey Edwards.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
What's up, Seth? What's going on your boy? Seth?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Here another episode? Go ote what we're talking about this week?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Man, we're talking about the greatest post scores of the
two thousands. It seemed like the I mean, from what
I've been seeing the streets, is messing with us, man,
for real.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, I agree, I agree. This is real basketball talk.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's getting the group chats going, getting I know a
couple of them, man, they listen in every week to
the episodes and kind of start some side arguments on
the side about about some of the stuff we're talking about.
So the nostalgia's there, the topics are there, and you
kind of forget about some of the favorite players you
used to watch growing up.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So I mean that's the point of the part. That's
why we came up with it, right.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, absolutely, man. So you know how we always do,
We're gonna take a trip down memory lane and kind of,
you know, talk about the decade that we're part of.
So the two thousands features some of the NBA's most
dominant post scores, particularly big men who thrived in the
low posts during an era where interior play was distilled
the focal point of offenses. Today, we'll discuss some of
(01:42):
the greatest post scores in NBA from that decade based
on their scoring efficiency, volume, post up ability, and impact. So, so,
what is the criteria of a post player to you?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
To me, what I'm using the gauge my top five
and the greatest of this era to me is one,
you gotta have some versatility in the post. It's not
just all size and dominance down there with your like
I said, your size and your mentality it's about having
different different post moves on the block, right hand, left hand,
some go to moves, some counters. Also, you gotta have
(02:15):
touch with it. I mean, you don't got necessarily be
a jump shooter to be a great post player, but
you gotta have touch. Can't you just be at the
rim laying up. You gotta have some post hooks, maybe
some post fades. And then to me, is it is
it like, are you one of the are you one
of the things your post player one of the things
that keep your offense going? So it is it a
vocal point in the offense. Can you carry your offense
(02:37):
certain stretches throughout the game to warrant it being a
high volume and a high usage play for your team.
So that's kind of stuff I'm looking at as a
for a great post player.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
What about you, Yeah, I mean, honestly, I'm looking at
ways to uh dominate on the low block, but also
the mid post. Posting cant kind of start from anywhere.
It can actually start above the three point line as well.
But how effective you are as far as setting up
for the offense, because sometimes posting up doesn't equate to scoring.
(03:08):
It can be a better pass. You know what I
mean to the opposite side, to an elite three point
shooter that shoots a better percentage than what you can get,
especially if you need a three. So I think it's
super important. But I'm going back to you on this.
Why don't we see a lot of post ups in
this era that you're playing in.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I think the main thing is the rule changes.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I feel like it was a time period where you
saw offices getting too slow, and I think the league
and the fans would then love it, like what entertaining basketball.
So they made some rule changes to where you could
be a little bit more physical down in the post.
They weren't calling some of the touch fads you can
push out, and then these rule changes kind of made
it like the post up over and over. It's not
(03:50):
an efficient former offense. It's just not like you'd rather
move the ball around, play with pace, play with some space,
like I say, get more threes up, even though you
can't create threes off of post ups. She's not efficient
offense today's basketball. So it kind of got rid of it.
Like it's to me, I mean, I kind of agree
with it. Like you watch some of the great teams
(04:11):
of the two thousands like we used to, like, like
we're going to talk about the Spurs, the Grizzlies late
in the two thousands, who played through the post a lot.
And honestly, I wasn't like enjoyable basketball to watch every night,
Like I didn't want to see guys throwing in the post,
playing slow shooting jump hooks all game.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So do you miss the air of the post up
at all? You wish you saw more of it?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I think I do, just because it freed up a
little bit more what it created more jobs for one, right,
not saying that like, oh we got way too many
people playing the same position, but I do think that
their style of play would have been different because it
adds a different variety of shot making. Right. We're losing
specialists in some way, you know what I mean. And
(04:52):
in that way because a lot of the fore men,
the new fore men are in the corners, or they're trailing,
or they're just you it was in a different way
that just kind of creates the driving lane for the guards,
which is fine because now it's more of an isol
basketball game for them to work out and score high
volume of points. But then I do miss having an
(05:13):
offensive big most of the time, the power forward was
most of the scoring and having a back to the
basket guy. He can just go to work and get
twenty and ten, you know what I mean. So watching
that just change it's it's not difficult. It doesn't mess
with like how I view the game, but I do
look at it from a perspective of seeing the game
one way and then watching it transition, and then watching
(05:35):
people complain about how the game is boring. I felt
like it kept it interesting because there was just another
way to score, you know what I mean, and just
an archetype that doesn't mainly exist. We had the Al
Jefferson's of the world, you know what I mean. The
Derek favors those type of players that Andrew Bynum's and
(05:56):
you possibly can think of and who you know. The
more the dominant versions of those guys, well we're gonna
mention on this show later on down the line, but
those type of players now find their way overseas, the
Jared sellingers, you know what I mean, Like, you know, yeah,
so many guys that possibly, if they were born in
(06:18):
a different era, would have an NBA career and probably
be playing well into their tenh season or beyond.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, that's a great point because even today we got
a lot of post players who could not a lot,
but a few post players who could play in any
era and you could throw it to them ten fifteen
times a game and they'd be great on the block. Right,
But to be a post guy in today's league, you
have to be able to step out. Even the best ones.
Say you put Joelle in b Nicole Yokuci in any era,
they could be one of the best post players. But now,
(06:46):
even to be efficient, they got to step away from
the basket at least half the time to play the
office that the coaches in today's league want to play.
So that's a good point, Like there's no just back
to the basket specialist, and that's one of the reasons.
And also like are you when I'm looking at the
bigs too, Like are you a big who can post
up any guy? Can you post up your matchup? Or
(07:07):
like in today's league, you only post it up really
if you have an advantage, Like you have a clear
advantage's like, oh I'm bigger, I know I'm going to
score majority of time on this matchup. It's not like
I'm just walking my guy into the post and going
to work, like I said, because it's just not efficient.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Well, postplay has be come analytical as well. Yeah, what
are your odds of you scoring on a smaller defender.
Or let's create the best scenario for a mismatch for
this to be the easiest attempt possible, not post moves,
not trying to make shake a guy or have the
footwork to actually try to score. It is, Oh, I
gotta switch on me. I need the ball and nes
(07:45):
get a quick one, you know what I mean? Like
that's how it is. And ideally in this era, you
don't particularly have to have post moves. It's just a
mismatch switch. I'm bigger than this guy, and let's get
a quick one.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, or you or you got a team like the
Wards who throw it in the post a good amount.
But you know they're not throwing it in the post
to score. Yeah, they're throwing it the post to get
in three like they want. I's on the post, or
they want or they have a big mismatch where you
know you have to double and you're gonna kick it
out rotating get a three point they want, like I said,
they want wide of them a layup or a three
(08:19):
pointer off off the post, which is aligns with the
rest of the offices around the league, so it's.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
A different area.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
And honestly, I mean, you know, as a guard three
point shooter, I don't it makes my job. It costs
more people like me who can spread the floor a
little bit and could put more guards on the floor.
Just to put it put it simpler.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, absolutely, Like I said, I think you guys benefit
from it a little bit more. I think we would
say less threes if the fours were back in the game.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Yeah, but yeah, and then you bring it up to
just be my time playing in Philly with Joe llenb
like that made my life like easier too, because that
was the guy who you do it in the post.
If it was one on one, no matter who was
guarding them, it was a bucket. So you had this
in the double and a lot of times they put
me in front of the ball so if they sent
the double, I was getting an open look or it
allowed Joel to play.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
One on one.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
So that's kind of the catch twenty two of Like
I said, postplay does create threes at a higher volume.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Two.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, absolutely, that's a good call out, all right, let's
just jump right into it. Man, the first person I
want to talk about a Shaquille O'Neill and why we
want to talk about Shaquille O'Neil. Shaq was one of
the most dominant players in the two thousands. He averaged
twenty eight points per game on fifty seven point five
field goal percentage from nineteen ninety nine to two thousand
(09:38):
and three, including the playoffs. His size is strength. Shack
had footwork which made him basically unstoppable, and you know
through that three peet run. He was Finals MVP from
two thousand to two thousand and two, so you know,
he had that signature drop step and powerful dunks just
overwhelmed defenders. So like, what was your overall you on
(10:00):
like seeing Shack? And then you know, Shaq obviously had
some foot issues and later on in his career, but
that early two thousand Shack was just just a force
of nature.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Shack is one of my top five favorite players of
all time, and he was just dominant.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Man.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
He made it entertaining though you could throw it in
the ball and his post player was simple. It was
a lot of times it was turnover right shoulder, turn
over left shoulder, jump hook or dunk, and I mean
you can even double him, and he was he was
still trying to get to that rim. So I mean
Shaq was Actually he made it entertaining because, like I said,
he was, he was hanging on that rim, he was finishing,
he was dominating opponents, and a lot of times in
(10:39):
the two thousands, teams were looking around the league, around
the world literally just to find guys who could guard
him for forty eight minutes. Like you had you had
to sign a big on your team just to have
six files to deal with him every night. So and
he's accepting to the rule. To me, like for a
post player, to me, if I'm going to throw you
the ball a bunch of times, you gotta be a
good free throw shooter, because you know what I'm saying,
(11:01):
a lot of times you're gonna get fault down there.
For him, he was so he was so dominant and
good he didn't have to be. He was maybe the
worst free throw shooter of all time. So he's he's
a acception to the rule. To me, like, we're gonna
live with his his misfree throws because he's still gonna
give us forty dunking and getting my team into the bonus.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Yeah, before Hacker shock man. I mean I think there
was even one of those things where you look at
like he still was managing to get forty thirty, you
know what I mean, Like those those those key games
that were just so dominant. Obviously had their career hard
sixty one, but he just as a force, you know
what I'm saying, A notable thing. Notable note third all
(11:39):
time in career field goal percentage at fifty eight point two,
and he won two scoring titles. Yeah, like scoring titles
is a big. It's impressive, man, especially in this era.
You would never think that a big would even be,
you know, doing that type of stuff.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
But he was a typical I post up on the
right block, I post up on the left block and know, no,
l You're not pushing me out nothing. I'm running to
that block and I'm in that triangle offense, so everybody's
moving around me, but I'm in the same spot.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah. Absolutely. The next person, Tim Duncan, is big fundamental.
The reason why we've got Tim Duncan here is Man's
crafty post game face up moves, the bank shot, the
quick spins that made him consistent low post threat. I
mean he averaged twenty one point three points per game
and eleven point four rebounds per game. And I mean
(12:30):
basically was the anchor of the Spurs championship runs. I
mean three titles in three to five and seven. The
big fundamental his mid range game, which is unstoppable.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Yeah, and keep it a buck.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We're going from Shock my favorite player to one of
my least favorite to watch boring man, but I'm saying
the ultimate respect for him.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
He won. Like I said, you played through him. He
could pass out of the post.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
He could play in the mid post a lot because
he could face up, shoot, shoot the jab off the
glund I mean the bank shot. He mastered that bank
shot in the post. Like, if you give him that
jab jumper, he's knocking it down at a seventy percent race.
So he would just kill you with consistency and fundamentals.
Like I said, yeah, man, he was.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
He won two time MVP back to back two and
three and then also was Finals MVP and O three.
So yeah, just just just one of the kings of
that era. Pretty much man very dominant. His counterpart we
talked about these two on the Robberies. Kevin Garnett one
of my favorite bigs Man super versatility in the post,
(13:37):
would turn around jumpers, probably one of the coldest mid
ranged guys for his size up and he had up
and under moves. Basically a scoring machine. You know, had
his key season in three to four as an MVP
average twenty one points per game and eleven point five
rebounds per game. And you know what I mean the
two thousands and obviously he was able to get his
(13:59):
ring and eight with the Celtics, but his overall careers
wanted to talk about, and then he kind of blossom
to become one of the best defensive players the game
has ever seen in modern days.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So yeah, to me, KG is the ultimate like versatility
when it comes to post scoring. Like he had the
jump hooks either shoulder and he could fade away. He's
the first one we bringing up to where he got
in the post and he would shooting a fadeaway jump shot,
give you a little bit of a baby dream shape,
right and yeah, like he also passed out of it too,
(14:31):
like he had it all at the end the post.
Similar the similar to Tim Duncan, but a little bit
more flair to it.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Yeah, absolutely one of your former teammates dark Newitz revolutionized
the post scoring with one leg fadeaways. He actually has
a signature move could pubchtentially be a logo for a
lot of people. And then also he basically blended low
post moves with you know what I mean, perimeter shooting,
averaging twenty three point one game and then also just
(15:03):
leaguing probably one of the most dominant playoff runs, but
that was a little bit later after this era. And
then he had like a key season where he uh,
you know, won MVP and six o seven averaging twenty
four game which ain't crazy when you really think about
it comparable to the other seasons. But I'm pretty sure
(15:24):
at that time duking it out with a couple of people, and.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
They had the best team in the league that year,
Like yeah, yeah, they that always goes into it.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That that too. And then also it was very low
scoring games.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, he's our top five all time scoring, right, but
he just did it with consistency over his twenty plus
year career, like he's gonna give you twenty above, like
twenty three twenty four night for eighteenth straight years, something
like that, which is crazy. So yeah, I remember I
was in I was in Dallas when they actually put
the logo of the dirt fade on the court, like
(15:58):
his spot on the floor where he liked the post
up all yeah, they put the little silhouette of his
doing the dirt fade on the floor, so still there
like forever really in Dallas. So he's the first one,
like you throw him in the post and he got
that one move who you just can't stop, Like it's
make a miss from all over the wherever he catches
it middle of the post up, middle of the floor
(16:18):
at the free throw line, so where you can't really double.
He's playing one on one to shoot the dirt fade
over you on that and then catch it mid post
and do the same thing. So just just frustrating you
because you know what he's going to but you can't
stop it.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Have you ever blocked dirt in practice?
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I probably got him from like the weak side, like
he turns blindly and lock over there and you know
what I'm saying, run up on him where he don't
see me coming and block it as the help side guy.
But yeah, definitely not one on one. He don't see me.
That's seven foot fag. Yeah, he don't see me.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
It's looked like it's one of the hardest shots to
ever defend, just because of the angle and and how
he's able to shift his body and fade, but.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Not only an angle, like he put arc on the
ball too, so he got that and the fade angle,
high release and then he shoot it up to the
rafters like you see a bunch of people try to
mimic it. Who do you think the closest you've seen
to that having that dirt fade after him has been
like Katie up there.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
He can do it a little from I think Katie.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Can do it, but I don't think KD does it
with enough arc. I think KD just has it like
it's it's more of most of the guys. Jokis and
all these guys are doing it to a point where
it's not as effective because he's creating space with that
kick as well. Yeah, you know what I mean. Like
it's just it's just really hard to guard and too
hard to imitate, you know what I mean. He could
(17:41):
do a whole clinic and say he's teaching somebody, but
it just won't be duplicated or you know, replicated to
a point where you say, oh, he did the dirt.
It's just not it's just not close to it, you
know what I mean. Like he looks like he's damn there.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Falling and the defense is so close to him, Like
he don't even create space with the move. It's like,
all right, my shot is I'm creating a little space
just with the fade. But he gave you a little shoulder.
But the defense is never like, oh, I'm fine, I'm
fading back. And then then he goes to the dirt fade.
It's like, nah, you can be as close as you want,
(18:15):
but as soon as I going to my shot, get
no matter, get it out the net. It's crazy to
watch him person.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
This name we haven't mentioned at all, Shot Pole Gasol
gasoles Finessing the post with soft touch and hook shots
made him a key scorer for the Grizzlies and Lakers.
He averaged eighteen point five points per game in the
two thousands with a high basketball IQ and mid range game.
His post play helped the Lakers win titles in two
thousand and nine, and he won Rookie of the Year
(18:43):
in three.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, this is another product that I mean, he was
a good post player before he got to the Lakers.
And when Memphis or wherever he was, but another product
of the triangle offense, playing through the post like you're
throwing the ball and you can see him his odds
moving because he wanted to be.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
A passer first a lot of the times.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
But I mean, they're really an underrated big and an
underrated post guy when you think about it NBA history.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Yeah, I mean, he's one of the most respected a winner.
You know, he was another good compliment to Big with Kobe,
so definitely one of those ones.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah, And that trade is one of those in NBA history,
Like Celtics fans and a lot of NBA fans hate
that trade where they gave powder to Kobe over there
because they knew they were gonna win on a chip
or two over there once he they sent him to
the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I mean, you said it, man, Karl Anthony Towns would
be that version of twenty twenty five. If Kobe got
a guy, he could probably do something with him. Speaking
of Grizzlies, we got Zach Randolph. Another great his physicality
and crafty moves. He barely jumps, you know what I mean,
So it's spin moves and baby hooks. I don't know,
if z Bo could jump over a stack of books.
So he managed to average eighteen point eight points per
(19:53):
game nine point seven rebounds. You know, he went to
Power for You in Portland where Rashie Wallace and o'
neil learning how to dominate in that position and just
really be effective, and going to Memphis and just making
a name for himself and earning that respect. He also
is a Clipper, and you know he played for the
Knicks as well, but Grizzly's legend now at this point.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Yeah, Bo was a monster, and he did all his
work before he caught the ball. He was one of
those like I'm I'm getting my position on the post before,
like they even look at me for the past. So
he's ducking in front of the chart shrukle, trying to
get a good positions. So when he catches it, all
he gotta do is turn over either shoulder and finish.
And then if you do push him up, he could
(20:36):
face up like he would turn jazz, shoot the j
a little step back jumper, some spin, some spin hooks,
and then he was one of those they had that
team where they went high low a lot, so he
had he was talking about power earlier he had Marcosol
with him, so they played that high low game. And
you got to give Marcus Saw some love on that
post too, because he was a monster down there. So
(20:56):
front Cort of those two is just give you nightmares
on the block off game.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, I can only imagine. Man, they were great on
defense and then also on offense. To the front court
was just pretty dominant. This guy right here, Man, he's
people's favorite player and probably got overshadowed the most during
the two thousands. Ere Chris Weber Man power for nask
(21:21):
and handle the rock had a cold mean range a
three level score, you know what I mean. He averaged
twenty one point nine in the two thousands, but he
peaked at twenty seven point one in two thousand and one,
and then he probably is one of the arguably one
of the best passing power for us this game has
ever seen.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Chris Webber.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
He was one of those you could you can run
your offense doing anywhere on the floor, like similar to
a I don't know, the minus A bonus types type
skill level, like where you could pass a lot. He
wanted to pass a lot, but I'm saying he could score.
He could dribble into the post himself and get him
a position. Yeah, really like undersized guy, but he could
really go to work on that blocking. I mean, is
(22:01):
his NBA career speaks for us.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
So yeah, he had immediate impact with Golden State and
other teams, and when it got to the Kings, he
got his identity and they were able to make a
run and do their things and be kind of fan favorites.
Obviously they ran into the Lakers, so they really couldn't
get over the hump. But Chris Webber is one of
the ones man. Yep, Al Jefferson and a lot of
(22:25):
our listeners probably not gonna know. This is a deep
cut Al Jefferson's footwork and finessing the post. You know
what I'm saying. He averaged sixteen point seven with the Timberwolves.
He peaked at twenty three point one in eight and
one of the most versatile offensive big man. I mean,
(22:45):
I think if Al Jefferson wanted to, he can help
a lot of those like undersize, not even undersize, but
the non athletic bigs.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
I know, my people and Charlotte know by Al Jefferson
because when he was in the Bobcatch, he was.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Doing work like oh he was cooking.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yeah, twenty five plus, twenty five to twenty six at night,
just on the block, working out, thrown throwing the ball
ten fifteen times plus and here you know what you're
getting from consistency, like like like you said, you wren't
doing athleticism. He had enough size, but was was he
seven foot you think it was sixteen?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Not quite? Yeah, not quite. So it was all like touch.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
He could shoot, he can shoot enough out to fifteen feet,
but on the block both hands up and unders just
and he wanted us. He had big hands so he
could pall. He would catch it and palm the ball
away from the defense.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Off the catch.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, it was just tough to watch, like just like
he's sonning.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
You just hold the ball out, holding the ball out
with one hand, stearing you and the eye thinking about
what you're gonna do, what movie you're gonna go to.
So yeah, Al Jefferson one of those you need to
go look up. Look up his highlights on YouTube and
refresh your memory.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Unsung hero for sure, Germaine O'Neill man jo Man his
athleticism and post moves. He had drop steps and fadeaways
and he just cooked up in Indy, you know.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
What I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
He averaged sixteen point five points per game and eight
point six rebounds per game in the two thousands, and
his peak season he averaged twenty four point three points
per game and oh three oh four. That's the year
the Malice of the Palace. Unfortunately, you know what I mean.
But he was destined, he was on he was on
some MVP type stuff and you know, Jo has extended
(24:30):
his career played over you know, I think like eighteen
seasons here with the Warriors. With the Warriors, yeah, man,
that was a that was a good addition for them,
you know what I mean. He was a good vet
from what I've heard, and just just solid man. Just
one of the solid dudes.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Man.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
But after everybody, he was another member of power for
university leaving you know, Portland.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Came straight out of high school.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Yeah, and he had to go through some growing pains
and turned into a player man, and you know, made
Indy one of them respected and watching the ball teams
to join Reggie Miller, you know what I mean. So
really really had a lot of love for Jermaine O'Neil.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
When are the Pacers's one of those you show up
every night. You know what you're getting from. Like on
the block, every team had to go to guys and
a lot of some like saying during the two thousands
some of them half the teams probably a post player.
So going through him, I remember going to a couple
of podcast games against the Pacers growing up and just
watching Jermaine O'Neill. His whole swag with the headband, the wristband,
(25:28):
the braids, wristbands.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Yeah, his swag and or on the court was insane.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
See, and then go out there G twenty five.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah, at six eleven, he had that red white and
blue headband, the red white and blue wrist bands, that
seven the pint strike. His swag was up there. He
had the Nike shocks like it was just a whole
identity Jo was. He really was cooking that ship that
front court. It's so it's so different because obviously we
(25:56):
have such guard driven league now to the point of
like we're listening, think about this, this is basically gridiron
battles down low, you know what I mean? At night
in night out, like Okay, Shaq versus him Dunk and
Tim Duncan versus Kevin Garnet, Dark Newhisky versus Tim Dunk
and Dark Newisky versus Kevin Gardner. Power got sold, you
know what I mean. Chris Weber versus Kevin Gardnet, et cetera.
(26:18):
Like the list goes on and it's one guy who
was my favorite. He he gets enough love. But I
think when he went to New York he kind of
if he wouldn't get hurt, he probably would be talked
about a little bit more. Mary Stodamo explosive, some of
the nastiest posters you're gonna see in this game. You know,
(26:39):
him playing with Phoenix Man, him and nash Man. They
was like the modern day Stocked him alone, but a
little bit more sexier in the game, you know what
I'm saying. He averaged twenty one point one points per
game in two thousands, and then he also peaked at
twenty six per game in four oh five. Dude, like
his ability to roll in the rim, like how we
It's just so many players I felt like were created
(27:01):
off the stats. A game you got played Griffin, Yeah,
you know what I mean, Like just athletics where you
just think about it, like, oh my god, he's just explosive.
But he was rookie of the year in a four
time All Star.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Yeah, he don't get enough credit for his like his
he athletic, but he don't get enough credit for like
his IQ and his like the effort he played with,
like he played with pace even a half court. And
I think a lot of that came from Steve Nash
and the Suns, just running in the screens, running out
of the screens, getting in the pocket, finishing, and then
he could if he was like in the playoffs, he
would have big games because he could pass out of
(27:37):
the role too, like underrated passer in the pocket, making
the right decision. So one of those h like I said,
another one of those guys just super athletic. And in
this era of two thousands we're talking about, we had,
it's so many bigs, but all of them played in
kind of different systems. Like it wasn't all slow throwing
the ball in the block. Some posted that, like you said,
(27:58):
on the block at the elbows did it out of
pick and roll in the pocket, finishing different ways. So
I think that's why I mean, like some of these,
like you said, some of these specialists post players got
eliminated from the game. But it's cool to reminists to
come back to some of these guys like, I mean,
you got you brought.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Them up a little bit.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
But I want to talk about Rashie Wallace too, one
of my favorite players and favorite post guys because he
could he could turn that that turnaround over left right shoulder,
such a high release, unblockable, but just just skill like
nobody could. Nobody could speed them up, played in his
own pace. So I gotta I gotta give it se
Wallace some love too.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
We're gonna take a break, but when we come back,
I have a great Rashie Waller story I want to share. So, man,
(28:59):
I got chance to meet she when he was coaching
in Detroit, right, and this is how I found out
about Power for you. Right. He was on the coaching
staff and she was telling Amir Johnson. At the time.
He was just like hey, man, like why are you
working on all this other stuff? Yeah, you want to
shoot threees, but like, trust me, anybody has worked under me.
(29:20):
Look at my guys and got them paid, you know
what I mean. Actually the player was Andre Drumming, but
he was talking about Amir Johnson and he was like,
my young guy, he got paid look at how much
he got paid. He says, Zach Randolph, Jermaine O'Neil, Amir Johnson,
you are about to get paid. This is right before
Drumming signed this deal. And he's like, listen, you and Greg,
(29:41):
all you have to do is do what you're supposed
to do best. Don't get out of this whole comfort zone.
Telling power for you, baby, right, And she was right.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
He was right.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
He was talking about being a specialist and how important
it was, like, nope, it's very rare that certain players
get to play out of day. You know what they
came in the league and asked about. So if you
are great at one thing, you're going to make a
lot of money doing something very great. And at that
time he would tell Dre, you know what, you got
(30:12):
to get these boards. Dre would get ten boards in
the first quarter or second quarter, and then you know,
the challenge was keeping Dre, like, you know, basically his
motor going because he had already overachieved his goal of
getting ten boards. So he'd end up getting ten points
and it's like, oh, I got this consecutive run of
double doubles and he like, nah, don't stop. So Dre
(30:35):
ended up getting one hundred million dollar contract and becoming
an All Star because.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Of she that's fire.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Yeah, that's that's what you try to get young guys
to realize in the league, Like figure out what your
initiate is, what you do best, and the NBA is
all about consistency, Like what are you doing every night,
especially in the regular season. That's that's really how you
get paid first and foremost, being consistent in the regular season.
What you bring it to the team, to the game
every single night. Figure out what that is and don't.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Get or with it.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
That's what she telled him, Like can figure like know
your role and do it to every single game no
matter who you're playing. Again, So that's a good little
story of the O G's back in the day teaching
the young guys.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Absolutely, what do you think about y'all?
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Mean? Man?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
How good was y'all mean?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Y'all? Oh?
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Was I mean?
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Obviously, the size is unreal coming out of China, but
the skill level of a I take seven six seven
seven six seven six, and his skill level isn't talked
about him though, Like could shoot the jump shot, could pass,
post moves, good footwork for his size, and I remember
some of the battles he had with Shack when he
(31:39):
came over, Like those are prime time matchups, those those
y'all mean Shack matchups in the regular season, getting ready
for those and watching those. Yeah, I mean, if y'all
didn't have some of those injuries, those foot problems that
he that he ran into, he'll be one of the
all time greats and a lot of people will be
talking about him more.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
I mean, for eight seasons he averaged nineteen and nine,
you know what I mean, he was an All Star
each of those years, and just you know, made it
made it cracking, man, to be honest, Like you know,
at that point, all NBA five times, you know what
I mean. And really I remember Shack dunking on him
and his mission was the dunk back on Shack, you
(32:18):
know what I mean. And then you know, they had
those great campaigns that Shack first, y'all, you know what
I mean. Uh, And that was just great for marketing wise,
because you had somebody who made Shack look small, the
most dominant player, and you had these two standing up
against each other and you're just like, wow, you know
what I mean, Like this this is actually somebody bigger
than Shack and actually good.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Yeah, because Shack did that to everybody every night except
when he matched up with Yeah. Like it was he
was overwhelmed when they got in a post on him.
So I see, I thought, yeah, for a few I thought, yeah,
I was gonna be one of the an MVP conversation,
one of the best, like I said, but the injuries
took him down. We talked about post scores. This isn't
like a big man conversation. This is a post score.
(33:00):
So I got to show some love to the to
the wings and the guards who post up too in
the era, like got Kobe Mellow. Yeah, some of the
some of the wings, he could go down to the
block and show you that the footwork and the skill
they've been they've been putting putting the use down there too.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
So I would like to think Mellow is like a
post up master, right, Like his his feet are so precise,
like guarding him is like in a telephone booth. He
also has power, he has explosiveness. He can score from
fifteen and then he can spread the floor and take
you out to twenty three. So I mean he was
(33:35):
probably one of the most unguardable. But like his post
moves are really super effective, man, when you really think
about all just trying to guard him, and he's just
so gifted offensively, like he I remember Kobe was trying
to give him a hard time his rookie season and
he almost broke Kobe's ribs just because they were playing
so physical in the posts and throwing elbows at each other.
(33:55):
And Kobe, he's so sick in the head he telling
them like, yeah, I like that, you know what I mean, Like, yeah,
it be physical with me, you know.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
But in two thousands, like you had to have it
to be an isold score and a high volume guard.
You had to have some post work in you. Even
d Wade went down to the block a lot, Evince t.
Mac all of them went to down to the block,
especially when they had some good size advantages. They would
go down there and and make you pay for it.
So like the versatility of those wing guards was. It's
(34:25):
different in today's age where I'm spreading you out and
going one on one from the perimeter ninety percent of
the time. Back then, there was a lot of it
was done on the block, getting you getting used in
the office to get you in a position, get you
on the spot of the floor that you like to
play one on one end and yep, and showing the
work you've been putting in. Just racking my brain trying
to think of some of these guards who posted up
a lot and obviously got my guy Sam Cousel who
(34:49):
six or sixty three sixty two guard who lived in
the post, like he would walk you down and start
the office from the post. Mark Jackson another one then,
like I said, not un necessarily trying to score all
the time, but if they got to a spot where
they could finish, they would, but trying to set up
the offense and create create passing angles out of the post.
(35:09):
Andre Miller another one, one of your guys who who
like not a perimeter player, but a guard who could
know what I'm saying, living that post. So I mean,
that's another archetype typout specially that's another type of guard,
archetype that's not around anymore. Like guards don't clear aside
and go to the post like that anymore. So kind
of miss those guys.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Yeah, absolutely definitely. Let's let's open the time machine and
bring them back. All right, So it's time for our
five greatest post scores of this era.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I'm gonna let you go first this week. Talk to me.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
I'm gonna actually start one to five. So I'm gonna
go Shock at one. I'm gonna go Zach Randolph at two. MM,
I'm gonna go Al Jefferson at three. I'm gonna go
Carmelo Anthony at four and Tim Duncan at five.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Oh Tim, Yeah, okay, Cat Tim at five? Wow?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
I got Tim. I got Tim at five just because
he was more finesse than those two.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
So you have Mellow at number four of the post guys, okay, yeah,
oh wow, I'm going this is my list right here.
One Shack, like I said, my favorite, one of my
favorite players ever, so undisputed Shack at number one, number two,
I'm going dirt. Okay, you gotta move. That's that unstoppable.
I don't know what else more you need, So dirt, dirt,
(36:32):
and number two number three, I got Tim Duncan number four,
I got ze Bo number five. Al Jefferson just okay.
I like when I got to mix the jump shooting
some obviously some dominance in there with Shack, and it's
just the old fashioned just jump houck.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Let for the up and unders of Al Jefferson ze Bo.
They just made it look easy with not a lot
of athleticism. So I think they in my top five
of the two.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Else, Yeah, I think you went to the opposite of
what I did. You went for all around. I went
back to the basket, true, back to the basket.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
I wish I could have fit some some of the
wings and guards in there like you did with Mellow
and like that.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Yeah, I mean it probably would have been like, gotta
be mellow if you're gonna do anything, you know what
I mean, Because Kobe was cool, like you know what
I mean. But I don't think it was up to
that part to be in the top five all the time,
you know what I mean? Like, Yeah, I think it
was solid, respectful.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yeah, outside of the four or five, I think Melo
number one up there.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
When we come back, we're gonna discuss born in the
Wrong Era. You don't want to.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Miss all right, let's go, man, my favorite topic. Like
you were talking about born in the Wrong Era.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Born in the Wrong Era. You really got to think
about it. You got your answer already.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Nah, I got to go on this week. Rashee Wallace,
Rashee Wallas, Born in the Wrong Era. My guy, like
he a big who is who can play inside and
out so right, you know what I'm saying. And he
and he's doing what he's doing depending on the matchup.
If you switch a smaller guy on him, he going
to the block and he gonna take advantage of his
size and his skill down there on the block. If not,
(38:23):
he can move out spread the floor. He can stand
in the corner in space. He can pick and pop,
pick and roll. I mean, he could do it all
if he was playing in today's offense with just the
space and the space, the pace. Uh, he can play
the five a ford a lot of different positions, like
I wu want to see him in today's era.
Speaker 3 (38:43):
Yeah, I mean, for me, it gotta be Chris weber Man.
You can handle the rock, he can pass, he can shoot,
he's super skilled. He probably would be hard to guard,
you know what I mean, because he's gonna get a
lot of ice, so got a lot of free court
to work with. Yeah, I don't I don't think too
many guards at sixteen, and how fast he moved with
the technology to keep him healthy and everything else. I'm
(39:06):
with it. I'm rolling with Chris Webb.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Which one you like better? Which one you take? Right?
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Who better Rashida Chris Webber career wise, skill wise, all
that who you got.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
I mean, individually, I would take Chris Webber, but I
think the how how the career played out, you would
go Rassie Wallace just because you kind of you want
to ring.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
It's tough, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
It's one of those tough ones, because I think most
people will say, just like said, talent wise, Chris Webber
a better player, but when it comes to winning, like,
you could fit Rashie Wallas on any team.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
He can guard, he can guard fives, he can guard fourth.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
Like the versatility on defensive there just like offense, and
you don't have to like play through like you know
what I'm saying. He can affect the game by not
having plays called for him because he can shoot, he
can space the floor. And both of them are high
i Q guy like smart, yeah, smart players. So I
think that's why, I mean, that's probably another reason why
we both picked him for boring in the wrong era,
because they know how to play in today's era where
(40:05):
it's not all play calls.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
They can play off of just random movement and just
just flee freedom flow type offense that a lot of
teams are playing today.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
I think she would be really popular with shooting with
the opposite hand. Shoot he could shoot threes with either hand,
and I think that would just be just too too much,
you know what I mean, because he's doing it. He
not even doing it to a point where the game
got to be out of reach. He literally can shoot
with either hand like comfortably. I thought that was one
of the most coolest things. And sometimes the commentary tators
(40:37):
would like be like, oh, he shot that with his
off end, No big deal.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Cash out with the right and shoot with the left
if you're on that if you're on her right side,
it was insane or why they said Larry Barrick could
do that too.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
I believe it that it's.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
An old school thing, like my dad can shoot with
the left out the three smooth. I can't do it.
I just feel awkward and as I don't even want
to do it.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
You never know, though, man, you never know. It might
be a case where you you know, you driving it now,
that's like a new situation for you to shoot the bank,
don't you know?
Speaker 2 (41:12):
We're going off though?
Speaker 1 (41:13):
This might be another topic like best off offhand players.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
You know, oh, man.
Speaker 3 (41:17):
That's why I said, we got a whole ip of
whatever we want to talk about, and when we start
adding these guests to the IP, it's going to be great. Man.
But this episode is another banger. Make sure you tell
a friend to tell a friend to subscribe, rate and review,
follow us, comment, send those questions. We're definitely gonna start
talking about the questions on here, seth. Where can they
(41:38):
find you?
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Find me? Twitter, Instagram, sdot Curry s dot Curry. Talk
to me out.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Like I said, I know I forgot some people in
this in this post conversation, So hit me and my mentions.
Let me know who I forgot who some of your
favorite post players in the two thousands were.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Yeah, please mention him. Get on this case. Make sure
y'all give him a hard time about the players that
he didn't mention, and then also follow me at Trey
on Instagram, at t r A y and at travn
at t r A v o n n e on X.
Be sure to listen on all streaming platforms, but mainly iHeartRadio.
(42:14):
Talk to you guys soon. Go This has been a
unanimous media original. Goat was produced by iHeart Podcasts and
Unanimous Media. It was hosted by me Travon Edwards, and
(42:36):
Steph Curry. Executive produced by Stephen Curry and Eric Page.
Co executive producer Klenna Maria Cutty. The executive producers at
iHeart Podcasts are Sean Titone and Jason English. This series
was produced by Derek Jennings and Peter Kaucher, Co producer
Kurt Reddy. Original music by Jesse Woodard. Special thanks to
(42:56):
Stephen Curry and Will Pearson. Goat is a production of
you Animous Media and iHeart Podcasts. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
your podcasts
I mean Shaq was Actually he made it entertaining because,
like I said, he was hanging on that rim, he
was finishing, he was dominating opponents, and a lot of
times in the two thousands, teams were looking around the league,
around the world literally just to find guys who could
guard him for forty eight minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Like you had.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
You had to sign a big on your team just
to have six files to deal with him every night.
So and he's accepting to the rule to me, like
for a post player, to me, if I'm going to
throw the ball a bunch of times, you gotta be
a good free throw shooter.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Welcome back to another episode of Goat Greatest of Their Era.
I'm your host, Trey Edwards.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
What's up, Seth? What's going on your boy? Seth?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Here another episode? Go ote what we're talking about this week?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Man, we're talking about the greatest post scores of the
two thousands. It seemed like the I mean, from what
I've been seeing the streets, is messing with us, man,
for real.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, I agree, I agree. This is real basketball talk.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
It's getting the group chats going, getting I know a
couple of them, man, they listen in every week to
the episodes and kind of start some side arguments on
the side about about some of the stuff we're talking about.
So the nostalgia's there, the topics are there, and you
kind of forget about some of the favorite players you
used to watch growing up.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
So I mean that's the point of the part. That's
why we came up with it, right.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Yeah, absolutely, man. So you know how we always do,
We're gonna take a trip down memory lane and kind of,
you know, talk about the decade that we're part of.
So the two thousands features some of the NBA's most
dominant post scores, particularly big men who thrived in the
low posts during an era where interior play was distilled
the focal point of offenses. Today, we'll discuss some of
(01:42):
the greatest post scores in NBA from that decade based
on their scoring efficiency, volume, post up ability, and impact. So, so,
what is the criteria of a post player to you?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
To me, what I'm using the gauge my top five
and the greatest of this era to me is one,
you gotta have some versatility in the post. It's not
just all size and dominance down there with your like
I said, your size and your mentality it's about having
different different post moves on the block, right hand, left hand,
some go to moves, some counters. Also, you gotta have
(02:15):
touch with it. I mean, you don't got necessarily be
a jump shooter to be a great post player, but
you gotta have touch. Can't you just be at the
rim laying up. You gotta have some post hooks, maybe
some post fades. And then to me, is it is
it like, are you one of the are you one
of the things your post player one of the things
that keep your offense going? So it is it a
vocal point in the offense. Can you carry your offense
(02:37):
certain stretches throughout the game to warrant it being a
high volume and a high usage play for your team.
So that's kind of stuff I'm looking at as a
for a great post player.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
What about you, Yeah, I mean, honestly, I'm looking at
ways to uh dominate on the low block, but also
the mid post. Posting cant kind of start from anywhere.
It can actually start above the three point line as well.
But how effective you are as far as setting up
for the offense, because sometimes posting up doesn't equate to scoring.
(03:08):
It can be a better pass. You know what I
mean to the opposite side, to an elite three point
shooter that shoots a better percentage than what you can get,
especially if you need a three. So I think it's
super important. But I'm going back to you on this.
Why don't we see a lot of post ups in
this era that you're playing in.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
I think the main thing is the rule changes.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
I feel like it was a time period where you
saw offices getting too slow, and I think the league
and the fans would then love it, like what entertaining basketball.
So they made some rule changes to where you could
be a little bit more physical down in the post.
They weren't calling some of the touch fads you can
push out, and then these rule changes kind of made
it like the post up over and over. It's not
(03:50):
an efficient former offense. It's just not like you'd rather
move the ball around, play with pace, play with some space,
like I say, get more threes up, even though you
can't create threes off of post ups. She's not efficient
offense today's basketball. So it kind of got rid of it.
Like it's to me, I mean, I kind of agree
with it. Like you watch some of the great teams
(04:11):
of the two thousands like we used to, like, like
we're going to talk about the Spurs, the Grizzlies late
in the two thousands, who played through the post a lot.
And honestly, I wasn't like enjoyable basketball to watch every night,
Like I didn't want to see guys throwing in the post,
playing slow shooting jump hooks all game.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So do you miss the air of the post up
at all? You wish you saw more of it?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I think I do, just because it freed up a
little bit more what it created more jobs for one, right,
not saying that like, oh we got way too many
people playing the same position, but I do think that
their style of play would have been different because it
adds a different variety of shot making. Right. We're losing
specialists in some way, you know what I mean. And
(04:52):
in that way because a lot of the fore men,
the new fore men are in the corners, or they're trailing,
or they're just you it was in a different way
that just kind of creates the driving lane for the guards,
which is fine because now it's more of an isol
basketball game for them to work out and score high
volume of points. But then I do miss having an
(05:13):
offensive big most of the time, the power forward was
most of the scoring and having a back to the
basket guy. He can just go to work and get
twenty and ten, you know what I mean. So watching
that just change it's it's not difficult. It doesn't mess
with like how I view the game, but I do
look at it from a perspective of seeing the game
one way and then watching it transition, and then watching
(05:35):
people complain about how the game is boring. I felt
like it kept it interesting because there was just another
way to score, you know what I mean, and just
an archetype that doesn't mainly exist. We had the Al
Jefferson's of the world, you know what I mean. The
Derek favors those type of players that Andrew Bynum's and
(05:56):
you possibly can think of and who you know. The
more the dominant versions of those guys, well we're gonna
mention on this show later on down the line, but
those type of players now find their way overseas, the
Jared sellingers, you know what I mean, Like, you know, yeah,
so many guys that possibly, if they were born in
(06:18):
a different era, would have an NBA career and probably
be playing well into their tenh season or beyond.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, that's a great point because even today we got
a lot of post players who could not a lot,
but a few post players who could play in any
era and you could throw it to them ten fifteen
times a game and they'd be great on the block. Right,
But to be a post guy in today's league, you
have to be able to step out. Even the best ones.
Say you put Joelle in b Nicole Yokuci in any era,
they could be one of the best post players. But now,
(06:46):
even to be efficient, they got to step away from
the basket at least half the time to play the
office that the coaches in today's league want to play.
So that's a good point, Like there's no just back
to the basket specialist, and that's one of the reasons.
And also like are you when I'm looking at the
bigs too, Like are you a big who can post
up any guy? Can you post up your matchup? Or
(07:07):
like in today's league, you only post it up really
if you have an advantage, Like you have a clear
advantage's like, oh I'm bigger, I know I'm going to
score majority of time on this matchup. It's not like
I'm just walking my guy into the post and going
to work, like I said, because it's just not efficient.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Well, postplay has be come analytical as well. Yeah, what
are your odds of you scoring on a smaller defender.
Or let's create the best scenario for a mismatch for
this to be the easiest attempt possible, not post moves,
not trying to make shake a guy or have the
footwork to actually try to score. It is, Oh, I
gotta switch on me. I need the ball and nes
(07:45):
get a quick one, you know what I mean? Like
that's how it is. And ideally in this era, you
don't particularly have to have post moves. It's just a
mismatch switch. I'm bigger than this guy, and let's get
a quick one.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, or you or you got a team like the
Wards who throw it in the post a good amount.
But you know they're not throwing it in the post
to score. Yeah, they're throwing it the post to get
in three like they want. I's on the post, or
they want or they have a big mismatch where you
know you have to double and you're gonna kick it
out rotating get a three point they want, like I said,
they want wide of them a layup or a three
(08:19):
pointer off off the post, which is aligns with the
rest of the offices around the league, so it's.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
A different area.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
And honestly, I mean, you know, as a guard three
point shooter, I don't it makes my job. It costs
more people like me who can spread the floor a
little bit and could put more guards on the floor.
Just to put it put it simpler.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, absolutely, Like I said, I think you guys benefit
from it a little bit more. I think we would
say less threes if the fours were back in the game.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Yeah, but yeah, and then you bring it up to
just be my time playing in Philly with Joe llenb
like that made my life like easier too, because that
was the guy who you do it in the post.
If it was one on one, no matter who was
guarding them, it was a bucket. So you had this
in the double and a lot of times they put
me in front of the ball so if they sent
the double, I was getting an open look or it
allowed Joel to play.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
One on one.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
So that's kind of the catch twenty two of Like
I said, postplay does create threes at a higher volume.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Two.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yeah, absolutely, that's a good call out, all right, let's
just jump right into it. Man, the first person I
want to talk about a Shaquille O'Neill and why we
want to talk about Shaquille O'Neil. Shaq was one of
the most dominant players in the two thousands. He averaged
twenty eight points per game on fifty seven point five
field goal percentage from nineteen ninety nine to two thousand
(09:38):
and three, including the playoffs. His size is strength. Shack
had footwork which made him basically unstoppable, and you know
through that three peet run. He was Finals MVP from
two thousand to two thousand and two, so you know,
he had that signature drop step and powerful dunks just
overwhelmed defenders. So like, what was your overall you on
(10:00):
like seeing Shack? And then you know, Shaq obviously had
some foot issues and later on in his career, but
that early two thousand Shack was just just a force
of nature.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Shack is one of my top five favorite players of
all time, and he was just dominant.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Man.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
He made it entertaining though you could throw it in
the ball and his post player was simple. It was
a lot of times it was turnover right shoulder, turn
over left shoulder, jump hook or dunk, and I mean
you can even double him, and he was he was
still trying to get to that rim. So I mean
Shaq was Actually he made it entertaining because, like I said,
he was, he was hanging on that rim, he was finishing,
he was dominating opponents, and a lot of times in
(10:39):
the two thousands, teams were looking around the league, around
the world literally just to find guys who could guard
him for forty eight minutes. Like you had you had
to sign a big on your team just to have
six files to deal with him every night. So and
he's accepting to the rule. To me, like for a
post player, to me, if I'm going to throw you
the ball a bunch of times, you gotta be a
good free throw shooter, because you know what I'm saying,
(11:01):
a lot of times you're gonna get fault down there.
For him, he was so he was so dominant and
good he didn't have to be. He was maybe the
worst free throw shooter of all time. So he's he's
a acception to the rule. To me, like, we're gonna
live with his his misfree throws because he's still gonna
give us forty dunking and getting my team into the bonus.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Yeah, before Hacker shock man. I mean I think there
was even one of those things where you look at
like he still was managing to get forty thirty, you
know what I mean, Like those those those key games
that were just so dominant. Obviously had their career hard
sixty one, but he just as a force, you know
what I'm saying, A notable thing. Notable note third all
(11:39):
time in career field goal percentage at fifty eight point two,
and he won two scoring titles. Yeah, like scoring titles
is a big. It's impressive, man, especially in this era.
You would never think that a big would even be,
you know, doing that type of stuff.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
But he was a typical I post up on the
right block, I post up on the left block and know, no,
l You're not pushing me out nothing. I'm running to
that block and I'm in that triangle offense, so everybody's
moving around me, but I'm in the same spot.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Yeah. Absolutely. The next person, Tim Duncan, is big fundamental.
The reason why we've got Tim Duncan here is Man's
crafty post game face up moves, the bank shot, the
quick spins that made him consistent low post threat. I
mean he averaged twenty one point three points per game
and eleven point four rebounds per game. And I mean
(12:30):
basically was the anchor of the Spurs championship runs. I
mean three titles in three to five and seven. The
big fundamental his mid range game, which is unstoppable.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Yeah, and keep it a buck.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We're going from Shock my favorite player to one of
my least favorite to watch boring man, but I'm saying
the ultimate respect for him.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
He won. Like I said, you played through him. He
could pass out of the post.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
He could play in the mid post a lot because
he could face up, shoot, shoot the jab off the
glund I mean the bank shot. He mastered that bank
shot in the post. Like, if you give him that
jab jumper, he's knocking it down at a seventy percent race.
So he would just kill you with consistency and fundamentals.
Like I said, yeah, man, he was.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
He won two time MVP back to back two and
three and then also was Finals MVP and O three.
So yeah, just just just one of the kings of
that era. Pretty much man very dominant. His counterpart we
talked about these two on the Robberies. Kevin Garnett one
of my favorite bigs Man super versatility in the post,
(13:37):
would turn around jumpers, probably one of the coldest mid
ranged guys for his size up and he had up
and under moves. Basically a scoring machine. You know, had
his key season in three to four as an MVP
average twenty one points per game and eleven point five
rebounds per game. And you know what I mean the
two thousands and obviously he was able to get his
(13:59):
ring and eight with the Celtics, but his overall careers
wanted to talk about, and then he kind of blossom
to become one of the best defensive players the game
has ever seen in modern days.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So yeah, to me, KG is the ultimate like versatility
when it comes to post scoring. Like he had the
jump hooks either shoulder and he could fade away. He's
the first one we bringing up to where he got
in the post and he would shooting a fadeaway jump shot,
give you a little bit of a baby dream shape,
right and yeah, like he also passed out of it too,
(14:31):
like he had it all at the end the post.
Similar the similar to Tim Duncan, but a little bit
more flair to it.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Yeah, absolutely one of your former teammates dark Newitz revolutionized
the post scoring with one leg fadeaways. He actually has
a signature move could pubchtentially be a logo for a
lot of people. And then also he basically blended low
post moves with you know what I mean, perimeter shooting,
averaging twenty three point one game and then also just
(15:03):
leaguing probably one of the most dominant playoff runs, but
that was a little bit later after this era. And
then he had like a key season where he uh,
you know, won MVP and six o seven averaging twenty
four game which ain't crazy when you really think about
it comparable to the other seasons. But I'm pretty sure
(15:24):
at that time duking it out with a couple of people, and.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
They had the best team in the league that year,
Like yeah, yeah, they that always goes into it.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That that too. And then also it was very low
scoring games.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yeah, he's our top five all time scoring, right, but
he just did it with consistency over his twenty plus
year career, like he's gonna give you twenty above, like
twenty three twenty four night for eighteenth straight years, something
like that, which is crazy. So yeah, I remember I
was in I was in Dallas when they actually put
the logo of the dirt fade on the court, like
(15:58):
his spot on the floor where he liked the post
up all yeah, they put the little silhouette of his
doing the dirt fade on the floor, so still there
like forever really in Dallas. So he's the first one,
like you throw him in the post and he got
that one move who you just can't stop, Like it's
make a miss from all over the wherever he catches
it middle of the post up, middle of the floor
(16:18):
at the free throw line, so where you can't really double.
He's playing one on one to shoot the dirt fade
over you on that and then catch it mid post
and do the same thing. So just just frustrating you
because you know what he's going to but you can't
stop it.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Have you ever blocked dirt in practice?
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I probably got him from like the weak side, like
he turns blindly and lock over there and you know
what I'm saying, run up on him where he don't
see me coming and block it as the help side guy.
But yeah, definitely not one on one. He don't see me.
That's seven foot fag. Yeah, he don't see me.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
It's looked like it's one of the hardest shots to
ever defend, just because of the angle and and how
he's able to shift his body and fade, but.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Not only an angle, like he put arc on the
ball too, so he got that and the fade angle,
high release and then he shoot it up to the
rafters like you see a bunch of people try to
mimic it. Who do you think the closest you've seen
to that having that dirt fade after him has been
like Katie up there.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
He can do it a little from I think Katie.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Can do it, but I don't think KD does it
with enough arc. I think KD just has it like
it's it's more of most of the guys. Jokis and
all these guys are doing it to a point where
it's not as effective because he's creating space with that
kick as well. Yeah, you know what I mean. Like
it's just it's just really hard to guard and too
hard to imitate, you know what I mean. He could
(17:41):
do a whole clinic and say he's teaching somebody, but
it just won't be duplicated or you know, replicated to
a point where you say, oh, he did the dirt.
It's just not it's just not close to it, you
know what I mean. Like he looks like he's damn there.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Falling and the defense is so close to him, Like
he don't even create space with the move. It's like,
all right, my shot is I'm creating a little space
just with the fade. But he gave you a little shoulder.
But the defense is never like, oh, I'm fine, I'm
fading back. And then then he goes to the dirt fade.
It's like, nah, you can be as close as you want,
(18:15):
but as soon as I going to my shot, get
no matter, get it out the net. It's crazy to
watch him person.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
This name we haven't mentioned at all, Shot Pole Gasol
gasoles Finessing the post with soft touch and hook shots
made him a key scorer for the Grizzlies and Lakers.
He averaged eighteen point five points per game in the
two thousands with a high basketball IQ and mid range game.
His post play helped the Lakers win titles in two
thousand and nine, and he won Rookie of the Year
(18:43):
in three.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, this is another product that I mean, he was
a good post player before he got to the Lakers.
And when Memphis or wherever he was, but another product
of the triangle offense, playing through the post like you're
throwing the ball and you can see him his odds
moving because he wanted to be.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
A passer first a lot of the times.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
But I mean, they're really an underrated big and an
underrated post guy when you think about it NBA history.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Yeah, I mean, he's one of the most respected a winner.
You know, he was another good compliment to Big with Kobe,
so definitely one of those ones.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah, And that trade is one of those in NBA history,
Like Celtics fans and a lot of NBA fans hate
that trade where they gave powder to Kobe over there
because they knew they were gonna win on a chip
or two over there once he they sent him to
the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I mean, you said it, man, Karl Anthony Towns would
be that version of twenty twenty five. If Kobe got
a guy, he could probably do something with him. Speaking
of Grizzlies, we got Zach Randolph. Another great his physicality
and crafty moves. He barely jumps, you know what I mean,
So it's spin moves and baby hooks. I don't know,
if z Bo could jump over a stack of books.
So he managed to average eighteen point eight points per
(19:53):
game nine point seven rebounds. You know, he went to
Power for You in Portland where Rashie Wallace and o'
neil learning how to dominate in that position and just
really be effective, and going to Memphis and just making
a name for himself and earning that respect. He also
is a Clipper, and you know he played for the
Knicks as well, but Grizzly's legend now at this point.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
Yeah, Bo was a monster, and he did all his
work before he caught the ball. He was one of
those like I'm I'm getting my position on the post before,
like they even look at me for the past. So
he's ducking in front of the chart shrukle, trying to
get a good positions. So when he catches it, all
he gotta do is turn over either shoulder and finish.
And then if you do push him up, he could
(20:36):
face up like he would turn jazz, shoot the j
a little step back jumper, some spin, some spin hooks,
and then he was one of those they had that
team where they went high low a lot, so he
had he was talking about power earlier he had Marcosol
with him, so they played that high low game. And
you got to give Marcus Saw some love on that
post too, because he was a monster down there. So
(20:56):
front Cort of those two is just give you nightmares
on the block off game.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, I can only imagine. Man, they were great on
defense and then also on offense. To the front court
was just pretty dominant. This guy right here, Man, he's
people's favorite player and probably got overshadowed the most during
the two thousands. Ere Chris Weber Man power for nask
(21:21):
and handle the rock had a cold mean range a
three level score, you know what I mean. He averaged
twenty one point nine in the two thousands, but he
peaked at twenty seven point one in two thousand and one,
and then he probably is one of the arguably one
of the best passing power for us this game has
ever seen.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Chris Webber.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
He was one of those you could you can run
your offense doing anywhere on the floor, like similar to
a I don't know, the minus A bonus types type
skill level, like where you could pass a lot. He
wanted to pass a lot, but I'm saying he could score.
He could dribble into the post himself and get him
a position. Yeah, really like undersized guy, but he could
really go to work on that blocking. I mean, is
(22:01):
his NBA career speaks for us.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
So yeah, he had immediate impact with Golden State and
other teams, and when it got to the Kings, he
got his identity and they were able to make a
run and do their things and be kind of fan favorites.
Obviously they ran into the Lakers, so they really couldn't
get over the hump. But Chris Webber is one of
the ones man. Yep, Al Jefferson and a lot of
(22:25):
our listeners probably not gonna know. This is a deep
cut Al Jefferson's footwork and finessing the post. You know
what I'm saying. He averaged sixteen point seven with the Timberwolves.
He peaked at twenty three point one in eight and
one of the most versatile offensive big man. I mean,
(22:45):
I think if Al Jefferson wanted to, he can help
a lot of those like undersize, not even undersize, but
the non athletic bigs.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
I know, my people and Charlotte know by Al Jefferson
because when he was in the Bobcatch, he was.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Doing work like oh he was cooking.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Yeah, twenty five plus, twenty five to twenty six at night,
just on the block, working out, thrown throwing the ball
ten fifteen times plus and here you know what you're
getting from consistency, like like like you said, you wren't
doing athleticism. He had enough size, but was was he
seven foot you think it was sixteen?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Not quite? Yeah, not quite. So it was all like touch.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
He could shoot, he can shoot enough out to fifteen feet,
but on the block both hands up and unders just
and he wanted us. He had big hands so he
could pall. He would catch it and palm the ball
away from the defense.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Off the catch.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yeah, it was just tough to watch, like just like
he's sonning.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
You just hold the ball out, holding the ball out
with one hand, stearing you and the eye thinking about
what you're gonna do, what movie you're gonna go to.
So yeah, Al Jefferson one of those you need to
go look up. Look up his highlights on YouTube and
refresh your memory.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Unsung hero for sure, Germaine O'Neill man jo Man his
athleticism and post moves. He had drop steps and fadeaways
and he just cooked up in Indy, you know.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
What I mean.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
He averaged sixteen point five points per game and eight
point six rebounds per game in the two thousands, and
his peak season he averaged twenty four point three points
per game and oh three oh four. That's the year
the Malice of the Palace. Unfortunately, you know what I mean.
But he was destined, he was on he was on
some MVP type stuff and you know, Jo has extended
(24:30):
his career played over you know, I think like eighteen
seasons here with the Warriors. With the Warriors, yeah, man,
that was a that was a good addition for them,
you know what I mean. He was a good vet
from what I've heard, and just just solid man. Just
one of the solid dudes.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Man.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
But after everybody, he was another member of power for
university leaving you know, Portland.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Came straight out of high school.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Yeah, and he had to go through some growing pains
and turned into a player man, and you know, made
Indy one of them respected and watching the ball teams
to join Reggie Miller, you know what I mean. So
really really had a lot of love for Jermaine O'Neil.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
When are the Pacers's one of those you show up
every night. You know what you're getting from. Like on
the block, every team had to go to guys and
a lot of some like saying during the two thousands
some of them half the teams probably a post player.
So going through him, I remember going to a couple
of podcast games against the Pacers growing up and just
watching Jermaine O'Neill. His whole swag with the headband, the wristband,
(25:28):
the braids, wristbands.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
Yeah, his swag and or on the court was insane.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
See, and then go out there G twenty five.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Yeah, at six eleven, he had that red white and
blue headband, the red white and blue wrist bands, that
seven the pint strike. His swag was up there. He
had the Nike shocks like it was just a whole
identity Jo was. He really was cooking that ship that
front court. It's so it's so different because obviously we
(25:56):
have such guard driven league now to the point of
like we're listening, think about this, this is basically gridiron
battles down low, you know what I mean? At night
in night out, like Okay, Shaq versus him Dunk and
Tim Duncan versus Kevin Garnet, Dark Newhisky versus Tim Dunk
and Dark Newisky versus Kevin Gardner. Power got sold, you
know what I mean. Chris Weber versus Kevin Gardnet, et cetera.
(26:18):
Like the list goes on and it's one guy who
was my favorite. He he gets enough love. But I
think when he went to New York he kind of
if he wouldn't get hurt, he probably would be talked
about a little bit more. Mary Stodamo explosive, some of
the nastiest posters you're gonna see in this game. You know,
(26:39):
him playing with Phoenix Man, him and nash Man. They
was like the modern day Stocked him alone, but a
little bit more sexier in the game, you know what
I'm saying. He averaged twenty one point one points per
game in two thousands, and then he also peaked at
twenty six per game in four oh five. Dude, like
his ability to roll in the rim, like how we
It's just so many players I felt like were created
(27:01):
off the stats. A game you got played Griffin, Yeah,
you know what I mean, Like just athletics where you
just think about it, like, oh my god, he's just explosive.
But he was rookie of the year in a four
time All Star.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Yeah, he don't get enough credit for his like his
he athletic, but he don't get enough credit for like
his IQ and his like the effort he played with,
like he played with pace even a half court. And
I think a lot of that came from Steve Nash
and the Suns, just running in the screens, running out
of the screens, getting in the pocket, finishing, and then
he could if he was like in the playoffs, he
would have big games because he could pass out of
(27:37):
the role too, like underrated passer in the pocket, making
the right decision. So one of those h like I said,
another one of those guys just super athletic. And in
this era of two thousands we're talking about, we had,
it's so many bigs, but all of them played in
kind of different systems. Like it wasn't all slow throwing
the ball in the block. Some posted that, like you said,
(27:58):
on the block at the elbows did it out of
pick and roll in the pocket, finishing different ways. So
I think that's why I mean, like some of these,
like you said, some of these specialists post players got
eliminated from the game. But it's cool to reminists to
come back to some of these guys like, I mean,
you got you brought.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Them up a little bit.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
But I want to talk about Rashie Wallace too, one
of my favorite players and favorite post guys because he
could he could turn that that turnaround over left right shoulder,
such a high release, unblockable, but just just skill like
nobody could. Nobody could speed them up, played in his
own pace. So I gotta I gotta give it se
Wallace some love too.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
We're gonna take a break, but when we come back,
I have a great Rashie Waller story I want to share. So, man,
(28:59):
I got chance to meet she when he was coaching
in Detroit, right, and this is how I found out
about Power for you. Right. He was on the coaching
staff and she was telling Amir Johnson. At the time.
He was just like hey, man, like why are you
working on all this other stuff? Yeah, you want to
shoot threees, but like, trust me, anybody has worked under me.
(29:20):
Look at my guys and got them paid, you know
what I mean. Actually the player was Andre Drumming, but
he was talking about Amir Johnson and he was like,
my young guy, he got paid look at how much
he got paid. He says, Zach Randolph, Jermaine O'Neil, Amir Johnson,
you are about to get paid. This is right before
Drumming signed this deal. And he's like, listen, you and Greg,
(29:41):
all you have to do is do what you're supposed
to do best. Don't get out of this whole comfort zone.
Telling power for you, baby, right, And she was right.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
He was right.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
He was talking about being a specialist and how important
it was, like, nope, it's very rare that certain players
get to play out of day. You know what they
came in the league and asked about. So if you
are great at one thing, you're going to make a
lot of money doing something very great. And at that
time he would tell Dre, you know what, you got
(30:12):
to get these boards. Dre would get ten boards in
the first quarter or second quarter, and then you know,
the challenge was keeping Dre, like, you know, basically his
motor going because he had already overachieved his goal of
getting ten boards. So he'd end up getting ten points
and it's like, oh, I got this consecutive run of
double doubles and he like, nah, don't stop. So Dre
(30:35):
ended up getting one hundred million dollar contract and becoming
an All Star because.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Of she that's fire.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Yeah, that's that's what you try to get young guys
to realize in the league, Like figure out what your
initiate is, what you do best, and the NBA is
all about consistency, Like what are you doing every night,
especially in the regular season. That's that's really how you
get paid first and foremost, being consistent in the regular season.
What you bring it to the team, to the game
every single night. Figure out what that is and don't.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Get or with it.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
That's what she telled him, Like can figure like know
your role and do it to every single game no
matter who you're playing. Again, So that's a good little
story of the O G's back in the day teaching
the young guys.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Absolutely, what do you think about y'all?
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Mean? Man?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
How good was y'all mean?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Y'all? Oh?
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Was I mean?
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Obviously, the size is unreal coming out of China, but
the skill level of a I take seven six seven
seven six seven six, and his skill level isn't talked
about him though, Like could shoot the jump shot, could pass,
post moves, good footwork for his size, and I remember
some of the battles he had with Shack when he
(31:39):
came over, Like those are prime time matchups, those those
y'all mean Shack matchups in the regular season, getting ready
for those and watching those. Yeah, I mean, if y'all
didn't have some of those injuries, those foot problems that
he that he ran into, he'll be one of the
all time greats and a lot of people will be
talking about him more.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
I mean, for eight seasons he averaged nineteen and nine,
you know what I mean, he was an All Star
each of those years, and just you know, made it
made it cracking, man, to be honest, Like you know,
at that point, all NBA five times, you know what
I mean. And really I remember Shack dunking on him
and his mission was the dunk back on Shack, you
(32:18):
know what I mean. And then you know, they had
those great campaigns that Shack first, y'all, you know what
I mean. Uh, And that was just great for marketing wise,
because you had somebody who made Shack look small, the
most dominant player, and you had these two standing up
against each other and you're just like, wow, you know
what I mean, Like this this is actually somebody bigger
than Shack and actually good.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Yeah, because Shack did that to everybody every night except
when he matched up with Yeah. Like it was he
was overwhelmed when they got in a post on him.
So I see, I thought, yeah, for a few I thought, yeah,
I was gonna be one of the an MVP conversation,
one of the best, like I said, but the injuries
took him down. We talked about post scores. This isn't
like a big man conversation. This is a post score.
(33:00):
So I got to show some love to the to
the wings and the guards who post up too in
the era, like got Kobe Mellow. Yeah, some of the
some of the wings, he could go down to the
block and show you that the footwork and the skill
they've been they've been putting putting the use down there too.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
So I would like to think Mellow is like a
post up master, right, Like his his feet are so precise,
like guarding him is like in a telephone booth. He
also has power, he has explosiveness. He can score from
fifteen and then he can spread the floor and take
you out to twenty three. So I mean he was
(33:35):
probably one of the most unguardable. But like his post
moves are really super effective, man, when you really think
about all just trying to guard him, and he's just
so gifted offensively, like he I remember Kobe was trying
to give him a hard time his rookie season and
he almost broke Kobe's ribs just because they were playing
so physical in the posts and throwing elbows at each other.
(33:55):
And Kobe, he's so sick in the head he telling
them like, yeah, I like that, you know what I mean, Like, yeah,
it be physical with me, you know.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
But in two thousands, like you had to have it
to be an isold score and a high volume guard.
You had to have some post work in you. Even
d Wade went down to the block a lot, Evince t.
Mac all of them went to down to the block,
especially when they had some good size advantages. They would
go down there and and make you pay for it.
So like the versatility of those wing guards was. It's
(34:25):
different in today's age where I'm spreading you out and
going one on one from the perimeter ninety percent of
the time. Back then, there was a lot of it
was done on the block, getting you getting used in
the office to get you in a position, get you
on the spot of the floor that you like to
play one on one end and yep, and showing the
work you've been putting in. Just racking my brain trying
to think of some of these guards who posted up
a lot and obviously got my guy Sam Cousel who
(34:49):
six or sixty three sixty two guard who lived in
the post, like he would walk you down and start
the office from the post. Mark Jackson another one then,
like I said, not un necessarily trying to score all
the time, but if they got to a spot where
they could finish, they would, but trying to set up
the offense and create create passing angles out of the post.
(35:09):
Andre Miller another one, one of your guys who who
like not a perimeter player, but a guard who could
know what I'm saying, living that post. So I mean,
that's another archetype typout specially that's another type of guard,
archetype that's not around anymore. Like guards don't clear aside
and go to the post like that anymore. So kind
of miss those guys.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Yeah, absolutely definitely. Let's let's open the time machine and
bring them back. All right, So it's time for our
five greatest post scores of this era.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
I'm gonna let you go first this week. Talk to me.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
I'm gonna actually start one to five. So I'm gonna
go Shock at one. I'm gonna go Zach Randolph at two. MM,
I'm gonna go Al Jefferson at three. I'm gonna go
Carmelo Anthony at four and Tim Duncan at five.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Oh Tim, Yeah, okay, Cat Tim at five? Wow?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
I got Tim. I got Tim at five just because
he was more finesse than those two.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
So you have Mellow at number four of the post guys, okay, yeah,
oh wow, I'm going this is my list right here.
One Shack, like I said, my favorite, one of my
favorite players ever, so undisputed Shack at number one, number two,
I'm going dirt. Okay, you gotta move. That's that unstoppable.
I don't know what else more you need, So dirt, dirt,
(36:32):
and number two number three, I got Tim Duncan number four,
I got ze Bo number five. Al Jefferson just okay.
I like when I got to mix the jump shooting
some obviously some dominance in there with Shack, and it's
just the old fashioned just jump houck.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
Let for the up and unders of Al Jefferson ze Bo.
They just made it look easy with not a lot
of athleticism. So I think they in my top five
of the two.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
Else, Yeah, I think you went to the opposite of
what I did. You went for all around. I went
back to the basket, true, back to the basket.
Speaker 1 (37:09):
I wish I could have fit some some of the
wings and guards in there like you did with Mellow
and like that.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Yeah, I mean it probably would have been like, gotta
be mellow if you're gonna do anything, you know what
I mean, Because Kobe was cool, like you know what
I mean. But I don't think it was up to
that part to be in the top five all the time,
you know what I mean? Like, Yeah, I think it
was solid, respectful.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yeah, outside of the four or five, I think Melo
number one up there.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
When we come back, we're gonna discuss born in the
Wrong Era. You don't want to.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Miss all right, let's go, man, my favorite topic. Like
you were talking about born in the Wrong Era.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Born in the Wrong Era. You really got to think
about it. You got your answer already.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
Nah, I got to go on this week. Rashee Wallace,
Rashee Wallas, Born in the Wrong Era. My guy, like
he a big who is who can play inside and
out so right, you know what I'm saying. And he
and he's doing what he's doing depending on the matchup.
If you switch a smaller guy on him, he going
to the block and he gonna take advantage of his
size and his skill down there on the block. If not,
(38:23):
he can move out spread the floor. He can stand
in the corner in space. He can pick and pop,
pick and roll. I mean, he could do it all
if he was playing in today's offense with just the
space and the space, the pace. Uh, he can play
the five a ford a lot of different positions, like
I wu want to see him in today's era.
Speaker 3 (38:43):
Yeah, I mean, for me, it gotta be Chris weber Man.
You can handle the rock, he can pass, he can shoot,
he's super skilled. He probably would be hard to guard,
you know what I mean, because he's gonna get a
lot of ice, so got a lot of free court
to work with. Yeah, I don't I don't think too
many guards at sixteen, and how fast he moved with
the technology to keep him healthy and everything else. I'm
(39:06):
with it. I'm rolling with Chris Webb.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Which one you like better? Which one you take? Right?
Speaker 1 (39:10):
Who better Rashida Chris Webber career wise, skill wise, all
that who you got.
Speaker 3 (39:16):
I mean, individually, I would take Chris Webber, but I
think the how how the career played out, you would
go Rassie Wallace just because you kind of you want
to ring.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
It's tough, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
It's one of those tough ones, because I think most
people will say, just like said, talent wise, Chris Webber
a better player, but when it comes to winning, like,
you could fit Rashie Wallas on any team.
Speaker 2 (39:39):
He can guard, he can guard fives, he can guard fourth.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
Like the versatility on defensive there just like offense, and
you don't have to like play through like you know
what I'm saying. He can affect the game by not
having plays called for him because he can shoot, he
can space the floor. And both of them are high
i Q guy like smart, yeah, smart players. So I
think that's why, I mean, that's probably another reason why
we both picked him for boring in the wrong era,
because they know how to play in today's era where
(40:05):
it's not all play calls.
Speaker 2 (40:07):
They can play off of just random movement and just
just flee freedom flow type offense that a lot of
teams are playing today.
Speaker 3 (40:15):
I think she would be really popular with shooting with
the opposite hand. Shoot he could shoot threes with either hand,
and I think that would just be just too too much,
you know what I mean, because he's doing it. He
not even doing it to a point where the game
got to be out of reach. He literally can shoot
with either hand like comfortably. I thought that was one
of the most coolest things. And sometimes the commentary tators
(40:37):
would like be like, oh, he shot that with his
off end, No big deal.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Cash out with the right and shoot with the left
if you're on that if you're on her right side,
it was insane or why they said Larry Barrick could
do that too.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
I believe it that it's.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
An old school thing, like my dad can shoot with
the left out the three smooth. I can't do it.
I just feel awkward and as I don't even want
to do it.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
You never know, though, man, you never know. It might
be a case where you you know, you driving it now,
that's like a new situation for you to shoot the bank,
don't you know?
Speaker 2 (41:12):
We're going off though?
Speaker 1 (41:13):
This might be another topic like best off offhand players.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
You know, oh, man.
Speaker 3 (41:17):
That's why I said, we got a whole ip of
whatever we want to talk about, and when we start
adding these guests to the IP, it's going to be great. Man.
But this episode is another banger. Make sure you tell
a friend to tell a friend to subscribe, rate and review,
follow us, comment, send those questions. We're definitely gonna start
talking about the questions on here, seth. Where can they
(41:38):
find you?
Speaker 2 (41:38):
Find me? Twitter, Instagram, sdot Curry s dot Curry. Talk
to me out.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
Like I said, I know I forgot some people in
this in this post conversation, So hit me and my mentions.
Let me know who I forgot who some of your
favorite post players in the two thousands were.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Yeah, please mention him. Get on this case. Make sure
y'all give him a hard time about the players that
he didn't mention, and then also follow me at Trey
on Instagram, at t r A y and at travn
at t r A v o n n e on X.
Be sure to listen on all streaming platforms, but mainly iHeartRadio.
(42:14):
Talk to you guys soon. Go This has been a
unanimous media original. Goat was produced by iHeart Podcasts and
Unanimous Media. It was hosted by me Travon Edwards, and
(42:36):
Steph Curry. Executive produced by Stephen Curry and Eric Page.
Co executive producer Klenna Maria Cutty. The executive producers at
iHeart Podcasts are Sean Titone and Jason English. This series
was produced by Derek Jennings and Peter Kaucher, Co producer
Kurt Reddy. Original music by Jesse Woodard. Special thanks to
(42:56):
Stephen Curry and Will Pearson. Goat is a production of
you Animous Media and iHeart Podcasts. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
your podcasts
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