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Ghost. Done. won the Throwdown.

Ghost. Done.

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I'm settling this once and for all. Who is the most underrated NBA player?

G.O.A.T. said 06/01, 11:30 AM
I have seen countless throwdowns with this topic, yet no one has attempted to argue for the player I'm about to mention.

My Mr. Underrated averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists this past season. He had an efficiency rating of +18.93, which is better than other "underrated" players such as Michael Redd, Luke Walton, and Leandro Barbosa.

My guy is also an iron man. He played in every single game this year for...the Pacers. I am referring to Michael Dunleavy, Jr. I bet 95% of you didn't have a clue that he had such a stat line. Some of you probably didn't even know he played for Indiana. He's so underrated that he doesn't even get mentioned in throwdowns such as this one.

According to 82games.com, the Pacers score 9 less points every 100 possessions that Mike is NOT on the floor. What does that tell me? It tells me that he's valuable to his team. That stat of his is better than Tracy McGrady's, Baron Davis's, Ray Allen's, and Tim Duncan's.

Mike Dunleavy is, by far, the most underrated player in the League. He gets no credit outside of a few fans in Indianapolis, yet puts up better stats than many other players. He was Indiana's MVP this year, and deserves credit.

Ghost. Done. said 06/01, 11:57 AM
Good choice GOAT, and I agree with you on principle, Dunleavy didn't recieve much attention nor credit for his accomplishments this year...

However how do we know this season was not a "fluke"? Or even if he did improve, how do we know he'll be consistant?

06/ 07- 11.4/ 14.0 ppg
05-06- 11.5 ppg
04-05- 13.4 ppg
03-04- 11.7 ppg

See a trend here? Not so impressive numbers right? So, whenever a player posts up different stats than what he's put throughout his career , it's very dangerous to OVERrate him, because we don't know what will come next year...

BUT let's only consider the player's production from this year,

My guy was way overlooked this past year because his team sucks.

His name only comes up when people laugh at it.

He's a Small Forward, but in a year where Bargnani, Aldridge, Roy, Redick, Farmar, Foye, Thomas came out in the draft, he's always forgotten.

After the team star got traded, he is, in my opinion, the best player on that team...and yet few remember him and his stats even less...

20.1 ppg / 6.2 rpg/ 2.0 apg / 1.37 spg

He is a versatile SF with speed, solid shooter (46% FG) and a great low post game.

My guy is Rudy Gay.

G.O.A.T. said 06/01, 12:10 PM
Your choice was a good one as well, Ghost. However, Rudy Gay's stats make him look better than what he really is.

Gay is a slasher in the lane so it's quite obvious that he would have a solid shooting percentage. But his other shooting percentages are not so glamorous. Let's compare...

Dunleavy: 42% 3PT, 83% FT
Gay: 35% 3PT, 79% FT

I know those aren't gigantic differences, but it still somewhat puts down your saying he's a solid shooter. (Dunks are pretty high-percentage shots.)

You mentioned how Dunleavy hasn't had these numbers for more than a year. Surprisingly, his scoring is really the only stat that has changed a lot. His rebounds and assists have been there for most of his career. Gay, on the other hand, is still a little unproven in the League. It is, after all, HIS first year with such numbers. So I ask you, how do we know Gay isn't a "fluke"?

I'll end with this: Is Gay all that valuable to the Grizzlies? In my opinion, he is not. In fact, according to my trust site, 82games, Memphis has a BETTER points differential when he is NOT on the floor.

His stats look nice, but, unfortunately for him, they don't tell anywhere near the whole story.

Ghost. Done. said 06/01, 12:26 PM
And yet Gay is the leading scorer (even when Gasol was with the team).

3rd in rebounds.

1st in steals.

2nd in blocks (behind Milicic).

Gay was more essential to the Grizzlies and played a bigger role. While Pacers have a much better team and many weapons, the Grizz obviously don't....

And for you to be able to carry a team, lead them when you're one of the few bright spots in your team in your 2nd year...well that speaks volume; for that's something Dunleavy has only started doing years into the NBA.

And for you to be able to continue posting up decent numbers when the team's offensive weapons have been traded away, well that also speaks for itself; for Gay plays a central key role for the Griz while Dunleavy has always been considered and played like a supporting cast.

Bottom line is this, Gay scores more and rebounds more in a worse team.

And addressing:

" Memphis has a BETTER points differential when he is NOT on the floor."

- Gay played 81 games in the year, and 37 minutes of 48. So you're statement could be misinterpreted as you have, for Gay is usually out of the game when it's almost over...opponent doesn't care anymore, they've won.

G.O.A.T. said 06/01, 01:06 PM
Leading Memphis in scoring even with Gasol is nothing spectacular. Pau only averaged 20 points a game twice in his entire career and not once in the last three seasons.

Dunleavy is second in scoring on Indiana, but he is second to another somewhat underrated player, Danny Granger. However, unlike the situation with Gasol, Granger was a 20 ppg scorer this year.

Also, I'm not buying that crap that the opponents don't care at the end of games. It's true they lost quite a bit, but it's not like they got killed every game. Besides, Dunleavy has played LESS minutes on a terrible team in a weaker Eastern conference.

Next, the Pacers do NOT have "many weapons". If they did, they would have made the playoffs. They have Dunleavy and Granger. O'Neal is overrated if anything and doesn't help them very much.

Gay may score ONE point more and grab ONE rebound more, but Dunleavy does the rest. He makes his team better, dishes out more assists, and is doing more with less talent.

More importantly, Gay is mentioned around the League as an up-and-coming superstar. When did Dunleavy ever receive such praise? Never. He is as good as Gay and is DEFINITELY more underrated. Case closed.

Ghost. Done. said 06/01, 01:40 PM
So are you seriously trying to sell that Indiana is a worst team? When they just barely missed the playoffs by a game???

Are you saying Granger, O'Neal, Tinsley, Murphy are all worse offensive weapons than the Grizz's? When all of these avg double figures??

We all know the Grizz as a team is worse, their stats and their record proves it.

We all know supporting cast improves a player success, and Indy's is better.

We all know the West is tougher, the rosters prove it.

We all know the Grizz's main offensive weapon was traded away, the Lakers' success proves it.

And YET Gay has posted more points, rebounds, steals, blocks,...producing much more in a worst team.

Do YOU think Dunleavy would have the same success as Gay in the Grizzlies???

And WOULD so many people put Dunleavy in their fantasy team if they thought he sucked?

And yet Gay put up better numbers and plays a bigger role on the team...so not only is Gay a better player but more underrated as well.

FINAL NOTE:

Dunleavy - $ 8,219,008
Gay - $2,411,160

+ Gay is a better player
+ Gay produces more with a lower contract
+ bigger role on a worse team

= Underrated

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Good luck, Ghost. I've been wanting to TD against you for awhile.

G.O.A.T. | 06/01/08, 11:33 AM

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I'm settling this once and for all. Who is the most underrated NBA player?

G.O.A.T. beat Ghost. Done. 21 to 13

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