Comparisons to Wolfpack Past

Fresh off Sidney Lowe’s first Raleigh Caravan, our blogging minds have turned back to basketball – particularly, Wolfpack retro. As a fun off-season exercise, a few of us brainstormed about rough comparisons of the 2007-08 roster to Wolfpackers of the past. Please share your own comps and thoughts in the comments section below. Our memories are very sketchy before the early 80s, so we are counting on the collective wisdom of our readership to cover prior decades.

– Degand = Cliff Crawford, Kelsey Weems
– Fells = Ernie Myers, Cam Bennerman, Scooter Sherrill
– Grant = Ishua Benjamin, Ernie Myers, Brian Howard, Jeremy Hyatt
– Horner = Walker Lambiotte, Andy Kennedy, Ilian Evtimov
– Smith = Brian Howard, Levi Watkins, Lorenzo Charles
– Costner = Thurl Bailey, Kenny Carr, Tom Gugliotta
– McCauley = Chucky Brown, Kevin Thompson, Evtimov/Todd Fuller hybrid (passing and low-post moves)
– Hickson = Chris Washburn (without the negative off-court baggage), Charles Shackleford (ditto)
– Johnson = Nate McMillan, Mickey Hinnant, Kenny Matthews, CC Harrison
– Javi = Curtis Marshall, Lakista McCuller
– Thomas = Cam Bennerman, smaller Kenny Carr, Brian Howard

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07-08 Basketball General NCS Basketball Sidney Lowe

121 Responses to Comparisons to Wolfpack Past

  1. redfred2 05/11/2007 at 11:14 AM #

    U R right about that. We probably wouldn’t have ever seen the ballons he had for thigh muscles.

  2. PapaJohn 05/11/2007 at 12:47 PM #

    One thing I remember about seeing DT play in person and on TV, he was the best player in every game he played in. The coaches knew it, the players knew it, and everyone watching could see it. I didn’t watch the pros very much back then, but I’d bet the same applied there as well. He had the physical ability and obviously had put the time in on the practice court.
    By comparison, consider Kevin Durant. An excellent physical specimen who has well honed skills. But to quote a friend of mine, he really did not stand out that much in the games. Don’t misunderstand, he’s an excellent player, one that will likely be a great success in the pros – and he could definately score when things got tense, but it really wasn’t the same.

    I’m not expressing it well, but DT was really something.

  3. noah 05/11/2007 at 3:28 PM #

    There were a couple of guys in the 70s who could hang with DT.

    Unless you were watching the ABA (was anyone?), you missed Julius Erving in his prime. George Gervin also had a couple of years where, IMO, he was probably as refined an offensive player as the game has ever seen (yes, Jordan…including your best years). Gervin was never close to being the defender that Jordan was…but Jordan was never as good a shooter as Gervin.

  4. redfred2 05/11/2007 at 4:40 PM #

    I agree Dr J was awesome, and a lot of comparisons where made between his and DT’s games. It’s too bad that DT’s career fizzled so quickly because most people where saying that DT had everything Dr J had, and much more. On the “Iceman” George Gervin, he could absolutely fill it up, in every way, better than anyone I’ve ever witnessed. He had a wide array of some of the strangest looking shots I’ve ever seen, but he made them, and he made them night in, and night out. Maybe the most talented scorer ever. Kiki V was a big scorer back then also. But both of those were scorers first, and I didn’t feel they were as motivated or as dominating as David Thompson was, all over the court.

    I’m BIASED to the max, but I still say that David Thompson, at six feet four inches, could play and overwhelm anyone out there.

  5. noah 05/11/2007 at 8:33 PM #

    Look at J. Erving’s rebounding numbers.

    That’s where he seperated himself from DT.

    DT was the better shooter though.

  6. redfred2 05/11/2007 at 9:04 PM #

    At 6’7″, Erving was low post player in the pros, so of course he more rebounding opportunities then DT. I loved Dr J in his early days in the ABA, he was things doing with the tri color ball that no one had even thought of, big huge afro following about two seconds behind, and he was also awesome in the NBA. It’s hard to dispute his talent or any of his awesome numbers. There are guys today, Dwayne Wade, Kobe, who also have great games. Jordan is ‘the man’ though I guess. But still, I believe that DT was so physically gifted and driven, though there was really no outward appearance of it, that he could have elevated his game further than anyone I’ve ever seen playing the game. He did it back then when it wasn’t really called for and I think it would just as true today.

    I LOVED DT!!! NEVER SEEN ANYTHING OR ANYONE LIKE HIM!!! What can I say.

  7. redfred2 05/11/2007 at 9:24 PM #

    Thompson was an asset all over court, but still a hard player for a coach to figure out where to play, at 6’4″ and playing more like 6’9″ when necessary. He did shoot much better than Dr J though. I would have considered Erving a mediocre outer shooter at best, early in his professional career, but he vastly improved that part of his game later on. He was much improved, still not a great outside shooter, but he had a finger roll that took about two seconds before the ball reached the end of finger tips, and then flipped up, and fell gently through the net. He invented that shot, and I’ve yet to see anyone do it snywhere close to as well since.

  8. noah 05/12/2007 at 11:05 AM #

    Erving was also a master of using the glass. I’ve never seen anyone do it as well as he did.

    And the greatest play in NBA history is still Erving’s drive along the baseline where he starts on one side, glides past the entire Lakers’ team and flips it from the other side….while he’s hovering out of bounds.

  9. redfred2 05/12/2007 at 1:16 PM #

    Agreed noah!!! I saw that play when it happened…and in the moment it was something where you sat there thinking, “Huh, what happened??? Did I just see what I thought I just saw?!!!!” Julius Erving’s arms always reminded of a reptile’s tongue, the kind that round up into a circle and then uncoil to apprehend their unsuspecting prey. He would go up exerting all kinds strain on the rest of his body then he just seemed to roll them out, and then kept on reaching WAY out there, and then his fingers would flick the ball ever so gently up, and off the glass, from a distance that was so far away from his the rest of his body, that it was just unbelievable. I do not know how he had so much touch and finesse in his hands and fingers to finish the play, when he was so stretched out and exerting so hard just to get the ball out there to begin with.

    Maybe it was me, or just that time in my life, but it seemed there were more innovators and incredible basketball players all bunched up, and competing for a share of the limelight, back in those late ABA…NBA days.

  10. sf59 05/12/2007 at 11:32 PM #

    take it to the hole… finga roll

  11. packpigskinfan23 05/13/2007 at 9:08 AM #

    “Maybe it was me, or just that time in my life, but it seemed there were more innovators and incredible basketball players all bunched up, and competing for a share of the limelight, back in those late ABA…NBA days.”

    i dunno guys. obviously I am young and everything(therefore I am ignorant as hell about what basketball WAS and should have been) but I think the early 90’s had a lot of innovators and extreme talent as well. I think there are a few around still. I can see why you guys think those guys back in the day (erving, DT, Magic, Bird) where such great players… because they are! but I still think the game(especailly in the early 90’s) had a new batch of greats come out.

    I already know what many of you are gonna say- talking about the changes in the game(and I agree that most of them are for the worst), but I cant say that if there were a pick up game with the likes of Stockton(or Nash), Malone(or Eeyore-I mean Tim Duncan), Jordan, Carter, and Ming on one side and DT, Dr J and _________(fill in the blanks for me) on the other, that those guys from the 90’s wouldnt give them one hell of a run for their money- playing the game whatever way.

    just my thoughts. dont lynch me for them. and I do hate the NBA.

  12. noah 05/13/2007 at 11:03 AM #

    I don’t think anyone in their right mind would say that there isn’t incredible amounts of talent in the NBA.

    It’s just that the game has devolved into something that’s simply not very entertaining for the vast majority of the American public. NCAA basketball ratings are pretty strong across the country…but NBA ratings for the regular season are XFL-worthy and they really aren’t THAT much higher for the playoffs.

    What does it say when you dedicate six months of salaries, programming, formatting, officiating, regulating, organizing…all so you can have a handful of entertaining games between San Antonio and Phoenix?

  13. redfred2 05/13/2007 at 1:13 PM #

    ppsf23/noah, I have to agree about the talent level in the NBA right now, it IS still incredible. I guess maybe it was, or least it seemed this way to me anyway, that the players were playing for the love of the sport and it was more of a fraternity back then. They weren’t plying their skills here one week, and there the next, all because of the $$$. But that’s the way of all sports now, the kids learn it early with one or two years of college ball, then off to the pros for one or two years at X franchise. Then so on until their athletic careers are over. I just can’t watch or get even half way excited about the professional ranks in what amounts to pulling for a team logo with different players suited up from game to game.

  14. westwolf 05/13/2007 at 3:29 PM #

    I would say that the level of ATHLETICISM in the NBA is very high, but not the SKILL level. I recently went to a game here in Denver between the Nuggets and the Jazz, two teams that reached the playoffs. The level of shooting skill displayed was atrocious…no one, and I mean NO ONE could hit a jump shot. Every now and then someone will hit an outrageously long three, but the offense consisted mostly of guys simply bulling their way to the hoop, throwing something towards the hoop, and then hoping for a foul or an offensive rebound.

    The reason that the Spurs win so much is they control the tempo, Duncan is a tough big man, and they have guys that can shoot. Of course, Ginobli does the kamakazi to the hoop a lot, but they have more skill than most teams…hence they win.

    Couple the lack of skill with the general thuggery of the NBA and there’s no wonder it doesn’t receive high television ratings.

  15. redfred2 05/14/2007 at 9:20 AM #

    “I would say that the level of ATHLETICISM in the NBA is very high, but not the SKILL level.”

    Exactly! It’s been that way for many years now. A lot of these guys are outrageously athletic nowadays, give them an open court or watch them get a shot in traffic that is hard to believe, and watch out!!! But that’s about it. Therefore, the emergence of one highly skilled Canadian and the pack of skilled Euro-ballers. The game has evolved and they are better athletes now, but those new guys are actually throw backs to when skill was the name of the game.

  16. packpigskinfan23 05/14/2007 at 10:05 AM #

    watched some of the Jazz/GS game last night and almost threw up. it was like watching a duke/NCState game only both teams had red on….

    SOOOO many wistles.
    SOOO boring

    and how does becoming a millionare automatically make you a crybaby?!

  17. redfred2 05/14/2007 at 10:09 AM #

    I saw some of the end of that game too. There were a few really nice 18′ foot jumpers, but it was slop…py, one on one, with no flow at all. Not at all exciting to watch, for me anyway.

  18. lush 05/14/2007 at 11:56 AM #

    ^ golden state is my favorite team to watch right now. you guys saw a bad game sure, but have you seen the rest of the series? or the GS V. Mavs series??? GS balled out in game 1 and 3 v. utah, but there gameplan is gimmicky and utah is a better overall team that can actually play defense. hence the sloppy play from gs.

  19. bTHEredterror 05/14/2007 at 9:23 PM #

    Iceman Gervin was the master of the finger roll to me. I recall him making a finger roll from a step inside the free throw line against the Suns in a playoff game (long ago) that was almost obscene.
    J had a way of making a shot from anywhere after he exploded to the hole, and he would dunk anybody on the break. I thought Doc was the smoothest basketball player ever, or at least close after Connie Hawkins.

    Even though the guys now are undoubtedly more athletic, the style of the game HAS turned into a one-on-one showdown, to the detriment of most of the teams. That’s why the teams the “get it” (Spurs, Pistons) and play fundamental, team-oriented ball, and rebound and play D are at the top of the League, and T-Mac can’t win a playoff series.

  20. packpigskinfan23 05/14/2007 at 10:03 PM #

    ^and Kevin Garnett cant make the playoffs…

    I would have to say out of all the NBA teams the Pistons are my favorite to watch… and possibly the Suns.

    I dont like the Spurs much because I hate seeing Duncans face everytime he gets a foul(that “what did I do?!?!” face that everyone does… but ol’Timmy’s REALLY bothers me cause he looks like he is about to cry) and when he GETS fouled(he looks like he is gonna CRY!!!). I mean what the hell is he soooo damn sad about?!?!

    I was really torn when the Pistons traded Ben Wallace because they were so nasty with him, and the team seemed to flow so well together. I was pulling for them at the time too, so… but then he did go to my all time fav team the Bulls(not JUST because of Jordan… the mixture of him, Pippen, Rodman, Kuckoc(sp?), and Stever Kerr was the sickest 3 shooter!!!)

    Steve Nash is f-ing SICK!! and thats all I need to say about the suns.

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