NBA Debate Round 1

[DC4]

MapleLeaf vs Beskeptsecrect13

Topic: Best Point Guard in the Eastern Conference

Rules:Each Debater gets to post 4-5 Paragraphs on there choice, Please no cheap shots if you lose or losing.

And Captains may only send out a debater twice, and not in back to back debates.

When scoring, the judges should assess how well the debater has proven their point, using valid and relevant discussion, statistical evidence where appropriate, rebuttal where applicable, and overall coherency.

You can begin.

 

[DC4]

You guys will be taking turns by the way 1- 2 paragraph at once

 

[MapleLeaf]

The Ripptards and Company say Jose Calderon is the best PG in the Eastern Conference. Sure Devin Harris has the flash about him, but in terms of efficiency, and in terms of who you'd rather take a shot, it has to be Jose Calderon. First off Harris does averages nearly 9 more PPG, but this stat is somewhat misleading. Calderon's FG% is 49.4%, Devin HArris is 44.1%. From 3's its not even close. Devin Harris is shooting 32% from 3's, Calderon is shooting 44% from the 3 point line. From the line? Harris is good, but Calderon is the best in the NBA. 98%? That's ridiculous. Calderon is also averaging 2 more assists per game. And in terms of efficiency those assists are coming in Calderon wipes the floor. Calderon is 1st in the NBA with a 4.23 Assist to Turnover Ratio. Devin Harris? YIKES! 40th, with only 2.28. Harris has also took 327 more shots then Calderon in 6 more games. Both teams are pretty bad so that is irrelevant. Harris' team has to have him scoring or else they lose, Calderon is there to create and hit his shots when needed to. Which he is probably the best in the NBA at.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

The point guard crop in the Eastern Conference is a very weak group, so to select the best player is kind of hard to do. Devin Harris, Mo Williams, and Jameer Nelson were selected to play in the All-Star game. Derrick Rose has the potential to be as good as Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Jose Calderon, Chris Duhon, and Rajon Rondo all average over 10 PPG and 8 APG. However, the player I'm going to select hasn't even hit the floor this season. In my opinion, the best point guard in the Eastern Conference is the Washington Wizards' Gilbert Arenas.

When healthy, Gilbert Arenas is a top ten player in the NBA. You can't even put any of the other point guards in the East in the top 25. During the 2006-07 season, Arenas averaged 28.4 PPG, 6.0 APG, and hit a number of game winners for the Wizards. While he only played 13 games last season and hasn't hit the floor at all this season, I still believe he is easily the most talented point guard in the Eastern Conference, just because of how weak a group it is.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Ah Gilbert. One of the best PG's in the game when he is healthy. Key in the sentence, WHEN HE IS HEALTHY. And even when he is playing he has never been a home run. His assist to turnover ratio is god awful. His shooting percentages are not great. He's played in 13 games combined the last 2 years. He's a chucker. Sure he might be the best PG talent wise, but do you really think he is still that good after nearly 2 years out of the game and an always shaky assist to turnover rate? All those question marks about Arenas, yikes! Look at Calderon, Mr. Efficient, he's had some injury problems but he's never missed a season let alone 2. And you said he was the best in 2006-2007, and he was. But he isn't the best now.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

I can agree with you that Jose Calderon is a very efficient player, but the question is not who is the most efficient, it is who is the best. When I think of the best, I think of the most talented and Gilbert Arenas is clearly the most talented player at the point guard position in the Eastern Conference. Sure his health has been a question, but once he is fully healthy, he still becomes the most talented player at the position. I don't see being out of action for this long effecting his game much, because he will come back and be able to ease his way into the fold working with Caron and Antawn Jamison. When the season comes to an end, I believe Arenas will have the best numbers overall.

Sure his assist to turnover ratio has never been very good, but Arenas isn't your typical point guard. He is more of a scorer in the mold of Allen Iverson. His shooting percentages need to be looked at differently also, because he is his teams number one option and has to force up a lot more shots than Calderon does. Calderon benefits from playing with Chris Bosh and is able to get wide open looks on kick outs. Arenas is relied on to penetrate a lot more than Calderon, so driving to the basket can cause Arenas to turn the ball over at a higher rate. I don't believe these things make him any lesser of a player, it's just the situation he is put in.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Health has been a question? Arenas has played 13 games the last 2 years. It's a rarity if he plays. A lot can happen to a player in 2 years. Heck, 2 years ago Stephon Marbury was starting for the New York Knicks putting up 16.4 PPG and 5 APG. When Arenas came back for a few games last year, he shot 38% too. And you can say "Oh it's just he wasn't 100% healthy". But he's never been a great shooter. Career wise he's at 42% from the field. Calderon is 7 points higher. And Calderon averages more assists per game. Not to mention Calderon doesn't turn the ball over where as Arenas has really one of the worst assist/turnover ratio in the league for a starting PG. Calderon has those advantages but the key advantage he has is, we know Calderon will play more games.

Here I'll give you the option

A: Extremely efficient, one of the best shooting % FG, 3FG%, FT%, Assist/Turnover best in the nba, plays in basically all of his teams games.
B: Gifted scorer, terrible assist/turnover ratio, has played in 13 games in 2 years while collecting one of the biggest contracts in the NBA.

If this question was asked in 2006/2007 it's a no doubter. But this is 2008/2009, things have changed, in the White House and in the NBA. Arenas is a question mark and Calderon is a sure thing.

 

[.snowy]

Mario, I would say that BKS has another paragraph, then they can both make closing statements

 

[DC4]

Yes they can.

 

[DC4]

Um, I would need the Judges to Judge these also.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Well I guess I'll start with my closing argument.

Really, this is no question, Arenas is the better talent but that talent is nothing if you can't stay healthy. What's to say Arenas won't be the next Penny Hardaway? And even when he has played, he hasn't been efficient. He's been the focal point for the Wizards scoring wise, but as a point guard he is not that good. Terrible assist to turnover ratio. His shooting percentages are below average average. All those flaws Arenas has, are mainly Calderon's strengths. Calderon is the best in the NBA in assist to turnover ratio, he is the best FT% shooter in the NBA, he is a 49% FG shooter, and a plus 40% 3 point shooter. But really the main point is, Arenas has played 13 games in the last 2 years. How can you say someone who has played 13 games is the best point guard in the NBA whenever you have young guys like Rose, Rondo, Harris, and Calderon. Not to mention, if you're a GM, right now you'd take Calderon over Arenas really with the salary implications. Arenas has shown he can't stay healthy, and yet he is making one of the biggest amounts of money in the NBA. So, I rest my case now. Efficient point guard or extremely inefficient point guard who can't stay healthy and when he is healthy, is not the greatest shooter FG% wise compared to the efficient one.

 

[Oiler35]

Team Maple Leaf- 0
Team bestkeptsecret- 1.

 

[.snowy]

Team Maple Leaf- 0
Team bestkeptsecret- 1.

I think you are supposed to score out of 10 as opposed to just giving them a point, and I dont think you should do it until BKS has given a closing statement, even if you are already giving him the point.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

I really have nothing more to say.

 

[.snowy]

Mario says that the judges need to give a score out of 10 for each debater, so if it ends up as 2-2, then it comes down to points.

 

[DC4]

bump for other judges

 

[.snowy]

In case you have forgotten who you are:

Bibby.10
Jarrod2323
SG89
elcheato

You are scoring each of the debaters out of 10.

 

[Whisper]

:allhail: Goats Milk (Goats Milk WTF?!...)

We win. :yoda:

 

[MapleLeaf]

Only 1 person voted

 

[Whisper]

All it takes is one :yoda: