2024 the best record in the nba review
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ABC's and ESPN's "Mr. Stats" ranks the NBA's greatest players of all time in this provocative and comprehensive book
"Elliot Kalb's work is beyond excellent. He thinks in story lines and uses numbers and history to make compelling and often original points." --Bob Costas
"...a book that any hardcore basketball fan can savor." -- San Francisco Chronicle
When the NBA released its supposedly authoritative list of the top 50 players, basketball fans everywhere begged to differ. In Who's Better, Who's Best? Elliot Kalb, known to TV viewers as ABC's "Mr. Stats," enters the fray.
The ultimate NBA historian and authority in armchair athletes' disputes, Kalb interweaves numbers, facts, and anecdotes to flesh out the central question in every basketball fan's mind: Who's the best? His choices are provocative (Michael Jordan isn't #1; he's not even #2), framed by discussions with unorthodox sources and respected NBA experts, players, and coaches.
A tremendously satisfying book for anyone hungry for statistics and debate, this is the ultimate behind-the-numbers story of the best of the NBA.
Publisher : McGraw Hill; 1st edition (November 19, 2003)
Language : English
Paperback : 416 pages
ISBN-10 : 0071417885
ISBN-13 : 978-0071417884
Item Weight : 1.27 pounds
Dimensions : 6 x 0.9 x 8.9 inches
Reviewer: South2Midwest
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: great book
Review: great book for basketball lovers. great idea for gift for Xmas or birthday. my husband loved this book from Elliott Kalb.
Reviewer: Omar Masood
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A very good, but flawed look at basketball's best circa 2003
Review: This is a very good overview of the greatest players in basketball history. It is dated since it was written in 2003 and hence ranks current players and players who had retired around 2003, like Drexler, Pippen, and Hakeem lower than they are viewed today.Kalb provides you a basic look at how each player featured in the book played, what made him significant, what others thought about him. A good gimmick in the book is he includes opinions from experts when he compares a given player to a similar player, whether a contemporary or a similar player from another period.The only weak point of the book, which prevents me from giving it 5 stars, is it is at times too heavily based on statistics. For instance, he posts Shaquille O'Neal's stats without adding the obvious point that you cannot compare the career stats of a player who is in his prime with that of a retired player since the current player will see his career averages decline due to aging, as Shaq has perfectly illustrated over recent years. Moreover, his obsession with stats ignores differences in pace. The pace in the 90's was much slower than that in the 60's yet he will compare players across eras without adjusting for pace. Similarly, he does not provide context when looking at all-NBA all-Defensive teams, which are a big component in how he ranks players. Is an all-NBA first team selection in 1996 really the same as a similar selection when there were only eight teams? His failure to look at context and obsession with stats causes him to overrate older players, especially those from the 1950's.I noticed a lot of views complain about Michael Jordan not being ranked #1. That is no reason not to read the book. As he noted, there was debate among the experts he spoke to regarding who should be #1. Besides, is there a significant difference between #1 and #3? It is no insult to be called the third greatest player to lace them up.Despite a significant flaw, this book is well worth reading because of the educational value it has regarding players from the past and the general idea it provides about how players rank compared to each other, at least circa 2003.
Reviewer: LEE E ANDRADE
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Five Stars
Review: It was an excellent book
Reviewer: CKwon
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Shaq, the best player ever? LOL
Review: This book is an interesting read. And really, how can you judge who was really better when you are talking about the top players of all-time. So discussions like this are always up for debate and purely subjective.But I do think that I know my basketball and the top 5 players of all-time has to be:Chamberlain, Kareem, MJ, Bird and Magic. I absolutely have no doubt that these players would have thrived in any era and dominated. I really hate to leave Bill Russell out of my top 5 but the reason why I do so is because I don't think Bill Russell would be as good if he were playing today. Bill Russell dominated in an age where bball was played below the rim. Bill dominated due to his extremly long arms and his exceptional leaping ability and timing.But in the modern era where everyone can throw down monster dunks, i just don't see the same impact.As far as Shaq goes, a player who has to be taken out in close games because of his free throw percentage, he does not deserve to be in the Top 5. Maybe Top ten, but not top five.
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Five Stars
Review: Perfect
Reviewer: Roel R. Torres
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A book without internal logic, not worth reading
Review: The author ranks Shaquille OâNeal as the greatest player in NBA history. But there is no consistent methodology, no system, no statistical evidence offered up to support the claim. This lazy, haphazard approach leaves a lot to be desired. Donât waste your money. A bad, pointless book.
Reviewer: ice man cometh
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Five Stars
Review: good discussion starterr
Reviewer: D. Auer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Calm down boys
Review: When I first saw this book on the shelves I was very interested. It has alway's been a hobby of mine to rate players especially from different generations. I must say that after finishing the book I was amazed at how much time was spent on resarch particually on stats. Kalb definatly did his homework that much is clear. The complaining by most is rediculous, these guys are only pissed because there favorate didn't get number 1. Lets be serious guys the top 10 players are the same for just about everyone just in a different order. If you grew up with Wilt and Russell you will put them ahead of Shaq and Duncan. Likewise if you lived the Magic and Bird day's then you will place them ahead of Jordan. It is almost impossible not to be biased in some way. Even Kalb with all his research and obvious knowledge of the game is biased. 4 of his top 5 are centers but that is what makes the book great it gets you thinking and then you can pick your own list. My suggestion would be if you love basketball and its history then this is a great read just don't get carried away if your player isn't #1.Kalbs top 5. My top 10.1) SHAQ 1) BIRD2) WILT 2) JORDAN3) JORDAN 3) RUSSELL4) RUSSELL 4) MAGIC5) KAREEM 5) WILT
Reviewer: Mauro Zanetti
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: very interesting book about NBA stars and records
Reviewer: SAR124
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is a great book for a basketball fan who wants to get away from all the normal discussions about who the best player is. There is a lot of depth and justification for the picks and its a great read!