NBARank Player Usg%
1. Michael Jordan* 33.26
2. Dwyane Wade 32.49
3. LeBron James 31.87
4. Allen Iverson 31.83
5. Kobe Bryant 31.68
6. Carmelo Anthony 31.26
7. George Gervin* 30.68
8. Dominique Wilkins* 30.27
9. Tracy McGrady 29.50
10. Shaquille O’Neal 29.48
11. Karl Malone* 29.44
12. Mark Aguirre 29.09
13. World B. Free 29.05
14. Vince Carter 28.93
15. Glenn Robinson 28.14
16. Patrick Ewing* 27.98
17. Gilbert Arenas 27.82
18. Bernard King 27.80
19. Paul Pierce 27.77
20. Tim Duncan 27.72
21. Jerry Stackhouse 27.58
22. Walter Davis 27.39
23. Zach Randolph 27.32
24. Chris Webber 27.14
25. Hakeem Olajuwon* 27.08
26. Dirk Nowitzki 27.02
27. Amare Stoudemire 26.87
28. Richard Hamilton 26.85
29. Yao Ming 26.83
30. Julius Erving* 26.81
31. Antoine Walker 26.49
32. Alex English* 26.48
33. Larry Bird* 26.45

You didn’t address the fact that outside of the ’02 Pistons (and even that is debateable with Chauncey) each of these teams had a guy who could consistently cretae for himself.

Ben R: The thing is other than Dallas last year the teams you listed as exceptions to the high usage rule are the only teams that lacked a top 3 player.

Since 1984 the only teams to win without a top 3 player (Jordan, Magic, Bird, Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Hakeem) are Detroit (1989, 1990, 2004), Boston (2008), and Dallas (2011). Of those teams only one had a high usage player so actually it seems that if you don’t have an all-time great then it pays to play team ball.

You sort of proved my point if you don’t have a top 3 player then the only way to get around a top 3 player is have a really deep balanced team like all three Pistons teams, the Celtics and the Mavs.

Kobe being a top 3 player is quite debateable. Same with Hakeem.

ruruland: Really?

I think your post is sort of ignorant to NBA history.

Going back to 1984, there have only been three teams to win NBA championships who had a player with usage under 28. The two time champ Pistons startin in ’89, Pistons in ’02 and the Celtics of ’08.

Outside of Detroit in ’02, all of those teams had at least one player who was fantastic at creating his own shot when the defense was bogged down by high-caliber playoff defenses.

Not every year did the NBA champion have a top 3 player, but all of them had at least one guy who could iso or post up and get a great shot without facilitation.

Right now the guy with the highest usage on Denver is Al Harrington….at 25.5, no one else is above 21.

The thing is other than Dallas last year the teams you listed as exceptions to the high usage rule are the only teams that lacked a top 3 player.

Since 1984 the only teams to win without a top 3 player (Jordan, Magic, Bird, Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Hakeem) are Detroit (1989, 1990, 2004), Boston (2008), and Dallas (2011). Of those teams only one had a high usage player so actually it seems that if you don’t have an all-time great then it pays to play team ball.

You sort of proved my point if you don’t have a top 3 player then the only way to get around a top 3 player is have a really deep balanced team like all three Pistons teams, the Celtics and the Mavs.

Ben R: I totally agree, I don’t think the Nuggets are good enough defensively to win it all. I was arguing that it was not a style problem but simply a talent one. I think Denver is better post trade and just as built for the playoffs but still not a top 3-4 team in the league.

Any style works if you have the talent, run and gun Miami, slow methodical Chicago, or something in between like the Clippers.

From 2008 to 2010, pre-trade year, Denver was 91-40 with both Billups and Melo in the lineup. That’s a 69.5 win percentage, damn near a 60 win pace.

That’s with Dhantay Jones starting 71 games in ’08 (getting more minutes than the superior JR Smith) and 40 games of Anthony Carter, Malik Allen and Joey Graham starting in 2009 ahead of better players.

Denver is 32-14 since the trade, which is a win % of 69.5.

Team A (Melo and Billups) was sub-500 without either Billups or Melo in the lineup. Denver is better positioned in the short term to replace usage in the starting lineup, and they haven’t suffered the same amount of injuries (yet) the Denver teams of ’08 and and ’09.

Moreover, it’s reasonable to conclude, given the growth of players like Ty Lawson and some ability to improve, Denver with Melo and Billups would have a higher win % than the current Nuggets do, injuries aside.

’11: Pacers (highest starter usage 25) lost first round, Philly (highest starter usage 22) lost first round, Portland Blazers (highest starter usage 25) lost in first round, Denver (highest starter usage 22)

Ben R:
I don’t think the Nuggets will win it this year because they are not the best team in the West. I would put them 3rd or 4th. I think the reason they won’t win has nothing to do with their style and nothing to do with their lack of an ISO scorer it is because they are simply not as good as the Thunder or the Clippers. Also in the playoffs saavy veteran teams like the Spurs, Lakers and Mavs tend to do better.

The Miami Heat were very close to winning a championship last year with a running, take advantage of turnovers, struggle in the halfcourt team. In fact I would say Denver produces better than Miami in the halfcourt, yet I would put the Heat as my frontrunner to win it all.

Other than have one of the top 2 or 3 players in the world and build around them there is no formula for winning a title. Denver is as good or better right now than they ever were with Melo and have just as much of a shot to win it all as the Melo Nuggets’ teams did. For all the talks of playoff success Melo has had next to none. Melo has made the playoffs 8 times and made it out of the 1st round once.

Really?

I think your post is sort of ignorant to NBA history.

Going back to 1984, there have only been three teams to win NBA championships who had a player with usage under 28. The two time champ Pistons startin in ’89, Pistons in ’02 and the Celtics of ’08.

Outside of Detroit in ’02, all of those teams had at least one player who was fantastic at creating his own shot when the defense was bogged down by high-caliber playoff defenses.

Not every year did the NBA champion have a top 3 player, but all of them had at least one guy who could iso or post up and get a great shot without facilitation.

Right now the guy with the highest usage on Denver is Al Harrington….at 25.5, no one else is above 21.

BigBlueAL: The reason the Heat almost won it all last season was because they were a Top 5 team in both offense AND defense.The Nuggets this season are 13th in defensive efficiency which is worse than the Knicks.The Thunder are 14th this season after being much worse last season.Thats the achilles heel of both teams (the Clipper are even worse, in the mid 20?s on defense).Its the reason I believe this season in the end either the Bulls or Heat even with their ugly 4th quarter offenses will still probably wind up winning it all because both are much better defensive teams than most West contenders.

I totally agree, I don’t think the Nuggets are good enough defensively to win it all. I was arguing that it was not a style problem but simply a talent one. I think Denver is better post trade and just as built for the playoffs but still not a top 3-4 team in the league.

Any style works if you have the talent, run and gun Miami, slow methodical Chicago, or something in between like the Clippers.