The Sports Dump’s All-Time 1-on-1 Basketball Challenge has now begun. 32 of the game’s all-time greats go head-2-head to find out who is the best 1-on-1 player. The tournament format is divided into 2 groups of 16 players in a seeded bracket. The first group is Guards and Wings (PG,SG,SF) and the second group is Bigs (PF,C). They will play until we have a Guards/Wings vs. Bigs final. This is not a simple stats comparison, this is a 1-on-1 matchup using the players skills and gifts. Under each player you will find their size and FG%, plus a rating for their shooting range, defense, strength and creativity. Scoring will be to 15 points (no make it take it) by 1’s and 2’s. Yesterday we rolled out the first 4 matchups of our Bigs Bracket and today we hit the last 4 1st Rd matchups of our Guards/Wings. Let’s Get It On!
|
#6 Oscar Robertson, G |
Tale of the Tape |
#11 Allen Iverson, G |
|
6’5” |
Height |
6’0” |
|
205 lbs |
Weight |
180 lbs |
|
48.5% |
Shooting % |
42.5% |
|
*** |
Range |
*** |
|
** |
Defense |
** |
|
**** |
Strength |
* |
|
**** |
Creativity |
**** |
The Big O vs. AI is our first matchup of the day and I am pumped. Oscar has the edge in about every category, but Iverson’s speed could be a key.
|
#3 Lebron James, F |
Tale of the Tape |
#14 Rick Barry, F |
|
6’8” |
Height |
6’7” |
|
250 lbs |
Weight |
205 lbs |
|
48.9% |
Shooting % |
44.9% |
|
*** |
Range |
*** |
|
***** |
Defense |
** |
|
***** |
Strength |
*** |
|
*** |
Creativity |
** |
Lebron’s bigger, stronger and better than Barry in every way. A Barry win would be the upset of the century.
|
#7 Isiah Thomas, G |
Tale of the Tape |
#10 Julius Erving, F |
|
6’1” |
Height |
6’7” |
|
180 lbs |
Weight |
200 lbs |
|
45.2% |
Shooting % |
50.7% |
|
** |
Range |
* |
|
** |
Defense |
** |
|
* |
Strength |
*** |
|
*** |
Creativity |
**** |
One of the game’s greatest PGs vs. one of the most electric players in history. Thomas has the fundamentals on Dr. J, but the Doc will be tough to stop 1-on-1.
|
#2 Magic Johnson, G |
Tale of the Tape |
#15 Dominique Wilkins, F |
|
6’9” |
Height |
6’8” |
|
220 lbs |
Weight |
230 lbs |
|
52% |
Shooting % |
46.1% |
|
** |
Range |
** |
|
** |
Defense |
** |
|
*** |
Strength |
*** |
|
*** |
Creativity |
***** |
Magic earned the #2 seed by being one of the All-Time great PGs, but he has never had to guard someone of Wilkins’ skills 1-on-1. This will be the matchup of the day.
THE SPORTS DUMP 
#6 Oscar Robertson vs. #11 Allen Iverson: I love Iverson’s game and his ability to fight his way through a bowling alley, but the Robertson in his prime beats him 10 of 10. I really wish A.I. would have drawn a better 1st Rd matchup and made it to the 2nd Rd, but he gets rolled. Oscar Wins 15-6
#3 Lebron James vs. #14 Rick Barry: The story is that Michael Spinks was crying in fear in the locker room before his fight with Mike Tyson and I think that Rick Barry would be having the same pre-game reaction to his matchup with Lebron. Rick Barry would have nothing for Lebron and Lebron crushes him. Lebron Wins 9-0 as Barry walks off the court and swears to never pick up a basketball again.
#7 Isiah Thomas vs. #10 Julius Erving: If Isiah was 6’5”, he would be among the game’s greatest of all time with his mix and speed and balls skills. The problem is he is not 6’5” and Dr. J is 6’7”. The Dr. will give Thomas trouble scoring and he dominate near the basket. Dr. J Wins 15-8
#2 Magic Johnson vs. #15 Dominique Wilkins: If am building an All-Time Team, Magic is 100% my point guard. He makes everyone on his team better and is the greatest floor general EVER, but he would be overmatched vs. Wilkins 1-on-1. Wilkins’ speed and athleticism would wreck Magic’s knees and leave him a broken man. Wilkins Wins 15-10
#6 Oscar Robertson vs #11 Allen Iverson. No one is voting for AI in this one. Oscar certainly has many of the advantages in this matchup but let’s not forget that AI pretty much defined “hero ball” and that is exactly what 1-on-1 is. AI takes a close one after crossing up Oscar Robertson over and over.
#3 Lebron vs #14 Rick Barry. You know how this one goes. Will LeBron let him score at all?
#7 Isaiah Thomas vs #10 Julius Erving. If this were a battle of sexual harrassment allegations then my pick would be Isaiah. It’s now so I’m going with the Doctor in this one and it isn’t close.
#2 Magic Johnson vs #15 Dominique Wilkins. I agree with Charles James Copeland that this is the matchup of the day. Personally, I think Magic is the more creative player here but he was a better team defender than an on ball defender. That being said, I still can’t pick against him here since he was a better shooter than Dominique. If ‘Nique had more of a size advantage then I would have picked him here.
This would be a fun matchup to watch, but I think AIs’ low field goal percentage holds him back. The Big O takes it 15-12. BTW he finishes with 15 points 12 rebounds 10 steals…what did you expect?
I could have seen this as the only shut out thus far, but Rick did average over 35 points per game in his second season. That being said, he still can’t hang with King James. LBJ takes it 15-6
Isaiah has some of the best handles this league has ever seen, that and his slightly better shot from the outside carry him to victory 15-13. Don’t fret If you’re a fan of the Doctor though, he takes every spot on the Sports Center top 10 with some vicious dunks at Isaiah’s expense.
Magic may be the best all around player this league has ever seen, and his size at point guard was revolutionary. However, The Human Highlight Film may have been the second most lethal scorer in the league throughout the 80’s behind his Heirness. He’s pissed when he sees Jumbo seeded him 15th and takes it out on Magic 15-9, his final point comes on a two handed windmill while giving Chuck the evil eye.
Next time we will put you in charge of seeding. I think Nique would roll Magic, but I guess we are in the minority.
Some good matchups here…I’m going with Iverson and his stop-start ability and quickness;
LeBron unless he doesn’t take it seriously;
Julius ‘the Doctor’ Errrrving b/c he will be able to shoot over Isaiah, who will get pissy and walk off the court at the end without shaking Dr J’s hand;
And Magic in a close one over ‘Nique, whose shaky jump shooting does him in.