The NBA's Most Underrated Player: Tayshaun Prince

[Yavin4]

All that guy does is play big in big games. He reminds me of a more athletic Bobby Dandridge/Scottie Pippen type player. The kind of player that can take out the other team's top scorer and then score a lot himself. That block on Reggie Miller's lay up was probably the play of the year last year in the NBA.

[Yupster]

1. I won't argue with you on Prince

He has amazing reflexes and an amazing wingspan.

A nightnare matchup for a 2 or 3.

Another suggestion would be Andre Kirilenko. A similar type player though probably better known.

[Awsi Dooger]

2. He does remind me of Pippen

Probably not as fundamentally sound defensively as Pippen, but makes more spectacular plays and asserts himself on offense more than Pippen generally did. Ironically, the only time I saw Pippen let loose offensively was at the '92 Olympics on the Dream Team. He was still a bit of an understudy on that awesome team and probably felt a need to prove he belonged. Tons of great open court plays.

Prince is doomed to obscurity unless Detroit runs off several more titles. I've raved about him to friends of mine and many of them don't even know who he is.

[Yavin4]

3. Every Playoff Season

He plays big. That's the mark of a great NBA player. Anyone can have a big game in February, but to come up big year in and year out in the playoffs is amazing.

[ThorsHammer]

4. I wish he had been on the Olympic team

Switch him, Richard Hamilton, and Wallace for Carmelo, Marion, and Boozer, and I think we win the gold. Prince could have shut down anyone there, and Hamilton is a good defender with a good outside shot. I don't know how Boozer was selected - he's a decent player, but not one of out best. Our showing there was a disgrace, and I hope it never happens again.

[Yupster]

5. And why was Jefferson starting

ahead of Marion. That didn't make any sense to me.

And why didn't they use Pierce when they needed offense? He can take over a game when he's slashing to the hoop.

That team's performance was dreadful.

[ThorsHammer]

6. Not much about that team made sense

There was also the whole thing with many of the top players either wimping out or injured (Shaq, Kobe, B. Wallace, etc). I have no doubt that a full strength team would have won, regardless of whether they played as a team or not. At some point overwhelming talent trumps teamwork, like UNC over Illinois last month. Still, we should have been able to win with the talent that we did have. There is no excuse for getting blown out by Puerto Rico, struggling against Greece and Spain, and losing to Argentina.

I do not understand the love for Jefferson - both the Olympics and his zillion dollar contract. He's a good athlete and player, but IMO is not really in the top tier who can carry a team. I'd take a Richard Hamilton or Prince over him any day, and wouldn't think twice about it.