NBA / May 7, 2008 / 10:42 am
David West Almost Quit
Yesterday’s Newark Star-Ledger told the story David West and how close he was to quitting the game of basketball when he was a kid.
No mention though of where he picked up the magic trick that makes other teams consistently leave him wide open for that mid-range jumper that he makes 98% of the time.
And while we’re talking D-West, this question came up yesterday in the Dime office: Who would you rather have on your team, D-West or Carlos Boozer? Tell us why in the Comments section …
May 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Dcbum says:
I like D-west b/c he is tough and plays with fire.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
GEE...Now everybodys rappin bout welfare lines... says:
D-West if I am correct he is bigger. Also seems to play harder and tougher. If his jumper isn’t falling then he is giving your boards and D.
Carlos just needs a bigger, agile dude in front of him and he has trouble and he doesn’t seem to be that effective.
Carlos is also from Duke.
Nuff said.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Brown says:
David West, hands down. The thing about West is that while he’s been so consistent, he’s improved every year he’s been in the league. Boozer has reached his peak and has no jump shot. David West gives you everything you could want out of a PF. Plus he’s underrated and seemingly catches teams by surprise. I still can’t understand why teams leave him open at the top of the key. Teams still haven’t figured out how to guard him, and he always finds a way to contribute.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
SayItAintSo says:
D-West because he is more versatile, doesn’t look funny and could probably never bring himself to play for mormons.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Willis says:
” March, whose reputation for excellence as a boys and girls coach the past 29 years is well-known, is stunned to learn of this now.
‘Wow,’ March said. “I never knew we didn’t get along. I pushed him a little bit to get the most out of him, but I loved David. He had a 7-footer and a 6-7 kid playing ahead of him, but you could see the potential. I’m not going to say I didn’t yell at him, but he was a great kid from a terrific family.’”
For his sake I really hope that 7-footer and 6-7 kid turned out to be NBA all stars. I have no respect for coaches who choose size over talent. This guy lost himself a 4-star recruit because he could only ’see the potential.’ How in the world do you not play a future NBA all star?
May 7th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Mitch says:
David West.
He’s got better range. He hustles. He can score in any way he wants. His left hand is far superior. He runs the court better. He’s more clutch. He went to Xavier instead of Duke… haha. Better handles. Need I go on?
And First
May 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Prof. TX says:
West, for consistency and work ethic.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Dime Magazine says:
not sure it’s as clear-cut as you guys are making it out to be. Boozer was KILLING it for the first 60 games or so before he got in this little slump. he was a darkhorse MVP candidate for a while there.
- PC
May 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Remy Nguyen says:
Fire Jerry Sloan. Get Boozer WIFE to be the head coach and Boozer will be MVP.
Boozer Wife: She is Jackie Christy 2.0.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
the_don_mega says:
i dunno…
both guys need a 1st class PG to give ‘em shots…
specifically D-West, and as for the arguement that Boozer can’t score with a big infront of him… go ask Yao ’bout his experiences playing against Boozer in last year’s playoffs… but then again, he’s from DUKE… and just like Gee… ‘Nuff said
May 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am
DaPro says:
I like D-West game no question but I can’t throw Booze out the window yet. He can ball and uses his left hand better than any other big with maybe the exception of Gasol and O’Neal(Jermaine). Something isn’t right with him though, he was dominating at one point no he’s just on the court it seems.
His game is similar to Duncan’s in that he has trouble being defended by taller longer players. He doesn’t have the refined post game like Duncan. Boozers best chance is to face up from the top of the key but that negates Okur effectiveness around the perimeter. Boozer has been ballin for a minute so lets wait a few more games before we crown D-West.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am
DaPro says:
If D-West is that much better than Boozer doesn’t this mean Paul has a better supporting cast than D-Will.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
JA says:
Although I like Westicles better, I would take Boozer - if only because he shoots .547! to West’s .482 … and on West’s 17.2 shots per game thats an extra 180 points or so difference over the course of a season.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Dime Magazine says:
“Westicles” = awesome
May 7th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Gee
Carlos boozer is 6′9 266, he also averaged 21 and 10 on this season, and he’s averaging 15 and 12 for the playoffs, so yes his point production has went down
David West is 6′9 and 240 and he averaged 20 and 8 during the season and 21 and 8 during the playoffs.
Both of them have pretty good midrange games David West shoots 48 percent from the field and Boozer shoots 54 percent from the field. Neither player is really durable. We have to remember the emergence of David west started in 06 in which he played 74 games and he only played 50 the next season.
I mean this is a hard decision, because it all depends on what you want. David West has a lot of intangibales that are desired, his toughness, his will, but he also has a short temper.
Boozer gives you boards all day long, and he’s tough too, you don’t grab 10 boards a game by being soft!
The both have point guards that love to run pick and rolls and that gets them many WIDE OPEN midrange J’s.
I dunno Gee?
I’m a play the punk on this one and just say I’m undecided.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
We also have to remember that Boozer has a sick kid, so that may be on his mind sometimes also, and throwing him off a little bit.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Utes Fan says:
I believe it was Brown who said Boozer didn’t have a jumpshot. It is obvious that you have NEVER watched Boozer play. He is money all the way out to 18 feet. He is in a slump right now but he will snap out of it. Boozer and West are both good players. I go with Booze though.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
GEE...Now everybodys rappin bout welfare lines... says:
@ PC …..A verrrrry dark horse. I get it though, a horse none-the-less.
Still I go with West he has more of an upside to me at this point.
Now let me say this! I would take West considering they both have those type of guards.
Without a CP or Deron type of guard then give me Boozer because of experience and I feel he could create more for himself than West.
Still that Duke thing bothers me lol.
Overall West.
Chuck for real I thought West was bigger, thanks for bringing that to my attention. I guess he plays like he is bigger or something. I don’t know. It is one of the tougher calls. Right up there with who would you rather Deron or CP?
Cause the question would be in the N.O. system would Deron be giving you those CP numbers???
Have to wonder? Also how would CP do in Sloan system? Personally I don’t think CP would do as well in Sloan system because it would put to much control on him.
Anyway this is about West and Booger oops Boozer. West!
May 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Chuck...A source of knowldge for all says:
@Utes
Yeah whoever said boozer doesn’t have a J is retarded, dude is usually money from 15 to 18 feet EASY!
It’s just lately dude has been struggling. Don’t know what it is?
@Gee
I think Deron would put up those numbers wherever he decided to go, dude is just nice!
Strong, big, fire crossover, nice court vision, and he might yoke on you on any given night!
Every time Deron and CP went at each other this year, williams always got the best of CP, and that pretty much goes for any other gaurd he’s faced.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
K Dizzle says:
I’m gonna qualify my pick dependin on the team. If I need a rebounding banger who I can throw it into the paint and watch him work, then it’s Booze.
If I’m a pick n roll squad with an above average point guard, then no question it’s DWest. His fg% should be lower cuz he makes his liing on the perimeter on offense, whereas Booze works closer to the rim.
I’d take West cuz we been watchin dude for 82 games hit the same 15-18 footer, consistently, but he can match Booze for the mean streak that you need at the 4 spot
May 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
the_don_mega says:
“Westicles” - better get this trademarked JA
May 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
QQ says:
David West is good, but cmon, Booze was nasty these past two years. He took the Jazz to the Conference Finals, people. Did everyone suddenly forget about that just because West is playing for the present ‘it’ team in the L, the Hornets?
No wonder Bibby talks shit bout them BANDWAGON JUMPERS.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am
GEE...Now everybodys rappin bout welfare lines... says:
Yea Chuck I know CP is all the talk right now, and he deserves it, but I think Deron could and would do the same thing if not better in N.O.’s system.
Right now West is just a monster.
David “I am the beast” West.
May 7th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Brado says:
If I had to make a decision on who I would want to finish out the playoffs with, it would be West. He has more passion, fire, and a desire to win. I think that Booze has more skills and a greater ability to dominate a game, but as of late Booze has been weak. His play reminds me of K. Malone in his late years, settling for a weak jumper when he has a size to take it to the hole.
Earlier this season it would have been Boozer hands down, but based off recent play West has the advantage.
If Boozer decides to continue not showing up in the playoffs he will bear the blame for the jazz losing to the lakers -not because they couldn’t stop the MVP.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Celts Fan says:
I’d take West. You have to put a HUGE premium on bigs that can shoot the rock. Plus he rebounds and defends well. I like Boozer, but West is just a little better to me.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Dapro says:
West is a year older than Boozer
Boozer can shoot the rock too! Actually his percentage is higher than West. Boozer came into the league and you could see his potential. It took West a few seasons to find his niche. Lets look at the both players over the course of a few seasons before we judge.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Mike C says:
Everyone says Deron/Boozer is the next Stockton/Malone, but I think Paul/West is a more valid comparison. Not to say that West is on Malone’s level yet, but it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that West may become the best pure power forward in the league once Duncan/KG start to slip. I know y’all are thinkin Amare, but he’s too much of a defensive liability..
May 7th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
YOUNGFED says:
West
May 7th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Yoooooooo says:
Really David West the best power forward in basketball? At any point?? Woooow. If that’s the case tomorrow’s version of the NBA is gonna be the worst era for basketball EVER. I might as well get my son playing soccer…
May 7th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
doc says:
Give me West just because he nice and I think Boozer is a puss who f’ed up his chance at a ring when he shitted on Lebron and them.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Mike C says:
Yooooooo:
I don’t know how much you watch Hornets games, but to my eyes, he’s one of the most efficient and fundamentally sound big men that we have today. At only 27, he still hasn’t really hit his peak yet and playing with Chris Paul will make him a force for years to come. He may not be a freakish athlete like Amare, but his Mailman-like 15-foot J and his knack for getting easy garbage buckets in the paint is built for playoff basketball. Believe me, with him and CP3, the Hornets will be contenders for the next five-six years.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
rangerjohn says:
you know i was just looking at the slaries for NO and i found something not very common
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans.htm
david west is making more money now then he will next year, then it keeps going down every year. this is usually the opposite for players. he got his up front, and the hornets are not stuck in 6 yrs with a huge contract to have to work around or trade.
that is pretty nice
May 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Amar says:
I love how almost eveyone is saying David West. Really? West has a better left hand than Boozer? Boozer has a much more developed offensive game, West scores like 60-75% of his points on drive and dishes where CP3 sucksin the defense, and West is open from 15-18 ft. Boozer is scoring on, over and through people. Boozer is just as good an outside shooter (if not, watch some jazz games for once), he’s not as consistent, and has been in a huge slump, but if you give me one game to win right now i’m taking Boozer.
Did you see the Utah/GS series last year? Don’t tell me that David West (who needs a drive and dish PG so he can get open jump shots, like a glorified SG) would have beasted them like boozer did with dunks and tough offensive rebounds.
West has Tyson for all the beast stuff. West has CP to get him open shots. Boozer — who has been sucking of late — is still better.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Amar says:
West plays average defense, and Boozer is decidedly under-average at man-to-man defense. That being said, Boozer does come up with some difficult, traffic defensive boards.
West has a better chance at stopping his man, Boozer gives your team a better chance of grabbing the ball after the other team misses.
They, while both being young PFs who benefit from pick’n'roll type of ball, play significantly different roles for their teams. They are both scorers, but how they do it is vastly different. West is absolute garbage with CP is out of the game, while Boozer plays with 2nd unit guys and is still able to make baskets and produce assists.
Teamed up with Okur, Boozer has no choice but to be the beast. Teamed up with Tyson, West has no choice but to find a spot in the offense that doesn’t stop his team mate from being effective.
Both are good young PFs. Both are All-Stars. Boozer played 80+ games this season.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
K Dizzle says:
Amar
you know how it go.
right now, it’s West but comes out tonight and puts up 30 and 15, then it’s Booze again. We just fickle like that
May 7th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Amar says:
They both get the numbers, but it’s their PGs that are responsible for the Ws.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Student of the Game says:
After seeing Boozer’s performance in this years playoffs and comparing it to D-West(who is killin San Antonio) im gonna have to go with D-West. Before the playoffs i would have said Booz.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
rangerjohn says:
time to go back to school student, west is not “killing the spurs” he had 1 good game, and one 2 of 11 game. boozer on the other hand went 6 of 14 for 15 points, 14 rebounds, (6 offensive) and 4 assists in game one. any normal right thinking basketball “student” would take boozer 7 days a week and twice on sunday!
May 8th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Student of the Game says:
Offense isnt the only stat that counts in basketball. Im pretty sure D-West has played a part in Tim Duncan’s poor play while Booz is having no effect on either side of the ball “RangerJohn”
May 8th, 2008 at 8:10 am
nbaroundtable says:
I’d have to go with Carlos Boozer but David West is certainly making it interesting. Boozer is better at just about everything.
I’m surprised Boozer is getting so much grief about his defense. It’s been much better this season and he can now call himself a mediocre defender. David West likewise is a mediocre defender. West is a better shotblocker but still mediocre defensively.
This season, 54% of Boozer’s shot were jump shots and he nailed 44.7% of them. 65% of West’s shot were jumpers and he hits 43.4% of them. Boozer got the other 46% of his shots in the paint and scored on 66% of them, while West got only 35% and scored on 57% of them. Boozer has more post moves, is a better finisher in traffic, a better offensive rebounder, a better passer, a better jump shooter. I’d give David West ballhandling, he’s a better ballhanlder than Boozer, otherwise Booz is better at everything offensively.
On the backboards Boozer is superior also. Pulling down 10+ boards this season for the third time in his career while David West had a career high of 8.9 rebounds.
Definitely Boozer.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:13 am
rangerjohn says:
you are correct but west hasnt played duncan more then a couple of plays, duncan has been played by chandler and melvin ely almost the entire game both games. on the other hand duncan covered west much more in game 2 showing how limited he can be when he has even a decent defender. go back and watch game 2 on tivo and study it again you will see west when guarding duncan did nothing but get fouls so scott took him off and let chandler cover him with some weakside help from guards (like chris paul who also got called for a foul on the help)
while i will agree boozer has been off lately he is still a much better scorer, he is generally a better rebounder and he can create his own shot unlike west who (like amare) needs his point guard to spoon feed him
west was an alstar because of c paul, boozer was an alstar because of boozer.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:18 am
rangerjohn says:
on a final note, boozer is guarding/having to guard a combo of pau gasol, and lamar odom,while being guarded by odom/pau, where as west is guarding (on most plays) oberto, and kurt thomas with the occasional robert horry. when west gets a swith and ends up on duncan he either gets a foul or duncan either makes or misses an EASY shot.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Tom S. says:
West. Boozer lies to blind men.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Ian says:
boozer
but hes kinda of a backstabber