Carsen like Allen Iverson?

[77 grad]

Comparisons are odorous. That said, they are similar size, lightning quick, play/ed with an attacking style and are/were high-volume shooters. AI wore jersey No. 3 for most of his playing years.

Iverson was great, but a thug and meathead. CE's not the latter, as best I can tell.

 

[Beeazlebub]

I've always thought the a more appropriate comparison is a shorter Russell Westbrook. He isn't as athletic as Westbrook, who is possibly the most athletic player in the NBA along with the Greek Freak, but his ability to score every which way in a bowling-ball style is similar.

He's stronger than AI, and a better shooter than both AI and Westbrook. Eric Bledsoe might be another comparison from a stylistic standpoint.

I'm sure many here will dismiss this idea, but I'd give a 10-20% chance he leaves after this season for the next level.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Comparisons are odorous. That said, they are similar size, lightning quick, play/ed with an attacking style and are/were high-volume shooters. AI wore jersey No. 3 for most of his playing years.

Iverson was great, but a thug and meathead. CE's not the latter, as best I can tell.

I don't know...Carsen doesn't seem to mind practice.

 

[02Boilermaker]

The pro comparison I always think of for Carsen is a poor man's Ben Gordon.

Like Ben, Carsen can seemingly get his shot whenever he wants, he can shoot from deep, he has a bit of a midrange game, and he can attack the rim. Carsen is just a bit worse at each of those skills than Gordon was---not surprisingly as Gordon was the #3 pick of the NBA draft. Gordon was also streaky, but he seemed to be streaky within the game and was always able to end up being productive by the final buzzer. I think that's the key for Carsen making that big sophomore jump we are all hoping for---can he become streaky within games as opposed to being streaky from game to game?

 

[jonriet09]

Hahahahahaha keep dreaming . Allen Iverson ??!!! ... I had to take a break from laughing to breath but here I go again ....

 

[TopSecretBoiler]

Comparisons are odorous. That said, they are similar size, lightning quick, play/ed with an attacking style and are/were high-volume shooters. AI wore jersey No. 3 for most of his playing years.

Iverson was great, but a thug and meathead. CE's not the latter, as best I can tell.

wuuut...did you guys watch AI in college? He shot 48% from the floor and pulled in 25ppg as a sophmore. He was option number 1 all the time and the defenses knew it and he still did it. Then he did it in the pros.

 

[crustyclamps22]

hahahhaa oh my goodness... oh yeah for sure its either alen Iverson or Russell westbrook

 

[bonefish1]

What about comparison to Eric Gordon?

 

[choptalk]

A little early for those comparisons. Iverson might have been a headcase but he was an incredible player in college and the pros. If Carson is half as good then we'd have something special. And please don't even bother with the Eric Gordon. That guy is an absolute stud.

 

[BoilerBabyGirl]

Did Iverson ever win a championship? I'd hate to think the guy who shoots all our shots is a watered down version of a selfish guy who never won anything.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

If I were to stick with former Boilers, Willie Deane is the only player that I can think of who is comparable.

I would not try to compare him to NBA greats, even if there are some similarities.

 

[Beeazlebub]

If I were to stick with former Boilers, Willie Deane is the only player that I can think of who is comparable.

I would not try to compare him to NBA greats, even if there are some similarities.

Mine was a stylistic comparison, but yes, I agree it's dangerous to compare anyone to hall of fame type players.

 

[Boilerman1973]

Really don't want to make a comment because I'll be called a troll but you're talking about two future hall-of-famers no way you can compare him to either one.

 

[Gemini95]

Really don't want to make a comment because I'll be called a troll but you're talking about two future hall-of-famers no way you can compare him to either one.

Definitely a cringeworthy post (the OP, not yours).

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Just wanted to point out that I was dragged through the mud for eluding to the fact that Wheeler could be like a Troy Williams type player with a higher ceiling due to a better skill set right now and that Luce could provide some minutes similar to another walk-on at Purdue about a decade ago (Bobby Riddell)...and there is someone trying to make comparisons to one of the 50 greatest players of all time...

Seems about par for the board.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

Just wanted to point out that I was dragged through the mud for eluding to the fact that Wheeler could be like a Troy Williams type player with a higher ceiling due to a better skill set right now and that Luce could provide some minutes similar to another walk-on at Purdue about a decade ago (Bobby Riddell)...and there is someone trying to make comparisons to one of the 50 greatest players of all time...

Seems about par for the board.

Haha.

Keep posting, JDB. I appreciate your insights.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Did Iverson ever win a championship? I'd hate to think the guy who shoots all our shots is a watered down version of a selfish guy who never won anything.

What other factor players did AI have when in his prime?

Kobe had Shaq
LeBron has D-Wade and Kyrie
MJ has Pippen and Rodman
Duncan had a number of All Stars
Hell, Durant went to play with Curry

AI literally dragged a team on his shoulders as a scoring PG to an NBA Finals. Had he had half the cast those I listed above, he would have had atleast one ring.

 

[pastorjoeboggs]

A little early for those comparisons. Iverson might have been a headcase but he was an incredible player in college and the pros. If Carson is half as good then we'd have something special. And please don't even bother with the Eric Gordon. That guy is an absolute stud.

Wait...what?

So you have a bigger problem comparing Edwards to Eric Gordon than to Iverson?

Iverson was one of the best guards of all time, arguably the best scorer in league history for a small guy. Eric Gordon wouldn't even begin to sniff the air of Iverson's world.

 

[cgnops]

Did Iverson ever win a championship? I'd hate to think the guy who shoots all our shots is a watered down version of a selfish guy who never won anything.

AI won HS state championships in football and basketball as the team mvp in the same year, Big East DPOY at Georgetown, won an NBA MVP, led his team to an NBA finals (losing to a dominant Shaq/Kobe lakers team), multiple scoring titles, Olympic medal (bronze)...not too bad.

 

[BoilerStation]

A little early for those comparisons. Iverson might have been a headcase but he was an incredible player in college and the pros. If Carson is half as good then we'd have something special. And please don't even bother with the Eric Gordon. That guy is an absolute stud.

Wait...what?

So you have a bigger problem comparing Edwards to Eric Gordon than to Iverson?

Iverson was one of the best guards of all time, arguably the best scorer in league history for a small guy. Eric Gordon wouldn't even begin to sniff the air of Iverson's world.

Just because Gordon isn't as good as Iverson was doesn't make it a better comparison. Gordons built like a tank and very strong for his size. He's bigger, longer and in college was more athletic. CE does make a living off quick pull up 3s and driving to the basket like Gordon but I still wouldn't consider their styles similar. I don't like either comparison and if somebody is looking for similarities between 2 players you can almost always find something in common just like you would have things in common with any random person off the street .

 

[BoilerBabyGirl]

AI won HS state championships in football and basketball as the team mvp in the same year, Big East DPOY at Georgetown, won an NBA MVP, led his team to an NBA finals (losing to a dominant Shaq/Kobe lakers team), multiple scoring titles, Olympic medal (bronze)...not too bad.

No Final 4, no NBA championship, 1 NBA finals that he got squashed.

AI won HS state championships in football and basketball as the team mvp in the same year, Big East DPOY at Georgetown, won an NBA MVP, led his team to an NBA finals (losing to a dominant Shaq/Kobe lakers team), multiple scoring titles, Olympic medal (bronze)...not too bad.

No final 4 and no NBA championship. He didnt even get close to winning. He shot 6 for 21 in the elite 8 and his team got beat up by 20 points. That's what happens when you have selfish players. Carsen is taking away shots from way more efficient players like PJ, Dakota, Vince, and Isaac

 

[cgnops]

No Final 4, no NBA championship, 1 NBA finals that he got squashed.


No final 4 and no NBA championship. He didnt even get close to winning. He shot 6 for 21 in the elite 8 and his team got beat up by 20 points. That's what happens when you have selfish players. Carsen is taking away shots from way more efficient players like PJ, Dakota, Vince, and Isaac

Gonna go out on a limb and suggest that Painter is happy with the aggresiveness otherwise he would be riding pine.

 

[tjreese]

Just wanted to point out that I was dragged through the mud for eluding to the fact that Wheeler could be like a Troy Williams type player with a higher ceiling due to a better skill set right now and that Luce could provide some minutes similar to another walk-on at Purdue about a decade ago (Bobby Riddell)...and there is someone trying to make comparisons to one of the 50 greatest players of all time...

Seems about par for the board.

So far the most important difference I can see between Wheeler and Williams is that Wheeler may have a brain.

 

[BoilerAndy]

What other factor players did AI have when in his prime?

Kobe had Shaq
LeBron has D-Wade and Kyrie
MJ has Pippen and Rodman
Duncan had a number of All Stars
Hell, Durant went to play with Curry

AI literally dragged a team on his shoulders as a scoring PG to an NBA Finals. Had he had half the cast those I listed above, he would have had atleast one ring.

It wouldn't have done any good to have other all-stars on his team. They never would have seen the ball.

But individually, he was unstoppable.

 

[Boilerman1973]

Everybody that's Downing Allen Iverson for not winning a championship in the NBA must not watch NBA. He literally had no help to win a championship none. Did the man leave to go to another team to get a ring no he did not like some people. Still one of the best players in the league when he was in it. Hands down best scoring guard that ever played the game.

 

[Boilerman1973]

I understand that this boards not realistic but some of you are going way overboard. Every year players on Purdue get compared to players they have no business getting compared to. If half of you was right we would have several final fours and championships.

 

[Boilerman1973]

I say we let Carson be Carson and enjoy watching him play hopefully this year and two more. Hopefully like biggie and e'twaun and AJ he gives me more reason to watch NBA basketball again.

 

[choptalk]

A little early for those comparisons. Iverson might have been a headcase but he was an incredible player in college and the pros. If Carson is half as good then we'd have something special. And please don't even bother with the Eric Gordon. That guy is an absolute stud.

Wait...what?

So you have a bigger problem comparing Edwards to Eric Gordon than to Iverson?

Iverson was one of the best guards of all time, arguably the best scorer in league history for a small guy. Eric Gordon wouldn't even begin to sniff the air of Iverson's world.

Didn’t say that. They were /are both studs.

 

[Purdue85]

Really don't want to make a comment because I'll be called a troll but you're talking about two future hall-of-famers no way you can compare him to either one.

Troll.

(had to do it.)

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Everybody that's Downing Allen Iverson for not winning a championship in the NBA must not watch NBA. He literally had no help to win a championship none. Did the man leave to go to another team to get a ring no he did not like some people. Still one of the best players in the league when he was in it. Hands down best scoring guard that ever played the game.

Well at least you and I can say we agree on something. Tic

 

[pastorjoeboggs]

Didn’t say that. They were /are both studs.

Okay. The way the post was worded made it seem like you thought Gordon was the crazier comparison, which I thought was nuts.

Only an IU fan - and an insane one, at that - would think that.

 

[cgnops]

No final 4 and no NBA championship. He didnt even get close to winning. He shot 6 for 21 in the elite 8 and his team got beat up by 20 points. That's what happens when you have selfish players...

For what it's worth, AI averaged 21.4 shots per 40 that season. That was just the Georgetown game plan. Think about it, a lot of teams with a generational talent consensus #1 draft pick player are gonna let the dude take his shots.

 

[BoilerBabyGirl]

For what it's worth, AI averaged 21.4 shots per 40 that season. That was just the Georgetown game plan. Think about it, a lot of teams with a generational talent consensus #1 draft pick player are gonna let the dude take his shots.

You can find a lot of teams with that strategy that never won anything and a lot of Draymond Green type team players with multiple final 4s and NBA championships.

 

[pastorjoeboggs]

The idea that Iverson was "a selfish player" is a completely false narrative.

Over his entire NBA career, he averaged 6.2 assists per game. That's good for top 50 ALL-TIME. Better than noted "team-first" point guards like Tony Parker and Kyle Lowry (5.8), Mike Conley (5.67), Chauncey Billups (5.4).

He averaged over 7 assists per game 5 times in his career as a shooting guard, including 2005-2006 when he averaged 33.0 ppg and 7.4 apg.

Iverson gets hated on by fans because of the "Practice? We talkin' about practice?" press conference and because of the way he dressed/acted. But on the floor, he was inarguably one of the best all around guards in the game for 10+ years.

 

[olafmetal]

Iverson and Carsen are both undersized scoring guards. Carsens game is closer to AI's then mine, but I don't think it's a particularly useful or enlightening comparison. AI was a bit of a freak and one of the all time greats, which we just wouldn't say or predict about Carsen yet.

 

[ghost_of_d.]

No Final 4, no NBA championship, 1 NBA finals that he got squashed.

You're completely clueless. Iverson singlehandedly took a team whose 2nd and 3rd best players were Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie to the NBA finals. There's never been a larger collection of stiffs surrounding a star player to make it that far, not even LeBron's early Cavs teams.

 

[BoilerBabyGirl]

You're completely clueless. Iverson singlehandedly took a team whose 2nd and 3rd best players were Theo Ratliff and Aaron McKie to the NBA finals. There's never been a larger collection of stiffs surrounding a star player to make it that far, not even LeBron's early Cavs teams.

Ratliff was so bad he led the entire NBA in blocks 3 different times. Mutombo was so bad he was NBA defensive player of the year FOUR times. That cutesy Kukoc only had SIX combined NBA & Euro championships before that year. Get a clue. BOYS ARE STUPID. To think I let myself get so worked up over them in the past

 

[samcboiler]

wuuut...did you guys watch AI in college? He shot 48% from the floor and pulled in 25ppg as a sophmore. He was option number 1 all the time and the defenses knew it and he still did it. Then he did it in the pros.

I remember watching him play at Georgetown as a freshman and thinking that this kid will be one of the greatest ever. Not only was he an offensive machine, he was also a Steal machine. I love Carsen but he is just not in AI league. Carsen has been a turnover machine and I expect that to change as he matures and becomes an upper classman. AI rarely made mistakes in college and was one of the quickest all around freshman you'll ever see. I get the OP having comparison thoughts, however, as time goes by, you forget how good the other guys were. About a year I was starting to think LeBron might be better than MJ and I then saw some Jordan highlights and quickly dismissed this thought. Time heals most wounds and it also has us forget how great some guys were. Here's to hoping that Carsen has a great year / future at Purdue...

 

[punaj]

Just rephrase the question a bit: "Which current Purdue player most resembles AI?" ... then you can answer Carsen.