>>don't know that Joe as the third best guy on any team with
>two
>>other stars makes them a title threat, but on any team that
>>already has two certified stars, Paul George as your third
>guy
>>is beastly.
>
>Well, that isn't really saying much.

Your third best player can be a good player, but not necessarily one that elevates the team. George does so many things well that him being the third best player would elevates the entire team like a genuine star does. The point is that the specific things he does (which is damn near everything, really) has a significantly greater overall impact than when he's your Alpha or sidekick.

Lamar Odom was a great example; as the Lakers third option, he became a nightmare for teams on many nights. It was a natural position for him and he flourished. A third player who was merely a scorer or defender or play maker or rebounder doesn't have that sort of overall impact, but a utility player like this makes the entire team extremely dangerous.

Shawn Marion might be the best example in the last 15 years. He was a miserable player to deal with for opposing teams as a third option because he was freely able to do all the things he did well. Great player with superstar attributes in that given role, but he wasn't a superstar.

A lot of guys can do that on a lower level, but guys that can give great all around star-level performances as the third man without the need to be an Alpha don't grow on trees. They're a valuable commodity.