Artificial intelligence tools can help us with many things, but does the bot know hoops? In our recent series, we’ve asked ChatGPT to rank some of the all-time greats on the Detroit Pistons, starting with the point guards.
Today we’ll look at the shooting guards and see if ChatGPT can pick up on the nuances of what makes a player great.
This week, we asked ChatGPT to rank the top five shooting guards in Detroit Pistons’ history. This is what it came up with.
Would you agree with this assessment of the best Pistons shooting guards of all time?
"“The Detroit Pistons have had several standout shooting guards throughout their history. Here are five of the top shooting guards who have made significant contributions to the Pistons:1. Joe Dumars – Joe Dumars is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in Pistons history. He spent his entire 14-year NBA career with the Pistons, winning two NBA championships and earning Finals MVP in 1989. Dumars was a consistent scorer and a tenacious defender, making him a key member of the “Bad Boys” Pistons.2. Richard Hamilton – Richard Hamilton, also known as “Rip,” played a crucial role in the Pistons’ success during the 2000s. He was a key member of the championship-winning team in 2004 and helped lead the team to multiple deep playoff runs. Hamilton was known for his excellent mid-range shooting and tireless work ethic.3. Dave Bing – Although primarily a point guard, Dave Bing also played shooting guard during his time with the Pistons. He was an outstanding scorer, earning scoring titles in 1968 and 1969. Bing’s contributions to the Pistons led to his number 21 being retired by the team.4. Vinnie Johnson – Vinnie Johnson, also known as “The Microwave,” was a valuable scoring option off the bench for the Pistons during their successful years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He played a crucial role in the team’s back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.5. Jerry Stackhouse – Jerry Stackhouse had a brief but impactful tenure with the Pistons in the late 1990s. He was a dynamic scorer and made the All-Star team in 2000 while playing for Detroit. Stackhouse’s offensive skills left a lasting impression during his time with the team.”"
Our Thoughts
ChatGPT was able to identify five players this time around, compared to our point guard list when they ran out of worthy selections. Again, the top choice in the list is most likely a popular decision as Dumars was just as important, although much quieter, as Isiah Thomas was to the Bad Boys. Rip was deservingly placed at two, Vinnie Johnson at four is likely well deserved, as the Microwave came off the bench for most of his career with Detroit. Even when coming off the bench, though, Vinnie could heat up on the offensive end like no other, eventually becoming a major piece to the 1990 Championship team (including hitting a game winner). I would argue that Dave Bing, primarily playing point guard, should be at the end of this list, if at all.