A Prime Arvydas Sabonis vs. A Prime Kevin Garnett

[ezau]

First of all, I would like to commend Kori for putting the Mavs Krew in their proper place. The calf tats/pedophile/Paki shit has definitely run its course and it doesn't have anything to do with basketball at all. Great job Kori and I hope that my name gets bolded soon. :toast

Moving on, here's the question: If you're going to compare a prime Arvydas Sabonis and a prime Kevin Garnett, who's the better player?

Kevin Garnett is surely in the mix when it comes to the best power forwards of all time along with Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki. His athleticism, mid-range game, and overall versatility is only topped by a man named Hakeem Olajuwon. On top of that, he can anchor the defensive end as well as anybody. No doubt, he's a first ballot Hall of Fame.

Arvydas Sabonis meanwhile is quite an anomaly. We never had the chance to see him play in his prime back in the 80s. When he jumped into the NBA at age 31 in 1995, he averaged 23.6 points and over 10 rebounds in the playoffs. The thing about him is that he did all those fantastic things right after several injuries during his younger years. He's also one of the few who can hold his own against a prime Shaq and he did all of that when he was 35.

In his younger years, Sabonis was an athletic freak gifted with a pinpoint passing ability, superb handles, and decent outside shooting. Skillwise, he might be the greatest player over 7'3.

So the question now is, who's the better player in their prime? Kevin Garnett or Arvydas Sabonis?

[PGDynasty24]

It's hard to tell. Sabonis prime years were wasted against far inferior competition. Impossible to make a comparison

[ezau]

It's hard to tell. Sabonis prime years were wasted against far inferior competition. Impossible to make a comparison

The dude beat the 88 US team that had David Robinson.

[HarlemHeat37]

It's hard to tell. Sabonis prime years were wasted against far inferior competition. Impossible to make a comparison

What the fuck?..I agree..:(


I was a fan of Sabonis, even when he was past his prime and killed with injuries during his NBA time..he was still an elite passer for a big man, even with Portland..he was a huge part in that memorable series vs. Dallas where they almost came back from 3-0 IIRC..he's massive, too..

Obviously his reputation became stronger with how he outplayed a young David Robinson, and with guys like Bill Walton talking about how great of a player he is/was..

Obviously you can't compare though..his career is still an "IF" for the most part due to his competition and injuries, while Garnett is a former MVP that was the best player in the NBA at one point IMO..

[Nash2TimeMVp]

this comparison is the epitome of einstein basketball talk. a player 1 vs player 2 thread, not to mention the x factor keyword 'prime' definitely rasing the bar and good talk lol not

[mavs>spurs2]

timvp running wild

[MavDynasty]

nice dead wife

[Goran Dragic]

The dude beat the 88 US team that had David Robinson.

Yeah and that Greek cuckold V-Span beat the US worlds team in 2006 that was stacked, does that mean he's better than Lebron?

[ezau]

Yeah and that Greek cuckold V-Span beat the US worlds team in 2006 that was stacked, does that mean he's better than Lebron?

The 06 US team failed to defend the pick and roll. Somebody said something about Sabonis playing against "inferior" competition back in the 80s. I don't think you can mention D-Rob and the word inferior in the same sentence

[Goran Dragic]

I don't think you can mention D-Rob and the word inferior in the same sentence

Unless you're comparing his play to that of Olajuwon's in the 1995 Western conference finals!

http://www.macandtees.com/shop/images/boom%20roasted.gif

[Jheum Jhang]

either one of them> a dead wife, imo

[ezau]

Unless you're comparing his play to that of Olajuwon's in the 1995 Western conference finals!

http://www.macandtees.com/shop/images/boom%20roasted.gif

Oh, the same year he won the MVP? Boom roasted!

[Goran Dragic]

Oh, the same year he won the MVP? Boom roasted!


I was kidding tbh.

I personally think we didn't see enough of Sabonis in the NBA to put him above KG, not really fair to KG.

[Zelophehad]

Unless you're comparing his play to that of Olajuwon's in the 1995 Western conference finals!

http://www.macandtees.com/shop/images/boom%20roasted.gif

To be fair Hakeem dick slapped the Suns in back to back year then too.

[JMarkJohns]

To be fair Hakeem dick slapped the Suns in back to back year then too.

Goddamn Horry/Cassell in 94, Goddamn Elie in 95! ERRRRR :bang

[ezau]

I was kidding tbh.

I personally think we didn't see enough of Sabonis in the NBA to put him above KG, not really fair to KG.

I see.

[ohmwrecker]

What an odd comparison. This thread is like a giant sandwich that is too big for your mouth. I have no idea how to approach it. Oh, and the sandwich has sun dried tomatoes on it and I hate those.
I am going to vote for V-Das because I hate Garnett and I want to see the poll results.

[Goran Dragic]

To be fair Hakeem dick slapped the Suns in back to back year then too.

The Suns dick slapped themselves more than anything else in 1995. They built a 3-1 lead and then Barkley started to play 36 holes of golf and go out drinking with Majerle the day before games. They thought they had the series won (even AC Green said it was over) and sure even that attitude lost it and led to the implosion of that team.

[DesignatedT]

lol

[Zelophehad]

The Suns dick slapped themselves more than anything else in 1995. They built a 3-1 lead and then Barkley started to play 36 holes of golf and go out drinking with Majerle the day before games. They thought they had the series won (even AC Green said it was over) and sure even that attitude lost it and led to the implosion of that team.

Next time you tell that story, work in the fact that Hakeem averaged 30, 12, and 6 over the last three games (according to Basketball Reference), into the narrative. Besides, Barkley averaged 23 and 19 over the final three anyways (according to Basketball Reference).

Actually, I don't remember much about those series except I think for the kiss of death (iirc) and KJ challenging Hakeem for dunks/layups to mixed results. Plus, Hakeem was in beast mode as usual for time period. Truthfully, that Suns team made a habit of choking up leads to that Rockets team. Underestimated the heart of a champion tbh.

[Goran Dragic]

Next time you tell that story, work in the fact that Hakeem averaged 30, 12, and 6 over the last three games (according to Basketball Reference), into the narrative. Besides, Barkley averaged 23 and 19 over the final three anyways (according to Basketball Reference).

Actually, I don't remember much about those series except I think for the kiss of death (iirc) and KJ challenging Hakeem for dunks/layups to mixed results. Plus, Hakeem was in beast mode as usual for time period. Truthfully, that Suns team made a habit of choking up leads to that Rockets team. Underestimated the heart of a champion tbh.


Yeah, notice how any semblance of defense they were playing on Olajuwon stopped after game 4? Don't you think being hungover and fatigued would hurt defense a little bit? Charles Barkley can grab tons of rebounds in his sleep, his play dropped off hugely after game 4 on all other aspects of the game. That Suns team made a habit of coasting once they thought it was in hand, and they also had the problem of an "Act now, think later" approach to defense, Barkley moreso than anyone. That "Act now, think later" approach is what led to Paxson being wide open in 1993 and Elie being wide open in 1995. Call it Houston's "heart of a champion" if you want, but I see it more as Phoenix lacking the heart of a champion, and also the fact had been one of their best players that season prior to his injury. If he stays healthy the Suns win it all in 95.

Even though Dream averaged 30 over those 3 games, that pales in comparison to what he averaged against Mr. Bible in the conference finals.

[Goran Dragic]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199505240SAS.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199505260HOU.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199505300SAS.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199506010HOU.html

4 out of 6 games he scored 39+ points, and all 4 of those games he shot above 58% from the field, yeah, I'd say that's a little worse than what he did to the Suns a round prior in games 5, 6, and 7.

[Zelophehad]

Yeah, notice how any semblance of defense they were playing on Olajuwon stopped after game 4? Don't you think being hungover and fatigued would hurt defense a little bit? Charles Barkley can grab tons of rebounds in his sleep, his play dropped off hugely after game 4 on all other aspects of the game. That Suns team made a habit of coasting once they thought it was in hand, and they also had the problem of an "Act now, think later" approach to defense, Barkley moreso than anyone. That "Act now, think later" approach is what led to Paxson being wide open in 1993 and Elie being wide open in 1995. Call it Houston's "heart of a champion" if you want, but I see it more as Phoenix lacking the heart of a champion, and also the fact had been one of their best players that season prior to his injury. If he stays healthy the Suns win it all in 95.

Even though Dream averaged 30 over those 3 games, that pales in comparison to what he averaged against Mr. Bible in the conference finals.

As you know, he was motivated to work the pimp hand strong from witnessing the MVP ceremonies in the WCF. But Basketball Reference says his best games in the Suns series scoring wise were 3 & 4. Either way I can barely remember those series so its not fair for me to talk shit about them.

I just remember him owning the complete shit out of Joe Kleine on multiple occasions when they were dumb enough to put him in the game.

[ohmwrecker]

http://www.cnet.com/i/bto/20080908/Thread-Offtopic-Derailed.jpg

[JamStone]

As most of you, I never watch Sabonis play in his prime. But the way he's talked about, like a European Jordan at 7'3, in his prime Sabonis might have been better than any NBA big man in the history of the game except probably a prime Wilt and a prime Hakeem. So it's interesting to choose KG to compare him. Could have gone with Wilt, Hakeem, Kareem, Shaq, Duncan, Moses, Robinson, etc. I'm not sure why KG was the choice.

I'm like most, it's impossible for me to tell having not watched Sabonis in his prime. However, I'd lean more towards choosing Sabonis. And as I suggested above, I'd probably lean towards a prime Sabonis against any of the great big men in the history of the NBA other than a prime Wilt and a prime Hakeem. It's still just a guess though.

[Jacob1983]

Ray Liotta vs. a zombie from Resident Evil 5. Pretty interesting matchup. I'm not sure who would win.

[Josepatches_]

Nobody knows how great Sabonis could had been at his prime.His injuries came too early.

But I was lucky to see him playing in my team,Real Madrid,and he was the best player we saw in the spanish ACB league.Petrovic only played here one year.Same Pau Gasol.So I can't compare them but Sabonis seems to be more dominant. The Sabonis of 1994 was a beast but he didn't have knees. In 1988 he had the knees but he doesn't have the same talent on the court.


So without the "if" i'd say KG was clearly better.