USA Today: Tim Duncan is the best since Michael Jordan

[dg7md]

Oh, this will rile up quite a few haters here.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/06/tim-duncan-michael-jordan-nba-finals-san-antonio-spurs-five

[elmanutres]

Well they are right. I mean, he does have the tiebreaker

[Malik Hairston]

Every hardcore NBA fan already has Duncan ahead of Kobe, but damn, if the mainstream, "old age" media starts putting Duncan ahead of him, then he's done, tbh:lol..

The casual fan and mainstream, "old age" media is all Kobe had left:lol..

[Buddy Mignon]

A nerd wrote that article. NO SURPRISES.


https://www.google.com/search?q=chris+chase+usa+today&rlz=1C1KMZB_enUS530US530&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yMifU-ryH8-byAScqYDwDw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1920&bih=1067#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=nLpXExZT-TclzM%253A%3Bjmq63FhgKiNH9M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi .ytimg.com%252Fvi%252FORGHHm1QDFE%252F0.jpg%3Bhttp %253A%252F%252Farticle.wn.com%252Fview%252F2014%25 2F03%252F20%252Fusa_today_sports_media_group_and_n eulion_form_strategic_part%252F%3B480%3B360

[dg7md]

Every hardcore NBA fan already has Duncan ahead of Kobe, but damn, if the mainstream, "old age" media starts putting Duncan ahead of him, then he's done, tbh:lol..

The casual fan and mainstream, "old age" media is all Kobe had left:lol..

:rollin

[Kidd K]

Of course he is, just like the Spurs are the best TEAM since Jordan's Bulls too.

But watch people solely wanting to make a case for LA change the argument to "team of the century" instead of "best post Jordan team" since that timeline excludes a Spurs title and starts the exact year LA started to be good again. lol

Imo, best players since Jordan in order:

Duncan
Shaq
Kobe
LeBron (so far. Needs to build his legacy still)
Dirk/Durant

[IrisHockey]

LeBron will top him in 5 years.

[ezau]

Kobe fans have no room to put Kobe ahead of Duncan now:lol The Kobe vs. Duncan debate is over with Duncan coming out on top.

[ezau]

Of course he is, just like the Spurs are the best TEAM since Jordan's Bulls too.

But watch people solely wanting to make a case for LA change the argument to "team of the century" instead of "best post Jordan team" since that timeline excludes a Spurs title and starts the exact year LA started to be good again. lol

Imo, best players since Jordan in order:

Duncan
Shaq
Kobe
LeBron (so far. Needs to build his legacy still)
Dirk/Durant

LOL

Dirk is way better than _urant

[IrisHockey]

Every hardcore NBA fan already has Duncan ahead of Kobe, but damn, if the mainstream, "old age" media starts putting Duncan ahead of him, then he's done, tbh:lol..

The casual fan and mainstream, "old age" media is all Kobe had left:lol..

The young white aspiring NBA analyst is our only hope, tbh..

our Andrew Lucks, tbh..

[ChumpDumper]

A nerd wrote that article. NO SURPRISES.


https://www.google.com/search?q=chris+chase+usa+today&rlz=1C1KMZB_enUS530US530&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yMifU-ryH8-byAScqYDwDw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg&biw=1920&bih=1067#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=nLpXExZT-TclzM%253A%3Bjmq63FhgKiNH9M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fi .ytimg.com%252Fvi%252FORGHHm1QDFE%252F0.jpg%3Bhttp %253A%252F%252Farticle.wn.com%252Fview%252F2014%25 2F03%252F20%252Fusa_today_sports_media_group_and_n eulion_form_strategic_part%252F%3B480%3B360
Probably likes Naruto and everything.

[Kidd K]

LOL

Dirk is way better than _urant

Durant is only 25 and has the best annual scorer's stats since MJ, and has been locking up top 1-2 seed for years. . .even if he has received ref-fixed wins. Loads of potential accolades incoming. All Dirk has over him is years and a ring right now if we're being fair.

Dirk is not exactly a defender either. Durant is going to fly past Dirk as long as he gets one ring.

[ezau]

Durant is only 25 and has the best annual scorer's stats since MJ, and has been locking up top 1-2 seed for years. . .even if he has received ref-fixed wins. Loads of potential accolades incoming. All Dirk has over him is years and a ring right now if we're being fair.

Dirk is not exactly a defender either. Durant is going to fly past Dirk as long as he gets one ring.

Dirk played toe-to-toe against a prime Duncan and he did win a couple of them. Durant, on the other hand, is getting shut down by Green and Kawhi. There's no comparison really. Dirk's one legged fadeaway is impossible to stop while Durant can barely post up against Chris Paul.

[midnightpulp]

And the "We'll do it this time" guarantee just helps his legendary status.

[Thebesteva]

Time is a mother fucker. That's all I gotta say

[MeloHype]

http://i.imgur.com/BckvvXS.jpg

[spurraider21]

Time is a mother fucker. That's all I gotta say
when do you think was the first time you called the Spurs old, or thought their window was closing? after the Lakers beat them in 08, tbh?

[Mugen]

Time is a mother fucker. That's all I gotta say

:lol And nobody understands that better than Tim Duncan, who cut his salary in half so the Spurs could build a championship team around him while Kirby wanted to be the highest paid player in the league coming off a horrible injury......

[100%duncan]

I don't see why this is news tbh? :lol The 5th ring didn't skyrocket Tim above Kobe as he was already atleast 3 spots ahead of him before, now it puts Tim ahead of Kobe atleast 5-10 spots in GOATs lists.

and oh :lol Durant > Dirk :lol

[Kidd K]

Dirk played toe-to-toe against a prime Duncan and he did win a couple of them. Durant, on the other hand, is getting shut down by Green and Kawhi. There's no comparison really. Dirk's one legged fadeaway is impossible to stop while Durant can barely post up against Chris Paul.

Alright, now let's not pretend like Green and Kawhi are shitty defenders. That's like saying LeBron got shut down by Bowen so he's a bum.

Durant doesn't "need" to post up when he has a career 60% TS% and has been rolling 63-65% the last two years. 60% is good for 17th all time already yet significantly higher PPG than all above him. In fact of the people above him, most have 12 PPG at most, with only Charles Barkley and Adrien Dantley averaging even 20 PPG.

Durant is already an all time great scorer as is statistically. The fact he can get even better is scary as fuck, not a knock on him somehow.

[Kidd K]

And the "We'll do it this time" guarantee just helps his legendary status.

Babe Ruth called his shot, and Tim Duncan called his title. Dude even said "We wanted Miami. We hoped to FUCKIN' GOD that they'd be back in the Finals JUST so we could beat the ever living shit out of them to prove a point".

And that's exactly what happened. Not only did he win a title, but he tarnished LeBron's legacy AGAIN, and may have just broken up Superfriends in Miami. GOAT power move.

[100%duncan]

Alright, now let's not pretend like Green and Kawhi are shitty defenders. That's like saying LeBron got shut down by Bowen so he's a bum.

Durant doesn't "need" to post up when he has a career 60% TS% and has been rolling 63-65% the last two years. 60% is good for 17th all time already yet significantly higher PPG than all above him. In fact of the people above him, most have 12 PPG at most, with only Charles Barkley and Adrien Dantley averaging even 20 PPG.

Durant is already an all time great scorer as is statistically. The fact he can get even better is scary as fuck, not a knock on him somehow.

2011. Never forget, son. Dirk went full god-mode on the whole NBA. Fake mvp has yet to do that.

[ezau]

Alright, now let's not pretend like Green and Kawhi are shitty defenders. That's like saying LeBron got shut down by Bowen so he's a bum.

Durant doesn't "need" to post up when he has a career 60% TS% and has been rolling 63-65% the last two years. 60% is good for 17th all time already yet significantly higher PPG than all above him. In fact of the people above him, most have 12 PPG at most, with only Charles Barkley and Adrien Dantley averaging even 20 PPG.

Durant is already an all time great scorer as is statistically. The fact he can get even better is scary as fuck, not a knock on him somehow.

Dirk had a legendary 2011 career playoff run that resulted to a ring. He was fucking unstoppable and unlike Durant, he doesn't really need to score that much because he attracts the attention of almost everyone when he was the ball. Durant, for all his accolades hasn't elevated his game to the point of winning a championship. Heck, Leonard has already one-upped him by winning FMVP and a championship while being three years younger. :lol There's no comparison between Dirk and Durant. The last time Durant was in the Finals? He got steamrolled by the Superfriends. :lol

[ezau]

2011. Never forget, son. Dirk went full god-mode on the whole NBA. Fake mvp has yet to do that.

Thread/

[Kidd K]

Dirk had a legendary 2011 career playoff run that resulted to a ring. He was fucking unstoppable and unlike Durant, he doesn't really need to score that much because he attracts the attention of almost everyone when he was the ball. Durant, for all his accolades hasn't elevated his game to the point of winning a championship. Heck, Leonard has already one-upped him by winning FMVP and a championship while being three years younger. :lol There's no comparison between Dirk and Durant. The last time Durant was in the Finals? He got steamrolled by the Superfriends. :lol

And Dirk's career was winding down (33 years old) when that finally happned. Durant is 25. If he has gone nowhere 8 years from now, I might consider Dirk better. But right now he is far better than Dirk was.

If you really think Leonard is better than Durant because of that, that says all I need to know about your credibility.



2011. Never forget, son. Dirk went full god-mode on the whole NBA. Fake mvp has yet to do that.

I didn't forget it kid. And of course Durant didn't do it yet, he's 25. Dirk was nearly 33 and played 2 1/2 times as long as Durant when he finally did that shit.



Thread/

Only if you're desperate for a confirmation to your opinion.

[ezau]

And Dirk's career was winding down (33 years old) when that finally happned. Durant is 25. If he has gone nowhere 8 years from now, I might consider Dirk better. But right now he is far better than Dirk was.

Are you just judging Durant being better than Dirk because he scores more? At this point, Durant at his best as bounced by Lebron in five games in the Finals. You should even give credit Dirk more for winning a title at 33 while Durant had a better and more talented supporting cast in 2012 but failed miserably. Until Durant rings and carries his team to the championship like Dirk did., he should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Dirk.

[Legacy]

http://i.imgur.com/BckvvXS.jpg

The goods. :tu

[TDMVPDPOY]

the clown in the yellow shirt, shouldnt he have only 2.5rings and even with 2.5rings its questionable whether he was really robin role

[~O~]

http://i.imgur.com/BckvvXS.jpg



When you put the trophies..together....you realize how good Jordan was. Yeesh.

[TDMVPDPOY]

When you put the trophies..together....you realize how good Jordan was. Yeesh.

ppl give those players pre90s shit for playing 1 less round to reach the finals, but what happens when u play in a shit era where u get 2 rounds of cakewalk b4 even being challenge?

[spurraider21]

Laker fans here love to talk about the old time glory of the Lakers, when all it does is show just how much more of an impact Duncan has had than Kobe :lol

-Kobe joined the NBA, began his career with Shaq on a franchise that had shown it can put together title teams... a franchise that already had 11 titles. and his team only started winning when they hired the GOAT coach. he ended up playing on 5 championship teams, and we can all assume he's done competing for chips

-Duncan joined the NBA, started his career with an already past his prime Robinson coming off major injuries, and assumed the lead dog role from day one... on a franchise that had never even made an NBA finals, and with a coach that had no previous success. he has so far played on 5 championship teams, and is probably going to be battling for more.

the magnitude to which Duncan changed the Spurs franchise is nearly unparalleled. If the Lakers never got Kobe, it probably just means they would have kept Shaq for a bit longer, and would in all likelihood still won a title, and possibly more depending on who they acquired next to shaq

[Baseline]

Laker fans here love to talk about the old time glory of the Lakers, when all it does is show just how much more of an impact Duncan has had than Kobe :lol

-Kobe joined the NBA, began his career with Shaq on a franchise that had shown it can put together title teams... a franchise that already had 11 titles. and his team only started winning when they hired the GOAT coach. he ended up playing on 5 championship teams, and we can all assume he's done competing for chips

-Duncan joined the NBA, started his career with an already past his prime Robinson coming off major injuries, and assumed the lead dog role from day one... on a franchise that had never even made an NBA finals, and with a coach that had no previous success. he has so far played on 5 championship teams, and is probably going to be battling for more.

the magnitude to which Duncan changed the Spurs franchise is nearly unparalleled. If the Lakers never got Kobe, it probably just means they would have kept Shaq for a bit longer, and would in all likelihood still won a title, and possibly more depending on who they acquired next to shaq

This here is a Truth Nuke.

[Kidd K]

Are you just judging Durant being better than Dirk because he scores more? At this point, Durant at his best as bounced by Lebron in five games in the Finals. You should even give credit Dirk more for winning a title at 33 while Durant had a better and more talented supporting cast in 2012 but failed miserably. Until Durant rings and carries his team to the championship like Dirk did., he should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Dirk.

No. Durant is also better playmaker and defender, while scoring more efficiently than Dirk. The PPG is just icing on the cake. We aren't talking about a volume scorer. We're talking about a very deadly scorer like Reggie Miller only does it in even much larger doses per game. Dirk is a better rebounder (Durant is still too weak), and a similarly good (but lesser) scorer, but falls short almost everywhere else.

It took Dirk 13 years to win a title, and he clearly is not winning another. Durant is 25 and has only played 5 years. He hasn't even peaked yet and is already putting up better numbers than peak Dirk. Btw, 2012 Durant playoff stats are superior to Dirk's great 2011 playoff stats too. It just didn't end in a win since Superfriends had peaked right then. OKC should not have gotten past SA either tbh. Not sure why making the Finals but losing in a year he shouldn't have even made it there while putting up massive numbers at 23 years old is somehow a negative against him.

Unless Durant gets injured or never wins, he is surpassing Dirk. It's just a matter of time. I respect and like Dirk, but Durant is a majorly special player who will absolutely be remembered well after he retires. He has tons of time to win too.

[dg7md]

:lol at the assumption that Dirk is better than Durant. That's absolutely ridiculous.

Dirk is a great player and surely a HOFer, but to think he is better than what Durant is and what he will be is sheer ignorance.

[100%duncan]

:lol at the assumption that Dirk is better than Durant. That's absolutely ridiculous.

Dirk is a great player and surely a HOFer, but to think he is better than what Durant is and what he will be is sheer ignorance.

How so?

Dirk is a better defender, rebounder, passer, leader and has a better court vision as proved by the ball movement of the Mavs in '11. You could say that Durant is better at scoring but that's even debatable.

Boiled down::

Dirk:1
Salty Beta Pussy:0

[~O~]

ppl give those players pre90s shit for playing 1 less round to reach the finals, but what happens when u play in a shit era where u get 2 rounds of cakewalk b4 even being challenge?
Miami Heat. :downspin:

[dg7md]

How so?

Dirk is a better defender, rebounder, passer, leader and has a better court vision as proved by the ball movement of the Mavs in '11. You could say that Durant is better at scoring but that's even debatable.

Boiled down::

Dirk:1
Salty Beta Pussy:0

Dirk had one stand out moment in 2011 (aside from his MVP year of 2007) in his journey to the title, but it's a little ignorant to think that Durant won't have multiple titles by the time his career ends. He won't have as many as LeBron will but he'll end up with at least a few, based on his talent and willingness to be a teammate.

[100%duncan]

Dirk had one stand out moment in 2011 (aside from his MVP year of 2007) in his journey to the title, but it's a little ignorant to think that Durant won't have multiple titles by the time his career ends. He won't have as many as LeBron will but he'll end up with at least a few, based on his talent and willingness to be a teammate.

KD has yet to prove that.

As of now, you know it.

[dg7md]

KD has yet to prove that.

As of now, you know it.

I'll take it back and admit that Dirk is superior once we see how a few more years of Durant's career is going, but OKC's faults are seldom the blame on Durant and are rather due to weak coaching, a poor bench, and a lack of chemistry between Westbrook and KD.

As of now, title win aside, I would take a prime Durant on my team instead of a prime Dirk.

[ambchang]

In terms of career accomplishments, it's Duncan and it's not even close.
Shaq used to have an argument back around 2010 or so, but Duncan's resurgence, playing the defensive anchor role for a two time NBA finalist (and 1 time champion) since has all but cemented Duncan as the greatest individual since Jordan.
Lebron has a great case, but him bolting the Cavs to join a super team in order to ring puts a dent in his legacy. However, hard to argue with his MVPs and Finals MVPs.

In terms of team accomplishments, you can make a case of Spurs vs. Lakers as the Lakers did make one more finals in that time frame, but also missed the playoffs in another year.

[midnightpulp]

Dirk over Durbeta any day of the week for me. Durant has more natural talent, but Dirk has a higher b-ball IQ and is actually more unguardable when he gets it going.

Case in point:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2011_WCF.html#DAL-OKC

[TDMVPDPOY]

KD has yet to prove that.

As of now, you know it.

he doesnt need to prove shit, when every fan doesnt buy into his shit, with the way nba has shoved him down our throats like his the 2nd coming to challenge anyone

dude relies so much on refs that nobody respects his game...

prime dirk never avg the amount of freebies this clown get

[100%duncan]

he doesnt need to prove shit, when every fan doesnt buy into his shit, with the way nba has shoved him down our throats like his the 2nd coming to challenge anyone

dude relies so much on refs that nobody respects his game...

prime dirk never avg the amount of freebies this clown get

We're on the same side, just telling the dudes who prefer Durant over Dirk right now.

[Clipper Nation]

Durbeta is just an overhyped Kevin Martin with inflated stats due to how he's reffed in the regular season.... Dirk >>>>> Durbeta

[Killakobe81]

I have no problem with a case being made here. Just like I had no problem (obviously) when the case was made for Kobe after the back2back.
I always saw them as "close" but if these back to back finals with a win pushes Duncan ahead I dont see the big argument.
Only on here and LG is it such a divide between the two best players of this era (Lebron is a bit younger so not in this convo yet).

No issue. But I think again it's the nature to favor what is present and recent. But when the dust settles it will still be close and if Duncan is ahead, that is no slight or knock on Kobe or Tim.Duncan is a great player and to be compared to Timmy even if he falls short is a compliment to both players tbh.

Yall need to stop with the bullshit. No harm in Duncan being greater nor was it a travesty though may have been wrong when many thought it was Kobe.

[barbacoataco]

Kobe vs Duncan is a pointless argument because they are different players, different skills, different positions. You can argue who had a greater career, but not who was a better player.

[DMC]

LeBron will top him in 5 years.

I'll be a billionaire in 5 years. Both propositions are just as easy to prove.

[DMC]

Kobe vs Duncan is a pointless argument because they are different players, different skills, different positions. You can argue who had a greater career, but not who was a better player.
Sure you can. Kobe never made a teammate better. Kobe never did anything for anyone except Kobe. He ran off his best help and his coach called him uncoachable and meant it. So yeah, what makes a player a great player isn't how many points he scored while stat padding against Toronto.

[IrisHockey]

I'll be a billionaire in 5 years. Both propositions are just as easy to prove.

Well hopefully you don't live long enough to see that day.

[Brunodf]

No shit

[DMC]

Laker fans here love to talk about the old time glory of the Lakers, when all it does is show just how much more of an impact Duncan has had than Kobe :lol

-Kobe joined the NBA, began his career with Shaq on a franchise that had shown it can put together title teams... a franchise that already had 11 titles. and his team only started winning when they hired the GOAT coach. he ended up playing on 5 championship teams, and we can all assume he's done competing for chips

-Duncan joined the NBA, started his career with an already past his prime Robinson coming off major injuries, and assumed the lead dog role from day one... on a franchise that had never even made an NBA finals, and with a coach that had no previous success. he has so far played on 5 championship teams, and is probably going to be battling for more.

the magnitude to which Duncan changed the Spurs franchise is nearly unparalleled. If the Lakers never got Kobe, it probably just means they would have kept Shaq for a bit longer, and would in all likelihood still won a title, and possibly more depending on who they acquired next to shaq
Add to it the fact that Shaq actually made the Finals before Kobe did, though he never won a game. His numbers were off the charts.

Kobe was given the space to do whatever he wanted because 3 people had to guard Shaq. Shaq still won the MVP thrice in a row. They miss one Finals and suddenly they have to get Payton and Malone for pennies, because the two were legriding to a ring (so they thought) but it turns out that only Shaq could get Payton a ring, and only with Wade. Bryant wouldn't sniff another ring before MVPau was gifted to him for his whining to Stephen A Smith about quitting.

The Lakers are the Kardashians of the NBA, fascinating to watch but mostly just to watch crumble and meltdown. You cheer against them, not for them, unless you're a legrider from way back or a post-Pau faggot like the ilk that vomits their shitty takes here.

[DMC]

Well hopefully you don't live long enough to see that day.
If it's up to you to ensure that, I certainly will, because it's been shown that you cannot get it done.

[Johnny RIngo]

Durant is only 25 and has the best annual scorer's stats since MJ, and has been locking up top 1-2 seed for years. . .even if he has received ref-fixed wins. Loads of potential accolades incoming. All Dirk has over him is years and a ring right now if we're being fair.

Dirk is not exactly a defender either. Durant is going to fly past Dirk as long as he gets one ring.

Neither is Durant.

[FkLA]

Why is a guy with only 1 MVP and 2 alpha titles even in the same catergory as the other three ?

[Kidd K]

Neither is Durant.

My reply was to someone who already said that. I also said "either", which would include Durant.

[Leetonidas]

Laker fans here love to talk about the old time glory of the Lakers, when all it does is show just how much more of an impact Duncan has had than Kobe :lol

-Kobe joined the NBA, began his career with Shaq on a franchise that had shown it can put together title teams... a franchise that already had 11 titles. and his team only started winning when they hired the GOAT coach. he ended up playing on 5 championship teams, and we can all assume he's done competing for chips

-Duncan joined the NBA, started his career with an already past his prime Robinson coming off major injuries, and assumed the lead dog role from day one... on a franchise that had never even made an NBA finals, and with a coach that had no previous success. he has so far played on 5 championship teams, and is probably going to be battling for more.

the magnitude to which Duncan changed the Spurs franchise is nearly unparalleled. If the Lakers never got Kobe, it probably just means they would have kept Shaq for a bit longer, and would in all likelihood still won a title, and possibly more depending on who they acquired next to shaq

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs/589434_o.gif

[MarioSpeedwagon]

Lol they never even mention Kobe in this article . its all lebron and duncan