2003 Duncan or 2015 Lebron?

[SASdynasty!]

I know we're only 3 games in, but if Lebron keeps this up, is this a greater performance than '03 Duncan in the Finals? (supporting cast #s to compare their help):

James - 41.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG on 40% shooting.
Mozgov - 13.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 1.7 BPG on 54% shooting.
Smith - 10.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG on 34% shooting.
Dellavedova - 9.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.0 BPG on 37% shooting.
Shumpert - 5.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 3.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG on 26% shooting.

Duncan - 24.2 PPG, 17.0 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 5.3 BPG on 50% shooting.
Parker - 14.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG on 39% shooting.
Robinson - 10.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.8 BPG on 61% shooting.
Jackson - 10.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG on 38% shooting.
Ginobili - 8.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG on 35% shooting.

[RD2191]

Duncan, easily. LeBron is 43-107 from the floor in 3 games vs the Dubs. Sure he has to shoot but I'm sure (prime) Duncan could average 40 if he was taking as many shots as Lebron in the Finals.

[SASdynasty!]

Duncan, easily. LeBron is 43-107 from the floor in 3 games vs the Dubs. Sure he has to shoot but I'm sure (prime) Duncan could average 40 if he was taking as many shots as Lebron in the Finals.
Easily? Lebron is averaging 27 PPG MORE than his next best scorer, Mozgov. Duncan averaged 10 PPG more than his next best, Parker. And I believe that maybe Tim COULD have averaged 41 PPG, but isn't his highest playoff series average like 32 PPG in the '06 Mavs series?

[MultiTroll]

Duncan, easily. LeBron is 43-107 from the floor in 3 games vs the Dubs. Sure he has to shoot but I'm sure (prime) Duncan could average 40 if he was taking as many shots as Lebron in the Finals.

[RD2191]

Duncan, easily. LeBron is 43-107 from the floor in 3 games vs the Dubs. Sure he has to shoot but I'm sure (prime) Duncan could average 40 if he was taking as many shots as Lebron in the Finals.
nest question

[SASdynasty!]

nest question
With your only argument being "Duncan COULD have scored 41 PPG"? ...when he's never even been close to doing that in a series?

Obviously scoring is not the argument you want to make here. Even Parker scored more in the 2007 Finals than Duncan did in 2003.

[RD2191]

Duncan, easily. LeBron is 43-107 from the floor in 3 games vs the Dubs. Sure he has to shoot but I'm sure (prime) Duncan could average 40 if he was taking as many shots as Lebron in the Finals.


nest question

[Horse]

Easily? Lebron is averaging 27 PPG MORE than his next best scorer, Mozgov. Duncan averaged 10 PPG more than his next best, Parker. And I believe that maybe Tim COULD have averaged 41 PPG, but isn't his highest playoff series average like 32 PPG in the '06 Mavs series?

Lebron is choking his ass but GSW are too sorry to take advantage.

[BatManu20]

If Lebron wins this series, it'll be Lebron, and pretty easily tbh. If he averages anything near his current 40/12/8 average stat line, it'll be historic, regardless of his poor shooting %.

[dabom]

Warriors team reminds me of the 2012 OKC team. Too young. Wet the bed. The 2012 Spurs would have been champions if it wasn't for the NBA rigging game 6 for us.

[Clipper Nation]

"2015 Porker."

- OP

[r0drig0lac]

If Lebron wins this series, it'll be Lebron, and pretty easily tbh. If he averages anything near his current 40/12/8 average stat line, it'll be historic, regardless of his poor shooting %.

this

[Malik Hairston]

I'll run the advanced metrics when I have time to see how they compare to each other and their teammates, etc, rather then the raw numbers..offensively, Lebron is carrying a larger load than any player in Finals history, but 2003 Finals Duncan had arguably the greatest defensive Finals series in the modern era IIRC..

Both are playing vs. the #1 ranked defenses in the league, although the Warriors are a historically great team, overall(which then depends on how much you value Lebron's defense in this series)..

Hollinger had Duncan at #3 in the GOAT performances, it'll be tough to top: http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012/story/_/page/FinalsPerformances-3/no-3

[Malik Hairston]

The shitty thing about 2003 Duncan is that it occurred in the least popular era in modern NBA history, the dark ages of viewership(2003 to 2007)..the majority of people don't realize how historically dominant he was because o it, unfortunately..

Lebron is actually having his worst playoff run in 7 years, he's clearly on the decline, but this has been the most watched Finals since the Jordan days, which aids perception..

[ElNono]

ugh raw stats don't tell you anything. Any advanced metrics that take into account opposition, etc?

[313]

I would take 2012-2014 over 2015 LeBron and I would probably take 2003 Duncan over each if them.

[Arcadian]

It's a great comparison, probably both top 5 all time performances. I vote Duncan, but I am biased - not just towards Duncan in particular, but towards big men generally.

[TD 21]

Definitely '03 Duncan. James, despite what he's on the verge of accomplishing and the raw numbers, isn't playing at the same level he was in '09, '10, '12, '13 or '14.

I still think '03 Duncan is the greatest all around performance of all time, slightly ahead of '12 and '13 James.

[Mikeanaro]

Duncan, He scored less but with more competition and better FG% these Finals are a joke, do you think this is good basketball? :lol

[dbreiden83080]

With your only argument being "Duncan COULD have scored 41 PPG"? ...when he's never even been close to doing that in a series?

Obviously scoring is not the argument you want to make here. Even Parker scored more in the 2007 Finals than Duncan did in 2003.

Did Tim Duncan in his whole career ever shoot 35 shots in a game?

His career high of 53 he took 28 shots and was 15/15 from the line..