The Admiral vs. Mr. Fundamental

[jcrod]

Not reliably. Once in a blue moon, Sean Eliot, Willie Anderson (before the calf problems), or Rod Strickland could go off. I don't think DRob ever played with anyone else who was even a threat to carry a team, and none of those was too serious a threat.

For the original topic. DRob wins. Probably very close, since in Tim's younger days he had pretty dang good lateral movement (remember, he would be asked to guard point guards at times in his first few years and could stay in front of them), and it's really only the last 3-4 that he's developped foot problems and slowed down. I still think David's athleticism wins out in 1-on-1.

Duncan never had lateral quickness.

The pg you're referencing was Mark Jackson (Kid yesterday). All Mark would do was post up the PG because he was big, but nothing else. So Pop put TD on him knowing he couldn't post him up or drive by him because he also was slow.

[dogzofwar]

This one is easy to ask but cannot be answered in this format.

I do not have the time to read all 150 posts going back and forth but from what I gathered all Duncan fans are comparing Duncan in his prime to Rob late in his career and all the DRob fans comparing the young DRob to the Duncan now. Funny how that works. Let's take care of that and put them both at the same peak in their careers.

Now for the second issue...I keep hearing about who was the better player...what on earth does the better player in a 5 on 5 sport have anything to do with how a 1 on 1 game would pan out? So we should dismiss anything and everything that has to do with championships or how that player makes the team better.

So that leaves just the facts....You want two of the most dominating players of their time to play against each other and sees what happens. Well seeing as no one, at any time, could guard either one of these gentlemen one on one. DRob with his pure athletic ability would do freakish things (complimented with a very nice fade away). And TDs footwork, IQ, and shooting arsenal (TD does have a sneaky hook shot, flawless bank shot, and a dunk when he wants to) makes him an impossible guard for any one man. Both players made anyone guarding them look foolish and I believe that they would make themselves look like fools just the same if they had to guard each other.

Based on this I would give the following prediction:

Game to 11 would be one 11 - 10 with whoever took the ball out first winning.
Make it Take it would be a skunk for whoever had the ball first.

Anyone remember that old Coke commercial where Bird and Jordan were playing horse??? Same thing.

[Jimcs50]

Lets not forget David has back problems during those games against Hakeem
however I agree Tim would take him because DR never really had "A Shot" and
all you had to do against David was play him physically

He did not have "a shot", he had many many shots. You do not lead the league in scoring without have shots.

There is no way that TD could beat DRob one on one when both players were at the tops of their games.


DRob was much quicker and had more range on his shot, and could out jump TD by at least a foot.

[jcrod]

You know we have a load of newbie Spurs fan if they don't give Drob his due.

DROB was once in a lifetime Freak. Only if he had the supporting cast.

[fyatuk]

This is one of the more stupid debates. It's not even a debate. Robinson would destroy Duncan in his prime for sure!. Who do you think taught Duncan half of what he knows?.. Remember, Robinson was as fundamental as he was athletic. And he was one of the most physically fit athletes the game has ever seen! Duncan wouldn't stand a chance. All you haters don't give D-Rob enough credit, which is sad. He's the one that single handedly saved the entire franchise! Show some respect!

Hey now. There's a difference between respect and worship. While I agree Robinson would win, he wouldn't "destroy" Tim. You're forgetting how quick Tim was side to side a few years ago, and that David wasn't exactly a beast at keeping people from backing him down in the post.

It'd be fun to watch.

[fyatuk]

Duncan never had lateral quickness.

The pg you're referencing was Mark Jackson (Kid yesterday). All Mark would do was post up the PG because he was big, but nothing else. So Pop put TD on him knowing he couldn't post him up or drive by him because he also was slow.

It was more than just him. It happened with a few PGs, and Tim's first 2 seasons he often ended up guarding 2 and 3s as well. He certainly wasn't as quick as David/Amare/etc, but he could move really well for a big man his first several years.

[Brutalis]

Sorry but Duncan is better than D-Rob. Duncan is quicker.

[jcrod]

It was more than just him. It happened with a few PGs, and Tim's first 2 seasons he often ended up guarding 2 and 3s as well. He certainly wasn't as quick as David/Amare/etc, but he could move really well for a big man his first several years.

Uhh, no. name them.

[Supergirl]

Wow, the poll is really neck-and-neck.

[101A]

Duncan got destroyed his rookie season in a All-Star weekend 1-1 match up with Keith Van Horn (yes, there was a "rivalry" for a season in some people's minds)!

No contest in a 1-1 match, really: none.

Robinson wins every one.

Check ball....dribble, step, jump.....dunk.

Repeat.

[Spurminator]

On top of that, David played in probably the most physical and slow paced era in the history of the NBA. If you move his career ten years sooner or ten years later and he'd be unguardable. David in his prime today with the no handchecking rules, charge circle and faster paced games would be unstoppable. He could average 32-34 points if he played today.

While I agree with this, I think Duncan would dominate regardless of the era.

[timvp]

Duncan got destroyed his rookie season in a All-Star weekend 1-1 match up with Keith Van Horn (yes, there was a "rivalry" for a season in some people's minds)!

Uh, no. You got that backwards. Duncan beat KVH.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Damn. 92-91 in favor of David.

[50 cent]

Wow....

93 all.

[TampaDude]

DRob made me a Spur... sorry Tim

+1 Duncan is the man now, but DRob is the reason my wife and I are Spurs fans...

[TampaDude]

Wow...94-94...let's just call it a tie...

[mystargtr34]

Though duncan is the better PLAYER ...especially post moves wise ...Admiral would win he has way more athelticisim ...than Timmy ever had was a better shot-blocker, stealer of teh ball ..and those would come in to play more often 1 on 1 every extra possession could mean a basket for Robinson ...and as far as the comments about what Dream did to the Admiral in the WCF Duncan is HOF but he aint no Olajawon ...1 on1 Hakeem shakes em both ...

Hakeem had just as much trouble guarding D-Rob one-on-one as vice versa ... thats a fact.David saw constant double teams in that 95 series and even triple teams on occasions.

[mystargtr34]

Uh, no. You got that backwards. Duncan beat KVH.

Whats this one-on-one game we speak of?

[jcrod]

Wow...94-94...let's just call it a tie...

I would like to know how many newbies we have who didn't see DROB in prime. I would bet the ones who did, voted for Drob over Duncan.

[CharlieMac]

I don't think people remember what an athletic freak DRob was.

[Louae]

Easy, Hakeem. Can't be biased about that. Hakeem was a footwork god.

It didn't hurt that the refs let him change his pivot foot or let him lift it off the ground to get further away on that fade away jumper of his.

[Louae]

Like i said they would both do well off eachother but David is on record as saying that when Tim came up he could not guard him practically at all.

When Tim came up, David was recovering from a bad back.

[ambchang]

The poll results indicate that roughly 50% of Spurs fans have not seen DRob in his prime.

One on one big man, I would put DRob in the same sentence as Hakeem and Wilt, nobody else could even come close.

[101A]

Uh, no. You got that backwards. Duncan beat KVH.

Damn, not how I remember it; oh well - wife was 8 months pregnant with #2; maybe that had something to do with it (gonna look it up, however, 'cause I really thought that was how it went)

[Admiral]

Just catching up on old threads and wanted to bump this one. There were some great arguments made all around.

One thing that I find disturbing is the number of Spurs fans who think DRob was just some athletic seven footer who had no skills. You guys do realize that you can't lead the NBA - the most talented basketball league on the planet - in scoring simply by being a good athlete, right? Just because DRob doesn't have the back-to-the-basket game to suit some of you does not mean that he simply ran around everyone. He had a really good jumper, a great first step, good ball handling skills, and some excellent fakes and moves. The athletes in the NBA are way too good for one man to average in the mid-high 20's for 7 seasons simply because he's an "athletic freak." Give the man some credit for being a very gifted basketball player too.