Best PF in the NBA right now

[ElNono]

He does, but Dirk is not a terrible defender by any means. He will never be All-NBA Defense or whatever, but he does a good job on any non-elite PF. The scouting report needs to be updated.

I agree, I think he's about average.

[dirk4mvp]

As many times as people reply with a different point from the one I'm making.
Now, why do you care how many times I say it?

I could care less, but you sure get hot under the collar if someone has a different opinion than you do.

Dirk this season > Duncan this season

[sonic21]

He might actually play better offensive ball overall too. But the game is played on both ends of the floor, right now or at any time. And when you consider both ends of the floor, I think TD tops any PF, right now.

do you watch spurs games?
duncan D has been really bad since manu and tony came back (except the bobcats game)

[ElNono]

I could care less, but you sure get hot under the collar if someone has a different opinion than you do.

I already said I disagreed with the opposite opinion, and I also said everyone is en led to his/her opinion. I don't see how that is getting 'hot under the collar'.

Dirk this season > Duncan this season

I disagree. But whatever floats your boat.

[ElNono]

do you watch spurs games?
duncan D has been really bad since manu and tony came back (except the bobcats game)

He's been up and down. There has been at least two games I remember where he played really bad defense. Then he played incredible defense on others (Early in the season, Suns against Shaq on xmas day, Bulls, Bobcats).
I actually think even when he doesn't have a Duncan-type outing, he's still above average. Consider that he's basically the only decent defender we have in the paint right now, and he normally guards the best PF/C on the other team, and still has the stamina to put up a double/double.

[mystargtr34]

So far this season, i would say Dirk has been better.

[J_Paco]

How can Dirk be the best PF right now or this season, when overall Duncan is outperforming him in every category except PPG?


This is similar to the claim Maverick fans made three seasons ago when they eliminated S.A. from the playoffs. Winning a playoff series or putting up more points won't equal up to Timmy's superior all-around game. Plus, Timmy puts up better statistics while playing 2 less minutes each night.

Edit: The point can be made that Tim isn't really a power forward anyway, since he's regularly guarding the other team's center on most nights.

[Rapper]

Dirk's fans, shame on you

a player who ever and never won a ring can be called the best PF in the NBA?

what a shame!

compared Dirk with Tim,this is definitely the biggest insult to Timmy

[stretch]

How can Dirk be the best PF right now or this season, when overall Duncan is outperforming him in every category except PPG?

This is similar to the claim Maverick fans made three seasons ago when they eliminated S.A. from the playoffs. Winning a playoff series or putting up more points won't equal up to Timmy's superior all-around game. Plus, Timmy puts up better statistics while playing 2 less minutes each night.

Duncan also has constantly had far superior personel to play alongside with. While Duncan does get double teamed, when he passes out, the defense is forced to respect whomever he passes to.

The only guy that anyone has ever really had any respect over the past 4 or 5 years for on Dallas is Terry. He has been the only guy that has even somewhat been able to consistently take pressure off Dirk, and even he isn't always the most consistent player around.

Dirk has for several years now, had to deal with far more double teams than Duncan ever has, and most of that is due to his extremely inconsistent teammates. All you have to do is look at the GS series. No one was able to hit a shot, thus they were able to constantly have a double or a triple team on Dirk, so basically the only kind of shot Dirk could get off was a long jumper, and when you put athetes like GS had on someone shooting the ball, it makes it that much harder to get a good shot off.

Some people will say that Dirk having a post game would have made a difference, but it really wouldn't have made much difference at all, because they would have still been collapsing on him, making it nearly impossible to get a good shot off, and fact is, his teammates were getting a load of open shots in that series, and were not making anything. Passing to a wide open teammate whether you are in the high post or low post, makes no difference if they aren't hitting the shot.

Fact is, there is no one in the NBA, aside from Kobe and Lebron (who also happen to be the best two players in the NBA) that has done more with crappier teammates than Dirk. And for people to bash him the way they do for not winning it all, is ridiculous because there has NEVER been a superstar that didn't win a ring without another legit star, and Dirk damn near did it, if it weren't for Wade having the greatest statistical finals series in NBA history, and in the eyes of many, a very controversially officiated series.

Dirk really does not get enough credit from people, because they don't see the whole picture, or know the whole story.

[mathbzh]

I am a big Dirk fan. I am very impressed with what he does for the German team (I remember the 2005 Eurobasket... he was unbelievable...

But when you say he never played with a legit star... come on... In 2004 he was playing with Nash, Finley, Jamison, Howard

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

good for you.


Dirk is playing at a higher level right now than any other pf.

You obviously didn't watch Amare's performance against Boston.

[dirk4mvp]

I am a big Dirk fan. I am very impressed with what he does for the German team (I remember the 2005 Eurobasket... he was unbelievable...

But when you say he never played with a legit star... come on... In 2004 he was playing with Nash, Finley, Jamison, Howard

Finley was well on his decline at that time. Howard wouldn't play at a high level 2 years from then. And Nash and Jamison, as good as they are, are not championship caliber players.

[stretch]

I am a big Dirk fan. I am very impressed with what he does for the German team (I remember the 2005 Eurobasket... he was unbelievable...

But when you say he never played with a legit star... come on... In 2004 he was playing with Nash, Finley, Jamison, Howard

First off... Howard was a rookie, Jamison wasn't quite a star, Finley had been declining for several years already, and Nash didn't really become a star until he went to Phoenix. Yeah, he made a couple all-star games, but its not like he was playing at a level that other #2 options on le winning teams were, like Kareem, Parish, Pippen, Kobe, Robinson, Ginobili, KG, etc... he was nice, but no where near those levels. Also, don't forget that team was a complete mess with Walker there ruining everything. Balance is important when making a team, and they were extremely unbalanced.

Second, it wasn't yet Dirk's team. He was still a young, developing player at the time. The reigns weren't handed entirely to him until Nash left. The same way the Lakers weren't Kobe's team until Shaq left. Ever since it has been unquestionably Dirk's team, he has not really had any real stars to play with. The closest are Howard and Terry, but neither of them are true stars in this league.

[Findog]

Second, it wasn't yet Dirk's team. He was still a young, developing player at the time.

Dirk has been the Mavs' best player since early in the 01-02 season, the first at the AAC. If you want to say the 04-05 team wasn't nearly as good on the court than on paper, that's fine, but it was easily "Dirk's team" by that point.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Second, it wasn't yet Dirk's team. He was still a young, developing player at the time. The reigns weren't handed entirely to him until Nash left. The same way the Lakers weren't Kobe's team until Shaq left. Ever since it has been unquestionably Dirk's team, he has not really had any real stars to play with. The closest are Howard and Terry, but neither of them are true stars in this league.

I'd take Dirk's 2007 supporting cast over Duncan's 2003 supporting cast.

[stretch]

Dirk has been the Mavs' best player since early in the 01-02 season, the first at the AAC. If you want to say the 04-05 team wasn't nearly as good on the court than on paper, that's fine, but it was easily "Dirk's team" by that point.

Of course Dirk was the best player, but it didn't make it his team. He was not yet the unquestioned leader, as many people felt Finley and Nash were equal leaders of that team. And in all honesty, Finley and Nash were more assertive in leading the team than Dirk was at the time.

[stretch]

I'd take Dirk's 2007 supporting cast over Duncan's 2003 supporting cast.

Harris, Terry, Howard, Damp, Diop, Stack, Buckner, George, Croshere
Coach: Avery

Robinson, Parker, Ginobili, Jackson, Claxton, Bowen, Rose, Kerr
Coach: Popovich

Give me 03 Spurs, all day. Spurs were a much more balanced team, and much more well coached.

[Les Grossman]

Dirk may be playing at the highest level, but Duncan is still #1.

[Sportstudi]

Duncan also has constantly had far superior personel to play alongside with. While Duncan does get double teamed, when he passes out, the defense is forced to respect whomever he passes to.

The only guy that anyone has ever really had any respect over the past 4 or 5 years for on Dallas is Terry. He has been the only guy that has even somewhat been able to consistently take pressure off Dirk, and even he isn't always the most consistent player around.

Dirk has for several years now, had to deal with far more double teams than Duncan ever has, and most of that is due to his extremely inconsistent teammates. All you have to do is look at the GS series. No one was able to hit a shot, thus they were able to constantly have a double or a triple team on Dirk, so basically the only kind of shot Dirk could get off was a long jumper, and when you put athetes like GS had on someone shooting the ball, it makes it that much harder to get a good shot off.

Some people will say that Dirk having a post game would have made a difference, but it really wouldn't have made much difference at all, because they would have still been collapsing on him, making it nearly impossible to get a good shot off, and fact is, his teammates were getting a load of open shots in that series, and were not making anything. Passing to a wide open teammate whether you are in the high post or low post, makes no difference if they aren't hitting the shot.

Fact is, there is no one in the NBA, aside from Kobe and Lebron (who also happen to be the best two players in the NBA) that has done more with crappier teammates than Dirk. And for people to bash him the way they do for not winning it all, is ridiculous because there has NEVER been a superstar that didn't win a ring without another legit star, and Dirk damn near did it, if it weren't for Wade having the greatest statistical finals series in NBA history, and in the eyes of many, a very controversially officiated series.

Dirk really does not get enough credit from people, because they don't see the whole picture, or know the whole story.

I couldn't have written it better. Totally agreed

[Sportstudi]

Dirk may be playing at the highest level, but Duncan is still #1.

Nobody will doubt that in terms of the whole career. TD is #1 all time, I agree. But I think that Dirk is currently on the same level.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

The difference between Dirk and Duncan is that Duncan affects both sides of the ball. While Dirk's rebounding has certainately improved over the past few seasons, Duncan is still #1 in the PF department because he can protect the paint as well as be a force on the offensive end.

If the Mavs had TD they would be a top 4 seed in the West.

[dirk4mvp]

The difference between Dirk and Duncan is that Duncan affects both sides of the ball. While Dirk's rebounding has certainately improved over the past few seasons, Duncan is still #1 in the PF department because he can protect the paint as well as be a force on the offensive end.

If the Mavs had TD they would be a top 4 seed in the West.

Not this year they wouldn't. The Mav's shooters have been terrible this year, outside of Dirk and JET. Duncan would get clamped down on down low with no outside threat.

[z0sa]

All I see are Mavsfans giving excuses for like 6 teammates and why they weren't good enough to help Dirk to a championship ... then turning around and saying 03 Parker and Manu were legitimate second options, or even Robinson

If you want to win, learn how to hold your ing team accountable...

Balance often has more to do with team chemistry than anything ... the Mavs should know well, since the 06 Heat are the reason they don't have a ring ... that team came together at the right time despite a bunch of pathetic losers/unprovens on the same team, barring Shaq ...

[Ghazi]

06 Heat won cause of biased officiating and a bunch of fluky plays.

I won't hold it against Dirk that he doesn't have a ring considering the cir stances surrounding those Finals.

[z0sa]

Not this year they wouldn't. The Mav's shooters have been terrible this year, outside of Dirk and JET. Duncan would get clamped down on down low with no outside threat.

Duncan commands double teams from the post, IE far away from the 3point line, and is not an outside shooter himself, so your comparison is completely irrelevant. Dirk is another big time outside shooter, maybe the best considering his size and lack of defenders who can guard him, who does not command double teams far from the three point line ... in fact, guarding him 1on1 is probably the best way to beat the Mavericks, even if he goes off. Which is why a bunch of 3pt shooters on the Mavericks is foolish - they need slashers to play off of a marquee shooter like Dirk ...

06 Heat won cause of biased officiating and a bunch of fluky plays.

I won't hold it against Dirk that he doesn't have a ring considering the cir stances surrounding those Finals.

Oh please ... officiating influences that series, but the Mavs were up 2-0 ... no matter of officiating would have cost a true champion that series.