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They are both beautiful. Wonderful classy compe ors.
Duncan: 32.2ppg, 11.7rpg, 3.7apg, 2.5blk, 1.0spg, .556FG
Dirk: 27.1ppg, 13.3rpg, 2.7apg, 0.4blk, 1.3spg, .527FG
The one knock against Duncan, who was near perfect (as was Dirk), is he slightly faded in overtime during game 7. Understandable, since he was exhausted, but Dirk didn't fade and seized control in the extra period, which is why I feel Dirk comes out on top in this head-to-head matchup despite having marginally worse stats.
However, my intention with this thread isn't really to determine who was better in the series but to ask has their been a better player duel over a playoff series in the post Jordan-era? Each player only had one game in which they shot below 50%. To remain that consistent over a 7 game series is simply unreal.
They are both beautiful. Wonderful classy compe ors.
duncan played with PF injury man, mavs used the same tactic spurs did against the suns, which was contain 4 guys and see if the other guy have his...
whether duncan faded or not is not his fault, you going to blame him also for not stopping dirks last play where he was nowhere close to do anything
I'm not blaming Duncan for fading in overtime. As much work he did that game to lead the comeback and keep the Spurs within striking distance it's understandable he struggled against Diop, an active, athletic player who was fresh off the bench after Duncan fouled out Dampier and Van Horn. Diop only played 10 minutes in that game while Duncan played 50. I'm simply saying you have to consider that in comparing the two players' series.
this is the series i hated the most, this is the series pop learnt fkn small ball and tried that for 4 seasons = fail
Are we ignoring the defensive end ?
mavs-spurs series in 06 was the classiest matchup of all time imho
Do you ignore the legal age of consent in the state of Texas?
Memory is a little jogged, but I don't think Dirk really did anything in overtime. I remember Stackhouse hit a couple big shots and Diop had a bucket or two as well.
He didn't have to. Spurs were gassed after coming back from that big deficit that game. To think Ginobili has been a part of two of the biggest heartbreakers in SA history: .4 and the foul
And Duncan did it with two centers tied behind his bench.
Iverson vs. Carter is the only other series that comes to mind, tbh..
I can think of other single game playoff duels, but not throughout a series..
You're right. Just looked at the play-by-play and Dirk didn't have a FG attempt in overtime. Duncan was 1-5 in OT.
Dirk got them to overtime though: when Duncan was trying to score at the end of regulation, Dirk hacked him across the forearms. It was a flagrantly obvious foul that the refs ignored ('let the players decide the game' BS - if you can tackle the other guy, you're not playing basketball anymore and the refs are deciding the game by NOT calling it).
I'm sure Andrew Bynum and Roy Hibbert could have a comparable "epic" showdown if given the opportunity. And history would reflect back with the same reverence.
If Manu didn't make a dumb decision and foul Dirk on an obvious dunk, Duncan would've never had to be in that position and then proceed to get owned by DeSagana mf'in Diop in OT.
Get over those two Kobe choke jobs yet?
How does a professional basketball player, much less a supposed top 15 player of all time, singlehandedly up two playoff games like that?
Incredible.
Top 7 all time.
Manu fouls Dirk with 7 seconds left: called.
Dirk fouls Duncan with 2 seconds left: swallow your whistle.
And that was only 1 of dozens of stupid calls/non-calls in that series. Others include fouling Duncan out of the game when Dirk stepped on Duncan's stationary foot, fouling Bowen out of a game when Terry jumped backwards into him, saying Duncan was in the restricted area when the replay showed his heel was a full 14 inches away from the line, etc. The irony of Mavs fans complaining about the calls in the '06 Finals is that bad calls got them there.
I agree.
With the likes of Karl Malone, another choker.
That series was reffed pretty ty but the Spurs still shot more free throws than the Mavs and Duncan shot more than Dirk IIRC. Manus foul happened with like 35 seconds left, not 7 and it was more blatant than Dirks foul on Duncan. His was in the middle of traffic right under the basket so it was harder to see. I'm not justifying the refs that possession or series because they were ty all around. And Mav fans have a right to about the 06 finals when one player shoots 96 free throws vs a team that shoots 99 over 6 games.
And so could Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. Problem was, only one player decided to be "epic."
Stats excite many a fanboy.
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