I hate to say it BUT... 2017 Leonard > 2013 Duncan

[UNT Eagles 2016]

That's kind of like saying the Spurs beat a Heat team that was burnt out from winning two straight championships after three straight finals appearances in 2014, a Portland team that was severely challenged on the defensive end, had no depth and couldn't cope with prosperity after making it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 14 years and the first time in Aldridge's career (thanks to Liliard) and an OKC team that didn't have Ibaka (Spurs killer) for the first two games of the series followed by a 30% Ibaka for the rest of the series. KD and RW were run into the ground early in that series because of OKC's lack of bench depth. One could say the 49 win eighth seeded Dallas Mavericks were the Spurs only real challenge in 2014.

See how that two-sided coin works?

The two sided coin works, but the Mavs were just as good as the Spurs in 2003 (60-22 tie) but the Spurs peaked at the end of the season whereas the Mavs had peaked early. The East was way down no doubt, but the West was stacked back then. The Suns were a ing nightmare for us and had been all season despite being only 45-37 (and the 8 seed) they had Spurkiller Starbury who had made Parker his personal sex slave all year until game 5 of that series. Not to mention the Lakers were 50-32 after starting out 19-23 and riding into the playoffs on fire that year, the "burnout" had easily worn off by February 2003.

But on the flip side it wouldn't be fair to take anything away from 2014 OKC, they were every bit the very definition of elite and a true contender that year, the Spurs just... eked it out and won.

[Ice009]

Parker better than Duncan?

Come on dude.

As I keep saying, this guy is a troll. He'll always take shots at Tim Duncan.

[bigfan]

I wouldn't trade Leonard for any player in the NBA right now.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Duncan is still easily better until Kawhi strings some elite playoff series' together(at the very least), but to be fair, it'll be much more difficult for Leonard to establish himself with teams like the Warriors and Cavs in the league, tbh..the 2003 Spurs played in the dark ages of the NBA, where the Nets made the Finals, and their only real challenge was a Lakers team that was burnt out from 3 consecutive runs to the Finals..

I think we are in the dark age as well now. More ty teams than ever, whereas the 2000's had the greatest western conference of all time.

The NBA is in a ty place right now for me, it's pretty much the Warriors and everyone else.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

I think we are in the dark age as well now. More ty teams than ever, whereas the 2000's had the greatest western conference of all time.

The NBA is in a ty place right now for me, it's pretty much the Warriors and everyone else.

because back in the 2000s there were never more than 2 superstars on the same team. Blame the '08 Celtics for starting the trend because that was really the first time ever even if they were each a little over the hill.

[Chinook]

I wouldn't trade Leonard for any player in the NBA right now.

Not even Kawhi Leonard?

[HarlemHeat37]

I think we are in the dark age as well now. More ty teams than ever, whereas the 2000's had the greatest western conference of all time.

The NBA is in a ty place right now for me, it's pretty much the Warriors and everyone else.

Depends what you mean..if you're referring to parity, then yes, but that's because the Warriors have 4 stars, including 2 of the top 3 players in the league it would be almost the equivalent of adding Ray Allen and Shawn Marion to the 2003 Lakers..

I was referring to the state of the league, though..2003 to 2007 were the dark days for the NBA(worst since the 70s) in terms of popularity and watch-ability..it had its worst ratings since the 70s and that era of basketball(following LA's 3-peat until the big 3 Celtics) has been forgotten by the media and fans, it's an afterthought, which is part of the reason Duncan's peak has been overshadowed..

[TD 21]

I think you are undermining Kawhi a little too much. We don't sniff anything without Kawhi in 2013 or 2014. And Although Tim was the best player in the 2014 Playoffs, it was Kawhi only that could get us that 'chip.

I think you mean underestimating, but I'm not doing either. Since it was an ensemble cast, virtually every rotation player was a key one (with the possible exception of Belinelli, they couldn't have done without any) and he was something like co second best, but because mid way through the following season he broke out and emerged as one of the ten best players in the league, there was almost instantaneous revisionist history when it came to his role.

[dabom]

I think you mean underestimating, but I'm not doing either. Since it was an ensemble cast, virtually every rotation player was a key one and he was something like co second best, but because mid way through the following season he broke out and emerged as one of the ten best players in the league, there was almost instantaneous revisionist history when it came to his role.

Except I don't. I remember debating it right after we won. This isn't revisionist history. I have an excellent mind for these things.

[Spurtacular]

OP is a smart guy. I'm not even sure where I stand on this one.

With your hands holding your ankles and your ass up awaiting a schlonging from Kawhi.