KG (almost same age as Duncan) dropped 28pts 18rbs tonight, Duncan couldn't do 1/2

[TD 21]

For most of his career, Duncan outweighed Garnett by at least 50 pounds. Garnett played a finesse game, and didn't spend every night getting beaten on by the biggest guy on the opposing team. It took a toll on Tim's knees. And when Tim played through some injuries, to help the team win, it took even more of a toll on his knees.

Duncan has just under 7,000 minutes in playoff games. Garnett has just under 4,000. That's A LOT more wear and tear.

Over the last several seasons, Garnett has had guys like Big Baby, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, and Leon Powe to help him out around the basket. And Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on the outside, to keep them from collapsing on him. If Duncan had more help over the years, he wouldn't have so much hard mileage.

Most of all... what's your ing point? There's no rule that says Boston can't take on one new fan. Go watch Garnett.

"At least 50 pounds"? According to their listings, the biggest difference between them was 28 pounds (248 to 220). That was when they were young. Then it was 7 pounds (260 to 253). Now it's 2 pounds (255 to 253). Garnett is also really 7-1 (it's been said many times), not 6-11, like Duncan.

Because Duncan does center-like things, people act as if he's 7-1, 275. But in reality, he's smaller than Garnett and Nowitzki. He is the strongest of the three, but the point is, he played bigger than he actually was for years. And because he was so ridiculously dominant, this organization took him for granted and didn't get him proper help as he aged. Now we're seeing the effects of him having to carry far too heavy a load for too long. He played hard, grinding minutes, many of which came in the playoffs, which are harder minutes to begin with, for various reasons.

Nowadays, it oftentimes makes sense for Duncan to guard centers (not against true centers with skill, though), because of his declining mobility, but he's really a four and a half. The difference between him and guys like Garnett, Nowitzki and Gasol is, their teams never asked those guys to act as full time centers. In the case of Garnett and Nowitzki, they were never asked to act as even part time centers. They played far easier minutes. That's why Nowitzki in particular hasn't declined. Nothing he ever did lends itself to physical deterioration.

Even with a far heavier load and more hard miles on him, Duncan has drastically outperformed Garnett since he became a Celtic. Even this season, with Garnett supposedly bouncing back and Duncan having his worst season ever, he was still slightly better than him. The only two things Garnett has on Duncan are mid range shooting and face up defense.

[GSH]

I'm not saying that KG is better than TD. I'm just saying that Dbreiden's assertion that he's maybe in the Top 20 of his generation is laughable.

And I think TD has had at least as much help as KG has had, but your comment on different style games is true.

20 is still some rare company. I don't know the exact number, but I guess it depends on how you define "generation". You forget that Garnett got knocked out of the playoffs at least twice by Hakeem Olajuwan. Once by a Houston team that included Hakeem, Barkley, and Clyde Drexler. Garnett was in the league for at least half of Scottie Pippin's career, and a good part of Karl Malone's. If you accept those guys as part of KG's generation, he falls further down the list. I don't know how many more I could come up with, but there are more than a couple. (And that doesn't count the ones already mentioned in this thread.)

And as much as I respect Garnett's game, if it's a choice between him and Nowitzki, I'll take Dirk. I'd have to consider Nash, too, even though I still think it's a big man's game. Top 20 in his generation is a pretty amazing thing. Much more than that is pushing it.

[TheSpursFNRule]

wow, really really bad thread.

[LnGrrrR]

20 is still some rare company. I don't know the exact number, but I guess it depends on how you define "generation". You forget that Garnett got knocked out of the playoffs at least twice by Hakeem Olajuwan. Once by a Houston team that included Hakeem, Barkley, and Clyde Drexler. Garnett was in the league for at least half of Scottie Pippin's career, and a good part of Karl Malone's. If you accept those guys as part of KG's generation, he falls further down the list. I don't know how many more I could come up with, but there are more than a couple. (And that doesn't count the ones already mentioned in this thread.)

And as much as I respect Garnett's game, if it's a choice between him and Nowitzki, I'll take Dirk. I'd have to consider Nash, too, even though I still think it's a big man's game. Top 20 in his generation is a pretty amazing thing. Much more than that is pushing it.

Eh, I think basketball "generations" tend to be 5-7 years apart. When I think of generations, I think of star players who were in their prime together. (ie, Dirk, Kobe, KG, TD, etc etc). Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Jordan were part of a different generation (the late 80's/early 90s). You could argue that Jordan was part of two generations (the early/mid 80s, dominated by Bird/Magic) but he made his name in the late 80s/early 90s.

[daslicer]

Garnett had a few days off so he had more energy today. I will be impressed if the celtics play that well on Monday with just a day. Garnett has always had a better jumpshot then Duncan due to being a finesse player and that is why he has aged better then Duncan. Garnett relied heavily on that jumper so when he got old he could still shoot while Duncan never relied on jumpshooting thus once he got old his offensive game took a huge hit.

[NRHector]

Duncan played more playoffs game than KG. When Garnett went to the Celtics that's when he started playing more playoffs game. I don't think he played too many playoffs games when Garnett was in Minnesota.

[dbreiden83080]

So you said there were 20, and so far, you've been able to name 3 that fit. Only four more! You can do this.

If you really wanna get into this lets look at the last 20 years or so and tell me where KG ranks

Hakeem
Shaq
Duncan
Robinson
Ewing
Barkley
Malone
Kobe
Jordan
Pippen

Currently..

Wade
Lebron

Maybe 20 was harsh but he is nowhere near an all time great list and will never breath the elite all time air Duncan breathe's..

[LnGrrrR]

If you really wanna get into this lets look at the last 20 years or so and tell me where KG ranks

Hakeem
Shaq
Duncan
Robinson
Ewing
Barkley
Malone
Kobe
Jordan
Pippen

Currently..

Wade
Lebron

Maybe 20 was harsh but he is nowhere near an all time great list and will never breath the elite all time air Duncan breathe's..

I don't think you can count NBA generations in 20 year intervals.

And sure, KG's lack of rings definitely hurts him. Won't deny that.

[dbreiden83080]

I don't think you can count NBA generations in 20 year intervals.

And sure, KG's lack of rings definitely hurts him. Won't deny that.

My point was about Duncan

And Duncan is better than 90% of that list

KG not so much..

[dbreiden83080]

Duncan is easily top 10-12 all time

KG is maybe top 50..

[Kermit]

And KG is where compared to Duncan in terms of legacy?

KG is like the 20th best of his generation..

WTF? This is one of the stupidest things ever written on this site and that's saying a lot.

[dbreiden83080]

WTF? This is one of the stupidest things ever written on this site and that's saying a lot.

You don't visit very often then..

[Kermit]

No. It was ing stupid.

[mystargtr34]

1. Duncan
2. Shaq
3. Kobe
4. KG
5. Dirk

That's the rankings for the post Jordan era IMO..

[drok210]

Garnett couldn't get 1/2 of Duncan's championships even with the help of two hall of famers.

[mystargtr34]

That's not including guys like LeBron and Wade since they were borderline different era.. otherwise u can argue LeBron and Wade above Dirk and maybe KG

[Spurtacus]

It's sad to see how much better KG right now then TD, pathetic almost. TD couldn't even pull out 1 20pt game in the playoffs while getting serious minutes, and don't talk about touches, when he gets the ball he gets bullied

this thread is pathetic

[NickiRasgo]

lol

[TE]

"At least 50 pounds"? According to their listings, the biggest difference between them was 28 pounds (248 to 220). That was when they were young. Then it was 7 pounds (260 to 253). Now it's 2 pounds (255 to 253). Garnett is also really 7-1 (it's been said many times), not 6-11, like Duncan.

Because Duncan does center-like things, people act as if he's 7-1, 275. But in reality, he's smaller than Garnett and Nowitzki. He is the strongest of the three, but the point is, he played bigger than he actually was for years. And because he was so ridiculously dominant, this organization took him for granted and didn't get him proper help as he aged. Now we're seeing the effects of him having to carry far too heavy a load for too long. He played hard, grinding minutes, many of which came in the playoffs, which are harder minutes to begin with, for various reasons.

Nowadays, it oftentimes makes sense for Duncan to guard centers (not against true centers with skill, though), because of his declining mobility, but he's really a four and a half. The difference between him and guys like Garnett, Nowitzki and Gasol is, their teams never asked those guys to act as full time centers. In the case of Garnett and Nowitzki, they were never asked to act as even part time centers. They played far easier minutes. That's why Nowitzki in particular hasn't declined. Nothing he ever did lends itself to physical deterioration.

Even with a far heavier load and more hard miles on him, Duncan has drastically outperformed Garnett since he became a Celtic. Even this season, with Garnett supposedly bouncing back and Duncan having his worst season ever, he was still slightly better than him. The only two things Garnett has on Duncan are mid range shooting and face up defense.

/ thread.

[NewcastleKEG]

And KG is where compared to Duncan in terms of legacy?

KG is like the 20th best of his generation..

While I am a big Duncan > Shaq > Kobe homer

The gap is shrinking.

ESPN list in 2005, so before KG got his ring and anchored the 2 Finals appearances
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2074360

[NewcastleKEG]

1. Duncan
2. Shaq
3. Kobe
4. KG
5. Dirk

That's the rankings for the post Jordan era IMO..

Nash and his 2 MVP's still gotta put him above Dirk at the moment. A Finals appearance and I think you can rank Dirk above

Then you have the LeBron, Wade, Mello working up

[Capt Bringdown]

Sad to say, but Duncan won't be putting up those kinds of numbers in the playoffs ever again. Props to Garnett, a very impressive performance.

[Chief]

LOL easy to play fresh when for the better part of your career, you've only played until the first round of the playoffs, this topic is a joke.

[100%duncan]

4>>>>>1 you

[ajballer4]

While I am a big Duncan > Shaq > Kobe homer

The gap is shrinking.

ESPN list in 2005, so before KG got his ring and anchored the 2 Finals appearances
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2074360

This is for best of all time? I cant take it seriously, with Amare almost cracking the top ten