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Not even debatable. Tim Duncan could have 4 Spurstalk posters in the starting lineup with him and still make the playoffs.
Scoreboard.
Kevin Garnett vs. Tim Duncan: A Comparison of Two of the League's Best Big Men
Posted May 17th 2007 7:00AM by Nate Jones
Filed under: Timberwolves, Spurs, Western
Recently there have been a lot of articles comparing Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. ESPN's Bill Simmon's thinks Duncan's better, while stat guru David Beri seems to think Garnett is better. In addition, TrueHoop reader and Marketing Professor, Kenneth Wilbur seems to think the Duncan is better.
Here's my opinion: Kevin Garnett is the more talented player, but as of now, Tim Duncan is the better player. My reason for this falls along the same line as Wilbur's. Basically I believe Duncan is a better player because he utilizes his talents in a more efficient manner than KG.
Kevin Garnett is a better rebounder, passer, and defender than Tim Duncan. He is also a better athlete with a more complete offensive game.(ROFL) But unlike Duncan, Garnett refuses to utilize his best offensive weapon. Kevin Garnett is just as unstoppable on the low post as Tim Duncan.(ROFL) Yet Garnett doesn't utilize the low post as an offensive weapon the way Duncan does.
Sometimes, even with a player as talented as Garnett, it's necessary to sacrifice other parts of your game in order to enhance another more important part of it. For example, Garnett can hit a twenty foot jump shot. Although not as consistent as Garnett's, Duncan also has a pretty nice jumper. Yet Duncan has sacrificed showing some of his versatility in favor of what works best for winning. When KG sits out there on the perimeter he is a less efficient player. On the perimeter he takes lower percentage shots and is not in a position where he can draw double teams, capture offensive boards, and set up teammates. And as Wilbur pointed out, it's easier for defenders to rotate off of Garnett on to driving players when Garnett is not in the post. However, when Garnett is on the post, not only can you not help off of him, but you will undoubtedly have to double team him each and every time, opening up the game for the players around him.
Basically the greatest tragedy of Garnett's career might be the fact that no coach has forced him to commit to the low post. Watch film of Garnett (not you tube, because all they have are dunks on there) and you'll quickly find out what I mean about him on the low block. He's an absolute beast down there. I mean, he has the footwork, the length, the strength, and the athleticism to kill anyone on the mid to low block. Plus one of the best post players of all-time (Kevin McHale) taught him a whole slew of post moves.
Yes things could have been helped for Garnett if he had better teammates (even though, in my opinion, his teammates aren't really as bad as they are made out to be). But believe me, there's no way a player as dynamic as Garnett should have missed the playoffs three years in a row. All that tells me is that he is not putting his stamp on games in an efficient manner.
If you still don't feel what I'm trying to convey compare Duncan and KG's shot charts from this season. Duncan took 752 shots (out of 1,131 total shots on the season) in the deep low post, making .613 of his shots, while Garnett only took 451 shots (out of 1,341 totals shots on the season) in that area, converting on .581 of his shots.
So you see, Garnett and Duncan both shoot about 60% on the low block, but Garnett doesn't utilize this unstoppable part of his game the same way Duncan does. Duncan takes 66% of his field goal attempts from the low block while KG only takes 34% of his shots from down there.
Basically, if KG wants to win, he'll learn to utilize his talents more efficiently and get his butt down on the block. But until then, I'll have to say that Tim is the better player.
Not even debatable. Tim Duncan could have 4 Spurstalk posters in the starting lineup with him and still make the playoffs.
Scoreboard.
There is still a "debate" about this?
this might have been a debate three years ago. anyone other than a total garnett jock knows there's no comparison. garnett is a statsheet superstar, nothing more.
A weapon unused is not a weapon.
apparently in this guy's head there is...
Again?
It never goes away.
Now we've got to talk about putting Duncan on the Wolves and seeing how far they'd go, putting KG on the Spurs and seeing how far they'd go.
It just never ends.
"Watch film of Garnett (not you tube, because all they have are dunks on there) and you'll quickly find out what I mean about him on the low block. "
Yep, you'll have to watch film, because he doesn't play on TV anymore.
I thought this debate was over after 2003???
garnett > duncan is laughable..
i hope dallas or phx trades for his ass this summer.
then timmy can steamroll his ass in the playoffs next year and put an end to this b.s.
This debate is so pre-2005
Wow, what a dumbass. Garnett is a better defender and passer? Who knew? I'll give him rebounds, he always did average more than TD. But other than rebounds, KG has nothing on Duncan. It's almost laughable now to compare TD to KG.
yes that is why KG can take his team to the playoffs what 9 straight years... oh wait he can't...
Three Rings...No Rings...End of Story
judge them w/o the rings and mvps bull talk.
kg is most complete, talented, flashy, in definitive better player.
when you all duncan's ass suckers, take it objetivelly, you will agree that
kg > duncan
oh, i forgot, he have heart
Shorter version: Garnett is so much less intelligent than Tim Duncan that his edge in sheer physical giftedness is overwhelmed.
I really like and respect KG. He's put up tremendous numbers year after year after year. And I would love to have him on the Spurs. But I would ALWAYS choose Tim Duncan over KG.
as if garnett hasn't played with any talent in minnesota.
post game? :guffaw
Why would we judge this without rings?judge them w/o the rings and mvps bull talk.
Flashiness?
Garnett is Duncan's ,period.
Sorry, Duncan's career rebounding is better than KG's.
KG used to be more versatile as a defender, if you want to call fronting a gimmick zone versatile -- but not anymore.
Exactly, not to mention with an almost completely different supporting class each time.
chumpdumper, please, dont talk me anymore, im F tired of you.
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