Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Prime Tim Duncan vs Prime Kevin Garnett
R-Tistic wrote:
Who would you prefer on your team, having the ability to select one of them in their prime?
Who do you feel was best in their prime years?
Depends.
Assuming pairing with Kobe in his prime, I go with Duncan. Better contrast in personality; KG/Kobe would = dead teammates. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Prime Tim Duncan vs Prime Kevin Garnett
R-Tistic wrote:
Who would you prefer on your team, having the ability to select one of them in their prime?
Who do you feel was best in their prime years?
That's tough. On paper. Garnett was a GOAT level guy with an amazing skill set who was only held back by poor teammates. That said, he did tend to underperform in the playoffs until he reached Boston and wasn't required to be the main guy.
We can only guess how a 25-year-old Garnett would do on the Spurs and vice versa with Duncan.
As much as I love Garnett, I'd go with Duncan, but I see the other point of view.
Joined: 11 Jan 2012 Posts: 5103 Location: Southland Native
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 12:00 pm Post subject:
TheRod wrote:
Prime Tim Duncan. For me it's not even close.
This. KG and Kobe both in their primes would be akin to watching Shaq/Kobe, two alphas going at each other's throats as well as their nightly opponents. KG probably would be less dominant, but in today's NBA of spacing/ball movement/3pt shooting probably would translate better.
Now with Duncan you'd get a HoF/GOAT version of Odom and a pairing that would complement each other better. It's the duo lineup that would most likely win the most amount of championships over a sustained period of time out of all three possibilities (Shaq/Kobe, Kobe/KG, Kobe/TD). _________________ Character Manchester United | Greatest European Moments Fabric of United - Our Belief
Not sure where people are getting this idea that KG had some huge ego , was some alpha male and would clash with kobe.
KG was criticized the majority of his career as not being alpha enough, taking big shots, etc.
Him and Kobe would be perfect together. I don't think he'd have any issue deferring to Kobe.
But I pick Duncan, as he was the better player IMO
Re: KG/Kobe, issue isn't alpha personality, but that they are cut from the same cloth and that would be overwhelming for a team.
Kobe/Duncan on the other hand is a yin/yang perfect fit. No doubt Kobe/KG wins rings, but I think from a sustainability standpoint, Kobe/TD wins more. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
TD. Loved KG when he was with the Wolves but TD's overall career is as great of a career any pro athlete could ask for. TD can sit at the table with all the other all time greats. _________________ Music is my medicine
Not sure where people are getting this idea that KG had some huge ego , was some alpha male and would clash with kobe.
KG was criticized the majority of his career as not being alpha enough, taking big shots, etc.
Him and Kobe would be perfect together. I don't think he'd have any issue deferring to Kobe.
But I pick Duncan, as he was the better player IMO
Re: KG/Kobe, issue isn't alpha personality, but that they are cut from the same cloth and that would be overwhelming for a team.
Kobe/Duncan on the other hand is a yin/yang perfect fit. No doubt Kobe/KG wins rings, but I think from a sustainability standpoint, Kobe/TD wins more.
How about Duncan/Garnett. You have two bigs who can play lockdown defense, play inside and outside, and pass. Surround them with some good three point shooters and that's a hard team to beat.
I routinely see both listed as among the top 15 defenders in NBA history, and they are generally ranked right next to each other. I'd give Garnett the edge because his versatile enough to cover pretty much any position, but they're both great defenders who can anchor a world-class defense.
I routinely see both listed as among the top 15 defenders in NBA history, and they are generally ranked right next to each other. I'd give Garnett the edge because his versatile enough to cover pretty much any position, but they're both great defenders who can anchor a world-class defense.
KG all day, every day. What exactly would I expect Duncan to do better than KG? Oh but he has more rings and more mvps? Yea, if garnett player with pop, ginobli, tp, kawhi, Aldridge, and the spurs for 20 years, he would have lots of rings. KG is the man here. KG changed the NBA.
KG all day, every day. What exactly would I expect Duncan to do better than KG? Oh but he has more rings and more mvps? Yea, if garnett player with pop, ginobli, tp, kawhi, Aldridge, and the spurs for 20 years, he would have lots of rings. KG is the man here. KG changed the NBA.
And if KG had 5 rings and challenged Kobe as the player of his generation like TD you'd say "TD all day..." _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
KG all day, every day. What exactly would I expect Duncan to do better than KG? Oh but he has more rings and more mvps? Yea, if garnett player with pop, ginobli, tp, kawhi, Aldridge, and the spurs for 20 years, he would have lots of rings. KG is the man here. KG changed the NBA.
And if KG had 5 rings and challenged Kobe as the player of his generation like TD you'd say "TD all day..."
maybe, but not in this case. KG was a Celtic and literally beat LA for a ring....whereas Duncan and the Spurs did it a couple of times but not in the Finals. So they are similar on that front. The hate for the two is equal.
The difference is that KG fans aren't going around claiming that he is better than Kobe or calling him the greatest PF in the history, etc. That makes the Duncan world (not him personally) far more annoying.
Duncan always had a solid supporting cast versus KG having to carry those Minny teams until he got to Boston. If this were the Kobe/Shaq era Lakers, TD. If this were the Byron Scott Lakers, KG.
They are really close, once you factor in things like pace. Garnett was more versatile, especially on the defensive end, a better passer and ballhandler. Duncan was a better shotblocker and performed better in the playoffs, which is probably his biggest edge.
As scorers and rebounders, they were pretty close. Garnett at his peak might have been a tad better, but Duncan probably had a peak that was slightly longer.
In terms of style of play and personality, two guys couldn't be more different -- but both great, effective players.
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144473 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:34 pm Post subject:
SuperboyReformed wrote:
yinoma2001 wrote:
SuperboyReformed wrote:
KG all day, every day. What exactly would I expect Duncan to do better than KG? Oh but he has more rings and more mvps? Yea, if garnett player with pop, ginobli, tp, kawhi, Aldridge, and the spurs for 20 years, he would have lots of rings. KG is the man here. KG changed the NBA.
And if KG had 5 rings and challenged Kobe as the player of his generation like TD you'd say "TD all day..."
maybe, but not in this case. KG was a Celtic and literally beat LA for a ring....whereas Duncan and the Spurs did it a couple of times but not in the Finals. So they are similar on that front. The hate for the two is equal.
The difference is that KG fans aren't going around claiming that he is better than Kobe or calling him the greatest PF in the history, etc. That makes the Duncan world (not him personally) far more annoying.
One of the more bizarre things posted here. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
I love Duncan's game but his supporting cast was miles better than KG ever had in Minnesota. Would Duncan do better than KG did if they swapped places? I don't think so.
This is an extremely tough debate. If we're talking career, then as much as I revere T-Wolves era KG (one of my favorite non Laker players ever), I'd have to go with Alamo Spock.
Howevah {{SAS voice}}, in their primes, I can't ignore KG. The man was a beast. 24/14/5/1.5/2.2. Just WOW. Dude was also a defensive stalwart and could shut down virtually anybody (including Tim... Shaq,Dirk, Amáre, you name it). One of the greatest defensive players I've ever seen, and one of the greatest defensive switching big men to boot. If TD gets caught in a switch vs a guard on the perimeter, it's over (sorry TD). If KG gets switched unto a guard... uh uhh... he's locking him down. One of the most tenacious and competitive players I've seen. In his peak form, a better defender than Duncan (DPOY to boot). If you pit 04 KG vs 02 Duncan, then I take KG by a hair. He was better at almost everything.
Fun fact, both were ousted by the Lakers in their best seasons
Last edited by panamaniac on Fri Jul 29, 2016 4:46 am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 35854 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2016 4:46 am Post subject:
SuperboyReformed wrote:
yinoma2001 wrote:
SuperboyReformed wrote:
KG all day, every day. What exactly would I expect Duncan to do better than KG? Oh but he has more rings and more mvps? Yea, if garnett player with pop, ginobli, tp, kawhi, Aldridge, and the spurs for 20 years, he would have lots of rings. KG is the man here. KG changed the NBA.
And if KG had 5 rings and challenged Kobe as the player of his generation like TD you'd say "TD all day..."
maybe, but not in this case. KG was a Celtic and literally beat LA for a ring....whereas Duncan and the Spurs did it a couple of times but not in the Finals. So they are similar on that front. The hate for the two is equal.
The difference is that KG fans aren't going around claiming that he is better than Kobe or calling him the greatest PF in the history, etc. That makes the Duncan world (not him personally) far more annoying.
How can you hold Duncan playing in the WCF against him? _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
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