Has Durant passed Carmelo all time?

[CarltonJunior]

@Swagnificent has already pointed out the horrible fg%, so no need for me to repeat it. If 23 fga's per game isn't enough, how many times do you want him to shoot? It was more than RW's fga's. In what game did KD play elite defense to balance out his horrible inefficiency last postseason and this one?

No that's right. The thing is that I didn't like how the words "shut down" had been tossed around here. He was contained, but Melo gets contained as well in many playoff series and unlike KD he doesn't have a history of being efficient and effective.

 

[jadillac]

Melo will be top 4 in the league clearly no debating once he gets under thibs

breh, Melo has been in the league now for like 10 - 11 years. He doesnt have much prime left

 

[Swagnificent]

well, durant is a better player, period. there aren't a lot of good reasons to think otherwise. that's why you're so laser-focused on one specific thing and holding it up as the only thing that matters. but if h2h match-ups are the end-all, be-all, then lebron > kobe...right?

already discarded that argument earlier in this thread. they don't play the same position and rarely ever matchup. thats like using Dirk's head to head against Kevin Durant. apples vs. oranges.

KD and Melo play the same position. match up with another. and are seeing each other for a majority of every game they play. that is why their head to head matters vis-a-vis Kobe and LeBron.

if you wanna pull up Kobe's numbers vs. Wade head to head, then I'm all for that since they play the same position and actually matchup.

 

[GreatestLaker]

key word: sometimes. with KD and Melo its almost ALWAYS. Melo simply bodies him every time they play. Paul had his moments against Kobe, but Kobe has gotten the better of him more times than not.

And I doubt you wanna be bringing up CP0 name in this thread. That chump can't even reach the conference finals with a loaded roster. At least Deron Williams got the WCF once in his career. And yes back in 2007-09 I had Deron Williams as better than CP3. Only gave up on Deron Williams after he got that max deal and became content with just getting paid.

Look at their head to heads before 07. Pierce used to outplay Kobe more times than not.

Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce | Basketball-Reference.com

 

[Swagnificent]

No that's right. The thing is that I didn't like how the words "shut down" had been tossed around here. He was contained, but Melo gets contained as well in many playoff series and unlike KD he doesn't have a history of being efficient and effective.

Durant in on record saying he hired an analytics team to track his stats and has to be begged by his coach to shoot last second shots cause he doesn't wanna hurt his fg%. You clowns that base all your opinions on sports based on stats are morons considering how easily they can be manipulated. I doubt Melo is as conscious over his shooting % like KD. and its not like he hasn't had a history of shooting high percentages.

From 2006-09, Carmelo averaged 26.9 ppg on 48.3% shooting. I'd say thats pretty efficient.

 

[Swagnificent]

Look at their head to heads before 07. Pierce used to outplay Kobe more times than not.

Kobe Bryant vs. Paul Pierce | Basketball-Reference.com

I see alot of close battles. I don't have time to actually tabulate all the numbers. But I doubt the edge is decisive one way or another. You might be right and Pierce might be a whisker ahead. HOWEVER, I watched those games. Pierce and Kobe only matched up intermittently. It wasn't a true head to head. Pierce only switched on Kobe after Kobe lit up whoever the SG was on the Celtics. Same with Kobe. He'd only switch up on Pierce if Paul was torching whoever the SF was for the Lakers.

If you wanna attack my argument, you'da been better off citing Vince Carter. Who IMO actually owned Kobe head to head alot. They play the same position and used to matchup on another for the entire game many nights. Vince also played much better defense on Kobe than just about anyone else and he could score on Kobe. It seemed like he really showed up for those matchups and sleepwalked against the rest of the league. I thought he was the only guy who I saw consistently outplay Kobe head to head.

 

[Swagnificent]

breh, Melo has been in the league now for like 10 - 11 years. He doesnt have much prime left

I know. thats what sad about it. his career coulda been so much more if he woulda left that toxic situation in Denver sooner and if he woulda been wiser in choosing the roster he would play on like Bron. Melo is a victim of circumstance NOT ability.

However, I do think if he goes to Chicago and they can keep Noah/Rose/Butler/Gibson, he could win a title in the next 2-3 years as lead dog.

 

[Shogun]

Corey Brewer has two NCAA rings. That means he's twice as better as Durant

He must be better than Bron too

 

[Eternal Tecate]

Yeah no shyt

Durant's gonna end up a top 15 player ever even if he never wins a championship

 

[Victim of Racism]

"I would say that I don't really have an individual rivalry. I think the closest would be Paul Pierce," James said.

So, let me get this straight: Last season, Pierce was tougher competition for Lj than Kobe?

 

[Victim of Racism]

No that's right. The thing is that I didn't like how the words "shut down" had been tossed around here. He was contained, but Melo gets contained as well in many playoff series and unlike KD he doesn't have a history of being efficient and effective.

Oh, no, he was definitely shut down. That fg% last postseason was . I was shocked at how many 3's he chucked this postseason. He should have never shot that poorly against Tony. Contained is 45% when he's like 50%. But he was extremely inefficient and became an extreme chucker. It was J.R. Smith status. I just don't know how do you do this on a stacked team when you're healthy.

KD's efficiency went up playing alongside RW because they can't double too much because of, well, RW, Harden, and 40% 3pt shooters. 'Melo has never been on a stacked team. He was with an old Billups and old Iverson, both of whom performed terribly in the postseasons in Denver. I don't even know how he went to the WCF will old Billups and shooters worse than Shumpert.

Another thing about KD's efficiency, he also comes off of a lot of screens. He does not shoot as many contested shots as 'Melo because he has better coaching, and of course, a stacked roster.

He also gets too many free throws.

 

[The War Report]

You don't even have to cite stats to know that Durant is a better player than Melo.

 

[Ritzy Sharon]

Oh, no, he was definitely shut down. That fg% last postseason was . I was shocked at how many 3's he chucked this postseason. He should have never shot that poorly against Tony. Contained is 45% when he's like 50%. But he was extremely inefficient and became an extreme chucker. It was J.R. Smith status. I just don't know how do you do this on a stacked team when you're healthy.

KD's efficiency went up playing alongside RW because they can't double too much because of, well, RW, Harden, and 40% 3pt shooters. 'Melo has never been on a stacked team. He was with an old Billups and old Iverson, both of whom performed terribly in the postseasons in Denver. I don't even know how he went to the WCF will old Billups and shooters worse than Shumpert.

Another thing about KD's efficiency, he also comes off of a lot of screens. He does not shoot as many contested shots as 'Melo because he has better coaching, and of course, a stacked roster.

He also gets too many free throws.

it's painfully obvious you didn't watch the playoff run, but it looks like you didn't even bother to check the boxscore(s) this time.

 

[aboss4real24]

Melo is better than KD


KD is just a player who gets protected by the refs and shoots 25 fts a game

 

[Victim of Racism]

it's painfully obvious you didn't watch the playoff run, but it looks like you didn't even bother to check the boxscore(s) this time.

Iverson in '07 - 22.8ppg on 36.8% and 29.4% from 3. Iverson in '08 - 24.5 on 43.4% and 21.4% from 3.

Billups in the WCF: 18.2ppg on 39.7% and 33.3% from 3.