lets talk about Dirk Nowitzki handing Father Time his first L

[Tunez]

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

2001 1st round vs. Spurs: Duncan 22.5ppg on 46.6%
2002 1st round vs. Mavs: Dirk 33.3ppg on 52.6%
2003 1st round vs. Lakers: Shaq 28.7ppg on 51.6%
2004 WCF vs. Lakers: Shaq 20.7ppg on 56.9%.

This is where we enter dangerous territory with how they performed against KG straight up, considering that not only are there a handful of games within a series but also let's not act like Dirk, Duncan and Shaq were getting all their points at that efficiency when being guarded by KG (same must apply to the stats I provided as well).

Especially in this game where Dirk only scored a one to two buckets against KG, and Dirk would effortlessly score on switches or swing ball situations when KG was elsewhere on the court -

That was the height of his defensive prime. When he really was probably the best defensive player on the planet. His man still cooked. Usually very efficiently. If Kobe wasn't ballhogging in 2004, Shaq could have dropped 30ppg on 55% easily.

Great offensive players will cook regardless no matter who they play against, they'll always find a way to get their points (switches, fast breaks, elite defenders off court, defensive breakdowns, second chance points in the paint). KG typically didn't guard Shaq - Flip/Casey would use a bigger body and allow KG to patrol the perimeter/paint - as this was the best possible formula given their personnel.

To be fair, I'm not sure KG was guarding Shaq. They probably kept him off to keep him out of foul trouble, but if he's such a great defender, you'd want him on Shaq to try and neutralize him, no? I mean, LeBron took KD in the 2012 Finals. Kawhi takes LeBron and Durant. No hiding there..

It's not as simple that, considering they both played different positions and it wasn't like the slow, lumbering figures of Nesterovic and E.Johnson could guard PNRs and rotate around the perimeter like KG could - the T'Wolves defense would've been worse if KG stayed primarily on Shaq and had the center guarding and helping outside of the paint.

Least of all let's not act as if Kawhi doesn't play in a great defensive system and elite rim protection to help him out. Kawhi really only had the defensive workload of one player whereas more often than not KG had the workload of two. Their situations aren't comparable at all.

And you are right, there are more aspects than simply what your man does against you. I've never denied KG's defensive prowess. I'm just saying that the hype was a bit overblown in playoff series when his man was still able to get his (fairly easily) AND the opposing team didn't really struggle at all to score.

That's mostly because he was surrounded by shytty defensive players. *cough Szczerbiak cough*, and had to cover up for their miscues which had a mechanical effect on the rest of the defense.

 

[Wiirdo]

2001 1st round vs. Spurs: Duncan 22.5ppg on 46.6%
2002 1st round vs. Mavs: Dirk 33.3ppg on 52.6%
2003 1st round vs. Lakers: Shaq 28.7ppg on 51.6%
2004 WCF vs. Lakers: Shaq 20.7ppg on 56.9%

That was the height of his defensive prime. When he really was probably the best defensive player on the planet. His man still cooked. Usually very efficiently. If Kobe wasn't ballhogging in 2004, Shaq could have dropped 30ppg on 55% easily.

To be fair, I'm not sure KG was guarding Shaq. They probably kept him off to keep him out of foul trouble, but if he's such a great defender, you'd want him on Shaq to try and neutralize him, no? I mean, LeBron took KD in the 2012 Finals. Kawhi takes LeBron and Durant. No hiding there.

And you are right, there are more aspects than simply what your man does against you. I've never denied KG's defensive prowess. I'm just saying that the hype was a bit overblown in playoff series when his man was still able to get his (fairly easily) AND the opposing team didn't really struggle at all to score.

I agree with your point but Durant averaged over 30 on crazy efficiency in the Finals. They just choked in the close games.

Other than that, Dirk >>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[itsyoung!!]

I agree with your point but Durant averaged over 30 on crazy efficiency in the Finals. They just choked in the close games.

Other than that, Dirk >>>>>>>>>>>>

James Harden cost the thunder a championship biggest choke job in recent memory for me in the NBA

 

[Xerces]

KG needed a superteam to win. Dirk beat a superteam to win.

Das mein Führer

 

[Ashyneezz]

everything else basketball related that doesn't boil down to attempts KG is better at and it's not even particularly close...

Playoff career averages-

Dirk- 25.4 ppg 10.2 Rebs 0.9 blks 2.5 ast 1.1 stl
KG- 18.2 ppg 10.7 Rebs 1.3 blks 3.3 ast 1.2 stl


Looks like only one stat is "Not even particularly close"...in the playoffs when the superstars step their game up which player you taking to lead your team?

Someone looking funny when the light get bright

 

[Ineedmoney504]

Playoff career averages-

Dirk- 25.4 ppg 10.2 Rebs 0.9 blks 2.5 ast 1.1 stl
KG- 18.2 ppg 10.7 Rebs 1.3 blks 3.3 ast 1.2 stl


Looks like only one stat is "Not even particularly close"...in the playoffs when the superstars step their game up which player you taking to lead your team?

Someone looking funny when the light get bright

kg got put into a situation where he couldnt just hog the ball and average a bunch of points when he got to the celtics, they played as a team and pierce was the best scorer on the court honestly, so it made since to play through him a lil more on offense and let kg still do his thang and dominate on d.

and probably over 70% of his playoff games came while he was a celtic, and as a celtic they was winning so it was no need for him to switch up and become this selfish scorer if it was working the other way

 

[the cool]

Goat and codeine just need to exchange numbers and text each other

 

[Suiken]

Hakeem, 06 Wade, and 11 Dirk are the only guys to win a ring in the last 25 years without an All-Star teammate.

.

You lost credibility with this post.

 

[beenz]

If Kobe wants to play one more season, he needs to follow Dirk around in the off season and just do what he does.

well it's too late for kobe to grow to 7' tall and develop a J.

 

[AlbertPullhoez]

Playoff career averages-

Dirk- 25.4 ppg 10.2 Rebs 0.9 blks 2.5 ast 1.1 stl
KG- 18.2 ppg 10.7 Rebs 1.3 blks 3.3 ast 1.2 stl


Looks like only one stat is "Not even particularly close"...in the playoffs when the superstars step their game up which player you taking to lead your team?

Someone looking funny when the light get bright

Dirk kills that nikka. He could put a squad on his back solo and win a big game/series. Even

Act like Dirk didnt use to hulk up and dominate




KG isnt doing that for you

 

[malbaker86]

1. Duncan
2. Dirk
3. KG

You can change 2 and 3 based off your preference etc, but Duncan is easily #1

 

[BrothaZay]

KG won an MVP with nobodies and players on the T'wolves in 2003-04. took those scrubs to the WCF. He led the league in win shares that year also. Sprewell was flabby. Shooting 40%. Sam was still solid but 34-years old by then.

Bruh its no where near close.
Dirk beat the 2 time defending champs, OKC with Durant, Westbrook and Harden, then beat the Miami heat with Bron, wade and bosh all in one post season to win his ring.
Only ring KG won was when we went to boston for a super team and didnt even win finals MVP.

 

[A Tribe Called Quest ™]

Prime KG> Prime Dirk

Easily.

They same prime KG that was getting culo blasted in the playoffs?

 

[malbaker86]

They same prime KG that was getting culo blasted in the playoffs?

Not only that. People call Dirk soft yet in the clutch moments, he gets A LOT lf his clutch baskets kn the paint. He rarely settled for long jumpers in tight games unless he was open or a heat check