****2013-14 NBA Discussion Thread, v10: Middle Aged Dinospurs Edition****

[Palpatine]

You can add Rick Fox to the numerous Laker legends that want to be part of the Fill Jackson Knicks, without anyone even asking him. Shows how much credibility Fill brings to the Knicks, and how much the Lakers have lost.

 

[faustian]

This Pitbull intro will never not suck

 

[tsuifuku]

All the seats are filled. I thought this game was in Miami.

 

[jehosafats]

This Pitbull intro will never not suck

instant mute

 

[Ehrmantraut]

Pitbull is a disgrace to this beautiful city

 

[jehosafats]

This is ugly

 

[The Day Walker**]

Oh ya, got my in n out, Dos Equis, now some cHeat besmirchment to make the night perfect?

 

[faustian]

Just knew the Heat would come out in absolute can-mode

 

[Easy The Great]

Hibbert beasting

 

[lakersfan45]

Lol at hibbert destroying the heat

 

[faustian]

Watch they'll give double-techs here

 

[Easy The Great]

Lol refs takin over now

 

[faustian]

Looks like the league has decided to go back to the "verticality" rule for this series

 

[Easy The Great]

Bron trips himself and George gets called for a foul

 

[Madmick]

Someone queue up the next thread while I'm at a console.

 

[mtwrstlr]

rigged whistle in full effect trying to get the heat back in

 

[Substance Abuse]

Refs saving Miami. Good stuff.

 

[The Day Walker**]

Miami is never out of it stop whining u clowns

 

[sideswipe1414]

the pacers collapse as usual as soon as scola and watson hit the floor

 

[jrams]

Dirk had a spectacular Finals MVP postseason, and he was certainly more sensational than Garnett was at any point (regardless of team) in any playoffs, but Garnett could play defense, and he was a veritable equal to Dirk on offense, though Dirk is the more prolific scorer, especially as his athleticism fades- a truth easily explained by the fact that Dirk always relied principally on his shooting and release point for offense. I was interested to see where Garnett is being ranked, so a quick Google for GOAT power forwards turned up the following:

I disagree that their offense was equal. Dirk could get the tough baskets and was potent enough to generate offense for other guys. Garnett could "do more things" but the results were less. Garnett loved his crappy 19ft jumper and playing hot potato with the ball late in the shot clock. He never developed the will to consistently drive despite having the speed advantage on most bigs or punish smaller defenders in the post. Offensively he does a lot of the same garbage Bosh does.

And as much as people hate to admit it, individual offense is more important than individual defense in basketball. You can run defensive schemes and hire defensive players to hide stars on defense. It's much more difficult to find players to overcome bad offense and broken down plays.

Anything below #3 is underrating him, but frankly, these lists don't really indicate how badly he is underrated because it's pitting him against other power forwards. Duncan is #1, and nobody will argue with that. So really all these lists tell you in the time frame we're discussing is that he is regarded as the better player than Dirk- except one list- which is correct. It's tough to underrate him when analyzing him in such an uncontroversial context.

I think he was worse than Duncan and Dirk and I don't think he was clearly better than Malone.

I'd be interested to see an ESPN or NBA roundtable ranking the Top 50 players of the 21st century. It seems like KG gets his respect on these lists, but he was never paid the lip service during his prime that lesser players were afforded. Seeing these lists, though, I do think his move to Boston was incredibly intelligent. I don't think he'd be in anybody's Top 5 if he didn't have that ring: even if Pierce carried the heaviest load in the postseasons. It was so freaking popular to hate on Garnett and talk about how he was overrated when it was first round exits from the snow-covered bum of the wintry north's tiny market.

I think most people would put him 5 behind Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, and LeBron.