[quote]therajraj wrote:
[quote]scj119 wrote:
Griz have proven they are tough for the Spurs, but the LA Chris Pauls have CP3 who is just fucking ruthless in the last 5 minutes of games. IMO he’s the best closer in the game right now.
[/quote]
Thems fightin’ words.[/quote]
I know, but anytime I watch him in the last 3-5 mins, I literally expect an uncontested shot from him or a teammate every single time.
What started the knee/ankle issues.
[quote]maverick88 wrote:
What started the knee/ankle issues.
Haha that was awesome.
Him and LeBron should start up a dance squad.
[quote]chillain wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
If the lakers can put together this first round sweep (which I think that they will) they could very well be halfway to wrapping up their second round series by the time Artest is back… If they’re playing good and have a nice rhythm with their current set up I think Artest should get very limited minutes off the bench. [/quote]
so much LAL optimism here, gotta love it!
(mind you, its likely to be OKC and two road games to open that 2nd round but I still love it)
[/quote]
After that OT win (without 3 starters in the lineup for most of the 4th quarter and the OT’s) the other day, I think the Lakers are in the Thunders heads.
Just wait till Durant keeps shooting like doo doo and Kobe starts jawing at him and telling him how he let him win the scoring title… Durant is gonna fall apart right before our eyes LOL
hahahaha I dont know about all that but I’m looking forward to the series. I definitely think the Lakers can take out OKC. Especially if kobe keeps shooting like he did last game and if Bynum keeps up his play.
Okay this series is looking over.
[quote]red04 wrote:
The Spurs look really, really good; that is all.[/quote]
Agreed. Spurs v. Thunder would be a helluva Western final
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
haha another Spurs fan. We’re looking good, let’s hope we can take this energy and level of play into the playoffs. I’m rooting for LeBron to get his ring this year but if the Spurs make it to the Finals there’s no doubt who I’ll be pulling for. I’ll be thinking “don’t worry LeBron, get 'em next year” (because honestly and I know it’s taboo to say by now because the Spurs exceed expectations nearly every year but this could be one of the Big 3’s last chances for another ring). [/quote]
Absolutely, as long as we stay healthy and things keep clicking I see a good chance at getting to the finals. I would love to see a Spurs-Heat final, I think it would be an interesting match up with what could be Timmy’s final shot at another ring against the Big 3’s high expectations.
I can’t watch…Yikes
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]chillain wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
If the lakers can put together this first round sweep (which I think that they will) they could very well be halfway to wrapping up their second round series by the time Artest is back… If they’re playing good and have a nice rhythm with their current set up I think Artest should get very limited minutes off the bench. [/quote]
so much LAL optimism here, gotta love it!
(mind you, its likely to be OKC and two road games to open that 2nd round but I still love it)
[/quote]
After that OT win (without 3 starters in the lineup for most of the 4th quarter and the OT’s) the other day, I think the Lakers are in the Thunders heads.
Just wait till Durant keeps shooting like doo doo and Kobe starts jawing at him and telling him how he let him win the scoring title… Durant is gonna fall apart right before our eyes LOL
hahahaha I dont know about all that but I’m looking forward to the series. I definitely think the Lakers can take out OKC. Especially if kobe keeps shooting like he did last game and if Bynum keeps up his play.[/quote]
Win in Denver today before you start getting this excited. The Lakers are about as deep as a kiddie pool.
Serious Question I’m Sure To Get Flamed For:
If Tim Duncan wins a 5th ring with Pop, where do we rank him and Kobe as the best players of their era? Which is first and which is second?
FYI, they would both be in my top 10 all time (prob just outside top 5), so they both get props from me, but could be a fun debate to have.
I don’t have an opinion, IMO they are both close to equal and I’m interested in other’s opinions.
How do you define their era?
Lebron has been around only since 2003… is he part of their "era’?
Seriously how many posts of mine can be eaten in this thread. sigh
I’ll not retype the whole thing but my current list for best players of that era is: Kobe/Duncan (first), Dirk (close third), KG (close 4th)
So am I the only one who disappointed by the Mavs-OKC game? How bad was Marion/Dirk/Terry?
Fuck, I was really expecting them to make a series out of it like an epic 6 gamer or maybe even 7 games with OKC eventually winning out.
[quote]gregron wrote:
[quote]chillain wrote:
[quote]gregron wrote:
If the lakers can put together this first round sweep (which I think that they will) they could very well be halfway to wrapping up their second round series by the time Artest is back… If they’re playing good and have a nice rhythm with their current set up I think Artest should get very limited minutes off the bench. [/quote]
so much LAL optimism here, gotta love it!
(mind you, its likely to be OKC and two road games to open that 2nd round but I still love it)
[/quote]
After that OT win (without 3 starters in the lineup for most of the 4th quarter and the OT’s) the other day, I think the Lakers are in the Thunders heads.
Just wait till Durant keeps shooting like doo doo and Kobe starts jawing at him and telling him how he let him win the scoring title… Durant is gonna fall apart right before our eyes LOL
hahahaha I dont know about all that but I’m looking forward to the series. I definitely think the Lakers can take out OKC. Especially if kobe keeps shooting like he did last game and if Bynum keeps up his play.[/quote]
One thing Simmons has written that I agree with: OKC gets in trouble when their jumpers stop falling. KD Can’t go down on the block and post up for sure buckets, they have no inside player they can rely on to get a couple easy points in the paint, 90% of their offense comes from Westbrook/Harden/Durant and if they can’t hit their jumpers, the driving lanes wil lclose up in the playoffs.
[quote]scj119 wrote:
Seriously how many posts of mine can be eaten in this thread. sigh
I’ll not retype the whole thing but my current list for best players of that era is: Kobe/Duncan (first), Dirk (close third), KG (close 4th)[/quote]
This is a tough one. I put Kobe above Duncan even though I love Duncan. I never liked Kobe because he cries after every foul/nonfoul or someone jsut brushing against him if if doesn’t get called. But I can’t deny his talent.
Shaq easily beats out KG in my book.
My top 3:
Edit: I’m assuming since Shaq is in that era and he is newly retired that he’s eligible.
Based on the stats I should put Shaq above Duncan but my bias won’t let me lol. I also factor in how TD led his team to all those Championships and kept the Spurs on top of their division all those years.
[quote]sam_sneed wrote:
[quote]scj119 wrote:
Seriously how many posts of mine can be eaten in this thread. sigh
I’ll not retype the whole thing but my current list for best players of that era is: Kobe/Duncan (first), Dirk (close third), KG (close 4th)[/quote]
This is a tough one. I put Kobe above Duncan even though I love Duncan. I never liked Kobe because he cries after every foul/nonfoul or someone jsut brushing against him if if doesn’t get called. But I can’t deny his talent.
Shaq easily beats out KG in my book.
My top 3:
Edit: I’m assuming since Shaq is in that era and he is newly retired that he’s eligible.
Based on the stats I should put Shaq above Duncan but my bias won’t let me lol. I also factor in how TD led his team to all those Championships and kept the Spurs on top of their division all those years.[/quote]
Shaq vs. Duncan is a classic “peak” vs. “longevity” debate. Duncan also has a bigger effect on team defense, he’s like a coach on the floor.
Also, what I wrote in the post that got lost, I sorted all players by total win shares 2000-2010 (I hate win shares as a catch-all stat, but it is an interesting starting point for these discussions) and much to my shock, Dirk led Kobe/Duncan by a pretty significant margin.
I chose Kobe/Duncan over Dirk because of their defensive impact, but you can’t argue with Dirk averaging 47%/38%/88% shooting splits, putting up a 25/9/3 for an entire decade, and having the most unstoppable/unblockable shot of his generation (fadeaway from the elbow).
Shaq is a bit before their time, but if you want to include him, I’d put him below Duncan/Kobe and ahead of Dirk. Better peak but was done producing at that level when he turned 31, quick downhill from there.
you know what would be awesome?
If Kobe can win his 6th ring this year and LBJ loses in the Finals for the 3rd time. That would be awesome lol
[quote]scj119 wrote:
Shaq vs. Duncan is a classic “peak” vs. “longevity” debate. Duncan also has a bigger effect on team defense, he’s like a coach on the floor.
Also, what I wrote in the post that got lost, I sorted all players by total win shares 2000-2010 (I hate win shares as a catch-all stat, but it is an interesting starting point for these discussions) and much to my shock, Dirk led Kobe/Duncan by a pretty significant margin.
[/quote]
Yeah Duncan definitely stayed healthier, but Shaq was still very productive all the way up ti his 14th season (this is Duncan’s 15). We’ll have to see how Duncan finishes his career but if you compare their first 15 years in the league, I think Shaq is significantly ahead. I will say though, Duncan had a greater impact on his team than Shaq ever did on any of his teams.
Are we talking about all time rankings? Cuz Shaq is ahead of Kobe and Duncan on the all time list no doubt. Easily the most dominant player of all time.
After that you have guys like Duncan, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem, Jerry West, Kobe. Next tier of guys is Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Dr. J and Moses Malone. Dirk/KG are in the next tier with guys like David Robinson and some of the other old school greats, like Bob Pettit, Isaiah Thomas.
I would put it like this:
Dirk and KG are neck and neck, so I give the edge to Dirk because of his clutch playoff performance and I’m also a Mavs homer. Depending on how these playoffs shake out, if Kobe wins a 6th ring and puts up a FMVP worthy performance (he will get the award if the Lakers win no matter what, but he needs to truly earn it in my eyes) he can leapfrog Hakeem and Duncan to #8.
Kobe’s all time ranking is tough for me. He’s had a top 10 GOAT career no doubt, but there is no getting around the fact that he was the 2nd option to Shaq for his first 3 rings, and I also believe his defense is so overrated it’s sickening.
[quote]gregron wrote:
you know what would be awesome?
If Kobe can win his 6th ring this year and LBJ loses in the Finals for the 3rd time. That would be awesome lol[/quote]
I’d like the second part to happen, only i’d rather see Duncan and Pop win another title