joseephuss;4474315 said:
Dirk's averages in the playoffs last year
27.7 pts per game
8.1 rebounds per game
2.5 assists per game
Good numbers, but I think there have been other guys who have put up similar if not greater numbers deep into the playoffs between what Dirk did last year and Duncan did in 2003.
that 2003 performance by duncan was EPIC people forget how amazing the Nets defense was back in those times. here is an article that ranked his performance in game 1 as number 6 all time (not only do i believe it should be at number 4 above malone's and worthy's, i think his game 6 performance was better)
6. Tim Duncan, Spurs: 2003 Finals, Game 1
MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
44 11-17 0-0 10-14 20 6 3 7 1 32
Game Score: 43.3 Result: Spurs 101, Nets 89 Series: Spurs win in 6
This is perfect: The top-rated Duncan game is one that absolutely nobody remembers. However, Duncan's Game 1 annihilation of the Nets was not only his personal-best Finals performance, but the ridiculous 43.3 is the top Game Score for any Finals game of the post-merger era -- and he did it against an elite defensive team.
It would be hard to find a game that greater exemplifies Duncan's understated excellence. The 2003 Finals were low on sex appeal because San Antonio and New Jersey both were small-market teams, but it was a gritty series that required Duncan's best.
In the opener, he more than delivered.
Going up against two of the better defensive centers of the decade in Jason Collins and Dikembe Mutombo, Duncan ripped off 32 points, 20 rebounds, seven blocks, six assists and three steals. He even shot 10-for-14 from the free throw line and he had only one turnover.
Duncan broke open a tie game at the half by scoring 24 of his 32 points after the break, and was only two steals away from the only "five-by-five" in Finals history.
GOD i miss that duncan, if the spurs lost a playoff game, he was a guaranteed 30-15 the next game.
trickblue;4474334 said:
Most of you are likely too young to remember, but they used to show a one on one game at halftime on the NBA on CBS when I was growing up... it was really cool...
Two NBA stars in an empty gym, lights darkened... only the half of the court lit they were playing on. I really used to look forward to that...
It was a tournament...
that would be so awesome! i think NBA players now a days put themselves on a pedestal and are to arrogant to do stuff like that. i lebron wont even compete in the slam dunk contest, i doubt he would ever play a game of 1 on 1 vs melo or durant.
for arguments sake, here is who i think would win....
PG: D-Rose would dominate, i mean, he already beats entire teams singlehandedly, i dont see him having a hard time with just 1 point guard at a time
SG: Kobe would edge wade i think, Ginobili would easily win the bronze medal, but hed prob get hurt in the qualifying round vs joe johnson
SF: how would lebron not dominate that? melo and durant cant guard him, plus he wouldnt be able to pass in the game winning situation!
PF
robably the most wide open one, id take Timmy if there werent playing on back to back, but since they are i think it would be either kevin love or lamarcus aldrige
C:this would be an amazing battle between dwight and bynum, ultimately dwight would win after he insults bynum's mom and bynum goes postal, elbowing the much smaller joey crawford, ripping off his shirt and storming off the court as he high fives the rappers at courtside
You're part of the deceived masses that doesn't realize that Dirk has actually become a pretty good defender since 2006. And about Dirk getting destroyed by Timmy in one-on-one, all I can do is laugh. Dirk is still a top 10 player, while Timmy is a top 10 Center now and that's it.
