who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

[ZB9]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

Pau has been getting better and better every year, his game has been constantly improving and polished up. He's also become a lot more grittier and "tough", especially after '08. He's consistently outplayed guys like Howard and Duncan since then.

You're also comparing an early 20 year old fresh from Europe kid playing on a lottery team to a more grizzled NBA veteran with polished basketball skills and more physicality.

good points

im not saying Gasol isnt a great player because he is...and he fits perfectly with the Lakers

BTW, your argument goes both ways. What was Memphis before Pau and after Pau? They made the playoffs a couple of times with him but ultimately just didn't have the overall talent on the roster to do much Take away all of Dallas's good players and what will Dallas be with Dirk? LOL. Actually, what are they now even with their talented roster?

before Dirk, the Dallas Mavericks were probably the worst franchise in pro sports

Dallas does have a talented roster to be sure, but Dirk doesnt have another "batman" or "robin" was my point. Only two players in the history of the NBA have won the championship without another HOFer in their prime teammate

Give me Pau any day over Dirk. I think a good shooter is an easily replaceable part, and it doesn't matter if it comes from a 7-footer because Dirk doesn't use his height where it matters most. On the other hand, a dominant skilled overall polished big man is hard to find. A successful championship caliber team is always built from the inside out...not the other way around.

btw, this past season is the only time in his career that Pau has been a better defensive rebounder than Dirk, and it's the only time in his career that Pau has been in the top 10 in defensive rebounds (at #10)...Dirk has been been top 10 in defensive rebounding 7 times. Of course, offensive rebounding is a different story because of where Pau is usually positioned on the court as a C/PF hybrid second option compared to Dirk's role on offense and his position on the court, but DIrk has been the better defensive rebounder in his career fwiw

when it comes to the playoffs, Dirk has led the postseason in rebounding twice...and he's one of only 5 players in the history of the NBA to average at least 25 points and 10 rebounds (Dirk averages 25.5 and 11 rebounds)...the other 4 players are Hakeem, Shaq, Bob Pettit,and Elgin Baylor. Those four HOF'ers are "polished big men" wouldnt you say?

[slimm44]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

What do you guys think of the comparison between Pau and Horace Grant?

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

There is none

[slimm44]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

There is none

None? They were both mainly in-the-paint players, good rebounders, could step away from the basket and hit the shot, were key players for teams that won multiple championships, both are pretty good interior defenders and passers, both were good supplemental players to the alpha-dogs on their squads, and both played under Phil in the triangle, but there's no comparison?

You may not like the comparison, but that doesn't mean it needs to be dismissed. Anybody else want to chime in here?

[JBH3]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

None? They were both mainly in-the-paint players, good rebounders, could step away from the basket and hit the shot, were key players for teams that won multiple championships, both are pretty good interior defenders and passers,
both were good supplemental players to the alpha-dogs on their squads, and both played under Phil in the triangle, but there's no comparison?

You may not like the comparison, but that doesn't mean it needs to be dismissed. Anybody else want to chime in here?

Pau's avg'd a solid 18 over his career. Grant, although having Jordan and Pippen, couldn't have avg'd 18 if he tried.

[PrettyT11]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

None? They were both mainly in-the-paint players, good rebounders, could step away from the basket and hit the shot, were key players for teams that won multiple championships, both are pretty good interior defenders and passers, both were good supplemental players to the alpha-dogs on their squads, and both played under Phil in the triangle, but there's no comparison?

You may not like the comparison, but that doesn't mean it needs to be dismissed. Anybody else want to chime in here?

No like Ex said there is none. Pau has shown that he was at least capable of leading a team to the playoffs as a number one guy. He could still very well take a team to the playoffs as the lead guy. Just look at the impact he has had on the Lakers since being there. Horace couldn't even dream of doing the same thing and that is coming from a huge Bulls who has seen tons of Grant's games.

Aside from that Pau's offensive game and skill set are leaps and bounds beyond what Horace was capable of doing. Pau is one of if not the most skilled big man in the NBA. His offensive game really doesn't have any major weakness. He can post, shoot the mid range J, very high basketball IQ, and is a underrated passer. Horace was a very solid player but at no point in time was he ever considered one of the most skilled bigs in the game.

[nightcreeper]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

pau gasol all day

[RonnieG]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

Dirk in a heartbeat. I think Gasol's value is raised because he plays on the Lakers. But I think in most circumstances...if you put Dirk and Gasol on a variety of teams, Dirk will be the better player in most circumstances.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

Would Horace Grant lead the Memphis Grizzlies to multiple 50 win seasons?

Let's be freakin real here.

Did Ho have half the skill set Pau did? Half the smarts? Half the versatility? Ability to effectively play the center for two consecutive championship runs?

I'm not sure why Grant's name was even brought up in this topic.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

Dirk in a heartbeat. I think Gasol's value is raised because he plays on the Lakers. But I think in most circumstances...if you put Dirk and Gasol on a variety of teams, Dirk will be the better player in most circumstances.

Like I said before, I wouldn't prefer Dirk over Pau on the Lakers, or for any contending team.

That's not the argument at all.

Also what are these "most circumstances" that you speak of and "variety of teams". Please explain those.

[RonnieG]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

Like I said before, I wouldn't prefer Dirk over Pau on the Lakers, or for any contending team.

That's not the argument at all.

Also what are these "most circumstances" that you speak of and "variety of teams". Please explain those.

I think Dirk is better as the best player on a team and Gasol is better as a complimentary player to someone like Kobe, Wade, or LeBron. Most of the players that are better than Gasol or Dirk are perimeter players and I think Gasols game is closer to the basket and, with that in mind, he brings inside/outside balance to the better perimeter players.

I think if Dirk or Gasol are the best players on their teams, Dirk is the better player.

[jeebs9]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

^^Yea I can agree with that^^

I like Gasol. I like what he bring to the table as big man. But Dirk just brings something we have never seen before.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

I already told you Dirk is the better individual player. That was hashed over several pages back.

That's not the question of the thread, nor does it mean Dirk necessarily gets you closer to a title.

[jeebs9]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

It doesn't get you closer to the title. But Kobe does. He is one of those rare players that come every 10-20 years. Dirk in my opinion is in the same category.

Could you image if Gasol and Dirk played together? Probably wouldn't probuce championships. But I could see a Mutumbo and Dirk combo making it to championship a few times. Again just my opinion. I would rather have Dirk.

[RonnieG]

Re: who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

who would you rather have, Dirk or Pau?

Dirk in a heartbeat. I think Gasol's value is raised because he plays on the Lakers. But I think in most circumstances...if you put Dirk and Gasol on a variety of teams, Dirk will be the better player in most circumstances.

I think Dirk is better as the best player on a team and Gasol is better as a complimentary player to someone like Kobe, Wade, or LeBron. Most of the players that are better than Gasol or Dirk are perimeter players and I think Gasols game is closer to the basket and, with that in mind, he brings inside/outside balance to the better perimeter players.

I think if Dirk or Gasol are the best players on their teams, Dirk is the better player.

How am I not answering the question?