Duncan or KG?

[AlexBrady]

Re: Duncan or KG?

KG, He can change the whole culture of your defense. And to those saying stuff about rings, half of the years KG was a player of the Timberwolves their team was terrible.

Not exactly. The Timberwolves variously featured Sam Cassel, an ace scorer with a deadly dribble left and shoot move. Latrell Sprewell, still quick and versatile. Wally Szczerbiak, for all his flaws, a deadly spot shooter. Kendall Gill, Anthony Peeler and Trenton Hassell were non scorers but earnest defenders. Rasho Nesterovic was a decent jump hooking center. Flip Saunders was a damn good coach. Not an incredible supporting cast, but is it any worse than some of Duncan's? I say no, and I also say that Duncan would have found a way to win more than two playoff series' in 10 years. The truly great players can carry even a modicum of talent across the finish line.

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Not exactly. The Timberwolves variously featured Sam Cassel, an ace scorer with a deadly dribble left and shoot move. Latrell Sprewell, still quick and versatile. Wally Szczerbiak, for all his flaws, a deadly spot shooter. Kendall Gill, Anthony Peeler and Trenton Hassell were non scorers but earnest defenders. Rasho Nesterovic was a decent jump hooking center. Flip Saunders was a damn good coach. Not an incredible supporting cast, but is it any worse than some of Duncan's? I say no, and I also say that Duncan would have found a way to win more than two playoff series' in 10 years. The truly great players can carry even a modicum of talent across the finish line.

Duncan's coaching was far superior to KG's... and Trenton Hassell was a complete joke among those other players you listed.

You make these guys sound like they were good role players, but in truth they were serviceable at best. Duncan had David Robinson and no one on the T'Wolves came close to the level of talent of those two giants.

[AlexBrady]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Duncan's coaching was far superior to KG's... and Trenton Hassell was a complete joke among those other players you listed.

You make these guys sound like they were good role players, but in truth they were serviceable at best. Duncan had David Robinson and no one on the T'Wolves came close to the level of talent of those two giants.

David Robinson was a good enough second banana on the 99 title squad, but his game had seriously declined by 03, when the Spurs won their second title. Those Spurs squads variously featured (besides Duncan) Avery Johnson, Sean Elliot, Malik Rose, Robinson, Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Speedy Claxton, Stephen Jackson, Jaren Jackson, Mario Elie and Steve Kerr. Solid players there, but with considerable limitations, just like Garnett's supporting cast. The primary difference was that Duncan could take over the stretch of critical games while Garnett failed to do the same.

[mvb34]

Re: Duncan or KG?

David Robinson was a good enough second banana on the 99 title squad, but his game had seriously declined by 03, when the Spurs won their second title. Those Spurs squads variously featured (besides Duncan) Avery Johnson, Sean Elliot, Malik Rose, Robinson, Bruce Bowen, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Speedy Claxton, Stephen Jackson, Jaren Jackson, Mario Elie and Steve Kerr. Solid players there, but with considerable limitations, just like Garnett's supporting cast. The primary difference was that Duncan could take over the stretch of critical games while Garnett failed to do the same.

Where was KG second bananna ?? Only when he got with Sprewell and Cassell did he have his best season team wise in Minnesota. To try and say KG had equal support as Duncan is joke..

[23]

Re: Duncan or KG?

KG used to have a rep for disappearing in the 4th qtr

I remember reading a Bill Simmons article and posting the question here on OS long time ago, and was shocked that people agreed with it

Im sure if you look back far enough you'll find the thread

[Sam Marlowe]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Its true that KG didnt have some of the advantages thats TD had. But you never really got the sense from him that he had what it took to truly domintate in high pressure situations against similar talent. His T'Wolves teams were never favored when they lost in the playoffs but you can't really say that he was out there imposing his will to the highest degree possible but lost out due to a lack of talent. For the position Duncan was a better player. He was better in the post at both ends and I think his advantage there and in crunch time puts him ahead of KG.

[Colts18]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Why do we have to argue between the 2?

[PrettyT11]

Re: Duncan or KG?

While I won't argue or compare the two in big time moments cause Duncan is clearly the answer to that there is no way you cac compare suppoerting cast between the two. Duncan has had by far a better group of players and coach around them. Of all those guys AlexBrady listed they never played a season together. The best year KG had in Minny he was joined by a 33 and 34 year old Spreweel and Cassell. That year Wally also played 28 games. Yet they went to the WCF's. The next year Cassell got hurt and that year was when Sprewell hit us with the infamous I got to feed my family line and checked out. They never played together again after that.

All those other years except when he had a rookie Marbury his team was pretty much trash. I don't know why Trenton Hassell's name was mentioned cause he was complete trash. He only hurts the argument not help it. Same goes for Kendall Gill. He played one year in Minny at the age of 34 years old.

There is no way you can compare the two teams. David Robinson is in the HOF and they formed a monster of a defensive combo. There are people asking if Tony Parker and Manu are HOF'ers and you even have some people saying Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry should get some consideration for it. No player KG ever played with in Minny is even remotely close to even being thought of for the HOF.

Again not to take anything away from Duncan cause he clearly is the better of the two. I also think and have said here numerous times his 03 year was beyond legendary but there is no way you can say him and KG in Minny had the same level of support around them.

[BobbyColtrane]

Duncan had the better teammates but he was also the better player. Dont underestimate duncan's role in helping them develop however.

If KG had manu or tony he would have punched one of them out in a practice and they would have left...

[24]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Right Now : Duncan
In their prime : Duncan

[jeremym480]

Re: Duncan or KG?

KG

/Homer

[JerzeyReign]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Found an article about TD not liking KG -- this part is interesting:

In fact, Duncan hates Kevin Garnett. Hates him the way liberals hate Sean Hannity. This information comes from very reliable sources, who talk about how KG has made a career of trying to punk Duncan, baiting him and slapping him and whispering really weird smack into his ear. They talk about how funny this is, because the worst thing you can do as an opponent is piss off Duncan. Then, as Malik Rose says, "he f------ destroys you." Duncan's lifetime numbers versus Garnett's teams, by the way: 19.4 points per game, 11.6 boards and a 44--17 record, including the postseason.
Duncan is diplomatic about the topic. Asked if perhaps all those years battling Garnett have softened his feelings for the man, led to a Magic-Larry type of kinship, Duncan leans back on the couch in his hotel room and grins. There is a pause. A longer pause. Finally he says, "Define kinship."

[dramachild11]

Re: Duncan or KG?

I'm gonna preface this by saying Garnett has been my favorite player ever since he entered the league... I choose him for a lot of reasons: he's always been a better defender, passer, and ft shooter (td has gotten worse as he has gotten older which makes no sense to me)... But the overriding factor for me is that the ONE AND ONLY YEAR that he had real help in minny (cassell an sprewell) he won MVP destroyed Duncan head to head the way Olajuwon destroyed Robinson and went to the conference finals

[BringTheHeat]

Re: Duncan or KG?

Duncan. Tim Duncan is the greatest PF to ever play the game.

[J_Posse]

I'm gonna preface this by saying Garnett has been my favorite player ever since he entered the league... I choose him for a lot of reasons: he's always been a better defender, passer, and ft shooter (td has gotten worse as he has gotten older which makes no sense to me)... But the overriding factor for me is that the ONE AND ONLY YEAR that he had real help in minny (cassell an sprewell) he won MVP destroyed Duncan head to head the way Olajuwon destroyed Robinson and went to the conference finals

Sure, one season overrides all the years that Duncan has owned KG (especially in the postseason). In no way, shape or form has Kevin ever been a better defender than Tim. More versatile, yes, but never a better overall defender. Tim regularly defended Shaq one-on-one and still provided great help. He anchored some of the greatest defenses ever but was never rewarded the big prize (DPOY). I love both players but Timmy is and was the better player.

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