Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:59 am Posts: 9057 Location: Camden, NJ
it doesnt happen that often, but is IS possible to stop Duncan, in my opinion. But there are no real centers anymore to battle Shaq, which is why he is dominant.
the greats of the recent era, Ewing, Hakeem, Admiral, even Russell and Chamberlan and Kareem, they all faced each other and were all on the same skill level, they all looked the same, same heights, weights, builds, for the most part.
but none of them could go at shaq the way they went at each other because shaq is 300lbs of muscle.
now ive softened a bit on him, but i HATED shaq for a while, and I still think that his offense is limited to dunks and 3ft hooks, but hes so big no one can stop him.
Duncan can do it all, is the more complete player, but he cant dominate like a 300lb beast.
But Duncan may end up having the better overall career (more rings)when it's all said and done.
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Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:30 pm Posts: 7110 Location: the Zoo.
Tim Duncan is a better basketball player.
Shaq is a more dominant basketball player.
That being said, at this point in time, if I was choosing someone to build a team around, it'd be Duncan. He just comes off as a natural leader to me. Furthermore, I just like his style a lot more. He doesn't fuck around, he doesn't get involved in press issues, he minds his business and gets the job done. People can say he's boring, but he's simply a class act that does his job and does it well. He's a player that makes everyone around him better.
It's tough for me to analyze because, as good as Shaq is, without Kobe (and Phil Jackson to a lesser extent), would he have 3 rings? I don't know, but I honestly don't think he would. Shaq only does so much for a team. If the team he's on doesn't have decent guards, they might get to the Conference finals, but they're not going to win a championship.
Duncan just seems to be the type of player that can work in just about any style of play you want. He doesn't rely on a flat-out overpowering style. He can be physical and aggressive, but he can play a finesse game as well. His defense is top-notch, and he just seems to call the shots out on the court. Sure, he had Ginobli and Parker on his team in 2003, but Ginobli wasn't nearly at the level he is this season and Parker wasn't as polished a player, either. He was the leader of the team when they won in 98-99, and the only significant support he had was David Robinson. Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson had decent stats that year as well, but they're certainly not Kobe-caliber players.
My feeling is that Duncan can take a team on his back and turn good players into great ones, good teams into championship teams. If Duncan only had Parker or only had Ginobli, I think the Spurs still make the Finals. That's not to say Shaq isn't the most dominant player of his era, but would the Heat have even come close to the Finals without Dwyane Wade?
I have been a Shaq fan since grade school, but I agree. Duncan is a class act. Its kinda funny, and a little sad that you can be such a fluent hoops player, who leads, who has moves and skills but ignored because youre not flashy or in the press.
I'd pick Shaq, just cause he seems to be a better asset (at this peak). If Kobe was someone else, I think the Lakers would have easily 6-peated.
Although, do you think the Lakers would have 6-peated if Duncan was Shaq? Its possible
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:58 am Posts: 2105 Location: Austin
I think Duncan now, but Shaq has been more dominant over his career. Shaq's injury problems though over the last few seasons have been pretty damning for him. He has been missing 10-15 games a season since 2000, and is rarely at 100%. An injured Shaq is still a fantastic player, but it is defenitly a minus.
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 7:50 pm Posts: 10229 Location: WA (aka Waaaaaaaahhhh!!) Gender: Male
I'll take Shaq in a heartbeat.
He may be past his prime, or he may come back with a vengeance if he's completely healthy next season....either way, there's no question that in his prime, Shaq was the superior force on the court.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:25 am Posts: 11849 Location: west coast
shaq is the most dominant offensively, duncan gets the edge in rebound and blocks and defensive. check out duncan defending the pick and roll or how he helps off his man and recovers.
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shaq is the most dominant offensively, duncan gets the edge in rebound and blocks and defensive. check out duncan defending the pick and roll or how he helps off his man and recovers.
hmmmm i coulda swore the edge stat wise for blocks was mr shaqs by .1
shaq is to centers what mike was to guards. both when given the chance to dominate, showed noone was in their league. duncan has the better shooting touch, and both are a scratch at the line. shaq makes his teammates better by creating open looks for them be commanding a triple team. duncan makes his guys better by forcing them into making a shot with coverage (most teams that i have seen, do not like or wont double team timmy)
its easy enough to say dunacn is all around better now at this time than shaq is at this time. but both are at different points in the careers. give me a young shaq over timmy, but an older timmy over shaq
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:43 am Posts: 18418 Location: Anytown, USA Gender: Male
inadvertent imitation wrote:
Tim Duncan is a better basketball player.
Shaq is a more dominant basketball player.
I have nothing else to add.
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Shaq is better right now, although I think Duncan when he is finished will be one of the best centers ever. As someone said earlier, there are not very many good big men playing in the game right now so both will continue to dominate.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:51 pm Posts: 14534 Location: Mesa,AZ
I think now Duncan is a better player to have on the team than Shaq. Maybe in Shaq's prime he was better, but Duncan's on the way up, and Shaq's on the way down, career-wise.
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Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:19 am Posts: 6221 Location: Tasmania / Australia Gender: Male
PJguy23 wrote:
it doesnt happen that often, but is IS possible to stop Duncan, in my opinion. But there are no real centers anymore to battle Shaq, which is why he is dominant.
the greats of the recent era, Ewing, Hakeem, Admiral, even Russell and Chamberlan and Kareem, they all faced each other and were all on the same skill level, they all looked the same, same heights, weights, builds, for the most part.
but none of them could go at shaq the way they went at each other because shaq is 300lbs of muscle.
now ive softened a bit on him, but i HATED shaq for a while, and I still think that his offense is limited to dunks and 3ft hooks, but hes so big no one can stop him.
Duncan can do it all, is the more complete player, but he cant dominate like a 300lb beast.
Well said Also, Duncan is the ultimate team player (not that Shaq isn't a team player)
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