Tim Duncan or KG

[GreenFaith1819]

Hey guys,

Spurs fan here. Didn't have time to look at everything but I've read most of the arguments.

Used to be completely biased for Duncan but seeing some of the points raised, it's just really a hard read to decide who's better. I think it's also because both players' games and leadership qualities are so much different - KG is flashier while Duncan is more reserved.

I guess in the end, it will depend on what type of basketball fan you are - if you like showing a lot of passion and dunking, then KG is your guy. If you prefer quiet leadership and a fundamental approach to the game, Tim it is.

And, the more I think about it, I wish KG, instead of Shaq, had been Duncan's "rival" in terms of rings. It feels right that way.

Welcome to CelticsBlog, silverandblack_davis, here's your first TP.

KG looking good so far . Join us in the game thread..only folks we bite are Laker Fans, lol...

[LB3533]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

[GreenFaith1819]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

Huh?

He is already one of the better players in the NBA..what does race have to do with it?

[LB3533]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

Huh?

He is already one of the better players in the NBA..what does race have to do with it?

He would get more pub.

[GreenFaith1819]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

Huh?

He is already one of the better players in the NBA..what does race have to do with it?

He would get more pub.

He already gets a lot pf publicity..the man is world-known...his Argentinan Team consistently plays well..he's been an All-Star a few times..he gets enough publicity if you ask me.

[LB3533]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

Huh?

He is already one of the better players in the NBA..what does race have to do with it?

He would get more pub.

He already gets a lot pf publicity..the man is world-known...his Argentinan Team consistently plays well..he's been an All-Star a few times..he gets enough publicity if you ask me.

Manu is very underrated by the American national media a la Bill Simmons.

Manu's current pub and rep is not large enough to be "best player in the NBA", but if he was black and marketable and playing in a big market, he would be that Big.

[GreenFaith1819]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

Huh?

He is already one of the better players in the NBA..what does race have to do with it?

He would get more pub.

He already gets a lot pf publicity..the man is world-known...his Argentinan Team consistently plays well..he's been an All-Star a few times..he gets enough publicity if you ask me.

Manu is very underrated by the American national media a la Bill Simmons.

Manu's current pub and rep is not large enough to be "best player in the NBA", but if he was black and marketable and playing in a big market, he would be that Big.

Well..I certainly have my thoughts on the race issue, but I won't post them here or be baited into it.

With that being said, you are free to believe as you wish.

[Roy Hobbs]

Enough with the racial talk, please.  As our rules state:

It is neither necessary nor appropriate to reference a player's race when commenting on that player's play or role.

[Who]

Agreed -- Ginobili has been phenomenally underrated over the past several seasons. He is one of the top 15 players in the NBA and in some seasons he has been a top 10 player.

The biggest reason for the lack of credit Manu receives is the way Popovich uses him. As a sixth man with around 30 minutes a night. If Manu was up around 35-37 minutes like he would be on any other team in the league, he'd blow everyone away with the statistics he'd produce. 25-5-5 with very good defense. The second biggest reason is that he's stuck in Tim Duncan's shadow in San Antonio.

Manu Ginobili is the best player Tim Duncan has played with and he has been the second best player on the Spurs since his third season with the team through to present day.

[moiso]

A couple seasons ago I felt that when Manu was healthy and in a groove he was as good as Wade or Kobe.  Unfortunately for him, he has had a lot of injuries and now he is losing some athleticism.

[Capricious]

I say Duncan.  However, I don't think the celtics win that championship if TD comes instead of KG.  They needed his intensity to change the then current celtics culture.  I doubt timmy could make as big an impact with a new team.

[Greenbean]

Agreed -- Ginobili has been phenomenally underrated over the past several seasons. He is one of the top 15 players in the NBA and in some seasons he has been a top 10 player.

The biggest reason for the lack of credit Manu receives is the way Popovich uses him. As a sixth man with around 30 minutes a night. If Manu was up around 35-37 minutes like he would be on any other team in the league, he'd blow everyone away with the statistics he'd produce. 25-5-5 with very good defense. The second biggest reason is that he's stuck in Tim Duncan's shadow in San Antonio.

Manu Ginobili is the best player Tim Duncan has played with and he has been the second best player on the Spurs since his third season with the team through to present day.

As times, Manu is unstoppable.

Would have like to see more Tony out there last night. He may have been our only hope unfortunately.

[TitleMaster]

I don't think the celtics win that championship if TD comes instead of KG.

I'm gonna disagree here, the Celts win either way.

As for freak-of-nature, once-in-a-lifetime player, I'm giving that award to Hakeem Olajuwon, not to either KG or TD.

The 2008 Championship squad had Powe, BBD, Brown, Posey, Perks and KG for its frontline bigs. Really, substitute KG for TD in that lineup and what does the Celtics miss? Pretty much nothing.

Ray Ray, except from the free throw line, missed continually for the first two playoff series. That could've been the end of it, there if it weren't for others to start scoring from the outside like House, Posey, Pierce, & sometimes Cassell. Finally, I believe w/ TD, the Cav's frontline (Ilgauskas, etc) would not have been able to stop him from dropping 30-40 points of them, all series long. That would have ended the semi-conf series in 6. We wouldn't have needed Pierce to drop 41 in that game 7 but he might have, perhaps a game or two earlier.

And finally, given the scoring prowess of both Pierce and Ray Ray, starting with the ECF, I don't see how our fortunes with TD would have gone down in the final series.

[Who]

I don't think the celtics win that championship if TD comes instead of KG.

I'm gonna disagree here, the Celts win either way.

As for freak-of-nature, once-in-a-lifetime player, I'm giving that award to Hakeem Olajuwon, not to either KG or TD.

The 2008 Championship squad had Powe, BBD, Brown, Posey, Perks and KG for its frontline bigs. Really, substitute KG for TD in that lineup and what does the Celtics miss? Pretty much nothing.

Ray Ray, except from the free throw line, missed continually for the first two playoff series. That could've been the end of it, there if it weren't for others to start scoring from the outside like House, Posey, Pierce, & sometimes Cassell. Finally, I believe w/ TD, the Cav's frontline (Ilgauskas, etc) would not have been able to stop him from dropping 30-40 points of them, all series long. That would have ended the semi-conf series in 6. We wouldn't have needed Pierce to drop 41 in that game 7 but he might have, perhaps a game or two earlier.

And finally, given the scoring prowess of both Pierce and Ray Ray, starting with the ECF, I don't see how our fortunes with TD would have gone down in the final series.

I agree -- I think that Celtics team wins with Duncan too.

[Mr October]

If Manu was black or playing in LA or on the East Coast, he'd be the best player in the NBA.

He'd a need to be a little more healthy year after year.... and average a lot more points since scoring is his forte.

Manu is a great second best guy on a contender. What if Kobe had been paired with Duncan during the past decade?