Wait a minute. What? Dirk is all of a sudden a better, all-time, PF than KG?

[CelticG1]

I just think looking back KG was just an absolutely dominant 2 way player for a lot of years. KG's offense was/is light years ahead of Dirk's defense.

[housecall]

Dirk is an amazing offensive shooter and it ends there.

[slamtheking]

So far today, he has been said to be better then KG, Malone, Barkley, McHale...

And on par with Bird. 

He's a great talent but I'd take those 5 over him all day.  I might have to think a couple of seconds with Barkley but I think I'd still take Charles even though he never got a title.  The only thing that blocked him from doing so was Jordan.  (and if Jordan hadn't retired that first time, Hakeem would have had the same knock on him)

[CelticG1]

So far today, he has been said to be better then KG, Malone, Barkley, McHale...

And on par with Bird. 

He's a great talent but I'd take those 5 over him all day.  I might have to think a couple of seconds with Barkley but I think I'd still take Charles even though he never got a title.  The only thing that blocked him from doing so was Jordan.  (and if Jordan hadn't retired that first time, Hakeem would have had the same knock on him)

The Miami Heat might not be Jordan and the Bulls but I think there definitely would have been a built in excuse for Dirk if the Mavs lost. It would have been Dirk not having enough talent and playing against a super team with the 2 best players in the league.

I think it is on par with Barkley and Malone if they upset Jordan and the Bulls one year

[scaryjerry]

Dirk is an amazing offensive shooter and it ends there.

Not really....but okkk

[scaryjerry]

interesting to take a look at these in this thread..

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=nowitdi01&p2=garneke01

[nyceltsfan]

Everyone overreacts to the crowned champion.  Last year, Pau Gasol was considered the most "skilled" big man in the game by the media.  Was he better than Dirk? No.

[Roy H.]

In my mind, Dirk is in the conversation for best offensive PF of all-time (although I think Malone has that award), but he's behind several others in terms of overall.  He's simply not on the same level of rebounding and/or defense as a lot of the other great PFs.

[Fafnir]

In my mind, Dirk is in the conversation for best offensive PF of all-time (although I think Malone has that award), but he's behind several others in terms of overall.  He's simply not on the same level of rebounding and/or defense as a lot of the other great PFs.

Yeah too many great all around players who have played that position.

[StartOrien]

So far today, he has been said to be better then KG, Malone, Barkley, McHale...

And on par with Bird. 

He's a great talent but I'd take those 5 over him all day.  I might have to think a couple of seconds with Barkley but I think I'd still take Charles even though he never got a title.  The only thing that blocked him from doing so was Jordan.  (and if Jordan hadn't retired that first time, Hakeem would have had the same knock on him)

The Miami Heat might not be Jordan and the Bulls but I think there definitely would have been a built in excuse for Dirk if the Mavs lost. It would have been Dirk not having enough talent and playing against a super team with the 2 best players in the league.

I think it is on par with Barkley and Malone if they upset Jordan and the Bulls one year

Couldn't disagree more - the Bulls were an accomplished team thats core had been together for years by the time they took on the Suns and the Jazz.

The Heat - while extremely talented - are in their first year together and haven't yet won a title (!!!). There is a huge discrepancy between the two

[LarBrd33]

Oh fun... now that Dallas is relevant can we all start hating Dirk too?   This seems promising.  Down with the German!

[wdleehi]

Oh fun... now that Dallas is relevant can we all start hating Dirk too?   This seems promising.  Down with the German!

I don't hate him.


He beat the Heat



He just isn't the top two PF they are talking him up to be today.

[BballTim]

Oh fun... now that Dallas is relevant can we all start hating Dirk too?   This seems promising.  Down with the German!

  Saying he isn't the player that KG was is hating on him?

[mgent]

All of sudden, he never had any strong teammates.


People ignoring players like Nash, Finley, Kidd, Terry, Jamison, Walker,

Nash wasn't the same level of player he became, in part because Dirk didn't let him dominate the ball.

But yeah, Dallas has had a lot of good teams around Dirk. Never really a great supporting cast, but always average to very good.

Not a ringing endorsement for a player being the 2nd best PF of all time.  

That's not true though. The same could be said about any all time great if he were to play alongside Nash.

I think its a greater knock on Nash. He is/was unable to impact the game unless he dominates the ball with his dribbling.

Haha, really?  He's a point guard.....

He doesn't necessarily have to dominate the ball, but the ball has to at least always start in his hands.

[CelticG1]

So far today, he has been said to be better then KG, Malone, Barkley, McHale...

And on par with Bird. 

He's a great talent but I'd take those 5 over him all day.  I might have to think a couple of seconds with Barkley but I think I'd still take Charles even though he never got a title.  The only thing that blocked him from doing so was Jordan.  (and if Jordan hadn't retired that first time, Hakeem would have had the same knock on him)

The Miami Heat might not be Jordan and the Bulls but I think there definitely would have been a built in excuse for Dirk if the Mavs lost. It would have been Dirk not having enough talent and playing against a super team with the 2 best players in the league.

I think it is on par with Barkley and Malone if they upset Jordan and the Bulls one year

Couldn't disagree more - the Bulls were an accomplished team thats core had been together for years by the time they took on the Suns and the Jazz.

The Heat - while extremely talented - are in their first year together and haven't yet won a title (!!!). There is a huge discrepancy between the two

Yeah that makes sense I just hate and think it's a stupid argument to say that so and so would have won a title if it weren't for Jordan. I mean how many times did Malone and Barkley even make it to the finals? I guess it would make a little sense if Utah played MJ and the Bulls in the finals 6 times and lost 6 times.

I do think that if Dirk lost this finals he would have ABSOLUTELY been given a pass. The media was basically saying as much before the series started. The Mavs must have been HUGE underdogs no?