I was going to put Duncan ahead of Bird if he beat the Heat

[Django]

I'm here to take my punishment.

I was watching a 37 year old Tim Duncan GIVE IT to the Heat. On his way to a 5th championship...

I was going over my top 10 of all time...I was like [dang]...I might have move him over Bird if he pulls this off...

Then Ray Allen...pulled a Ray Allen.

And then Duncan pulled a Patrick Ewing in game 7 missing that layup.

I'm sorry Celtics Nation. I'm here for you to call me out on this. I deserve it, smh.


(Sidenote: I still wish we got Duncan in the draft..*sigh* )

[BballTim]

I'm here to take my punishment.

I was watching a 37 year old Tim Duncan GIVE IT to the Heat. On his way to a 5th championship...

I was going over my top 10 of all time...I was like [dang]...I might have move him over Bird if he pulls this off...

Then Ray Allen...pulled a Ray Allen.

And then Duncan pulled a Patrick Ewing in game 7 missing that layup.

I'm sorry Celtics Nation. I'm here for you to call me out on this. I deserve it, smh.


(Sidenote: I still wish we got Duncan in the draft..*sigh* )

  Did you ever see Bird play? Just curious. Because he's closer to the top than the bottom of the top 10.

[PhoSita]

Yeah, I love Tim Duncan, but there's no way he's ahead of Bird.

[fairweatherfan]

In terms of career as a whole you can actually make a pretty strong case for Duncan.  Take each guy at his peak and it's absolutely no contest, though.

[pearljammer10]

In terms of career as a whole you can actually make a pretty strong case for Duncan.  Take each guy at his peak and it's absolutely no contest, though.

Yeah I am going to have to agree here. Read Bill Simmons article about Duncan in his "Book of Basketball." I read that and was like, "Wow, Duncan is one of the top ten players of all time easily. Its too bad he couldnt get his fifth ring to go 5 and 0 all time.

[celtsfan84]

I wouldn't go that far, though they both are probably towards the middle of the top 10, IMO.  Bird ranks a few spots higher.

Tim Duncan will have to settle for being the best player of the post-Jordan NBA, a 4-time NBA Champion, 2-time MVP, and the best power forward of all-time.  Not a bad consolation prize.

[Celtics17]

I like Duncan and his game, he always was meant to be Celtic with his style. However, I would not call him the best player of the post Jordan era. That era includes Shaq, Kobe, and Lebron and really I am having a hard time rating Duncan above Lebron until I see their whole careers.

As far as Duncan rating above Bird I have to say he's not as good. Bird just controlled the game in so many ways, shooting, passing, rebounding, team defense. There never was a player as quick as Bird mentally and probably not a better shooter ever if you factor in shooting from everywhere on the floor.

[syfy9]

Who is better: Bill Walton or Robert Parish?

In my opinion, sheer dominance and influence should be valued more than longevity.

[Onslaught]

The only way thing can hold Bird back for is his health. Other then that, as much as I like Duncan he's not as good as Bird. And I really, really like Duncan.

(flame suit on) I like Duncan way more the KG and Duncan's still not even close to Bird.

[slamtheking]

I think you need to reconsider your criteria if you think Timmy is any discussion of who's better than Bird.

Bird: 3 NBA titles playing in an era of Magic, Kareem, Dr J, Moses Malone, Sidney Moncrief, Bernard King,  Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Terry Cummings, Charles Barkley, Bob Lanier, etc...   an era of truly great players.   2 NBA finals MVP awards

Bird: 3 straight MVP awards while playing in the era of those same players mentioned above.

Bird: Best player on every team he played on which always had other all stars.   not even debatable

Duncan: great player, but he's not winning titles against that level of competition nor is he dominating the league where he's winning consecutive MVPs.  It's even debatable if he's been the best player on his team the past 2-3 years.  (I think he has been but heard quite a bit of commentary by others that think it's Parker)

[wdleehi]

Bird - top 5.


Duncan - top 10

[CeltsPride]

I think you need to reconsider your criteria if you think Timmy is any discussion of who's better than Bird.

Bird: 3 NBA titles playing in an era of Magic, Kareem, Dr J, Moses Malone, Sidney Moncrief, Bernard King,  Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Terry Cummings, Charles Barkley, Bob Lanier, etc...   an era of truly great players.   2 NBA finals MVP awards

Bird: 3 straight MVP awards while playing in the era of those same players mentioned above.

Bird: Best player on every team he played on which always had other all stars.   not even debatable

Duncan: great player, but he's not winning titles against that level of competition nor is he dominating the league where he's winning consecutive MVPs.  It's even debatable if he's been the best player on his team the past 2-3 years.  (I think he has been but heard quite a bit of commentary by others that think it's Parker)

I get such a kick out of people saying NBA players were better 20+ years ago. The sport has become international and now the NBA doesnt only have the best players in the US, it has the best players in the world. Guys like Moncrief, King, Worthy, Cummings, are nothing but nice players in today's game. I will grant you that the big men of 20 years ago were better than today, but that's only because big guys are more versatile in today's game. I cant imagine what a Dirk would have done 20 years ago. Nobody would have been able to guard him.

The reason the NBA seems watered down is because Lebron is so much better than everyone else. A guy like Chris Paul would be considered all world throughout any time period in the NBA, but because he cant hold a candle to Lebron people just consider his a solid all-star.

[slamtheking]

I think you need to reconsider your criteria if you think Timmy is any discussion of who's better than Bird.

Bird: 3 NBA titles playing in an era of Magic, Kareem, Dr J, Moses Malone, Sidney Moncrief, Bernard King,  Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Terry Cummings, Charles Barkley, Bob Lanier, etc...   an era of truly great players.   2 NBA finals MVP awards

Bird: 3 straight MVP awards while playing in the era of those same players mentioned above.

Bird: Best player on every team he played on which always had other all stars.   not even debatable

Duncan: great player, but he's not winning titles against that level of competition nor is he dominating the league where he's winning consecutive MVPs.  It's even debatable if he's been the best player on his team the past 2-3 years.  (I think he has been but heard quite a bit of commentary by others that think it's Parker)

I get such a kick out of people saying NBA players were better 20+ years ago. The sport has become international and now the NBA doesnt only have the best players in the US, it has the best players in the world. Guys like Moncrief, King, Worthy, Cummings, are nothing but nice players in today's game. I will grant you that the big men of 20 years ago were better than today, but that's only because big guys are more versatile in today's game. I cant imagine what a Dirk would have done 20 years ago. Nobody would have been able to guard him.

The reason the NBA seems watered down is because Lebron is so much better than everyone else. A guy like Chris Paul would be considered all world throughout any time period in the NBA, but because he cant hold a candle to Lebron people just consider his a solid all-star.

Glad I could amuse a delightfully condescending person such as yourself.

I've seen the players of both eras.  Give me the players of the 80's any day.  Officiating was less star-biased back---not the level of ridiculousness that Lebron enjoys today.   Lebron looks so much better than everyone else in part thanks to the blatant star treatment he receives.  Dirk would do well in any era, as would Timmy and Lebron, but Bird was an all-time great.

[ACF]

Bird - top 5.


Duncan - top 10

Who are 1-5? Who are 6-10?

[CeltsPride]

I think you need to reconsider your criteria if you think Timmy is any discussion of who's better than Bird.

Bird: 3 NBA titles playing in an era of Magic, Kareem, Dr J, Moses Malone, Sidney Moncrief, Bernard King,  Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, Terry Cummings, Charles Barkley, Bob Lanier, etc...   an era of truly great players.   2 NBA finals MVP awards

Bird: 3 straight MVP awards while playing in the era of those same players mentioned above.

Bird: Best player on every team he played on which always had other all stars.   not even debatable

Duncan: great player, but he's not winning titles against that level of competition nor is he dominating the league where he's winning consecutive MVPs.  It's even debatable if he's been the best player on his team the past 2-3 years.  (I think he has been but heard quite a bit of commentary by others that think it's Parker)

I get such a kick out of people saying NBA players were better 20+ years ago. The sport has become international and now the NBA doesnt only have the best players in the US, it has the best players in the world. Guys like Moncrief, King, Worthy, Cummings, are nothing but nice players in today's game. I will grant you that the big men of 20 years ago were better than today, but that's only because big guys are more versatile in today's game. I cant imagine what a Dirk would have done 20 years ago. Nobody would have been able to guard him.

The reason the NBA seems watered down is because Lebron is so much better than everyone else. A guy like Chris Paul would be considered all world throughout any time period in the NBA, but because he cant hold a candle to Lebron people just consider his a solid all-star.

Glad I could amuse a delightfully condescending person such as yourself.

I've seen the players of both eras.  Give me the players of the 80's any day.  Officiating was less star-biased back---not the level of ridiculousness that Lebron enjoys today.   Lebron looks so much better than everyone else in part thanks to the blatant star treatment he receives.  Dirk would do well in any era, as would Timmy and Lebron, but Bird was an all-time great.

First, Lebron average 7.6 free throw attempts per game this year. For the amount of hits Lebron takes, that number is absurdly low. Jordan once averaged 12 per game.

And although Bird is my all time favorite player, lets not pretend he is in the same stratosphere as Lebron. Nothing against Larry, but Lebron weighs 40 pounds more and is 10 times the athlete Larry was.Granted, guys of today have huge unfair advantages with the training, supplements, etc. But take Bird at his prime and put him up against Lebron right now and I fear it would not end well for our guy.