No. I really like Brand, but the argument can be made that Duncan is the best big man playing-and I despise the Spurs.
I don't consider Brand better than Duncan yet. If the Clippers make it and Brand plays like a monster in the playoffs, then we can have a discussion. If Brand plays like a monster next season and Duncan starts to slide, then we can have a serious discussion.
Brand is having a better season than Duncan is. Actually one can argue he's having the best season among all big men in the NBA. He's No. 1 in efficiency ranking in the league. However, I don't think that Brand is a better player than Duncan. He has never made the playoffs in his career and has not proven that he can be a winner. That is the biggest knock on him. BTW Brand for Chandler looks like the most lopsided trade in recent memory now.
he's having a better season than duncan, and has had an excellent career averaging over 20 & 10 for his entire career. but he still isn't better than TD. i still think brand has been one of the most underrated players in recent history. he's awesome.
Statistically, Brand has been better this season WITHOUT Cassell on the court versus with him on the court. See here for the details: Overall 25.5 points/40min 7.8 free throw attempts/40min 10.5 rebounds/40min 2.8 assists/40min 2.7 blocks/40min 0.9 steals/40min 2.1 turnovers/40min 52.9 FG% With Sam 24.7 points/40min 7.3 free throw attempts/40min 10.3 rebounds/40min 2.7 assists/40min 2.6 blocks/40min 1.0 steals/40min 2.0 to/40min 52.3 FG% This season I think he has been better than Duncan, overall. If Maggette was healthy throughout the season, I believe the Clippers would have had one of the top 4 records in the West and people would be considering Brand as a leading MVP candidate. Both are excellent "2-way" players, but Brand is better offensively this season while I still consider Duncan the better defensive player. Actually, Duncan might be the best defensive player to have never been named Defensive Player of the Year (since 1983, of course).
You're correct. Then, I think they would have had a top-3 record (ahead of Phoenix), and be sitting with the 2-seed in the playoffs right now.
There is a reason that the Spurs have the best record in the West, and it isn't that they have a bunch of overrated Euro guards.