Westbrook is as valuable on that team as Durant. (Waiting for the Westbrook did not play in the 4th quarter statement)
it won't be the first time westbrook doesn't play in the 4th quarter. westbrook and alike will come and go for durant and durant will be durant.
I'm responding to this one. "And Durant hasn't led his team to anywhere" do you believe in that statement?
Honestly the worst board to have this sort of question. With trolls like tinman salivating to use baseless and the same tiresome arguments, you can't expect to have a legitimate discussion because of personal agenda to discuss what would be a legitimate question. Tinman's arguments relies on one thing, to call anyone that even thinks about saying that MGrady is better by calling him a "TOF" and "lulz, you're dumb, show me the second round numbers." So in short, his argument relies on name calling, and repeating the same argument never acknowledging, or conceding anything in his argument. You can't win anything with guys like this, because they're too hard headed, and filled with an agenda to see the truth that's infront of them. I'm not even saying it's a crime to say that Durant is better, but to pretend it's Durant and it's not even close? Is Westbrook better than Chris Paul at his best? "Show me the WCF #'s, you'r a "COF," you're ignorant, all Chris Paul fans are stupid and r****ded, lulz, which makes you a r****d, lulz." It's undeniable to say that McGrady was a similar caliber scorer as Durant in his prime, while being a comparable rebounder and defender (I'd venture to say slightly better, but it's not always been consistent). McGrady however is a much better ball-handler and playmaker. The best thing about his game has always been his ability to keep possession of the ball. For a player that dominates/uses the ball as much as McGrady does, for him to always average under three turnovers per game is remarkable. Then factor in he's the primary play-maker and scorer for every team he's been on, it makes that sorta feat remarkable. Durant averages as many turnovers as assists, if not even more turnovers. Durant will go down as the better player due to better team success, with a better team, while being one of the most electrifying scorers in the game with above average/elite efficiency. But I'm not completely sold when we're comparing peaks that Durant was as good as McGrady. I mean let's be honest, Serge Ibaka, James Harden, or Kendrick Perkins would be the best players McGrady played with in Orlando. Hell, even guys like Collison, Sefolosha, and Mohammed have stepped up their games. This isn't even counting another All-NBA 2nd team player in Westbrook. I know it sounds like excuses, but his situations in Orlando, it's the truth, something Tinman is oblivious to when discussing McGrady (or anything for that matter since he tries to bring him up in any conversation, even on the Games and Roster Moves in a thread discussing who we should draft, "not someone who will quit on the team, like tmac, lulz)." This didn't actually happen, but anyone that roams these boards knows he's derailed his fair share of threads by trying to rehash old McGrady arguments, because of an unhealthy obsessions or fetish for him which he can't forget. It's something so deep that I'd even suggest some sort of treatment, because it's making this part of the board a worse place to post in, since every single thread he posts in nearly tries to take a jab at McGrady even when there's absolutely no one else discussing him. Get a life, seriously, it's advice that will do you better as well. Now he'll try to say I should get a life since I'm replying to him. It's a way to once again, go away from the argument, belittle anyone that tries to shed light on McGrady, and go on spouting the same crap again. Again, Durant is an awesome player that still has room to improve, but comparing Durant right now, and a peak T-Mac, they have similar strengths, while McGrady owns a strength in an area where Durant is weak. Once Durant improves on that, which he's shown signs of doing (though not as quickly as I'd have hoped) he'll likely surpass him as a player, and will easily pass him in a career sense even if he were not to improve - because of how much we factor in team success, and rightfully so. I know the argument Tinman will use, he'll call me a TOF, insult my intelligence, avoid the argument and post the same thing over again.
you got to compare apples to apples. one guy is in the WCF and one guy never made it that far. team accomplishments count, that's why they play basketball for team success, not for a bunch of what if. You're not a TOF. they don't even read the topic and they can't spell.
If I could have either current Durant or prime t-mac on my team, I would take t-mac 10 times out of 10.
Westbrook is the one that led them to the WCF. Durant just rode along. Were you too busy thinking up the next "old timer vs new guy" thread to watch the playoffs closely?
O wise one, explain to us all how Westbrook led the Thunder to the WCFs and how KD just rode along. Also, how many Thunder games have you watched this season?
Did you manage to miss the storm of "Durant is too passive", "Not a superstar", and "Westbrook shoots too much" posts during the playoffs? This regular season? Zero. Playoffs? Only missed two in the first round. Since "TMac can't pass the first round while Durant made it to the WCF" is what we're talking about, I find the idea of you mentioning the season rather pointless.
OK, so instead of dodging the question, answer it: Exactly how did Westbrook lead OKC to the WCFs while Durant just rode along?
durant is a better shooter, but tmac was a better driver and ball handler, as well as a better play maker. but durant is a hard worker who wants to play d
TMac is more "all-around" for sure. Durant is a horrible passer while TMac was a great one. But TMac was so inefficient while Durant is extremely efficient. Is he that much better of a scorer? YES Is he that much better of a player? I'm no sure.
Really? Game 6 against the Griz, that was some choke job Durant put on. Tmac was unstoppable in the Orland Detroit series at the similar age of Duran. He did that all by himself. I think the West just got much weaker. That's main reason why Durant is in the WCF. We would have whipped Melo-less Denver and Zbo led Griz like silly. Mavs aren't as good as the 2005-6 version either. Back then when we were peaking, the West had the Spurs big trio, Utah balanced bunch, Nash et al, all in their prime. Kobe led Lakers couldn't even get into the playoff one year then. Now the 6 year older Dirk is the king of West, that pretty much says all about the competiveness of the West IMO. Sigh for Tmac and good for Durant.
Playoff success depends too much on teammates. TMac was kind of unlucky. But Durant scores a lot and does it efficiently. TMac had some years when he scored at lot, but not anywhere near the efficiency that Durant did it.
nobody should be questioning tmac's skills. that guy was extremely talented and if his head (back, shoulders, knees, eyes) was right then he could have been one of the best to ever play the game. so.. no, Durant is not better than Tmac. i like Durant more than tmac though. maybe after a few more years, if he could improve his defense and make his game smoother and more well-rounded then he could possibly become a 6'10 Tmac. That would be unstoppable. <div style="background:#000000;width:440px;height:272px"><embed flashVars="playerVars=showStats=yes|autoPlay=no|videoTitle=Tracy McGrady 62 Pts" src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/277888/tracy_mcgrady_62_pts.swf" width="440" height="272" wmode="transparent" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" name="Metacafe_277888" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></div><div style="font-size:12px;"><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/277888/tracy_mcgrady_62_pts/">Tracy McGrady 62 Pts</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">Watch a funny movie here</a></div>