I´m not talking about scowls and yells - I´m talking about taking over the game late and not letting anyone stop you. Maybe my memory fails me a little, but I always saw him more as a facilitator late in games - letting Horry, Parker, Ginobli hitting the big shots. Of course he did everything to let his team win. But rarely did he get that look in the eyes "this is my game, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
dirk is right under KG imo. dirk's D has really improved. the guy was on another planet in every playoff series this year. if he wins another ring then he will move up to no. 3. as much as i hate KG, he was still better b/c he dominated both ends. 1. TD 2. Bird 3. KG 4. Dirk 5. Malone 6. Barkley
Duncan is the best player of his generation, not Kobe. It amazes me that people on a Rockets board can't figure out why ppl like Kobe and not Shaq or Duncan run the final plays. It's the same reason Clyde ran the final play in the 95 finals game 1, because when you have a great rebounder/scorer 7 footer, you want him there for the clean up.
1. Duncan (even though a case for Malone can easily be made) 2. Malone (and he's alot closer to #1 than #3) 3. Barkley 4. Dirk 5. KG With his performance this year throughout the playoffs Dirk passes KG. I know people dont like to get into stats and stuff but honestly Malones numbers are pretty ridiculous. Oh and Duncan is just on the outside of the top 10, probably #11. Dirk has moved into the top 25 and arguably the top 20, but he'll need to keep putting up numbers to assure himself of that.
Can't say where he is all time, but out of all the guys listed, Dirk is the only one that can be the superstar and the closer on a championship team, that's including Tim Duncan.
Exactly. How quickly people forgot about this guy. He's even the head coach of the Rockets now. Still the only man to ever shot 60% from the field and 80% from the FT line in a season.
Moses Malone was a CENTER. A CENTER. Dirk is definitely 2nd to Duncan IMO. Accomplished something that KG/Malone/Barkley could not. Carried his team to the NBA finals and won as an underdog as the clear #1 option.
Sorry, but when a 7 footer even refuses to try and block a Wade dunk attempt... I've got no respect for his defense. Dirk is perhaps the most gifted shooter relative to size to ever play the game, but again... too one dimensional to be considered in the Top 3.
I don't think you could have ever seen a game played by Barkley and think Dirk was the better power forward.
Hard to really compare some of these when you try and define the position of Power Forward when it has evolved with the game over the years. Case in point: Lebron James is 6-8, 240... Bill Russell in his playing days was 6'9, 215.
Jesus Christ did you ever even see him play? He was not very athletic but he was smart and good (understatement) on defense. Dirk is subpar on defense and an Elite scorer. Bird is an All-time great.