As an avid basketball and sports fan in general, I always enjoy comparing players - their strengths, their weakneses - especially the superstars. I was just thinking about some of the big men in the NBA, and Mourning and Duncan came into my head. They're both in different stages of their career and they even start games at different positions, but they're still comparable. Duncan At 23, most players his age are far from their best and immature. He's the opposite. Though he will get better, his margin for potential is not quite the same as say, Garnett. Hard to find a weakness in his game, and probably the most fundamentally sound big man in the game. He can rebound with the best of them, score with his back to the basket, pull-up for the mid-range jumper, put the ball on the floor or just out-maneuver his opponent in the paint. More than reliable on D, and great at using the backboard. Some say he doesn't show enough character on the court and looks uninterested, but thats just his mentality and personality. In many ways he's similar to Dream, and it doesn't hurt that he's already proven and won a title. Mourning Seven years older and much slower to reach his peak, Zo is probably the underdog in this matchup, based solely on past accomplishments. Moreso than TD, he can change the complexion and flow of the game by his defense alone. Always a candidate for Defensive player of year, and his intimidating shot blocking presence makes his teammates looks better than they really are. On offense, he's without peer when facing the basket and driving past his opponent for an explosive finish. The development of his mid-range jumper has made him tougher to handle, but he still isn't quite up to Duncan's standards when his back is facing the basket. While Tim is staid and somewhat dull, his game is fueled by his intense emotion and determination, which in his younger past sometimes caused problems for him. My feeling is most will say TD is better, and I might agree, but I think its very close between the two. We can say Mourning just hasn't proved he can win, but he also hasn't had the opportunity to play next to one of the greatest players to ever play as his twin tower. I'm gonna call it a wash for now, but I think TD has a more complete game. I'm interested on what you guys think. Azim da Dream ------------------ We don't live for the destination. We live for the journey.
Easy one Az. Timmy is way better than Zo in my humble opinion. Duncan is the ultimate team player. Yes, he is awesome with his many post moves and shooting touch, but he is so much more than that. He simply does not force up bad shots. He is an excellent passer for a big man, loves to set picks to free up shooters. He also is a great team defensive player. Zo, also is a good defensive player with his block-shot ability. However his offensive game is limited. Sure he has a quick first step and is quicker than most centers, but he doesn't seem to get other players involved by passing the "rock" Just my opinion here, but I think Zo is very overated. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
Duncan is just awesome - clearly better. Zo's not really overrated - just because he's not silky smooth in everything that he does doesn't make him any less of a player!! He puts forth 100% effort at both ends of the court and certainly gets the job done! He IS only 6'10 and givse up height every night playing at C. ------------------
Very interesting. Actually, I think 'Zo is better. Both players are offensive machines, but Alonzo's defense is better than Tim's. I don't think Mourning is overrated at all. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel-boy.
Tim Duncan by a mile. (Note this is coming from one of his biggest fans in the world, but I will try to be unbiased here.) Duncan has it all. He has about every post move in the book mastered. He is a team player. He passes the ball extremely well out of the post. He rebounds better than almost anyone in the league. He can make the jumper from 15-18 feet, and can put the ball on the floor. Add on top of that his great maturity and the fact that he's an excellent defender and shotblocker. I like Zo, and he brings a lot to the game. But not near as much as Duncan. Simply put, if I was starting my own franchise today, I would pick Duncan before any other player in the NBA. Without hesitation. ------------------ Looking for next year's Dan Langhi? Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com 4th Friday of August= Rocket Day 1999-Steve Francis 2000-Maurice Taylor
I hear you, Duncan's rare ability to pass effectively out of double-teams is special. But at the same time, ask yourself if Zo played PF against players his height and had a guy like the Admiral next to him to take a lot of pressure off, would we view him differently? I guess you can say the same thing and ask how Duncan would dominate in the East. I'm trying to play devil's advocate here. But I do agree with my fellow Canuck fadeaway when saying Mourning's D is better. ------------------ We don't live for the destination. We live for the journey. http://www.clutchtown.com [This message has been edited by Azim da Dream (edited August 27, 2000).]
One thing I forgot to mention was, Zo plays with a lot of emotion,nothing wrong with that, except sometimes it gets the best of him. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
I'll take 'Zo in this matchup. Though Duncan may be a more complete player, would he exhibit such dominance if he weren't playing next to the Admiral? Mourning goes up against players taller than him every night, and although his team is full of offensively-incompetent scrubs, he makes them contenders by getting the better of every center he plays against except Shaq. ------------------ Who would've thought Don Nelson would pass up Olumide Oyedeji not once, not twice, but thrice?
Better scorer - Duncan can score in a variety of ways. Zo is just above average with his back to the basket. Duncan cannot even be handled by double teaming. Zo on the other hand gets frustrated and sometimes starts jacking up jumpers. Better passer - Duncan can pass out of the post much better than Zo. Better rebounder - Both are really good, but TD might be a little better due to his height. Better blocker - Zo only wins in this category. However I think TD can only get better on defense as he gets some more mileage. ------------------ Fun Police Says: 1. Stupid threads are not FUN! 2. Spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure are not FUN! 3. Stupid BBS names are not FUN! 4. Conduct yourself in a FUN way! The Fun Police are Watching. Vote for the Rockets & Have FUN or be Assimilated.
I think it would be VERY difficult to say one is miles better than the other. Two very dominant, but very different players. If I had to pick who is better right now, I would say Zo, by a hair. Only because he has been in the league longer and is a tad better defensively. Whereas offensively, it seems like a wash to me. But who would I sign if I had a shot at either? Timmy D. He is younger and if he continues to improve and STAY HEALTHY, he has the propensity to be great! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
he makes them contenders by getting the better of every center he plays against except Shaq. Now, now.. Mourning has done very well against Shaq. <u>March 5, 2000</u> Mourning - 21 pts, 9 rebs, 4 ast, 1 blk (7-18) Shaquille - 17 pts, 11 rebs, 7 ast, 2 blk (5-17) <u>March 21, 2000</u> Mourning - 33 pts, 13 rebs, 1 ast, 1 blk (12-25) Shaquille - 28 pts, 12 rebs, 3 ast, 4 blk (12-22) He certainly wasn't dominated by Shaq.. not by a long shot. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel-boy.
It's an unfair comparison. Mourning is mentally weak and doesn't lead his team in the playoffs. Duncan is one of the most clutch players to come around in years.
My vote would definately go to Duncan. He is the most skilled big man in the game. I would say most dominating, but Shaq just uses brute force. I don't think there is a single player that can stop him by themselves. Like the commercial says, "I'm the man of the hour, finesse and power, it's the perfect combination." ------------------ Hakeem, Hasaw, Haconquered.
Duncan, and it's not even close. If I were to start a team and had a choice of those two, I'd take Duncan simply because he's probably the most fundamentally sound big man to play the game in 2 decades. He knows how to pass the ball, he plays solid defense (even though he has no hops), he is great on the offensive end with great post moves, and a very good mid-range shot. Hell, the man even uses bank shots (Rudy would be proud). He's also pretty humble and carries himself well on and off the court. ------------------ Falk that Mo Fo!!!
lets put it like this if there was a draft and both were avaiable, right now i would take timmy d because hes younger but at the moment i think zo is just as good as he is, i would take zo over shaq, of course i dislike shaq greatly so im kinda biased. but zo took miami to playoffs with an injured timmy h. who put in 13 ppg and i believe 6 apg a has been(mashburn) and thunder dan. what did shaq have: kobe(a top 10 scorer), rice(although he hasnt played too well in la still a very good player and in charlotte he was a franchise player, ron harper a good 6'7 pg who used to be a franchise player, rick fox who used to be a franchise player with the celts, and last robert horry who was the second best player in 93-94 when rocks won whoops wondered off the subject but i cant say whos better out of timmy and zo
I didn't say he was dominated, I said Shaq got the better of him, which he did. The first game was never really close, the Lakers just blew them away in the first quarter and coasted. The second game Mourning was outplaying Shaq, then he went after him three straight times and got blocked three straight times, the Lakers went on a huge run and took the game. So while Mourning was not dominated by Shaq, he was outplayed. ------------------ Who would've thought Don Nelson would pass up Olumide Oyedeji not once, not twice, but thrice?
mourning is a hot head..advantage duncan ------------------ i am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp..i know what i ought to do but i don't know where to begin...
Puedlfor, Many would agree that Zo had more success against Shaq than pretty much any other man in the league. How many players actually outplayed the Big Aristotle for an entire game? Duncan and Robinson don't really count because they took turns abusing him. Just a question to everyone, if Duncan was in Mourning's place in Miami, would the Heat have been in the finals by now? And would the Spurs be without a ring had Mourning been the starting PF with D.Robinson his centre? In my opinion, nay to both of them. Duncan may have helped the Heat pass New York, but his game wouldn't fit Miami's style. Zo's shot blocking presence in the middle cannot be matched, not even by TD, and the Heat's perimeter D would be affected as a result of that. As for Alonzo in SanAn, he too would not be a good fit with the Spurs. He can't pass out of the double-teams nearly as effectively as Duncan can, and the Spurs' perimeter shooters (Ellie, J.Jackson etc) would suffer. I still can't see how Duncan is miles of Mourning, but I can understand him being better. Azim da Dream ------------------ We don't live for the destination. We live for the journey. http://www.clutchtown.com
Duncan is the best player in the NBA, imo. ------------------ "There is no controlling legal authority", - Al Gore, upon discovery that he clearly broke campaign fundraising laws.
I wouldnt say Duncan is the best player in the league but he is at least in the top 3(Shaq&Garnett being the other 2).With that being said my vote goes to Zo!I really hate Duncan and would really rather have Bullard as are starting center myself! ------------------
