Dirk is not dominant enough and that hurts him. He relies on others to give him the ball in order to score. He would be probabl the best 2nd option ever but is inconsistent as a 1st option. Even still he is a great player and leading the Mavs to a title this year will do so much for his legacy
That's not true. KG played with trash in Minny for the majority of his time there. Dirk has been blessed with some great teammates for the majority of his career. When KG got help in Sota they went to the WCF. And once he got to Boston they won. KG wasn't just a contributor there. The Celtics were built around their defense, which revolved around KG. That's why the teams status revolves around his health. I agree that he is a prick though.
I think Dennis Rodman is still underrated. I think Rodman is a better PF than Dirk because you can fit Rodman around ANY piece, and he provided a unique skill (at historic levels), whereas Dirk provides a common skill at a position that makes it hard to build around him.
If we include Timmie in the list, I feel compelled to say Hakeem is the best PF of all time. He was just so badass he insisted on playing Center, whereas Pops wanted to exploit Timmie as a PF so Shaq wouldn't foul him out. So there!
This. Elvin Hayes is better as well. http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2010/12/original-old-school-vitamin-e/ Dirk is a top 10 all time PF (and yes, I really hate dallas. But I can be objective and give credit where due.) But he has to win a ring (or another MVP, or achieve a scoring/rebounding title etc.) to move past McHale for me or get around the top 5 area.
Another claim that it's hard to build around Dirk? If it's so hard, why have the Mavs been fielding a contending team built around him for a decade?
Name one thing Dirt does better than KG beside scoring? KG is a better rebounder, better defender, better passer, better low post player.
However, he will be overlooked either way you put it. If you qualify him as a wing player, he will be taken down a notch because he isn't as quick or explosive as many guards or small forwards and doesn't set up his teammates well until recently. However, if you put him with the power forwards, he doesn't get as many rebounds or block shots so that will also take him down a notch.
Dirk is a great player, but only on one end of the floor. E was better. Another name not mentioned that I would put on the same level as Dirk was Bob MacAdoo. Just as good a scorer, slightly better rebounder and defender. Pretty equivalent.
Sorry for the double post, but now that I think about it, Bob is definitely more similar to Dirk in style of play (but not with 3 point range) than any of the other PF's on the list. And probably closest in where I would rank them all-time too.
i voted that TD, KG, and KM are better than dirk. alot of voters are forgetting how good KG was back in his minny days. arguably no weakness on offense or defense. i'd consider him easily top5 all time. as for dirk... he is SOOOO different from the typical PF it's hard to put him in the same class as say... a tim duncan. but dirk is up there for sure. my view of him will hinge on if he can win a championship.
I think he is 6 or 7 all-time. Would you say Moses Malone is a PF or a Center? If he is a PF then you have to put him over Nowitzki.
Barkley, when motivated, was the best power forward I've ever seen. Ralph Sampson was the most talented power forward to ever lace up, in my eyes. Dirk ranks in the top 10, but on the bottom half, on my list, because he has disappeared many times in the playoffs verses the likes of Ryan Bowen, and also because his career isn't nearly over.
I currently rank him 5th behind Barkley, but IF he gets ring this year I'd move him a head of Barkley and maybe Malone. Timmy and KG, are the best of all time IMO. Both have the combination of rings and mvp's to sit at the top of the mountain at this position. Maybe Dirk can get a ring and join their company before we say good bye to the best Power Forward era of all time.
I wouldn't necessarily say the better low post player thing is as clear cut at people try to make it out to be. KG's been primarily a jump shooter, imo, for awhile now. Meanwhile, as Dirk gets OLDER, his game actually has moved closer to the basket. Say what you will about Dirk's supporting classes, but he's never had anyone that was as accomplished as Pierce or Allen. And prior to this season his support cast still included some pretty significant holes at at least one position (defensive centers, mainly). Just my opinion. But I don't think many people here would say that Finley was as good as Allen/Pierce. Nash was a completely different player when he was in Dallas. Good, efficient, but rarely was the guy who could take over. It was mainly Dirk or Finley. I think the Mavs have had to take a different approach because they haven't been able to get a true number 2 option for Dirk. They're built on depth and just try to out-execute people and play good defense. But for the most part, especially in the last 5+ years, if Dirk struggles offensively the Mavs are toast. KG's Boston teams still have 2 legitimate guys that can still score. I'd say after Dirk, you've got Jason Terry as a legit scorer. The other guys are not consistent at all.
Ok, I'll bite. First, he's not a real PF. Like Barkley said, he shoots like a 2, scores like a 3 and is as tall as a 4. My take: Top 20 regular season Unranked in the playoffs
Dirt has played on some good teams a lot better teams than KG until he went to Boston. I'll put it this way if you replace Dirt with KG I think the Mavs will have one ring by now.
