Ben Wallace. Dirk Nowitzki. "Who's more fundamentally sound? Ben Wallace or Dirk Nowitzki?" Ben Wallace is probably the master at rebounding and blocking shots and defense....he like lead the NBA in blocked shots and rebounds per game and has been the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the past two years. Or maybe the rest of his team sucks horribly? Dirk Nowitzki is a 7 footer who is very versatile and can do almost anything on offense. He can score easily. He can drain an open jumper. You can never leave him open. He can score on pretty much anybody. He can shoot, drive, post up, and he is steadily improving his passing. He also has a lot of help from his teammates...but his fundamentals are quite good. He is a good actor too...got great training from the 25 coaches in Dallas. So who has better fundamentals? Haha....good joke.
It's like comparing apples and oranges: Ben's D is outstanding, but his offensive game is the equivalent of a 2 year old's; Dirk's offense is great, but his defense (for a 7 footer, mind you) is pretty bad. Of course, all Euros can't play D worth squat, but still... I had to go with Ben on this one because he's, what 6'8", and he still gets the boards and blocks on D. That's not pure athleticism or anything; otherwise, he wouldn't have been bounced around so much in his early years. He has worked on his defensive fundamentals and has turned into one of the best at what he does. Dirk can light it up from anywhere and can dribble, pass, rebound, post up, etc. That is amazing for a 7 footer. His fundamentals are pretty good on offense. I just think that his overall game, when matched up with Ben, isn't as good. He's taller, but can't block better. He's taller, but can't rebound better. Sure, if they went one on one, Dirk would win. And yeah, Ben shoots like 50% from the FT line. I just think that it's harder to learn the fundamentals of defense than the fundamentals of offense, so Ben wins slightly. Defense is a lost art that few bother to learn, even though it's fundamental. Everyone wants to be the scorer, that hero that gets carried off for making the last shot. Kudos to Ben for being a star not for his offensive prowess, but for his defensive stands.
Not sure if this addresses fundamentals or not but... If I were in a pickup game and Dirk and Big Ben were the two best ballers there and I had 1st pick...I'd pick Dirk. We can learn some on the fly rotational D or play a zone, but ya got to put the ball in the basket first and foremost.
Dirk can single handedly take over an entire game. Ben Wallace is good, but he benifits from playing in an era when big guys are almost extinct. He is even luckier when you consider the fact that he plays in the Leastern Conference. This is not even close. Wallace is not even close to being in the same league as Dirk Nowitzki.
My vote also goes to "Dirky." Face it, you don't see as smooth of a release anywhere else in the league, and that had to come from years of refinement and perfectioning. True, it's hard to compare the two because they play in completely different ways, but I would have to go with Dirk for the fundamentals.
if only can dallas get Ben. then Dirk + Ben man....scary. but if they get Yao, then it is even more scary
I don't know if this thread is all about Dirk vs. Ben or fundamentally sound players, but, obviously Duncan is the most fundamentally sound in the game.
Hah... yeah right... what were to happen if either team isnt making baskets... then no one would win the game... Remember defense can only help you so much... But me i actually prefer always having a defensive game... But hmm... I dont think Dallas won 60 games cuz they had good defense (dallas Just plain sux at defense) but they one cuz of their great offense... but of course it leighter hurt them not having defense in the playoffs.
