Minnesota Sports Forum

Would love to see one more Duncan Garnett playoff match up. But KG has worn down, unlike Duncan.

Pek will lead the league next year in dollars earned per played minute. Kg won't be far behind.

Jesus Christ. What Tim Duncan does has absolutely nothing to do with Kevin Garnett. Only two bigs in NBA history (that I can remember) have been this productive this old other than Duncan and that's Karl Malone and Kareem Jabar.

KG is barely a role player due to his minutes/games limitations. Duncan is carrying the Spurs to another FInals run. Stop this tomfoolery.

Take it easy Cam. Just go to your happy place and pick on AB.

I agree with Cam. Someone said KG has more miles on him....that may be true in steps, but Timmy has been anchoring the best Defense the NBA for nearly 20 years against the biggest and baddest the NBA has to offer. And there is a MASSIVE, gaping difference between KG and Duncan at this point. As someone pointed out, Duncan played 77 games at 29 mpg, while KG played 47 and 54 games the past 2 season averaging 20 mpg. And statistically, they aren't even close any more. Duncan is not Duncan of old, but he is still a great player. KG is a shell, and moderate minute role player at best.

There is a ton to be said about stability on a team. KG playing only select games, at select times during the year is NOT a great way for developing team chemistry. Even if he plays well in the limited minutes and games, I don't see that as an overall great benefit. It is fine on a team that has zero expectations to win games, but what happens if we happen to surprise next season and pull a season like the Suns had a year or 2 ago. If KG is a real contributor, and can't play key stretches or even key games, that is a REALLY big problem if I am his teammate.

And yeah, while he certainly was OK this season (when comparing to the likes of AB and Payne), I can promise folks will get real sick of seeing him parked on the sideline 75% of the season.

I agree with the premise that KG has more miles on him than Duncan, but I don't think it make sense to use Duncan as evidence KG can keep playing. They are much different people physically. KG has always been more mobile and athletic which is why you would see his game drop off more than Duncan's. Even with that I was very impressed with how he moved out there on the court when I saw him during the Wizards game and others on TV. It was more than I expected.

Personally I think he'll play anywhere between 55 to 65 games (baring a real injury) at around 20 minutes per next year. If the Wolves didn't sit him down to end his season he would have played in as many games as he was with Boston. Granted he was also averaging 30 mpg there before going to Brooklyn where they drop immediately to 20 mpg. It's also not like he's been that low for a while. As far as games played with the Nets, he was also very much eyeing retirement which is expected to be pushed back another year at least since he's back with the Wolves. I say that because he has more reason to play here than he did there.

TheGrey08 wrote:I agree with the premise that KG has more miles on him than Duncan, but I don't think it make sense to use Duncan as evidence KG can keep playing. They are much different people physically. KG has always been more mobile and athletic which is why you would see his game drop off more than Duncan's. Even with that I was very impressed with how he moved out there on the court when I saw him during the Wizards game and others on TV. It was more than I expected.

Personally I think he'll play anywhere between 55 to 65 games (baring a real injury) at around 20 minutes per next year. If the Wolves didn't sit him down to end his season he would have played in as many games as he was with Boston. Granted he was also averaging 30 mpg there before going to Brooklyn where they drop immediately to 20 mpg. It's also not like he's been that low for a while. As far as games played with the Nets, he was also very much eyeing retirement which is expected to be pushed back another year at least since he's back with the Wolves. I say that because he has more reason to play here than he did there.

He does? What?

No playoffs.
Less money.

At the end of the day KG is/was the best defensive anchor of the last 20 years in the league and our biggest weakness is protecting the rim. I don't see how he won't help us become a better defensive team. Duncan never had to carry a team by himself. He has always had HOF support. KG was doing it with no help except for 1 season that we conveniently made the WCF so it makes sense he is more broken down at this point. They are both great players. Duncan will go down as the better overall player, but KG will go down as the better defender. We need defensive help anywhere we can get it even if it is only to start and close games.

AbeVigodaLive wrote:
He does? What?

No playoffs.
Less money.

If it was about money or winning to him at this stage in his career he would not have agreed to come here and he would have stayed or been looking to go to a better team than the nets. He's back playing in his adopted home state and the team that first drafted him. It's a special situation.

TheGrey08 wrote:

AbeVigodaLive wrote:
He does? What?

No playoffs.
Less money.

If it was about money or winning to him at this stage in his career he would not have agreed to come here and he would have stayed or been looking to go to a better team than the nets. He's back playing in his adopted home state and the team that first drafted him.

So, he's back because he loves us?

Not because he knows he could get paid without even playing?

khans2k5 wrote:At the end of the day KG is/was the best defensive anchor of the last 20 years in the league and our biggest weakness is protecting the rim. I don't see how he won't help us become a better defensive team. Duncan never had to carry a team by himself. He has always had HOF support. KG was doing it with no help except for 1 season that we conveniently made the WCF so it makes sense he is more broken down at this point. They are both great players. Duncan will go down as the better overall player, but KG will go down as the better defender. We need defensive help anywhere we can get it even if it is only to start and close games.

Disagree. Garnett was more versatile. But Duncan was more impactful in my opinion. While not AS good on the PnR as Garnett, he was still excellent. But he had the size and strength to be more of an impact at the rim. And that matters, especially in the playoffs where the legacies veer a bit from one another.

As for the teammates part...

I don't see many guys doing what Duncan did in 2003. Remember, Ginobili and Parker weren't yet the players they would become, Robinson wasn't what he was... BUT Stephen Jackson was a key guy.

Parker: 14.7 ppg / 40% fg / 3.5 ast
Ginobili: 9.4 ppg / 39% fg / 3 ast
Jackson: 12.8 ppg / 41% fg / 3 ast
Robinson: 8 ppg / 7 reb / 1 blk
Duncan: 24.7 ppg / 15.3 reb / 5.3 ast / 3.3 blk

Game 6 Finals Closeout game: 21 pts / 20 reb / 10 ast / 8 blks

Duncan's Orating was 116 and Drating was 92. That's absurd.