Nope. He's playing at a level that I can't even recall Jordan reaching in the postseason.

 

I am an MJ hater but he won multiple titles playing at that level. He was unstoppable all 6 times he won a title. Dirk has been unstoppable through the Finals but needs to win a ring before I can say he is playing at a level MJ never played at. Dirk has been historic and legendary especially looking at the two 40 points/60% fg games he had but MJ's level was so high he had to quit for a year and a half for Patrick Ewing to even play in the Finals and for Robert Horry to start his legend and for Olajuwon toget two rings. That is a whole other level IMO.

Nope. He's playing at a level that I can't even recall Jordan reaching in the postseason.

 

Just checking. Dirk is averaging 28.4 per game in this postseason, the best of his career. Jordan's career playoff average was 33.4 per game. His worst post-season, and the only one of his career when he averaged less than 30 per game, was his rookie season when he averaged 29.3 per game.

 

Suffice to say, I'd have to respectfully disagree. Dirk's performance probably wouldn't crack MJ's top 5.

I am an MJ hater but he won multiple titles playing at that level. He was unstoppable all 6 times he won a title. Dirk has been unstoppable through the Finals but needs to win a ring before I can say he is playing at a level MJ never played at. Dirk has been historic and legendary especially looking at the two 40 points/60% fg games he had but MJ's level was so high he had to quit for a year and a half for Patrick Ewing to even play in the Finals and for Robert Horry to start his legend and for Olajuwon toget two rings. That is a whole other level IMO.

 

Or get suspended for gambling (allegedly). Either way.

Just checking. Dirk is averaging 28.4 per game in this postseason, the best of his career. Jordan's career playoff average was 33.4 per game. His worst post-season, and the only one of his career when he averaged less than 30 per game, was his rookie season when he averaged 29.3 per game.

 

Suffice to say, I'd have to respectfully disagree. Dirk's performance probably wouldn't crack MJ's top 5.

 

It's not all about points. It's how Dirks doing it. They're mowing everything in their path down. When it seems like they've got a chink in the armor, he's been flawless every time. I remember Jordan playing, and it just seemed like they weren't ever really tested. Dirk is finding ways to win games that seem nearly impossible to win.

 

I've never been a big Dirk fan, actually, I've disliked him most of his career, but the way he's playing right now you just have to stop, watch, and appreciate. He's been flawless.

It's not all about points. It's how Dirks doing it. They're mowing everything in their path down. When it seems like they've got a chink in the armor, he's been flawless every time. I remember Jordan playing, and it just seemed like they weren't ever really tested. Dirk is finding ways to win games that seem nearly impossible to win.

 

I've never been a big Dirk fan, actually, I've disliked him most of his career, but the way he's playing right now you just have to stop, watch, and appreciate. He's been flawless.

 

He's been great. I agree. Dirk has been one of my favorite guys to watch since he emerged as a star. But, I think, as usual, people get carried away with the present and forget the past. Beyond saying he's having the greatest post-season ever, I've heard debates about whether Dirk is better than Larry Bird. Neither are true.

 

I can enjoy Dirk's great play, and I hope he plays even better in the finals, but he's not playing better than MJ. He's not even playing better than Hakeem did during the Rockets back-to-back runs.

 

I think you could argue about whether he or Lebron has had the better post-season.

He's been great. I agree. Dirk has been one of my favorite guys to watch since he emerged as a star. But, I think, as usual, people get carried away with the present and forget the past. Beyond saying he's having the greatest post-season ever, I've heard debates about whether Dirk is better than Larry Bird. Neither are true.

 

I can enjoy Dirk's great play, and I hope he plays even better in the finals, but he's not playing better than MJ. He's not even playing better than Hakeem did during the Rockets back-to-back runs.

 

I think you could argue about whether he or Lebron has had the better post-season.

 

As to the bolded, I don't think there's even a debate. LeBron has Wade and Bosh. Who does Dirk have? 80 year old JKidd? Shawn Marion? Dirk is carrying the Mavs.

 

I think Bird is better than Dirk, but I think it's a whole heck of a lot closer than people think or will admit. He needs that ring to really be considered an all-time elite player, and I think he gets it this year.

As to the bolded, I don't think there's even a debate. LeBron has Wade and Bosh. Who does Dirk have? 80 year old JKidd? Shawn Marion? Dirk is carrying the Mavs.

 

I think Bird is better than Dirk, but I think it's a whole heck of a lot closer than people think or will admit. He needs that ring to really be considered an all-time elite player, and I think he gets it this year.

 

You think Dirk is a top 10, possibly top 5, player in league history?

 

Where would you rank Dirk on a list that was exclusively made up of the 4 position? There's no way he's ahead of Tim Duncan. Then you've got guys like Malone, Barkley, KG...is he better than them?

 

But, I can buy the argument for Dirk being rated above Lebron this post-season because of the supporting casts.

You think Dirk is a top 10, possibly top 5, player in league history?

 

Where would you rank Dirk on a list that was exclusively made up of the 4 position? There's no way he's ahead of Tim Duncan. Then you've got guys like Malone, Barkley, KG...is he better than them?

 

But, I can buy the argument for Dirk being rated above Lebron this post-season because of the supporting casts.

 

I think he's a lot closer than most think. And I'm saying simply a comparison of him and Bird, due to their similarities, are much closer than most will admit.

 

I think Dirk all-time is much better than Malone or Garnett. I think he's probably better than Barkley as well. Malone is the most overrated player in league history IMO.

I think in terms of comparison to the rest of his career, Dirk is having the greatest playoff performance of all-time. Not the best overall, but 2 months ago if someone would have said Dirk was going to do this in the postseason everyone here would have laughed. Even Dirk fans, I love Dirk myself, but we would have laughed.

 

I don't really think you can comparre players and eras when we're talking greatest performance in history. Also I think what could happen is that the Western Conference could prove to be really weak. Other than maybe the Mavs, how many teams out West could beat Chicago or Boston? Don't really know. OKC wasn't a typical WCF team, they're young and couldn't close a game. Memphis had a great run, but how good are they? Beat an old, injured Spurs and lost to OKC? Lakers are the defending champions, but how good did they look in either series they played?

 

I'm not trying to take away from Dirk, I've never seen him play better. All I am saying is that how high will we rate this performance if the Mavs get drilled in this series 4-1?

I think he's a lot closer than most think. And I'm saying simply a comparison of him and Bird, due to their similarities, are much closer than most will admit.

 

I think Dirk all-time is much better than Malone or Garnett. I think he's probably better than Barkley as well. Malone is the most overrated player in league history IMO.

 

I want to agree with Malone, really because I feel the same way that you do about him (Maybe not the most overrated, but I do think he was overrated).

The Big Ticket is interesting. He's one of the best two way PFs in history IMO, but he seems done now so I will talk about the old KG. He was a much better rebounder and defender than Dirk. He didn't have anywhere near as many moves offensively, but he put up similar offensive numbers in his prime. I'd call it a tie at best for Dirk.

Barkley I'm kind of torn on. I'll give the edge to Dirk for longevity, and I would have much rather built my team around Dirk.

 

Let's be honest, I think if Cuban did a better job Dallas would already have a title or two. The one time he didn't want to spend money, he let Steve Nash get away. Steve Nash and Dirk win a championship or two at some point IMO. Nash, Dirk and Jason Terry would be tough at the end of games, though they'd really have to outscore teams :lol:.

Yeah, you guys are getting carried away with Dirk. Better than Barkley? Come on now......Barkley has put up the same numbers and has the same number of rings Dirk has. Dirk has the one luxury Barkley didn't have. His birth year. MJ's Bulls were never tested because he was that good. He didn't have go on 17-2 runs in the last 3 minutes to win by 4 because he started games off 17-2 and never looked back. And that was with Cartwright or Longley scoring the first 8 points of the game.

 

Dirk is a tremendous player. He is a unique player. His skill set likely will never be seen again in a 7 footer but you guys are becoming enamored with his jumper and ability to score and forget the fact that he is a defensive liability and is an a average rebounder for his size. He can't seal a game with his defense like Larry did. He can't control the paint offensively and defensively like Chuck did. He can't win games like Duncan did. Is Dirk top 20-25 of all time? Sure. I'd probably take KG ahead of him but you can't go wrong with either one. I'd probably take him before Malone though. Definitely not before Bird, Barkley or TD.

I think in terms of comparison to the rest of his career, Dirk is having the greatest playoff performance of all-time. Not the best overall, but 2 months ago if someone would have said Dirk was going to do this in the postseason everyone here would have laughed. Even Dirk fans, I love Dirk myself, but we would have laughed.

 

I don't really think you can comparre players and eras when we're talking greatest performance in history. Also I think what could happen is that the Western Conference could prove to be really weak. Other than maybe the Mavs, how many teams out West could beat Chicago or Boston? Don't really know. OKC wasn't a typical WCF team, they're young and couldn't close a game. Memphis had a great run, but how good are they? Beat an old, injured Spurs and lost to OKC? Lakers are the defending champions, but how good did they look in either series they played?

 

I'm not trying to take away from Dirk, I've never seen him play better. All I am saying is that how high will we rate this performance if the Mavs get drilled in this series 4-1?

 

I think Dirk has been great throughout his career, and remarkably consistent. And, he's played great in the playoffs before. This may be his best, but the guy has lit it up in the post-season before.

I want to agree with Malone, really because I feel the same way that you do about him (Maybe not the most overrated, but I do think he was overrated).

The Big Ticket is interesting. He's one of the best two way PFs in history IMO, but he seems done now so I will talk about the old KG. He was a much better rebounder and defender than Dirk. He didn't have anywhere near as many moves offensively, but he put up similar offensive numbers in his prime. I'd call it a tie at best for Dirk.

Barkley I'm kind of torn on. I'll give the edge to Dirk for longevity, and I would have much rather built my team around Dirk.

 

Let's be honest, I think if Cuban did a better job Dallas would already have a title or two. The one time he didn't want to spend money, he let Steve Nash get away. Steve Nash and Dirk win a championship or two at some point IMO. Nash, Dirk and Jason Terry would be tough at the end of games, though they'd really have to outscore teams :lol:.

 

The point being the fact that there is a serious debate about where you rank Dirk on a list with guys like Malone, Barkley and KG. When you debate Larry Bird, you're talking about guys like Magic, MJ, etc.

 

If we narrow the discussion to strictly scoring, then Dirk rises. But, his all-around game doesn't stack up with the all-time greats. I don't know where I'd rate Dirk on the all-time list, but it would be considerably lower than some of the stuff I've been hearing lately.

I would never rank him above Bird. But, Barkley, KG or Malone I would have to think about. One thing I would say is that I would want to do this next year or later, too easy to be influenced by what is recent.

 

But, I do think Dirk is one of the top 25 to ever play.

I would never rank him above Bird. But, Barkley, KG or Malone I would have to think about. One thing I would say is that I would want to do this next year or later, too easy to be influenced by what is recent.

 

But, I do think Dirk is one of the top 25 to ever play.

 

 

True and true. I definitely have Dirk as at least a top 25 of all time player. Just not ahead of Bird, Barkley or TD. KG and Malone......I wouldn't debate that. Nothing can be said to convince me he is better than Barkley.