May 27, 201115 yr 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. Not even a ring?
May 27, 201115 yr Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Carmelo Anthony Charles Barkley Elgin Baylor Larry Bird Kobe Bryant Wilt Chamberlain Tim Duncan Julius Erving Patrick Ewing Kevin Garnett John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Dwight Howard Allen Iverson Lebron James Magic Johnson Michael Jordan Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich Kevin McHale Shaquille O'Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Chris Paul Paul Pierce Scottie Pippen Oscar Robertson David Robinson Bill Russell John Stockton Isaiah Thomas Dwyane Wade Jerry West Where would you put Dirk in that list of players? How many of them is he better than?
May 27, 201115 yr Where would you put Dirk in that list of players? How many of them is he better than? This is who I've got. Dwight Howard and CP3 were taken off my list, I thought they were too young and hadn't accomplished enough to make up for their youth. They will definitely be high on my list in a few years though. Also couple of guys I left on are close with Dirk. For instance I want to rank him above Scottie Pippen, I just didn't know if I could do it: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Charles Barkley Elgin Baylor Larry Bird Kobe Bryant Wilt Chamberlain Tim Duncan Julius Erving Kevin Garnett John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Lebron James Magic Johnson Michael Jordan Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich Kevin McHale Shaquille O'Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Scottie Pippen Oscar Robertson Bill Russell John Stockton Isaiah Thomas Jerry West
May 27, 201115 yr This is who I've got. Dwight Howard and CP3 were taken off my list, I thought they were too young and hadn't accomplished enough to make up for their youth. They will definitely be high on my list in a few years though. Also couple of guys I left on are close with Dirk. For instance I want to rank him above Scottie Pippen, I just didn't know if I could do it: I debated about whether to include them or where to cut off the younger guys, but bottom line, I looked at it this way. Right now, how many people would pick Dirk over Dwight Howard or Chris Paul? Dirk is playing his best, so if you aren't going to pick him above Howard or Paul now, you never will. There were a few older guys I left off that I might could have included based on stats, but I didn't know a whole lot about them. The point being, declaring Dirk a for certain top 25 player is iffy, IMO. Dirk's career numbers are 23 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg, and 1.0 bpg.
May 27, 201115 yr I debated about whether to include them or where to cut off the younger guys, but bottom line, I looked at it this way. Right now, how many people would pick Dirk over Dwight Howard or Chris Paul? Dirk is playing his best, so if you aren't going to pick him above Howard or Paul now, you never will. There were a few older guys I left off that I might could have included based on stats, but I didn't know a whole lot about them. The point being, declaring Dirk a for certain top 25 player is iffy, IMO. Dirk's career numbers are 23 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg, and 1.0 bpg. Its true. I see no way that when the current group of players is finished or near finished with their careers that Dirk will be a top 25 guy. LeBron, DWade, Howard, CP3 will all be past him. DRose looks like he certainly could, Durant will be there I would guess, and there are other guys that could depending on what type of help they get and how they develop. If DHoward would go to NJ, Deron Williams could get near there IMO but the top 25 is going to continue to get tough and tougher.
May 27, 201115 yr Not even a ring? No. Not even a ring. Dirk beating LBJ and Wade still isn't harder than Barkley trying to beat MJ. I hate to play the what if game but there isn't a single person playing in the NBA today that could contain or stop Charles Barkley. Not one.
May 27, 201115 yr No. Not even a ring. Dirk beating LBJ and Wade still isn't harder than Barkley trying to beat MJ. I hate to play the what if game but there isn't a single person playing in the NBA today that could contain or stop Charles Barkley. Not one. LeBron could. Barkley's huge advantage was no one had the combination of size, strength, and athleticism that he did. LeBron has all those things, maybe not quite as strong. Also, thus far I'm not sure you can say there's a player in the league that can contain or stop Dirk. He's always got his.
May 27, 201115 yr Great points. Okay. Dirk is a top 35 player. Definitely top 40. I would take him before David Robinson and Paul Pierce for sure. Oh.....if TMac isn't on this list then Durant shouldn't be either. I have yet to be convinced he is better than TMac. Just a 6'10" version on him that is weaker and plays worse defense than TMac. He has a lot to prove to me. And yes, Cats pointed this out first and perfectly.
May 27, 201115 yr LeBron could. Barkley's huge advantage was no one had the combination of size, strength, and athleticism that he did. LeBron has all those things, maybe not quite as strong. Also, thus far I'm not sure you can say there's a player in the league that can contain or stop Dirk. He's always got his. Dennis Rodman would have stopped Dirk and no way no how Dirk beats MJ anymore than Chuck did. LBJ can only guard guys physically smaller than him. Chuck would bully LBJ in the paint. I have never seen LBJ successfully guard a true power forward for an entire game the way he'd have to guard Chuck let alone play against a power forward with Chuck's ability.
May 27, 201115 yr Dennis Rodman would have stopped Dirk and no way no how Dirk beats MJ anymore than Chuck did. LBJ can only guard guys physically smaller than him. Chuck would bully LBJ in the paint. I have never seen LBJ successfully guard a true power forward for an entire game the way he'd have to guard Chuck let alone play against a power forward with Chuck's ability. If Rodman could stop Dirk (which I completely disagree with), he could've stopped Chuck.
May 27, 201115 yr Great points. Okay. Dirk is a top 35 player. Definitely top 40. I would take him before David Robinson and Paul Pierce for sure. Oh.....if TMac isn't on this list then Durant shouldn't be either. I have yet to be convinced he is better than TMac. Just a 6'10" version on him that is weaker and plays worse defense than TMac. He has a lot to prove to me. And yes, Cats pointed this out first and perfectly. When the analysts start saying this in a few years, everyone remember which two you heard it first from .
May 27, 201115 yr If Rodman could stop Dirk (which I completely disagree with), he could've stopped Chuck. Last I saw Rodman and the Pistons(Mahorn, Laimbeer) did a fine job stopping Chuck. Chuck was traded to Phoenix when he finally made the Finals. Remember? Chuck never made the Eastern Conference Finals. Rodman was tall enough, athletic enough, definitely physically enough and wily enough on defense to give Dirk problems. Rodman's main focus was defense and rebounding. There is no doubt in my mind that Dennis Rodman was born to stop guys like Dirk Nowitzki.
May 27, 201115 yr When the analysts start saying this in a few years, everyone remember which two you heard it first from . No doubt. Where would he and the Thunder be without Russell Westbrook? Even Eric Maynor waved him off with the game on the line. Durant needs another superstar worse than Shaq.
May 27, 201115 yr Last I saw Rodman and the Pistons(Mahorn, Laimbeer) did a fine job stopping Chuck. Chuck was traded to Phoenix when he finally made the Finals. Remember? Chuck never made the Eastern Conference Finals. Rodman was tall enough, athletic enough, definitely physically enough and wily enough on defense to give Dirk problems. Rodman's main focus was defense and rebounding. There is no doubt in my mind that Dennis Rodman was born to stop guys like Dirk Nowitzki. Dennis Rodman could guard Barkley or Dirk very well IMO. The Worm, a younger Duncan or KG are guys made to defend Nowitzki I think.
May 27, 201115 yr No doubt. Where would he and the Thunder be without Russell Westbrook? Even Eric Maynor waved him off with the game on the line. Durant needs another superstar worse than Shaq. People will tell you that you're crazy to say that. I agree on all accounts. People have slamed Westbrook, but often he has to take a forced shot because Durant cannot get open and the shot clock is winding down.
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