2002 and 2003 Shaq vs Duncan

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2002 and 2003 Shaq vs Duncan 

Post#1 » by Quotatious » Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:29 pm

Focusing just on individual performance, disregarding team success, how close would you say it was between the two? I think the consensus is that Duncan was better in 2003, and 2002 is seen as almost a toss-up, with a slight edge to Shaq, right? How about it?
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Re: 2002 and 2003 Shaq vs Duncan 

Post#2 » by ronnymac2 » Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:37 pm

Shaq was clearly better in 2002, though the gap wasn't as large as it had been previously.

Duncan was clearly better in 2003. It's a small gap, but there really is no argument for Shaq there.
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Re: 2002 and 2003 Shaq vs Duncan 

Post#3 » by Quotatious » Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:10 pm

ronnymac2 wrote:Shaq was clearly better in 2002, though the gap wasn't as large as it had been previously.

Duncan was clearly better in 2003. It's a small gap, but there really is no argument for Shaq there.

I actually disagree with that, that's why I've started this thread. There's nothing about Duncan or Shaq that suggests any big improvement or decline occured about either of the two. Shaq's defense was clearly better in '02, but his offense was probably a bit better in '03, and he had great postseason in '03, even though the Lakers didn't win it all for the first time in four years...Shaq and Duncan basically played each other to a draw in the 2003 WCSF.

In 2002, Duncan was virtually the same player as in 2003, and I've already mentioned the difference between '02 and '03 Shaq - he was also on the same level (there were some minor differences, but overall, his level of play was very similar).

I think it's a great example of the winning bias skewing people's perception. I'm not saying Shaq wasn't better in 2002, and Duncan in 2003, but I think it's very close both years. Also even though LAL beat SAS in the '02 playoffs, Duncan outplayed Shaq head to head.
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Re: 2002 and 2003 Shaq vs Duncan 

Post#4 » by GSP » Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:20 pm

When they met in the playoff i felt Timmy was a bit better both years. Overall its close but 02/03 was Timmy at the peak of his twoway play and i think Shaqs defense was getting inconsistent again those 2 seasons after 00/01 so ill say Timmy.

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