Kevin Garnett vs Tim Duncan - Defense

[prophet_of_rage]

I give It to Duncan. His rim protection allows him to play centre and give you four perimeter defenders. KG requires you to have a rim protector and he can't switch onto guards on the perimeter, either.

I take Duncan over Garnett because you get more matchup possibilities for the rest of the team.

Sent from my SM-N970W using Tapatalk

[Roddy B for 3]

I think KG would be better at guarding Giannis, LeBron and Kwahi. So I'd pick KG, defensively, for today's NBA.

[Roddy B for 3]

I don't think there is a wrong answer here. For the time in which their peaks occurred I'd take Duncan, but agree that KG's skill set would be more valuable now.

Quoted for truth

[slimreaper2021]

Garnett more versatile, Duncan better rim protector

[feyki]

Duncan could becloud the rim against opponent, KG could reach almost everywhere. It's nature of basketball, rim protection > all other defensive aspects.

[mdonnelly1989]

Who was the better defender?

I've always though they were

1A
1B.

And Rodman as an overall defender 1C. (But not as a PF, but general defender)

[Special_Puppy]

Box Score based metrics like RAPTOR favor Duncan by a hair, but long-term RAPM favors Garnett. Overall I'd probably lean Garnett

[One_and_Done]

It was Duncan by a clear margin.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

Maybe, although I'm far from convinced. I still believe that Gobert is the best defender in the league and he's much closer to Duncan than Garnett style-wise (and he's theoretically less suited than Duncan to modern perimeter oriented game).

I do think its fair to say Draymond is getting older, and doesn't put in the same consistent effort anymore though. Like i don't think there's many that would take any Gobert versions over 15-17 Draymond defensively. I think KG could do pretty much everything green does but with 4-5 more inches. That doesn't mean you couldn't still take Duncan, but if we're bringing up styles, i don't see how that does Duncan justice.

I would take Gobert over prime Green.

If I divide positions into 10 positions, defensive c, PF, SF, OG, PG, and offensive c, PF,Sf, og, pg then I think defensive center is the most important position. Prior to modern 3 point shooting defensive center mattered even more.

Gobert may have had more impact than prime Draymond because Gobert was the shot blocking center.
Prime Draymond was probably more better than the 2nd best power forward defender than Gobert was better than the 2nd best defensive center.

Offensive point guaurd is very important. Onthe other hand with Prime Draymond and prime Curry who is the point guard, Draymond or Curry.

1st option scorer is very important but that is a role not a position.
The least important position is probably the offensive power forward. Barkley and Karl Malone and Dirk and Bird were all great 1st option scorers out of the offensive power forward spot but usually the power forwards are not big scorers.

Draymond is more unique than Gobert. Gobert is just a better version of prime Deandre Jordan. Who do I compare Draymond to? Shawn Marion? Ron Artest? Rodman? Paul Silas?

[DCasey91]

There’s no right or wrong answer imho if asking about today at their peak. Depends on the team.

If Chet I’d go Duncan for example

If Jokic then go Garnett Lmfao

Etc etc.

[Jaivl]

Hell of a bump.

I'll take superior mobility and positioning over superior size and body control.

It's close, obviously. For my money those two are the best defenders in the last 30 years (s/o Mutombo).

[OhayoKD]

I rank Duncan higher all time but in today's NBA I would take Garnett.

40 years old Duncan was great in today's NBA, I don't think his prime impact would be reduced at all.

But Garnett's impact might be enhanced.

If anything it would be the opposite. He's alot less of defensive standout now.

[khaltheball]

40 years old Duncan was great in today's NBA, I don't think his prime impact would be reduced at all.

But Garnett's impact might be enhanced.

If anything it would be the opposite. He's alot less of defensive standout now.

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful. Compare him to gobert abd I don’t think any team is picking gobert over AD fir just defence unless you really need regular season defebce . What AD n KG n Draymond do seems to often ti get more valuable in the playoffs ( well Dray n AD yes , not looked a lot if true for kg). Duncan is more like gobert , gobert playoff defensive signal is massiveky diminished . I’d take kg , Draymond AD defence in this era and even a bit earlier too. Because I think it’s easier to get a good rim protector - like a Brook Lopez lvl guy and pair him with those guys when you need and have more scheme versatility then having Duncan just because he’s better at rim protecting. Which yes in a vacuum is more valuable than any other defence but that’s not how you’d build a team or pick the player imo . Look at Bam who’s pretty mediocre rim
Protector more so than any of those guys abd hugely impactful in a playoff setting due to scheme n his versatility.

Now I do think Duncan is stronger n sturdier but he also played pf too much to me tbh n was a centre , kg feels more a guy who should be a pf a lot more. In theur era in the circumstances they were in I can see argument for Duncan . In this era I cannot see it , and even in there’s I think I’d pick kgs defebce and have him with a cebtre in that time like Giannis with Lopez . This is just my thoughts but I also wonder - do people really vakue gobert that highly ? Top 3 of his era sure but I can’t say he’s ever reached the heights of Davis or Draymond especially in the playoffs sbd I don’t buy it’s just his team mates when his own signal diminished.

[OhayoKD]

But Garnett's impact might be enhanced.

If anything it would be the opposite. He's alot less of defensive standout now.

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful.

KG never had a draymond or AD or Giannis equivalent to compete with. The bar is higher now. And since it's the 20's and not the 10's, he also has an abundance of power-guys to deal with as well

[70sFan]

If anything it would be the opposite. He's alot less of defensive standout now.

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful.

KG never had a draymond or AD or Giannis equivalent to compete with. The bar is higher now. And since it's the 20's and not the 10's, he also has an abundance of power-guys to deal with as well

Duncan, Wallace, Mutombo, Howard? Seriously?

[OhayoKD]

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful.

KG never had a draymond or AD or Giannis equivalent to compete with. The bar is higher now. And since it's the 20's and not the 10's, he also has an abundance of power-guys to deal with as well

Duncan, Wallace, Mutombo, Howard? Seriously?

Is there a point to the list of names you're trotting out?

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful. Compare him to gobert abd I don’t think any team is picking gobert over AD fir just defence unless you really need regular season defebce . What AD n KG n Draymond do seems to often ti get more valuable in the playoffs ( well Dray n AD yes , not looked a lot if true for kg). Duncan is more like gobert , gobert playoff defensive signal is massiveky diminished . I’d take kg , Draymond AD defence in this era and even a bit earlier too. Because I think it’s easier to get a good rim protector - like a Brook Lopez lvl guy and pair him with those guys when you need and have more scheme versatility then having Duncan just because he’s better at rim protecting. Which yes in a vacuum is more valuable than any other defence but that’s not how you’d build a team or pick the player imo . Look at Bam who’s pretty mediocre rim

The idea here is that KG will translate better than Duncan today because of his versatility and ability to cover ground. Every single player you listed besides Duncan is worse in that department than every defender that I listed. Frankly, I don't buy any of them(excepting Duncan) as doing as well as Gobert has anyway, but that is a separate matter.

[70sFan]

KG never had a draymond or AD or Giannis equivalent to compete with. The bar is higher now. And since it's the 20's and not the 10's, he also has an abundance of power-guys to deal with as well

Duncan, Wallace, Mutombo, Howard? Seriously?

Is there a point to the list of names you're trotting out?

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful. Compare him to gobert abd I don’t think any team is picking gobert over AD fir just defence unless you really need regular season defebce . What AD n KG n Draymond do seems to often ti get more valuable in the playoffs ( well Dray n AD yes , not looked a lot if true for kg). Duncan is more like gobert , gobert playoff defensive signal is massiveky diminished . I’d take kg , Draymond AD defence in this era and even a bit earlier too. Because I think it’s easier to get a good rim protector - like a Brook Lopez lvl guy and pair him with those guys when you need and have more scheme versatility then having Duncan just because he’s better at rim protecting. Which yes in a vacuum is more valuable than any other defence but that’s not how you’d build a team or pick the player imo . Look at Bam who’s pretty mediocre rim

The idea here is that KG will translate better than Duncan today because of his versatility and ability to cover ground. Every single player you listed besides Duncan is worse in that department than every defender that I listed. Frankly, I don't buy any of them(excepting Duncan) as doing as well as Gobert has anyway, but that is a separate matter.

That's strange, considering that Wallace was probably the most versatile defender of this whole bunch (maybe except focused Davis), with his incredible combination of vertical defense and mobility. Howard is also someone who covered the ground extremely well at his peak.

The idea that Gobert is more versatile than Wallace or Dwight is quite strange to me.

[OhayoKD]

Duncan, Wallace, Mutombo, Howard? Seriously?

Is there a point to the list of names you're trotting out?

What makes you say this ? Anthony Davis ceiling on defence is truly outrageous what he can do and he’s the guy I think is kg type . But kg was healthier n maybe higher motor better communicator like a talker Draymond which weve seen be hugely successful. Compare him to gobert abd I don’t think any team is picking gobert over AD fir just defence unless you really need regular season defebce . What AD n KG n Draymond do seems to often ti get more valuable in the playoffs ( well Dray n AD yes , not looked a lot if true for kg). Duncan is more like gobert , gobert playoff defensive signal is massiveky diminished . I’d take kg , Draymond AD defence in this era and even a bit earlier too. Because I think it’s easier to get a good rim protector - like a Brook Lopez lvl guy and pair him with those guys when you need and have more scheme versatility then having Duncan just because he’s better at rim protecting. Which yes in a vacuum is more valuable than any other defence but that’s not how you’d build a team or pick the player imo . Look at Bam who’s pretty mediocre rim

The idea here is that KG will translate better than Duncan today because of his versatility and ability to cover ground. Every single player you listed besides Duncan is worse in that department than every defender that I listed. Frankly, I don't buy any of them(excepting Duncan) as doing as well as Gobert has anyway, but that is a separate matter.

That's strange, considering that Wallace was probably the most versatile defender of this whole bunch (maybe except focused Davis), with his incredible combination of vertical defense and mobility. Howard is also someone who covered the ground extremely well at his peak.

The idea that Gobert is more versatile than Wallace or Dwight is quite strange to me.

Gobert was not one of the names I listed as an example of versatility. And neither cover ground as well as AD, Giannis or Draymond do I think.

I'd still expect Gobert to do better than either overall defensively as he's smarter and more positionally sound than Dwight and is longer and taller than Ben while also being able to cover ground historically well for a 5.

[70sFan]

Is there a point to the list of names you're trotting out?

The idea here is that KG will translate better than Duncan today because of his versatility and ability to cover ground. Every single player you listed besides Duncan is worse in that department than every defender that I listed. Frankly, I don't buy any of them(excepting Duncan) as doing as well as Gobert has anyway, but that is a separate matter.

That's strange, considering that Wallace was probably the most versatile defender of this whole bunch (maybe except focused Davis), with his incredible combination of vertical defense and mobility. Howard is also someone who covered the ground extremely well at his peak.

The idea that Gobert is more versatile than Wallace or Dwight is quite strange to me.

Gobert was not one of the names I listed as an example of versatility. And neither cover ground as well as AD, Giannis or Draymond do I think.

I'd still expect Gobert to do better than either overall defensively as he's smarter and more positionally sound than Dwight and is longer and taller than Ben while also being able to cover ground historically well for a 5.

I still disagree. Giannis doesn't move better laterally than Wallace. Green is smaller than Wallace and it doesn't give you any problems.