RealGM

How would you rank these 3 in 2009?

Duncan was the worst. Dirk was the best.

Dirk
Dwight
Duncan

Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

I'm not sure who I'd take, but Dirk was significantly better offensive player than Dwight. If you prefer Dirk over Dwight in 2011, then I think it's consistent to have him higher in 2009 as well.

Duncan is clearly last here, no disrespect but the Spurs weren't true contenders by that point and it had a lot to do with Duncan not being the same guy particularly offensively. Then they lose in the 1st round to a good but not great Mavs team.

It's between Dirk and Dwight. Dirk is the best on offense by far, and Dwight I think is better on both ends than Duncan especially offensively. Dwight probably gets the nod given his impressive playoff run and dismantling of the Cavs.

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

I think his argument is basically that, given the right pieces around him he could've had a playoff run similar to 2011 or 2006. It's highly speculative of course, Dirk had a great series vs Denver, but his Spurs series was mediocre by his standards despite the win. It would've been hard for him to beat the Lakers that year even if his teammates were better.

Dirk's Nuggets series one of the best individual series at the Playoffs.

70sFan wrote:

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

I'm not sure who I'd take, but Dirk was significantly better offensive player than Dwight. If you prefer Dirk over Dwight in 2011, then I think it's consistent to have him higher in 2009 as well.

Absolutely the offensive force I'd want between him and Dwight. I'm just really unsure if the defensive advantage Dwight has would have me pick him over Dirk or not...

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

I remember Dirk being a monster that season, but now I look at the stats / impact metrics I may have been misremembering.

Also, question for the wise, why are Dwight's RAPM metrics so **** in 09? He's ranked 54th ._. Rashard and Hedo are 5th and 20th.

Dafuq happened there

I miss Dirk

McBubbles wrote:Also, question for the wise, why are Dwight's RAPM metrics so **** in 09? He's ranked 54th ._. Rashard and Hedo are 5th and 20th.

Dafuq happened there

I'm extremely curious to know the answer to this too, since this stat is bandied about a lot.

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

It's one of his best seasons and he's one of the best playoff players of all time.

People just did not care about the Mavericks in 2009, otherwise this wouldn't be any different than picking his fashionable years like 06, 07 and 11. 09

McBubbles wrote:

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

I remember Dirk being a monster that season, but now I look at the stats / impact metrics I may have been misremembering.

Also, question for the wise, why are Dwight's RAPM metrics so **** in 09? He's ranked 54th ._. Rashard and Hedo are 5th and 20th.

Dafuq happened there

Because he wasn't the best player or at least the gap between him and his supporting cast wasn't that big compared to what the media was selling. Just look at the Goaltending numbers between him and Tim Duncan. Or compare his technical/flagrant fouls to these guys(something no one brings up when comparing him to his peers like Yao or Pau in terms of harming your team's in-game momentum).

Rashad and Hedo and later Rafer/Mikael played against tough Western Conference foes and energized the team with their experience from those matchups. There was a stat that the Magic's three point shooting correlated more to winning then Dwight's big games. Dwight was always lesser then his Western counterparts, it's why Houston's Kelvin Cato was the C when his career started.

Howrd
Dirk
Duncan

HeartBreakKid wrote:

PistolPeteJR wrote:Why Dirk over Dwight? The latter’s defense that season from what I recall was absolutely phenomenal. Interested to hear why Dirk over Dwight that season?

It's one of his best seasons and he's one of the best playoff players of all time.

People just did not care about the Mavericks in 2009, otherwise this wouldn't be any different than picking his fashionable years like 06, 07 and 11. 09

I get it’s one of his best seasons but that doesn’t tell me anything about how it compares to Dwight’s 09.