RealGM

The two greatest guards and two greatest power forwards at the peak of their powers. Which duo are you taking?

I'm not very high on 2004 Kobe and think Jordan at his Apex is in a similar tier as 2004 Duncan.

Jordan/Malone

This smells like bait.

The 2003 version of Kobe and Duncan would been a much better comparaison....

No matter what mid 2000s versions of Kobe and Duncan you take, Duncan had his problems with the mobility and skill of old Malone, it's greater with young close to peak version. In the team aspect it's easier surrounding Jordan and Malone as a good shotblocker and a couple of shooters boded well with them. Duncan is really a Center and so fitting a good PF with him or Center isn't easy. Eaton, limited offensively, was great for the Jazz, similar with Ostertag. Paxson and Kerr, were very effective with Jordan. Four great players ofcourse.

migya wrote:Duncan is really a Center and so fitting a good PF with him or Center isn't easy.

The Spurs were able to stick mediocre bigs, whether PF or C, next to Duncan for his entire post-Robinson career, and the team won 70+% of its games and three more championships. Fitting players around Duncan is about as easy as it gets.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:

migya wrote:Duncan is really a Center and so fitting a good PF with him or Center isn't easy.

The Spurs were able to stick mediocre bigs, whether PF or C, next to Duncan for his entire post-Robinson career, and the team won 70+% of its games and three more championships. Fitting players around Duncan is about as easy as it gets.

It wasn't the other bigs that helped them to win, it was the perimeter talent.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:

migya wrote:Duncan is really a Center and so fitting a good PF with him or Center isn't easy.

The Spurs were able to stick mediocre bigs, whether PF or C, next to Duncan for his entire post-Robinson career, and the team won 70+% of its games and three more championships. Fitting players around Duncan is about as easy as it gets.

Who was their best after Robinson - Splitter?

SportsGuru08 wrote:The two greatest guards and two greatest power forwards at the peak of their powers. Which duo are you taking?

Team 2 has the best and 3rd best player relative to era...from a stronger era...who also happen to fit with each other better.

Pretty clean win for team 2 here I think.

Tim Lehrbach wrote:

migya wrote:Duncan is really a Center and so fitting a good PF with him or Center isn't easy.

The Spurs were able to stick mediocre bigs, whether PF or C, next to Duncan for his entire post-Robinson career, and the team won 70+% of its games and three more championships. Fitting players around Duncan is about as easy as it gets.

Duncan posting arguably the best impact portfolio here with a rim-protecting center as his teammate should really end this line of thought lol

Homer38 wrote:The 2003 version of Kobe and Duncan would been a much better comparaison....

Agreed. That's an actual top 5 caliber peak in Duncan, and a top 15ish for Kobe. I would start considering that a real debate.

I'm being biased on this one ... Kobe/Duncan - Kobe Idol how can I not here - Wonder what It would have been like If Lakers traded Shaq for Duncan after the 3 peat? If It was even remotely possible?