RealGM

There is a debate brewing on another forum regarding this. I'll quote what the initial post mentioned.

Both are former MVP winners and both have led teams to the Conference Finals. However which player is better in pressure situations?

dirk

Dirk No

dirkalicious

Dirk. IIRC he has a 2-0 record in Game 7s (vs Blazers, vs Spurs) and bailed out the unbelievably average German basketball team in KO games so often that they even won silver and bronze. Try winning medals with a supporting cast with the FIBA equivalents of Rafael Araujo, Malik Rose, Darrick Martin and Smush Parker!

I only saw one game of Germany and Dirk was a non factor that game and the German team was actually still in it. Then again they were playing Team USA.

Dirk is a **** PIMP. KG usually gets let off easily and Dirk usually cops some unfair blame.

This is a Rockets fan praising Dirk by the way.

Point forward wrote:Dirk. IIRC he has a 2-0 record in Game 7s (vs Blazers, vs Spurs) and bailed out the unbelievably average German basketball team in KO games so often that they even won silver and bronze. Try winning medals with a supporting cast with the FIBA equivalents of Rafael Araujo, Malik Rose, Darrick Martin and Smush Parker!

He beat the Rockets too in a game 7 a few years back.

Choker wrote:I only saw one game of Germany and Dirk was a non factor that game and the German team was actually still in it. Then again they were playing Team USA.

If it was the last tourney, then you are correct. We were only trailing by 3 at half time but then Carmelo made mince meat out of us. But on the other hand, Dirk is EC and WC MVP of 2002 and 2005, not bad at all.

With the NBA, Dirk has a strange pattern in his clutchness. His Games 7 are great but his Games 6 are terrible. I think he is 1-6 or something for Game 6. Maybe a mental thing?

BTW Yes I forgot that Rox Game 7. Easiest Game 7 ever, baby (win by 40)

I think if KG really wants to he not only could be better, he IS better but he has to want it. unfortunately he doesn't want it too often so I pick Dirk

dirk makes huge shots time and time again. kg hardly ever even takes them.

only series KG lost when his team had the better record, was against the 3-peat Lakers.

kooldude wrote:only series KG lost when his team had the better record, was against the 3-peat Lakers.

is that a fancy way of saying that prior to not even making the playoffs for 3 seasons, they lost to a team with an inferior record the last two times they did?

dcash4 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



is that a fancy way of saying that prior to not even making the playoffs for 3 seasons, they lost to a team with an inferior record the last two times they did?

are you honestly faulting KG for losing to a 3-peat title team with 2 top 15 players?

kooldude wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



are you honestly faulting KG for losing to a 3-peat title team with 2 top 15 players?

KG gets off a lot easier than Dirk does.

Derekman wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



KG gets off a lot easier than Dirk does.

That's because KG PG was hurt and he actually ended up having to play like point forward. Dirk just choked when his team was perfectly healthy.

Point forward wrote:Dirk. IIRC he has a 2-0 record in Game 7s (vs Blazers, vs Spurs) and bailed out the unbelievably average German basketball team in KO games so often that they even won silver and bronze. Try winning medals with a supporting cast with the FIBA equivalents of Rafael Araujo, Malik Rose, Darrick Martin and Smush Parker!

So does Garnett.

Dirk. I choose him mainly to irk Sal.

kooldude wrote:only series KG lost when his team had the better record, was against the 3-peat Lakers.

2003 and 2004

Dirk is a pretty damn good clutch player, contrary to some opinions, especially in the playoffs. 25 pts and 11 rebounds (both well above his season averages) in 87 playoff games ain't all bad, especially for a guy who is considered soft and a poor rebounder. He steps it up in the playoffs. Yes, he has had a couple of stinker games/series, but who hasn't? Nobody can hit a game winner every time.

I'll let somebody else make the case for KG. They're both pretty solid players, and have both had lots of experience being the go-to guy down the stretch.