Mark Aguirre VS Adrian Dantley

majorflux · Post #1 » by **majorflux** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:00 pm

One is HOFer the other isn't. But they played in the same period and have comparable offensive power. Who is the better player?

JordansBulls · Post #2 » by **JordansBulls** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:57 pm

They were traded for each other as well.

Point forward · Post #3 » by **Point forward** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 6:09 pm

Dantley was the better player but Aguirre was the better role player. The Pistons already had a dominant scorer with Isiah and a very good 2nd option with Dumars. Dantley --who was considered super talented but physically and mentally soft-- was not an ideal 3rd option, very much unlike Aguirre.

Still, Dantley just smokes Aguirre in a head 2 head comparison. Comparing Dantley and Aguirre is like comparing Vince Carter and James Posey. No way Posey is better, but he played hsi (smaller) role better.

Baller 24 · Post #4 » by **Baller 24** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:40 pm

I think Aguirre is truly underrated. During his prime he was a comparable scorer (maybe not on the level of Dantley, but he's there) on effective percentages, comparable rebounder/passer, neither really stuck out defensively. But Dantley scored on more effective percentages, which gives him a huge advantage, he also drew a lot of fouls. It's Dantley, but I don't know if they're that far apart, when Aguirre would get hot, he'd become unstoppable.

Roger Murdock · Post #5 » by **Roger Murdock** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:57 pm

Dantley is better. He is one of the best scorers ever/

Joana · Post #6 » by **Joana** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:42 pm

What Point Forward said, although I don't think there was such a big separation between them. Dantley is the poster boy for the axiom that some players can't keep their level if they aren't asked so much. Sometimes people assume that if a player is good as the best player on his team, at least he'd be equally good if in a minor role. Not true, not true at all. Aguirre was a very good player on his own right, he had great footwork on the post and was a very good passer.

Post #7 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:00 am

Point forward wrote:Still, Dantley just smokes Aguirre in a head 2 head comparison. Comparing Dantley and Aguirre is like comparing Vince Carter and James Posey. No way Posey is better, but he played hsi (smaller) role better.

I honestly don't feel there's that much a separation between the two.

Dantley (seven year peak)
79-80: 28.0 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists on .576 shooting (24-58)
80-81: 30.7 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists on .559 shooting (28-54)
81-82: 30.3 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists on .571 shooting (25-57)
82-83: 30.7 points per game, 6.4 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists on .580 shooting (30-52)
83-84: 30.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists on .555 shooting (45-37)
84-85: 26.6 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists on .531 shooting (41-41)
85-86: 29.8 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists on .565 shooting (42-40)

29.5 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists on .562 shooting (33.5 wins)

Aguirre (six year peak)
82-83: 24.4 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists on .483 shooting (38-44)
83-84: 29.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists on .524 shooting (43-39)
84-85: 25.7 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists on .506 shooting (44-38)
85-86: 22.6 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists on .503 shooting (44-38)
86-87: 25.7 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists on .495 shooting (55-27)
87-88: 25.1 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists on .475 shooting (53-29)

25.5 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists on .497 shooting (46.1 wins)

Neither were anything to write home defensively, Aguirre had the edge though, and as you said Aguirre could play more in a team concept when compared to Dantley who was considered a black-hole during his playing days. I generally think Adrian gets a little too much flame on these boards because he was truly a fantastic scorer, but I think in a career and peak sense Aguirre gets even more underrated. People don't realize Aguirre as the main man (with help of course) took the 87-88 Lakers to 7 Games in the Western Conference. They legitimately had a shot at beating them and reaching the NBA Finals.

Dantley was better, but I don't think it was to the point of Carter and Posey.