How good is Tim Duncan?

[Assani Fisher]

Everyone who picked Larry Bird over Duncan, please reconcile these statements:

1. Larry Bird won 3 titles in 13 years
2. If Duncan win this year he'll have 4 titles in 10 years
3. Bird had a much better supporting cast than Duncan

[SBR]

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Everyone who picked Larry Bird over Duncan, please reconcile these statements:

1. Larry Bird won 3 titles in 13 years
2. If Duncan win this year he'll have 4 titles in 10 years
3. Bird had a much better supporting cast than Duncan

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4. Bird played against better teams
5. Number of championships is a stupid way to determine value

[Vyse]

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5. Number of championships is a stupid way to determine value

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Amen.

[kidcolin]

eh.. I think stats and VORP type analysis will show that Duncan is better than Bird, but since I'm a Boston homer, of course I'm taking Bird. Swap Duncan for McHale and replace Bird with just a good or near-great SF for the time, and the Celtics don't get it done.

Bird's teams were stacked, but it's not like they didn't go through awesome Philly and Detroit teams on the way to the Finals, only to face a Lakers team with Magic, Worthy, Kareem, etc.

If Bird, with his exact skill set and no adjustment for advancement in training in medicine, played in today's extremely athletic NBA, he wouldn't be a 3-in-a-row MVP. He'd be lucky to be a marginal All Star. But the man was sick. Without him, the Celtics simply don't get it done. I don't care how good his supporting cast was, he got it done. He saved the NBA, and he's part of the reason we get to watch guys like Duncan and KG battle it out today. Am I fellating? Sure. But the man rules.

[Vyse]

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If Bird, with his exact skill set and no adjustment for advancement in training in medicine, played in today's extremely athletic NBA, he wouldn't be a 3-in-a-row MVP. He'd be lucky to be a marginal All Star.

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Please get off the crack. Name 20 current NBA players better.

[kidcolin]

Vyse,

I'm drunk. Cut me some slack. I'm one of the best NBA posters in this shiz. And I'm a huge Celtics homer. I watch Bird highlights on youtube all the time. I'm just pointing out that athleticsm has advanced big time. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if a 25 year old Larry Legend stepped in today's NBA and got chewed up by the likes of Gerald Wallace and such.

Adjusted for era, the only players who are potentially better than Bird are Kobe, Duncan, KG, Lebron, and Wade. And I think Wade is a giant douche who won't ever win another ring, so not him, really.

[KingNeo]

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Adjusted for era, the only players who are potentially better than Bird are Kobe, Duncan, KG, Lebron, and Wade. And I think Wade is a giant douche who won't ever win another ring, so not him, really.

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Im glad someone else thinks this too. Wade is solid player, but FARRRRRRRRR from the superstar that people have him out to be. IMO we have already seen his best and will continue to stay at his level or decline. I think he is a douche too.

Time will tell to see if we are correct.

[Vyse]

Um, Wade is probably the best player in the NBA. Wtf?

I would say the only players better than Bird on that list are potentially LeBron and Wade.

[kidcolin]

Neo,

As much as I think Wade is a douche, let's face it. The guy is SICKKKK, and the sole reason that Miami has a trophy (along with some dubious officiating). He's really, really good.

Duncan, Kobe, and KG are better, though.
edit: and Lebron, duh. I think Wade was better last season. Barring any really [censored] up injury, Lebron will have the better career.
double edit: I retract my previous edit. I thought Lebron should've won the MVP last season, so it doesn't make sense. Wade was really incredible last year, though.

[Max Raker]

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Mano, I'm glad you made this post. Since nobody was commenting on that other thread I thought everyone just agreed Duncan was better than Magic and Bird. I thought everyone had lost their mind.

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Trust me, I fully realize that I'm in the minority. Nearly EVERYBODY loves the players from the 80s just like you guys do.

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I feel like the 80s was sooooo overrated. I think the average player today is much much better. I was not around to watch the games the first time, but when I flip through a game on classic I see a bunch of white guys in really short shorts shooting little set shots that they could never get off in modern game. I might be way off on this though.