Kevin Durant: the comparisons

Originally Posted by King Glorious

1. First thing.........Leandro Barbosa is the fastest.

2. To say he's not as good an athlete as Dirk is crazy to me. He's not as physically mature as Dirk is but he's easily a better athlete.

3. I don't see him with the quickness to beat 2's and 3's off the dribble in the NBA. And I think he's going to be able to be guarded by those because he's primarily a perimeter player.
4.Guys like McGrady, James, Bowen, etc will be able to guard him and he won't be able to take advantage of his height advantage and he won't out-quick them.

5. Another problem that I think he'll have is the exact opposite of what works for him in college. Whereas in college he takes what the defense gives him, in the pros, they won't give him anything. He's going to have to take things from them.

6. Guys like Bryant, Wade, James, Dirk, Anthony, Iverson, McGrady, etc., they have the ability to take what they want at any point in the game.

1. Wrong. No. Nein. Nyet. But close.
2. Give us your evidence upon observation.
3. He wont beat them with quickness, he will back them down.
4. You are saying McGrady is a good defensive player and Lebron... holy ***
5. A huge misunderstanding of the rule differences between the pros and college. DEFENSIVE 3 seconds in the pros makes it much more difficult to guard good offensive players. This prevents a true zone from being played like in college. This is why a lot of good offensive players in college, like Wade, become great offensive players in the Pros.
6. And this is the major problem with all of these guys except Wade and James (both still learning). They can do anything offensively at any time, so their teammates watch them. This is exactly why guys like Nash, Bird, Kidd, etc... make much better team players. They know how to involve other teammates. Iverson and Carmello... what a great combo. Look how well they have done. And this, in the end, is what will end their careers earlier than players that rely and baskeball knowhow instead of pure athletic ability. Pure athletic ability goes downhill, basketball saavy gets better. Look how long Stockton lasted at PG... you think Iverson will play as many games as Stockton... no way. Who is the better athlete Stockton or Iverson.

Case closed.

Cannon your cousin? I will take a PM. You got me interested.

[King Glorious]

There is no way that any of us can give evidence of who's a better athlete. It's mostly a subjective opinion based on what we see.

I don't think he's going to be backing people down. Most of them are stronger than he is. Have u seen LeBron James? It's a lot easier said than done. But when u are primarily a perimeter player, u can't just adjust your game like that. People said the same thing would happen with Dirk against Bowen. But Bowen does a very effective job against him. Dirk can post but it's not his primary game. Same with Durant.

I didn't say that James and McGrady were great defensive players. I said those are the types of guys that will be guarding him. They are big enough to keep him off of the blocks and they are quick enough to stay with him on the perimeter. Durant is not like a Garnett, who has the ability, if guarded by a smaller player, to take them down inside. I just haven't seen that from Durant.

I don't think I ever made the argument that better athletes are better players. I would never make that argument. I think John Stockton was the best point guard I've ever seen play and I know he wasn't the best athlete out there.

[Seattleallstar]

im sad to see that Mark Price isnt in the conversation. Probably the most underrated superstar in the history of basketball

Originally Posted by King Glorious

1. There is no way that any of us can give evidence of who's a better athlete. It's mostly a subjective opinion based on what we see.

2. I didn't say that James and McGrady were great defensive players. I said those are the types of guys that will be guarding him. They are big enough to keep him off of the blocks and they are quick enough to stay with him on the perimeter.
3. I don't think I ever made the argument that better athletes are better players. I would never make that argument. I think John Stockton was the best point guard I've ever seen play and I know he wasn't the best athlete out there.

1. so what have you seen? thats what I asked in the first place.
2. McGrady and Lebron would have to work to much on defense. Thats why they usually cover lesser offensive players on opposing teams. It also keeps them out of fould trouble. So I dont think they would cover a guy who will most likely keep progressing offensively like Durant probably will in the Pros
3. You listed them as super stars. I took that to mean best players. May have been my mistake.

Mark Price was good, but not for very long Seattle. Got hurt. And after that he was very average.

[ManilaRose]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

There is no way that any of us can give evidence of who's a better athlete. It's mostly a subjective opinion based on what we see.

You don't have to be a great athletically to be a great NBA player. Likewise, some of the most athletically gifted people in the world aren't nearly good enough to play a professional sport. I don't believe athleticism is subjective at all. Line two people up and run them through tests similar to the NFL combine. You'll easily find out who is more athletic. Dirk does move well for a 7 footer but he isn't as athletic as Durant. Throw me some names out guys of college freshman who were better than Durant is.

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by ManilaRose

You don't have to be a great athletically to be a great NBA player. Likewise, some of the most athletically gifted people in the world aren't nearly good enough to play a professional sport. I don't believe athleticism is subjective at all. Line two people up and run them through tests similar to the NFL combine. You'll easily find out who is more athletic. Dirk does move well for a 7 footer but he isn't as athletic as Durant. Throw me some names out guys of college freshman who were better than Durant is.

The NFL combine...the biggest pile of crap on the planet...Mike Mamula anyone???

[ManilaRose]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

The NFL combine...the biggest pile of crap on the planet...Mike Mamula anyone???

I totally agree the combine is crap and in a round about way that's my point. It is more a measure of athleticism than it is how good of a player will you be. Durant would do better than Dirk in every athletic test I can think of other than the bench. It doesn't mean he'll be a better player, but it does make him more athletic.