Who's the better player: Prime Dirk Nowitzki or Prime Carmelo Anthony ?

[Legends66NBA7]

http://www.nba.com/media/act_dirk_nowitzki.jpg

VS

http://www.nba.com/media/act_carmelo_anthony.jpg

I actually didn't think there was a much of a debate to this, but apparently it has been brewing for the last day or so.

Please give your reasons as to why who's better.

[Fresh Kid]

dirk had better teams, so I have to go with melo.

[DMAVS41]

Dirk. Melo isn't on that level at all. Just off the numbers alone Melo looks awful in comparison.

Dirk is a 26/10/3 58.4% TS career playoff performer

Melo is 26/7/3 51.3% TS career playoff performer

A 7.1% TS difference is HUGE...

LOL

[Fresh Kid]

Dirk. Melo isn't on that level at all. Just off the numbers alone Melo looks awful in comparison.

Dirk is a 26/10/3 58.4% TS career playoff performer

Melo is 26/7/3 51.3% TS career playoff performer

A 7.1% TS difference is HUGE...

LOL
who had better teammates?? thank you.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

who had better teammates?? thank you.

Carmelo did. He's had better teammates for YEARS now.

[Fresh Kid]

Carmelo did. He's had better teammates for YEARS now.
thats a damn lie.

[kNicKz]

Prime Dirk is better. I'm hoping we haven't seen prime Melo yet though

[DMAVS41]

who had better teammates?? thank you.

Dirk did.

That explains why Dirk was won so much more in both the regular season and playoffs.

It doesn't explain why Melo is so horrendously inefficient in the playoffs.

[SpurrDurr]

thats a damn lie.

:roll:

1000+ posts in 1 week of activity. 100% of them are utter shit.

The comparison isn't fair anyway, 35 years old Dirk is still better than prime Melo.

[Fresh Kid]

Dirk did.


thanks. I proved my case.

[DMAVS41]

thanks. I proved my case.

You must expound a little. Why are Melo's numbers so much worse? Please explain this.

[Fresh Kid]

:roll:


The comparison isn't fair anyway, 35 years old Dirk is still better than prime Melo.
:biggums: and you tha same dummy that said duncan will win another title too:roll:

[Jameerthefear]

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Dirk is a winner.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Easily Dirk.

A better question would Melo or Luol Deng?

[Fresh Kid]

You must expound a little. Why are Melo's numbers so much worse? Please explain this.
melo's numbers are not that far away plus melo was last season's scoring champ too.

[Fresh Kid]

Easily Dirk.

A better question would Melo or Luol Deng?
:wtf:

[DMAVS41]

melo's numbers are not that far away plus melo was last season's scoring champ too.

A 7.1% difference in TS in the playoffs is huge. Absolutely huge.

[SpurrDurr]

:biggums: and you tha same dummy that said duncan will win another title too:roll:

Duncan still has more chances to get another title than Melo since he aint gonna win one especially in NY.

[BoutPractice]

Dirk Nowitzki and it's not even close. Prime Dirk could carry any cast on his back to 60 win seasons.

[salwan]

what has melo accomplished yet?

a WCF appearence? a scoring title in a year, when Kobe was busy playing point guard and Durant didnt care?

[imdaman99]

Prime Dirk. Prime Dirk's had a few chokejobs in the playoffs, but nowadays who doesn't?

Hopefully Melo's prime isn't done and he can show us something on the Knicks...

[SpurrDurr]

Melo next year will turn 30, i can see him struggling even more with his notorious weight problems and lose some athleticism.

Prolly by the end of the next season people will consider Leonard, Chandler and Gallo better players than Melo.

[Young X]

Dirk by far.

Melo isn't even better than James Harden.

Knicks lost.

[imdaman99]

Melo next year will turn 30, i can see him struggling even more with his notorious weight problems and lose some athleticism.

Prolly by the end of the next season people will consider Leonard, Chandler and Gallo better players than Melo.
weight problems? stop trolling dude.

didnt know spurs trolls had a disdain for NYC.

[Johnny Jones]

Easily Dirk.

A better question would Melo or Luol Deng?
Deng easily.

I'll take 16/6/2 with elite defense over 25/6/3 with no defense any day of the week.

[Segatti]

Dirk is much better.

[kNicKz]

Deng easily.

I'll take 16/6/2 with elite defense over 25/6/3 with no defense any day of the week.

:biggums:

[imdaman99]

:biggums:
ppl like the way deng lets lebron dominate him every year in the playoffs i guess :confusedshrug:

[Fresh Kid]

ppl like the way deng lets lebron dominate him every year in the playoffs i guess :confusedshrug:
ouch.:eek: ................:roll:

[Johnny Jones]

:biggums:
:rolleyes:

[Fresh Kid]

Deng easily.

I'll take 16/6/2 with elite defense over 25/6/3 with no defense any day of the week.
retard alert:oldlol:

[Xiao Yao You]

Dirk

[SpurrDurr]

weight problems? stop trolling dude.

didnt know spurs trolls had a disdain for NYC.

So Melo is "NBA fit" and a gym rat now? I could see him not aging well, that's not trolling, that's just my 2 cents.

[Legends66NBA7]

The comparison isn't fair anyway, 35 years old Dirk is still better than prime Melo.

You're telling me Nowitzki was better last year ? Because he wasn't.


Melo isn't even better than James Harden.

Nah, I would take Melo over Harden.

[Unbiased_one]

melo's numbers are not that far away plus melo was last season's scoring champ too.

Who the **** cares about scoring titles?

[JimmyMcAdocious]

A healthy Dirk is better than every SF in the NBA.

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2013/04/7269456.jpg

[Fresh Kid]

Duncan still has more chances to get another title than Melo since he aint gonna win one especially in NY.
thats a lie:coleman:

[Fresh Kid]

Who the **** cares about scoring titles?
I hear tha saltyness in your voice damn:roll:

[SpurrDurr]

You're telling me Nowitzki was better last year ? Because he wasn't.

I'd rather have a 35 year old Dirk than a 29 Melo during POs.

[Fresh Kid]

I'd rather have a 35 year old Dirk than a 29 Melo during POs.
:coleman:

[hawkfan]

The one with the championship.

[Fresh Kid]

This question is just an embarrassment to Dirk. Its even worse than the Kobe or Dirk thread. At least Kobes play has resulted in winning(even if it was only because he had the most stacked teams).



Luol Deng.

Good defender, can fit on any team. Melo needs to be built around and if your building around Melo your not winning shit. (maybe if you have Prime Shaq or the most stacked frontcourt like Kobe did, Otherwise no).
these lebron lovers are so delusional that its starting to get sick now:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[Fresh Kid]

The one with the championship.
hows tha hawks doing lately?:lol

[SpurrDurr]

hows tha hawks doing lately?:lol

At least they have a top 10 player :confusedshrug:

[Fresh Kid]

At least they have a top 10 player :confusedshrug:
who?:biggums:

[Myth]

ppl like the way deng lets lebron dominate him every year in the playoffs i guess :confusedshrug:

While others like the way Melo loses before he gets to let LeBron dominate him.

[Fresh Kid]

While others like the way Melo loses before he gets to let LeBron dominate him.
blazers had how many playoffs wins last year?:lol

[SpurrDurr]

who?:biggums:

Horford, after last season Playoffs he officially kicked Melo out from the top 10 players list.

[Fresh Kid]

Horford, after last season Playoffs he officially kicked Melo out from the top 10 players list.
:facepalm

[hawkfan]

hows tha hawks doing lately?:lol

Not good.
We could have had Bynum, Smith, Horford, Millsap, Nogueira, Muscala in our front court, with Teague, Jenkins, Williams, Cunningham, Schroeder in the backcourt.

[Myth]

blazers had how many playoffs wins last year?:lol

Don't change the subject. This thread is about Melo and Dirk.

[miles berg]

Not even close, Dirk by far.

Completely different tiers.

[HurricaneKid]

Dirk is a top 25 player in the history of the game with a skill set no one presented before him. Melo is a really good player who is probably the best ISO player in the NBA. The problem is that the best ISO player in the NBA is less efficient than a below average driver. There are no historic comparisons to be made as he isn't a historic player. Dirk in one of 10 guys to have led the league in PER in the last 28 years and spent 7 straight years in the top 10 including a first and a second. This year was the first season Melo was in the top 10. Considering his defensive inadequacies he just hasn't had a similar career.

[TheReal Kendall]

Dirk is a top 25 player in the history of the game with a skill set no one presented before him. Melo is a really good player who is probably the best ISO player in the NBA. The problem is that the best ISO player in the NBA is less efficient than a below average driver. There are no historic comparisons to be made as he isn't a historic player. Dirk in one of 10 guys to have led the league in PER in the last 28 years and spent 7 straight years in the top 10 including a first and a second. This year was the first season Melo was in the top 10. Considering his defensive inadequacies he just hasn't had a similar career.

Melo will be Top 20 all time when he retire.

[Johnny Jones]

Melo will be Top 20 all time when he retire.
:lol

[JGXEN]

Melo will be Top 20 all time when he retire.
Top 20 most inefficient chuckers of all time. You got that right

[Legends66NBA7]

Melo will be Top 20 all time when he retire.

Heavily doubt that.

These players from the start of the 00's, would be higher all-time (no order):

Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Garnett
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Dirk Nowitzki
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Tracy McGrady
LeBron James
Jason Kidd
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Vince Carter

That I can guarantee at least, unless I missed somebody... Then it's pretty much debatable who Anthony would be over for the rest. So, he barely would make Top 20 in the 00's-present. Top 20 all-time ? Would need a miracle. Pretty much no chance.

[Unbiased_one]

Heavily doubt that.

These players from the start of the 00's, would be higher all-time (no order):

Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Garnett
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Dirk Nowitzki
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Tracy McGrady
LeBron James
Jason Kidd
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Vince Carter

That I can guarantee at least, unless I missed somebody... Then it's pretty much debatable who Anthony would be over for the rest. So, he barely would make Top 20 in the 00's-present. Top 20 all-time ? Would need a miracle. Pretty much no chance.

I say pau and tony Parker but looks like you got most of them.

[Fresh Kid]

Heavily doubt that.

These players from the start of the 00's, would be higher all-time (no order):

Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Garnett
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Dirk Nowitzki
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Tracy McGrady
LeBron James
Jason Kidd
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Vince Carter

That I can guarantee at least, unless I missed somebody... Then it's pretty much debatable who Anthony would be over for the rest. So, he barely would make Top 20 in the 00's-present. Top 20 all-time ? Would need a miracle. Pretty much no chance.
you are mad delusional thinking all those players are above melo:facepalm

[TheReal Kendall]

Heavily doubt that.

These players from the start of the 00's, would be higher all-time (no order):

Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Garnett
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Dirk Nowitzki
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Tracy McGrady
LeBron James
Jason Kidd
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Vince Carter

That I can guarantee at least, unless I missed somebody... Then it's pretty much debatable who Anthony would be over for the rest. So, he barely would make Top 20 in the 00's-present. Top 20 all-time ? Would need a miracle. Pretty much no chance.

http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/very_interesting.gif

[TheReal Kendall]

you are mad delusional thinking all those players are above melo:facepalm

Exactly!

60% of the players on that list aren't above Melo.

Why so many people hate on Melo?

[Solefade]

you are mad delusional thinking all those players are above melo:facepalm



Can't really tell if this dude is trolling hard core or just has down syndrome.

[Unbiased_one]

you are mad delusional thinking all those players are above melo:facepalm

Who on that list beside carter is not obviously and clearly above melo all time?
:facepalm:

[Legends66NBA7]

I say pau and tony Parker but looks like you got most of them.

I guess their success can't be ignored especially with Parker, but I think Melo was better than them. But yeah, point still being Melo is still barely Top 20.


you are mad delusional thinking all those players are above melo:facepalm

Most, if not all, are over him.

[Legends66NBA7]

Exactly!

60% of the players on that list aren't above Melo.

Why so many people hate on Melo?

Please explain the 60%. I listed 17 players and Unbiased_One listed 2 more. That means only 9 of the 19 between mine and UO's choices are objectively above Melo.

I'll assume that:

Shaquille O'Neal
Tim Duncan
Kobe Bryant
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Kevin Garnett
Dirk Nowitzki
Steve Nash
Allen Iverson

Are the 9 players. Melo is 10 over the rest ? Because the majority of the rest have better arguments.

[Unbiased_one]

I guess their success can't be ignored especially with Parker, but I think Melo was better than them. But yeah, point still being Melo is still barely Top 20.



Most, if not all, are over him.

I tend to heavily weight playoff performance which is probably why I have those two. I can't believe how many people give melo a pass for his shit performances when it counts.

[TheReal Kendall]

I tend to heavily weight playoff performance which is probably why I have those two. I can't believe how many people give melo a pass for his shit performances when it counts.

I don't give him a pass. He just haven't had the great teams that other people have had.

You need a team in the sport of basketball. Melo can only do so much on his own.


Off top he's above VC, CP3, Nash, T-mac, A.I, PP, Howard, KD, and Pau. I would even put him over Kidd

[Fresh Kid]

I don't give him a pass. He just haven't had the great teams that other people have had.

You need a team in the sport of basketball. Melo can only do so much on his own.


Off top he's above VC, CP3, Nash, T-mac, A.I, PP, Howard, KD, and Pau. I would even put him over Kidd
I agree, well except for iverson.

[Fresh Kid]

Exactly!

60% of the players on that list aren't above Melo.

Why so many people hate on Melo?
cuz they are afraid that he might have a legendary season sooner or later.

[Fresh Kid]

Can't really tell if this dude is trolling hard core or just has down syndrome.
u must have down syndrome for not be able to make a point.

[kenny817]

dirk had better teams, so I have to go with melo.

You're an idiot

[Fresh Kid]

You're an idiot
cuz I said your man dirk had better teams??? its tha truth:confusedshrug:

[MisterAmazing]

I don't give him a pass. He just haven't had the great teams that other people have had.

You need a team in the sport of basketball. Melo can only do so much on his own.


Off top he's above VC, CP3, Nash, T-mac, A.I, PP, Howard, KD, and Pau. I would even put him over Kidd

Melo hasn't done anything to put himself above Pau, Pierce, AI, Nash, Howard, or Durant. CP3 is just a better player, and arguably so are prime TMac and Carter.

Being a really good scorer and nothing else doesnt get you far in all time conversations unless you have something to show for it. Which Carmelo does not.

[TheReal Kendall]

Melo hasn't done anything to put himself above Pau, Pierce, AI, Nash, Howard, or Durant. CP3 is just a better player, and arguably so are prime TMac and Carter.

Being a really good scorer and nothing else doesnt get you far in all time conversations unless you have something to show for it. Which Carmelo does not.

:coleman:

What have they done?

PP got 1 ring cause he joined other nikkas.

Pau had help in Kobe and Artest.

A.I done nothing. Howard nothing. Durant nothing. Cp3 nothing.

T-mac and VC nothing but dunks. It's funny cause these 2 weren't that good on defense either.

[kenny817]

cuz I said your man dirk had better teams??? its tha truth:confusedshrug:

Dirk's teams are better than Melo's cuz he's a better player

That's not the same as having better teammates.

AI in Denver was better than anything Dirk ever played with besides Nash...and that was nearly 10 years ago

Melo is my fave player...but Dirk literally shits on him

[TheReal Kendall]

Dirk's teams are better than Melo's cuz he's a better player

That's not the same as having better teammates.

AI in Denver was better than anything Dirk ever played with besides Nash...and that was nearly 10 years ago

Melo is my fave player...but Dirk literally shits on him

What?????

A.I in Denver?

Everybody and they momma knew that wouldn't work.

Dirk has always had better teams and teammates until just recently

[KyrieTheFuture]

I don't give him a pass. He just haven't had the great teams that other people have had.

You need a team in the sport of basketball. Melo can only do so much on his own.


Off top he's above VC, CP3, Nash, T-mac, A.I, PP, Howard, KD, and Pau. I would even put him over Kidd
In no way shape or form is he better than AI, Howard, KD or CP3 this might be the most egregious overrating of a player I've ever seen. I'd also argue he's not better than Pau but that one is debatable.

[MisterAmazing]

:coleman:

What have they done?

PP got 1 ring cause he joined other nikkas.

Pau had help in Kobe and Artest.

A.I done nothing. Howard nothing. Durant nothing. Cp3 nothing.

T-mac and VC nothing but dunks. It's funny cause these 2 weren't that good on defense either.

AI and Howard both carried their teams to finals. Plus some argued AI as the best player in the league next to prime Shaq. Some could argue Pau was the FMVP in 2010, and Pierce WON an FMVP. Not to mention they all play defense. Durant is just as good a scorer yet a much better overall player.

It's not like Carmelo has played on the LeBron Cavs teams. Hell, even that team got to the finals!

Sorry, but you can't just not include championships and other awards. Right now Carmelo is at TMac and VC level. Great scorers in their prime, but not much else to show for.

[Legends66NBA7]

:coleman:

What have they done?

PP got 1 ring cause he joined other nikkas.

He didn't join them. Garnett and Allen joined the Celtics. Pierce was already there for over a decade. He also won Finals MVP, which strengths his case over Anthony.


Pau had help in Kobe and Artest.

I wouldn't put Gasol over Anthony, but his playoff success shouldn't be dismissed because of help. And Odom was there for both runs over Artest.


A.I done nothing. Howard nothing. Durant nothing. Cp3 nothing.

What do you define as nothing ?

Individually, Iverson as an MVP, scoring titles, was much better a scorer and passer than Anthony. Even lead his team to the Finals and got beaten by the team with best playoff run in NBA history.

Howard has a multiple DPOY winner, one of the greatest rebounders ever, can be an effective low post player and also took his team to the Finals but the Lakers were too deep. Again, I don't see anybody taking Anthony over him.

Durant ? How is the even debatable outside of fans who want to use their head to head matchups ? Durant is better scorer, molding into better passer and defender, and far more efficient. Already lead his to the Finals and ran into the best in the game and their hot outside shooting. I'm pretty sure people already have Durant over him.

Paul is probably the best overall offensive weapon in this group. Almost won MVP in 2008 and production wise is very good. He doesn't have the post season success yet, but there's not a season injury free that Anthony has been over Paul.


T-mac and VC nothing but dunks. It's funny cause these 2 weren't that good on defense either.

First of all, T-Mac and VC weren't just dunks. They both had very good scoring skill sets. Both very good 3 point shooters, jab steps, mid-range game, very clutch, just like Melo. Funny thing is, both were actually better defensively than Melo.

Like Mr.Amazing said, Melo is probably in this tier right now, but I would take McGrady over Melo, no doubt. So it's between him and Carter, which is still very close at this point.

[ralph_i_el]

who had better teammates?? thank you.

Dirk makes his teammates better with spacing and in the PnR game. Melo...not so much

[Fresh Kid]

Dirk makes his teammates better with spacing and in the PnR game. Melo...not so much
like I said dirk had better teammates:facepalm

[RRR3]

:coleman:

What have they done?

PP got 1 ring cause he joined other nikkas.

Pau had help in Kobe and Artest.

A.I done nothing. Howard nothing. Durant nothing. Cp3 nothing.

T-mac and VC nothing but dunks. It's funny cause these 2 weren't that good on defense either.
Melo will never have a year close to T-Mac's 2003

[ralph_i_el]

like I said dirk had better teammates:facepalm

They're better BECAUSE of Dirk. Basketball is a team game.

Just watch monta ellis this year get magically more efficient. It's because Dirk and VC know how to space the floor and make the right pass. Ellis is going to have so many openings

[La Frescobaldi]

Heavily doubt that.

These players from the start of the 00's, would be higher all-time (no order):

Shaquille O'Neal
Kevin Garnett
Dwyane Wade
Chris Paul
Dirk Nowitzki
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Tracy McGrady
LeBron James
Jason Kidd
Paul Pierce
Allen Iverson
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Vince Carter

That I can guarantee at least, unless I missed somebody... Then it's pretty much debatable who Anthony would be over for the rest. So, he barely would make Top 20 in the 00's-present. Top 20 all-time ? Would need a miracle. Pretty much no chance.
Wow that is all truth and not only that but T Parker, and from what we've seen so far, Paul George, K Leonard are already destroying the Ball-Hogged One in terms of team play, passing, defense, transition game, willingness to D up the other team's #1 option.....
So really the "Ruination of Linsanity & Deliberately Tanking to get Coach Fired Loser"..... ranks in the middle of the pack in the middle of a fairly good NBA era.. and that's all.
So yeah - Dirk.

[Fresh Kid]

Melo will never have a year close to T-Mac's 2003
:biggums:

[RRR3]

:biggums:
32/7/6/2/1 on 46/39/79 IIRC.

[GrapeApe]

How is this even a debate? Dirk is an MVP, an NBA champion, and a FMVP. He's a top 25 player all time, maybe top 20. Melo is nowhere near Dirk. He has the chance to improve his ranking and legacy, but right now this is an idiotic comparison.

[Suguru101]

:coleman:

What have they done?

PP got 1 ring cause he joined other nikkas.

Pau had help in Kobe and Artest.

A.I done nothing. Howard nothing. Durant nothing. Cp3 nothing.

T-mac and VC nothing but dunks. It's funny cause these 2 weren't that good on defense either.

All 3 have been to the Finals. Durant's a 3-time scoring champion.

So if that is doing nothing, then Melo has done even worse than them.

[red1]

dirk is clearly the better player

[Bird]

:coleman:

What have they done?

PP got 1 ring cause he joined other nikkas.

Pau had help in Kobe and Artest.

A.I done nothing. Howard nothing. Durant nothing. Cp3 nothing.

T-mac and VC nothing but dunks. It's funny cause these 2 weren't that good on defense either.

Bold 1: Those other "nikkas", joined PP, not the other way around.

Bold 2: Those three have done something Carmelo has not: been the lead dog on a team that made it to the NBA Finals. And AI and Durant have both led the league in scoring more times than Carmelo has (as did McGrady).

AI also won an MVP (something Carmelo has not done), Dwight was DPOY for 3 consecutive years (and was the best big man in basketball for probably 4 consecutive years), McGrady was easily a better overall player in his prime and I'd take Pau over Carmelo because he can play defense, rotate between PF and C and put up 20/10 on a nightly basis.

All of that from a Carmelo fan since 2003 (I bought the baby blue Nuggets jersey in 2004 once I could afford one).

[staywhite]

Melo makes everyone worse that plays with him so of course he had the crap team. Denver has been better without him