32 year old Shaq outplayed 28 year old Tim Duncan vs Pistons

[HBK_Kliq_2]

That all time great defensive front court Rasheed/Ben that was close to a repeat. 28 year old Duncan vs Pistons and 33 year old Shaq vs Pistons in playoffs.

Shaq vs Pistons in 2006: 22PPG on 62% TS

Duncan vs Pistons in 2005: 21PPG on 47% TS

How was 32 year old Shaq so much more effective then 28 year old Tim Duncan against Rasheed/Ben?

[1987_Lakers]

Duncan played on a sprained ankle pretty much the entire '05 postseason.

[Smoke117]

Uh...maybe because he's Shaq? He can just power through everyone...especially two guys who are more PF's than Centers anyway in the Wallace duo. Duncan obviously can't do that. His game is more predicated on finesse and Sheed was the best post defender in the league.

[ImKobe]

Duncan played hurt in the Finals & the Pistons went from Larry Brown to Flip Saunders in '06.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Duncan played hurt in the Finals & the Pistons went from Larry Brown to Flip Saunders in '06.

Yep the Flip Saunders Pistons were not as good as the Larry Brown Pistons on defense. It is one of the most insane things in NBA coaching history that the Pistons didn't do whatever it took to keep Larry Brown as their coach. They likely win another title and if nothing else make at least two more finals if not 3.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Uh...maybe because he's Shaq? He can just power through everyone...especially two guys who are more PF's than Centers anyway in the Wallace duo. Duncan obviously can't do that. His game is more predicated on finesse and Sheed was the best post defender in the league.

Yeah this is a weird thread. There was the coaching change which hurt the Pistons defensively, but also 32 years old is not that old for a superstar. Michael Jordan made his comeback to the NBA at 32. Kobe was still all first team NBA at 32. Lebron is 35 still playing at an MVP level. Durant will be 33 next year and nobody expects him to take a dip in production. Karl Malone won two mvps older than Shaq was that year. Hell, Tim Duncan was all NBA first team at ages 36/37.

Basically a prime Shaq played better against the Pistons with an inferior coach than an injured Prime Duncan did the year before with the Pistons having one of the greatest coaches ever.

[Whoah10115]

32 not 49.

[GimmeThat]

because a 34 years old Robert Horry averaged 2.1 assists and sliced up that front court defense.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

32 not 49.

Yeah their ages weren't different enough mean anything on that front. They were both in their prime. Duncan was actually 29 during the 2005 Finals. Most star players aren't much different at age 32 than they were at age 29 unless there was a bad injury.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Yeah their ages weren't different enough mean anything on that front. They were both in their prime. Duncan was actually 29 during the 2005 Finals. Most star players aren't much different at age 32 than they were at age 29 unless there was a bad injury.

Big men age differently. Duncan never averaged 20PPG after 30 years old, Shaq was slowing down after 30 years old as well.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

32 not 49.

Duncan was taking 1st round exits at 32 years old, papa Manu was out and he got crushed in 5 games.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Big men age differently. Duncan never averaged 20PPG after 30 years old, Shaq was slowing down after 30 years old as well.

Duncan was never an elite scorer. Yes he dropped off a little bit, but was still making all nba teams throughout his 30's including all nba first team at age 36/37. Comparing a guy at 29 to 32 isn't much different regardless of their size.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Duncan was never an elite scorer. Yes he dropped off a little bit, but was still making all nba teams throughout his 30's including all nba first team at age 36/37. Comparing a guy at 29 to 32 isn't much different regardless of their size.

He wasn't the same player though. 2011 Duncan averaged 13PPG in a 1st round exit.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

He wasn't the same player though. 2011 Duncan averaged 13PPG in a 1st round exit.

He wasn't the same player, but he was still a damn good star player for much of his 30's. Again this is a guy who made the all nba first team on the older side of 35; few players in NBA history have done that.

To the point of your post, he was injured in the 2005 playoffs and the Pistons were a better defensive team under Larry Brown especially in the playoffs where coaching matters more. Shaq was also great against the Pistons in the 04 finals despite Kobe and the rest of the Lakers being trash. Shaq was just a dominant force. He would have scored more in 05-06 if needed, but Dwade had become the focal point of the offense.

[Gray GOAT]

Duncan would be a 6 time champion if not for Kawhi wetting the bed on the free throw line late in game 6. What are you even trying to accomplish here? Diminishing Duncan isn't going to help Kawhit in any way, shape or form.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

He wasn't the same player, but he was still a damn good star player for much of his 30's. Again this is a guy who made the all nba first team on the older side of 35; few players in NBA history have done that.

To the point of your post, he was injured in the 2005 playoffs and the Pistons were a better defensive team under Larry Brown especially in the playoffs where coaching matters more. Shaq was also great against the Pistons in the 04 finals despite Kobe and the rest of the Lakers being trash. Shaq was just a dominant force. He would have scored more in 05-06 if needed, but Dwade had become the focal point of the offense.

Shaq dominated Lakers even with Larry brown, which just proves my point of how much a better offensive player he is then Duncan.

Duncan did have a few really good regular seasons in his 30s but his playoffs were usually disappointing. 2008-2011 Duncan playoffs was pretty trash.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Duncan would be a 6 time champion if not for Kawhi wetting the bed on the free throw line late in game 6. What are you even trying to accomplish here? Diminishing Duncan isn't going to help Kawhit in any way, shape or form.


https://youtu.be/J3NvhxKicJY

Kawhi had nothing to do with Duncan missing layups on midgets.

[Gray GOAT]

https://youtu.be/J3NvhxKicJY

Kawhi had nothing to do with Duncan missing layups on midgets.

That's game 7, which never would have occurred if Kawhit just hit one more free throw with 19 seconds left in game 6. However, he quit and missed. There would be no Ray Allen, there would be no game 7. Duncan had his heroics wasted. 30 and 17 at age 37, a game for the ages. Of course, Kawhit was also on the court when Bosh grabbed the rebound and did nothing to prevent it. What a shame.

[Shogon]

"One account" doe.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

That's game 7, which never would have occurred if Kawhit just hit one more free throw with 19 seconds left in game 6. However, he quit and missed. There would be no Ray Allen, there would be no game 7. Duncan had his heroics wasted. 30 and 17 at age 37, a game for the ages. Of course, Kawhit was also on the court when Bosh grabbed the rebound and did nothing to prevent it. What a shame.

Good. Duncan didn't deserve it if he can't even make a wide open layup in clutch time during a game 7.

Old POS should of gave Kawhi the ball more and it would of been spurs 4-1 series like 2014.

[eliteballer]

Shaq also got outrebounded by Ben Wallace.

[rmt]

Good. Duncan didn't deserve it if he can't even make a wide open layup in clutch time during a game 7.

Old POS should of gave Kawhi the ball more and it would of been spurs 4-1 series like 2014.

Kawhi probably doesn't share your opinion on that "Old POS" - more likely he is grateful for what he learned from him about winning and the opportunity to develop/grow at his own pace without the pressure/minutes other franchise players are under.

Relax - no need to tear down one player to try to build up another. Kawhi has lots of time to add to his already great career.

[Turbo Slayer]

Good. Duncan didn't deserve it if he can't even make a wide open layup in clutch time during a game 7.

Old POS should of gave Kawhi the ball more and it would of been spurs 4-1 series like 2014. Chill.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Kawhi probably doesn't share your opinion on that "Old POS" - more likely he is grateful for what he learned from him about winning and the opportunity to develop/grow at his own pace without the pressure/minutes other franchise players are under.

Relax - no need to tear down one player to try to build up another. Kawhi has lots of time to add to his already great career.


Chill.

Just as a player, I wasn't knocking him as a person. 2013 spurs kawhi was in all their best net lineups and doesn't get enough credit.

[Gray GOAT]

Just as a player, I wasn't knocking him as a person. 2013 spurs kawhi was in all their best net lineups and doesn't get enough credit.

That's an interesting statement. Does it hold any truth? Let's find out. Here are the best Spurs lineups of the 2012/13 season that played at least 30 minutes together, sorted by NetRtg.

https://www.imgdumper.nl/uploads9/5f57ccb5c310e/5f57ccb5be43b-Screenshot_2020-09-08_at_20.25.49.png

Kawhi only shows up in 5 of the 11 line ups. ''Old POS'' Duncan on other hand shows up in 8 out of 11. It get's even more fun when you sort by DefRtg, you know, the only thing Kawhi was good for at that time. Or was he? The Old POS beating him out again, what a revelation.

[Turbo Slayer]

That's an interesting statement. Does it hold any truth? Let's find out. Here are the best Spurs lineups of the 2012/13 season that played at least 30 minutes together, sorted by NetRtg.

https://www.imgdumper.nl/uploads9/5f57ccb5c310e/5f57ccb5be43b-Screenshot_2020-09-08_at_20.25.49.png

Kawhi only shows up in 5 of the 11 line ups. ''Old POS'' Duncan on other hand shows up in 8 out of 11. It get's even more fun when you sort by DefRtg, you know, the only thing Kawhi was good for at that time. Or was he? The Old POS beating him out again, what a revelation. Good catch.