Was Dirk 2011 NBA championship run the most impressive?

[Nike D'Antoni]

Sweeping Kobe Bryant & Phil Jackson in the second round
Beat 3 league MVP in next round 4 - 1 ( Harden, Westbrook, Durant)
Beat Lebron James in the finals.

[Kiddlovesnets]

Hakeem Olajuwon's 1995 run: Beat 60 wins Jazz, 59 wins Suns, 62 wins Spurs and 57 wins Magic(which beat MJ and Bulls).

[Mr. Woke]

Nope.

He got very lucky that the Heat didn't play as well as they usually did.

[Gray GOAT]

It's between Barry, Hakeem, Duncan, Dirk and LeBron. Got to give the edge to LeBron imo for beating a 73-win team with zero All-Stars or All-NBA players.

[jalbert009]

Dirk or Hakeems are the most impressive to me.

People hyping up Lebrons Cleveland Ring in 2016 like it was much harder than 1995 or 2011.

LeBron faced Detroit 44wins in first round lead by Drummond I think. Then 48 wins Hawks lead by Horford and gang. Then 56 win team in Raps by Derozan.

Yes Lebron went against a 73 win Golden State team but the path to the finals wasn't very Impressive. So overall cant compare this run to 1995 Hakeem or 2011 Dirk.

I personally pref 2011 Dirk ring as one if the most impressive finals runs ever.

[Shooter]

2016 Finals

Beat 3 all NBA with 1 all NBA

Times this happened?

Once

Next

[Gohan]

^^^ read the post above you dude. He only did something in the finals. His routes to the finals have been unimpressive besides 2018

[dbugz]

2016 Finals

Beat 3 all NBA with 1 all NBA

Times this happened?

Once

Next

triggered as always :roll:

[kawhileonard2]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1995_preseason_odds.html (Rockets 2nd) - Beat the #1 preseason favorite.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2011_preseason_odds.html (Dallas 7th) beat the #1 and #2 Preseason favorites and #6 Preseason Favorites.


https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1991_preseason_odds.html (Chicago 4th) beat the #1 and #2 Preseason favorites

I'd say these 3.

[kawhileonard2]

2016 Finals

Beat 3 all NBA with 1 all NBA

Times this happened?

Once

Next

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2016_preseason_odds.html

Favorite in 2015 and 2016. Also every year from 2011-2014

[And1AllDay]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2016_preseason_odds.html

Favorite in 2015 and 2016. Also every year from 2011-2014

https://i.postimg.cc/CMJ4zdVY/Pre-Sznlol.png

https://i.postimg.cc/BvsKz5rs/giphy.gif

[dankok8]

Dirk is getting incredibly overrated. He had winning impact on only one end of the floor. 2003 Duncan is easily better let alone Hakeem.

[Micku]

Dirk is getting incredibly overrated. He had winning impact on only one end of the floor. 2003 Duncan is easily better let alone Hakeem.

I would say it don't matter as long as his impact was historically great. Like Curry, Magic, and Barkley mostly had impact on the offensive side.

That said, I do think Duncan and Hakeem were more impressive. Dirk in 2011 was super clutch tho.

[DMAVS41]

Dirk is getting incredibly overrated. He had winning impact on only one end of the floor. 2003 Duncan is easily better let alone Hakeem.

Flawed analysis.

Gary Payton was easily a worse player than Magic...Magic was nothing noteworthy at all on defense yet GP was all-time great on defense.

Duncan and Hakeem were better, but you are too narrow-minded here. Impact is impact.

[dankok8]

Flawed analysis.

Gary Payton was easily a worse player than Magic...Magic was nothing noteworthy at all on defense yet GP was all-time great on defense.

Duncan and Hakeem were better, but you are too narrow-minded here. Impact is impact.

Defense for big men is more important relative to offense that it is for guards.

I don't mean that Dirk is not a great player but sometimes people rank him too high. I have him borderline top 20.

[DMAVS41]

Defense for big men is more important relative to offense that it is for guards.

I don't mean that Dirk is not a great player but sometimes people rank him too high. I have him borderline top 20.

It is just an example. Impact is impact. The game is the game.

Greatness at the individual level of offense that translates to elite team offense is more valuable.

Who has Dirk much higher than 18-22 in their rankings? Think you might be arguing with ghosts.

[dankok8]

It is just an example. Impact is impact. The game is the game.

Greatness at the individual level of offense that translates to elite team offense is more valuable.

Who has Dirk much higher than 18-22 in their rankings? Think you might be arguing with ghosts.

I've seen Dirk decisively win polls against Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett. It made me conclude that he's overrated.

[DMAVS41]

I've seen Dirk decisively win polls against Karl Malone and Kevin Garnett. It made me conclude that he's overrated.

And I've seen the reverse.

He's a player that some probably put a bit too high and some put too low....like most.

Unless someone is calling him top 10 or not top 30...it honestly isn't much to argue about.

[TheCorporation]

GOAT
https://i.postimg.cc/0j6rkSHY/20200818-141141.jpg

[DMAVS41]

And I've seen the reverse.

He's a player that some probably put a bit too high and some put too low....like most.

Unless someone is calling him top 10 or not top 30...it honestly isn't much to argue about.

Hell, KG is easily beating Dirk in a poll on here right now. Absolutely disagree with that, but is what it is. Only people saying something crazy are the ones claiming Dirk is clearly better than KG or that KG was clearly better than Dirk.

[Dagoods]

Both Hakeem and Dirk were unplayable. I'm good with either or.

[dankok8]

Hell, KG is easily beating Dirk in a poll on here right now. Absolutely disagree with that, but is what it is. Only people saying something crazy are the ones claiming Dirk is clearly better than KG or that KG was clearly better than Dirk.

For me KG was clearly better than Dirk.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Kawhi 2019 is clearly superior i think. Better scoring and never had a bad shooting series, higher usage, more responsibility on defense.

[red1]

Kawhi 2019 is clearly superior i think. Better scoring and never had a bad shooting series, higher usage, more responsibility on defense.

nah

[DMAVS41]

For me KG was clearly better than Dirk.

I don't think that holds up, but cool.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

I don't think that holds up, but cool.

Yeah I'm on Dmavs side here. I don't think Dirk is better then kawhi but I put Dirk over KG/Malone.

Kawhi is kind of like Dirk with braids but just way better defense, so that's why I take Kawhi.

Dirk's offense is way more resilient then KG/Malone in playoffs though.

Dirk 06 > KG 04
Dirk 2011 > KG 2008

Superior two best playoff runs. Dirk also didn't rely on Stockton feeding him the ball his entire career, was way more clutch in 2011 finals then Malone was in 1998 finals as well.

[DMAVS41]

Yeah I'm on Dmavs side here. I don't think Dirk is better then kawhi but I put Dirk over KG/Malone.

Kawhi is kind of like Dirk with braids but just way better defense, so that's why I take Kawhi.

Dirk's offense is way more resilient then KG/Malone in playoffs though.

Dirk 06 > KG 04
Dirk 2011 > KG 2008

Superior two best playoff runs. Dirk also didn't rely on Stockton feeding him the ball his entire career, was way more clutch in 2011 finals then Malone was in 1998 finals as well.

I actually think 04 KG was better in your comparison.

[ImKobe]

It's up there, considering the amount of ATGs he beat and how many series he won as the underdog. He shot lights out in the WC Playoffs and was all-time clutch in the 2011 Finals. I wouldn't exactly say it's the most impressive run ever, more like the most unprobable, considering his choke in his 2007 MVP season.

[houston]

No Duncan 03 was more impressive.

[MavAlbert]

For me KG was clearly better than Dirk.

and he proved it in the playoffs with Minnesota by shutting down Dirk right?

oh wait...

[dankok8]

Yeah I'm on Dmavs side here. I don't think Dirk is better then kawhi but I put Dirk over KG/Malone.

Kawhi is kind of like Dirk with braids but just way better defense, so that's why I take Kawhi.

Dirk's offense is way more resilient then KG/Malone in playoffs though.

Dirk 06 > KG 04
Dirk 2011 > KG 2008

Superior two best playoff runs. Dirk also didn't rely on Stockton feeding him the ball his entire career, was way more clutch in 2011 finals then Malone was in 1998 finals as well.

KG 04 is comfortably better than 06 Dirk as DMAVS41 said as well.

I'd say 08 KG was as good as 11 Dirk. I recently watched a few games from that 2008 run including some Finals. KG was the best Boston player through the East playoffs including on offense. Overall wasn't close. Pierce stepped up in the Finals but I actually thought KG deserved the FMVP. His defense changed that series as well. That same Boston team with a much better Rondo lost in the 2nd round to the Magic in the 2009 playoffs when KG didn't play. As late as 2012, KG was the common denominator for the best defense in the league. I don't know if people remember but there was quite a bit of backlash for KG not getting the 2008 MVP.

[DMAVS41]

KG 04 is comfortably better than 06 Dirk as DMAVS41 said as well.

I'd say 08 KG was as good as 11 Dirk. I recently watched a few games from that 2008 run including some Finals. KG was the best Boston player through the East playoffs including on offense. Overall wasn't close. Pierce stepped up in the Finals but I actually thought KG deserved the FMVP. His defense changed that series as well. That same Boston team with a much better Rondo lost in the 2nd round to the Magic in the 2009 playoffs when KG didn't play. As late as 2012, KG was the common denominator for the best defense in the league. I don't know if people remember but there was quite a bit of backlash for KG not getting the 2008 MVP.

KG was clearly the best and most valuable player on the 08 Celtics. He should have gotten more consideration for MVP imo.

[DMAVS41]

and he proved it in the playoffs with Minnesota by shutting down Dirk right?

oh wait...

It was a nightmare matchup for KG and the Wolves, but yea...KG talking trash before that series didn't look great when Dirk averaged 33/16 69% TS in a sweep...LOL

[Horatio33]

KG 04 is comfortably better than 06 Dirk as DMAVS41 said as well.

I'd say 08 KG was as good as 11 Dirk. I recently watched a few games from that 2008 run including some Finals. KG was the best Boston player through the East playoffs including on offense. Overall wasn't close. Pierce stepped up in the Finals but I actually thought KG deserved the FMVP. His defense changed that series as well. That same Boston team with a much better Rondo lost in the 2nd round to the Magic in the 2009 playoffs when KG didn't play. As late as 2012, KG was the common denominator for the best defense in the league. I don't know if people remember but there was quite a bit of backlash for KG not getting the 2008 MVP.

KG was very up and down in those playoffs. If he had played as well as he could the first round series against the Hawks should have been a sweep, not a seven game series. The conference finals he struggled a bit.

The knock on KG his whole career is in crunch time he disappears. Apart from game 7 2004 can you name a big game KG had in the playoffs? He had some undermanned squads but he could never rise to the occasion. That's the big weakness in his game.

[Baller789]

I think Hakeems first ring was far and away the hardest. Even advanced stats support this.

[Pointguard]

Flawed analysis.

Gary Payton was easily a worse player than Magic...Magic was nothing noteworthy at all on defense yet GP was all-time great on defense.

Magic's defense was always understated. He made other teams play his game. He had one of the most efficient Celtic's team ever shoot horribly. It could be argued that Magic had one of the best defenses ever in a championship series when Dennis Johnson and Ainge shot 6 for 31 (19%) due to (exertion) playing Magic's game. For those who need further evidence of controlling pace Jason Kidd took a last place team, he replaced the most productive point guard, points and assist wise, and took that horrifical team to the championship the next two years. He did so by controlling the pace. Its a whole different level of defense that centers can not achieve themselves. I definitely don't have any year by GP on par with Kidd's two years in Jersey on defensive impact. Not close.