Better Player at Their Peaks: Durant vs. Giannis

[dankok8]

Who do you got?

[SouBeachTalents]

I've got Giannis on this one. His game is ugly as fvck and he's a liability at the FT line, but he's capable of producing just as many points as KD while being worlds better defensively. KD's game is infinitely more portable but I think Giannis had the better peak, and it would be a pretty easy decision to choose him as my franchise player.

[fourkicks44]

I've got Giannis on this one. His game is ugly as fvck and he's a liability at the FT line, but he's capable of producing just as many points as KD while being worlds better defensively. KD's game is infinitely more portable but I think Giannis had the better peak, and it would be a pretty easy decision to choose him as my franchise player.

Dunno about that one.

Giannis is by far the most overrated defender of the generation while Durant is one of the most underrated.

[Manny98]

Dunno about that one.

Giannis is by far the most overrated defender of the generation while Durant is one of the most underrated.

:facepalm

[SATAN]

Giannis is by far the most overrated defender of the generation

Why do you say that?

I would have said Durant without thinking twice if it weren't for Giannis defense.

[basketballcat]

Kawhi beat both of them at their peak.

[SATAN]

Kawhi beat both of them at their peak.

Are you talking about the 2019 finals in which KD played a whopping 12 minutes?

[basketballcat]

Are you talking about the 2019 finals in which KD played a whopping 12 minutes?

I'm taking about the 2023 series where Kawhi outscored KD on games 1 & 2. Higher FG% too. Teams ended up 1 -1. Of course, Kawhi was injured after that.

Not quite the can of whoopass Kawhi opened against Giannis in 2019, but healthy Kawhi is at least as good as KD in the playoffs.

P.S. Let's not forget how Kawhi was absolutely cooking both KD and Curry in Game 1 of their 2017 series. Score was 76-55, in favour of the Spurs. 8 minutes left in the 3rd. Kawhi leading everybody with 26 points. GSW got home court too. And then Kawhi got Zaza-ed.

[fourkicks44]

Why do you say that?

I would have said Durant without thinking twice if it weren't for Giannis defense.

He refuses to step up and guard opposition star players particularly in crunch time and playoffs. Do we remember Jimmy guarding him in the playoffs while he sat off and let Jrue get cooked over and over by Jimmy.

The backbone of the Buck's defense is Lopez, he has always done the important job inside while Giannis' load is lightened.

All-Defense center along with All-Defense PG in Jrue and Giannis has a DPOY award with one, some say, lucky championshipto show for it? That is as overrated as it comes IMHO.

[90sgoat]

Giannis.

Does more on both sides and is a better leader.

[tontoz]

I think we are splitting hairs here. In the regular season I would take giannis but in the playoffs I might take Durant.

In the playoffs it is tougher to get to the rim. The value of mid-range shots goes up. Durant is elite from mid-range.

[Im Still Ballin]

I have to go with Giannis. That two-way impact.

I think his offense gets underrated too. It has its limitations but so does Durant's. It's the classic battle of offensive archetypes: rim and foul pressure vs. scoring range and diversity. The biggest difference is that I think Giannis takes better advantage of his offensive gravity due to superior playmaking. But KD is naturally more of a clutch threat.

It's like the whole Shaq vs. Kobe thing again. But not perfect because Kobe was a better playmaker than KD.

[Full Court]

This is a tough one. KD never did a carry job like Giannis did when he carried the Bucks to a championship. However, if my team was tied in the last minute of the 4th quarter of game seven of the finals, I'd want Durant to be the one on my team with the ball.

[StrongLurk]

KD

[Wally450]

Peak KD was one of the most unguardable players ever. His defense was underrated as others in this thread have said.

[Axe]

I think we are splitting hairs here. In the regular season I would take giannis but in the playoffs I might take Durant.

In the playoffs it is tougher to get to the rim. The value of mid-range shots goes up. Durant is elite from mid-range.
Yes uncle, in fact durant's eliteness allowed him to win two finals mvps in a row bt.

[FultzNationRISE]

There would be a lot of teams/situations I'd take Durant for if there was a predetermined context for the pick, if I'm choosing from scratch I would take Giannis, mainly because he's hungrier and a better leader. While I think it's lame the league lets him get away with as much as he does, that's not his fault. He still plays as hard as he possibly can with his awkward skill set.

[tontoz]

Yes uncle, in fact durant's eliteness allowed him to win two finals mvps in a row bt.




https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g195/tontoz/(edited)_Screenshot_20220701-162940.png

[Full Court]

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/g195/tontoz/(edited)_Screenshot_20220701-162940.png

And Axe gets bodybagged yet again. :roll:

There's a reason he was voted dumbest poster in the history of ISH.

[kawhileonard2]

Kawhi beat both of them at their peak.

This

[Axe]

Speaking of truly dumb assholes... :confusedshrug:


https://i.ibb.co/1G2zDbp/IMG-20231112-110238.jpg

:oldlol:

[Axe]

You have to wonder how long Full Court can keep getting destroyed before he pressed one of the buttons on his controller.

https://i.ibb.co/GtDGN31/IMG-1954.jpg
X button. :sleeping

[Full Court]

^Bitch fit.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?491674-Dumbest-poster-in-ISH-history

Read it and weep, stinky.

[Axe]

You have to wonder how long Full Court can keep getting destroyed before he pressed one of the buttons on his controller.

https://i.ibb.co/GtDGN31/IMG-1954.jpg
X. X. X. :sleeping

What a mentally ill sore loser.

[Full Court]

X. X. X. :sleeping

What a mentally ill sore loser.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickmeme.com%2Fimg%2F0a%2F0a1 03c9b89f57df984b35543d22857eb647dc9bd8625d664bd702 54fcf48b6a6.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=433d6f47e76bd1833642dfc7f6b7fb597ffa1228f267e6 84bfd1094c4b06070a&ipo=images




:lol

[Axe]

https://loginportal99.funnyjunk.com/pictures/Angry_317754_676158.png

:biggums:
:yaohappy:

[Full Court]

:yaohappy:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP. NkxZfUnARnJgLCzEJV1kTAHaEK%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=b390e372b1e4e95d2421a43a929c8e29da5e6d33bb43cf d2bde998325f8bf388&ipo=images


:yaohappy:

[Axe]

https://i.ibb.co/gDsySW3/IMG-20230603-203842.jpg
Damn, those two really robbing off the no life jizzrag some precious sleep effortlessly at night. :biggums:

[Full Court]

Damn, those two really robbing off the no life jizzrag some precious sleep effortlessly at night. :biggums:

When the odor cloud surrounds

And the stink descends on you

You know that Axe is near

And a bitch fit will ensue



:lebronamazed:

[Full Court]

Peak KD was one of the most unguardable players ever. His defense was underrated as others in this thread have said.

I agree with you, Wally.

[Axe]

Peak KD was one of the most unguardable players ever. His defense was underrated as others in this thread have said.
:cheers: (https://i.ibb.co/JmpGnKz/IMG-20230528-095117.jpg)

[dankok8]

I would lean towards Giannis because of what is a very large defensive edge. KD was a solid defender but the gap on offense is way smaller than that on defense.

[Full Court]

I would lean towards Giannis because of what is a very large defensive edge. KD was a solid defender but the gap on offense is way smaller than that on defense.

I don't disagree, but the thing that makes me lean toward Durant is that Giannis' lack of ability to hit clutch free throws was a huge factor, maybe the main factor, in the Bucks getting eliminated from the playoffs a year or two ago. Durant doesn't have that kind of liability.

[r0drig0lac]

Giannis obv

[Micku]

This is a tough one. KD never did a carry job like Giannis did when he carried the Bucks to a championship. However, if my team was tied in the last minute of the 4th quarter of game seven of the finals, I'd want Durant to be the one on my team with the ball.


KD was a tippy toe behind of knocking out the same Bucks team that won the chip. Who knows what would've happened if KD advance to the next round.

But you're right that since Giannis actually went to the finals and won, then I think I would say Giannis due to his contribution to the team. I think he is more impactful. But it's really close. I can see KD being better too. I think with KD playstyle, it is shows that he could fit in a bunch of systems and make them a championship contender. KD has less weaknesses on offense, but Giannis is a better help defender to compensate for all of that. Since Giannis proved that he could win a chip as the main guy and I think you could make a great roster construction build around him, I suppose I would go for him. I feel like KD is a better scorer, but Giannis is great too. I could be convinced to go to KD, but I do lean towards Giannis. I would say they are around the same tier, just pick what you want on your roster and maximize their strength and weakness.

[Jasper]

Kawhi beat both of them at their peak.

:facepalm

Giannis is just reaching his prime dude

[Jasper]

the other night giannis was 16 for 17 at the free TL

[dankok8]

I don't disagree, but the thing that makes me lean toward Durant is that Giannis' lack of ability to hit clutch free throws was a huge factor, maybe the main factor, in the Bucks getting eliminated from the playoffs a year or two ago. Durant doesn't have that kind of liability.

Being the guy who can make things happen down the stretch is definitely important but I'd still take the guy who's better over 48 minutes.

Besides you can also be clutch on defense. Giannis shutting down an opposing star or impeding their offense in crunch time is also super valuable.

[hold this L]

It's easily KD. Giannis is there for defense and rebounds during the last 5 minutes of the game. Dude got carried by one of the greatest clutch making post season runs in NBA history (literally) by Khris. Giannis sucks any time you need playmaking scoring at the end of games.

[FultzNationRISE]

It's easily KD. Giannis is there for defense and rebounds during the last 5 minutes of the game. Dude got carried by one of the greatest clutch making post season runs in NBA history (literally) by Khris. Giannis sucks any time you need playmaking scoring at the end of games.

This is hyperbole obviously but there is some truth to your basic point. It really depends what you have around them.

Even tho I respect Giannis’ mentality a lot more than soft sensitive KD, I have to admit Durant’s consistent body of work in the playoffs is pretty impressive. I guess I probably should switch my answer to him even tho I dont want to.

[Im Still Ballin]

It's easily KD. Giannis is there for defense and rebounds during the last 5 minutes of the game. Dude got carried by one of the greatest clutch making post season runs in NBA history (literally) by Khris. Giannis sucks any time you need playmaking scoring at the end of games.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPLeWsAQw4

[ArbitraryWater]

This is hyperbole obviously but there is some truth to your basic point. It really depends what you have around them.

Even tho I respect Giannis’ mentality a lot more than soft sensitive KD, I have to admit Durant’s consistent body of work in the playoffs is pretty impressive. I guess I probably should switch my answer to him even tho I dont want to.


Nothing about Durant in the playoffs is consistent except consistently underwhelming

[Axe]

It's easily KD. Giannis is there for defense and rebounds during the last 5 minutes of the game. Dude got carried by one of the greatest clutch making post season runs in NBA history (literally) by Khris. Giannis sucks any time you need playmaking scoring at the end of games.
The only guy to have won two finals mvps with the golden dynasty.

[FultzNationRISE]

Nothing about Durant in the playoffs is consistent except consistently underwhelming

He's had some downs but definitely a lot of ups. More than Gian Gian.

Durant was the best player on the Nets during their playoff stints, best player on the Warriors for their run, and best player on the Thunder during their playoff runs. I dont think it's coincidence he made a couple conference finals with the Thunder, won 2 FMVP with the Warriors, and was a toe away from knocking off the eventual champ Bucks with the Nets. Everywhere he's played he's been a huge weapon.

I'm not saying he's the best playoff performer ever. There are times he gets rattled or thrown off his game, and he doesnt really give you a lot of in terms of energy and leadership. But his overall body of work compared to Giannis is greater. In my opinion.

[hold this L]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPLeWsAQw4

Yeah, lets use a one game sample over his entire playoff career. Great logic :applause:

[hold this L]

He's had some downs but definitely a lot of ups. More than Gian Gian.

Durant was the best player on the Nets during their playoff stints, best player on the Warriors for their run, and best player on the Thunder during their playoff runs. I dont think it's coincidence he made a couple conference finals with the Thunder, won 2 FMVP with the Warriors, and was a toe away from knocking off the eventual champ Bucks with the Nets. Everywhere he's played he's been a huge weapon.

I'm not saying he's the best playoff performer ever. There are times he gets rattled or thrown off his game, and he doesnt really give you a lot of in terms of energy and leadership. But his overall body of work compared to Giannis is greater. In my opinion.

He was not the best player for the Warriors whatsoever.