In regards to Ewing comment he was the number one option in Riley's offense. Also Riley would run the same sets over and over until a team could stop them. Ewing was also the number one pick overall and went to a very bad NY nix team where he had no choice to be the number one option. If Brook was in the same situtation he'd score the same amount. As Ewing got older his game went to more jump shooting as his knees got worse. Do you really think Tim Duncan is a banger? Look at when he looses or has bad games. Players like Shap man handled him, even Mutombo ruffed him up when the nets played in the finals with him. Tim is a great player no doubt but does havce flaws. Foul shooting which brook is better right now than he, and he is a bit soft inside. He does not like a whole lot of contact underneath. Tim Duncan also played along side of Robinson his first few years which took alot of pressure off of him. If Tim had to go it alone his scoring wouldn't have been so great.
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT? Mutombo ruffed him up??? If he had to go at it alone?? Duncan soft inside????? Deke ruffed him up he averaged 24 and 15 and 3 blks. Kevin Garnett admitted the only player that gives him problems in the paint is Duncan. If Tim had to do it by himself?? How many rings did The Admiral bring to the Spurs??? You guys killing me with this Brook is okay but please he ain't nothing compared to Duncan.
Duncans age entering the NBA = 23 Lopezs age entering the NBA = 20 Still three years to put up 20 and 10.
Let’s also factor in how much more physical and competitive the game was compared to today. We already acknowledged the dearth in quality NBA centers and that no doubt has a favorable impact on Lopez’s stats in comparison to Ewing. In his rookie year, Ewing went up against the likes of Olajuwon, Kareem, Moses Malone, Kevin McHale, and several more I’m missing. Those are just the Hall of Fame players. He also went against players like 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, Mark Eaton, the second best shot blocker in NBA history. There’s a reason why Patrick Ewing was the undisputed #1 pick and Brook Lopez fell to #9. Granted, Lopez does seem like a steal. Nevertheless, if the draft were to be done over, Lopez would not be going any higher than #4, probably #5, actually. The fact that the Knicks were a bad team doesn’t really detract from Ewing’s case either. There have been several top picks who still weren’t good enough to be their team’s primary option their first year: Greg Oden, Dwight Howard, Andrew Bogut, Kenyon Martin, Yao Ming, and a handful of busts I need not mention (Kwame Brown, Kandi Man). Even though the Knicks were bad at the time, it doesn’t change the fact that Ewing was still producing (20/9 his rookie year) against the NBA’s best big men. If Brook was as talented or nearly as capable as Ewing, or Duncan for that matter, no doubt Frank would vastly expand his role as he would make everyone around him better. Now let’s analyze Brook’s stats: he’s averaging 10.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 2 blocks in 28 minutes per game. His best game was 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks against a miniature Heat frontline. Realize that those stats are only slightly better than what Ewing and Duncan both averaged as rookies against better competition. Brook has been solid and I expect Net fans to be excited about his future, but by comparing him to Ewing and Duncan you are overrating him by epic proportions. Back in 1998, David Robinson missed the season and the Spurs lucked out because they were a playoff team with the first pick in the draft. And as a rookie Duncan was immediately the best player on a playoff team. Moreover, he was the Finals MVP as a rookie. Do you realize the company which you have placed Lopez in? If Brook can reciprocate Ewing or Duncan's stats as a rookie against NBA greats like Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq with the Lakers, and the others I mentioned then you are basically labeling him a Hall of Famer. So I ask you again, do you honestly think Lopez has Hall of Fame potential? No, Duncan isn’t a banger, but that doesn’t make him soft at all. “Banging” is a type of playing style and Duncan with his body type and skills wouldn’t be as effective banging. He is a finesse power forward and is extremely effective at what he does. Why should he change the same playing style which made him a 2-time MVP, perennial all-star, 4-time NBA champion, and arguably the best power forward in the history of basketball? By just naming those accolades hopefully you see how lofty an expectation Tim Duncan truly is. I also don’t know how Mutombo ruffed him up, but here are his stats in the series: Game 1: 32 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists, 7 blocks Game 2: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks Game 3: 21 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks Game 4: 23 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 7 blocks Game 5: 29 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks Game 6: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 8 blocks I guess you were referring to Game 2 when he was “ruffed up” and managed to score 19 points, grab 12 rebounds, and block 3 shots. By bringing up this series you’re not helping Brook’s case at all. If Game 2 was a bad game for Duncan, then you see what Brook needs to surpass to be better than Duncan. Sure, Duncan had help, just like every other great in this league. But that still doesn’t change the fact he is the best power forward of all time and it doesn’t make it anymore easy for Brook to be better than Duncan.
It looks like the Nets got an absolute steal in landing this guy and all I see is a Knicks fan, and a Hawks fan arguing over whether or not Brook Lopez is Tim Duncan. Kind of ruins the joyous mood Nets fans should be in.
Don't forget Lopez was a soph in college while Ewing had the full 4 years of college. 2 years is alot of time to develop. Would Ewing put up his numbers if he came out in his soph year? So its not totally apples to oranges here. In fact, if Brook has 2 years of nba life behind him will his 3rd year which was Ewings first year age wise be better than Ewings? Consider that.
Agreed 100000000000000000000%. Lopez possiblities are endless to say the least. He just has to continue to improve and we'll see how his game evolves. And it is WAY too early to compare him to Timmy, Timmy is the greatest PF of all time and Lopez doesn't even have 30 games under his belt in the NBA. Also I highly doubt anyone could replicate Duncan's success in the NBA for a long long time(Putting up all those stats for all those years and as many championships as he has.) Let's enjoy how he progresses and not make crazy comparisons just yet.
