Really, I'd compare Dirk's series against the Thunder more to Hakeem Olajuwon destroying David Robinson in the 1995 WCF. The Dreamshake was an unstoppable move. Baseline fadeaway after baseline fadeaway. Completely unstoppable on offense. And they were seven footers. Larry was 6'9".
Oh wait... the other night, Dirk joined Hakeem on the list of players who have had two 40+ points, 60% FGs games in a playoff series. Where is BIRD on that list? They're exactly alike!
Dirk's 29 ppg these playoffs is actually more than Bird ever scored as an average in the playoffs (27.5 in 83-84). Dirk's PER of 27.3 is also better than anything Bird ever put up in the playoffs (26.3 in 83-84). My mistake. Dirk is having a better individual (and team in terms of W/L) playoff than Bird ever dreamed of having. Plus, Dirk has put up 4 playoff PERs in single seasons higher than Bird's max in 83-84. My bad. Dirk is a better playoff player than Bird. They are similar statistically in the regular season, but Dirk is much better in terms of playoff production.
Calm down. I already said you won. Clearly Dirk is better than Bird in terms of playoff production. My comparison was off.
Dirk's been awesome, no doubt. My favorite player in the playoffs. Dallas has completely won me over. But it's not about who's better. They are DIFFERENT players with DIFFERENT games. Bird has more triple doubles (3rd All Time in playoffs) and three championships. Dirk's game 1 against the Thunder was a top 20 individual playoff performance of all time. Just amazing. And he's one of like 5 or 6 guys to have two 40 point 60% games in one series.
Depends on how you measure playoff production. Bird had 10 triple doubles, third all time. And he produced more championships,
I could be wrong but I don't think Bird DREAMED of great PERs in the playoffs. He dreamed of championships and won 3.
You know what's more hilarious? Rudy has been the best defender against Barea to date. Aldridge has been the best defender against Nowitzki to date.
Bird played with great players. Dirk has played largely with role players. I don't think Dirk has DREAMED of having to be a better playoff player than Bird. It just worked out that way. Dirk >>> Bird individually as a playoff performer. Check. Mate. I want the trophy that hasn't been sent back.
Both of these teams are playing such stupid defense. OKC can't stop the Barea + anyone P&R. DAL is making Harden look like an all star. Freakin hell, dude goes left EVERY TIME. Miami is going to absolutely shred either of these teams on both ends of the floor.
Not really. Just force Harden to go right, and keep a shot blocker to guard the rim. That will solve pretty much every problem that Dallas is having right now. JVG already identified how to stop the Barea P&R.
So when OKC puts Durant on the opposite side, that shot blocked slides over to help, then Durants defender has to give up a dunk to Collison or a wide open shot for Durant.
It baffles me why posters continue to be amazed that defending a pick and roll against two good players, or defending an ISO against a great offensive player who can pass and score, can be among the most difficult plays to defend in the NBA. At this point, if I read a poster say Nate (or any coach) is a bad coach because he can't stop a good pick and roll, or is a bad coach for running an ISO with a healthy Roy, I tend to dismiss that poster as not being a serious basketball analyst.
