By David Shepard, OTSL Special Contributor
There has been a consensus that Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward in the history of basketball. However, after watching the rejuvenation of Kevin Garnett in his 17th season, I have to reconsider this premise.....One can argue that Garnett with his recent performances may move Duncan aside from the title of greatest power forward of all time, here are the facts.
Spin 1: Garnett has been much better in the conference finals in 2012
Duncan is averaging six less points per game in the Thunder series compared to the previous series against the Clippers. He also picked the conference finals to shoot his worse field goal percentage in the playoffs. He has not had a single 20-point, 10-rebound game in the conference finals.
Garnett on the other hand has had three games in the conference finals where he has gone for at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. In one game Duncan finished witha total of two rebounds. Garnett's low in the conference finals is 8. The other big thing to keep in mind. Garnett's team is on the verge of going to the NBA finals, while Duncan's Spurs are on the brink of elimination.
Garnett Is Superior
2012 Conference Finals
Garnett Duncan
PPG 21.6 15.4
RPG 10.8 9.0
FG pct 48.9 42.6
Spin 2: Duncan has always had a lot more help
Keep in mind that for Tim Duncan's first 6 years in the league he played a long side first ballot of famer David Robinson. In the last 10 seasons he has played with Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. They have a combined six all-star appearances. In Garnett's 12 years in Minnesota he never played with a single player that had multiple all-star appearances while playing with Garnett.
In all fairness to Duncan, Garnett has had the luxury of playing with future hall of famers Ray Allen and Paul Pierce for the last five seasons. He has only been healthy/active for four of those campaigns. He is on the verge of making it three finals appearances in the last 4 healthy seasons for him. Duncan has been healthy/active for 14 seasons, and has always had the benefit of playing with players who had multiple all-star appearances. He has made four finals appearances in 14 seasons to a potential three in four years for Garnett. Again if you look at some career numbers with less help, Garnett's seem to be favorable.
Despite Less Help
Garnett vs Duncan
Garnett Duncan
All-Star Appearances 14 13
NBA Defensive First Teams 9 8
Rebounding Titles 4 0
Spin 3: Garnett hasn't just been better in the conference finals, but in the playoffs as a whole in 2012
Garnett has nine games in which he has gone for 20 points and 10 rebounds in the playoffs thus far. Tim Duncan has just one. Garnett has not shot lower than 48.9% from the field in any series. Duncan has shot under 47.0% in two different playoff series.
In being a power forward, rebounding is such a key component. Duncan has finished with double figures in rebounds on 7 different occasions. Garnett has doubled that number so far with 14.
Playoffs Belong To Garnett
2012 Postseason
PPG 19.9 16.8
RPG 10.8 9.0
FG pct 50.0 49.7
Spin 4: Career Wise Garnett stacks up with Duncan despite coming straight from high school
Keep in mind that Duncan had the advantage of playing four years at college, Kevin Garnett entered the NBA straight out of high school. As a result it took Garnett longer to get acclimated to the NBA. Having said that, both players numbers are pretty similar when you look at their overall career numbers. While Duncan has scored and rebounded with a little more efficiency, Garnett has truly separated himself as a distributor of the basketball.
Mirror Images
NBA Careers
Garnett Duncan
PPG 19.3 20.3
RPG 10.6 11.3
APG 4.0 3.1
While this is the year that the San Antonio Spurs finally became Tony Parker's team and the Boston Celtics are well on their way to becoming Rajon Rondo's team, the linchpins of both teams are still their respective big men. And with both closer to the end of their Hall of Fame careers than the beginning, we should enjoy both Duncan and Garnett while we still can.
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