VS.
DURANT'S REP:"Kevin Durant is part of the current wave of 'one and done' college players after the league abolished the 'straight out of high school' players in 2005. He’s averaged over 20 pts since his induction, while Wade only averaged 16.2 pts in his first year (despite being two years older). KD won back to back scoring titles in his third and fourth season and looks promising to win another title once the season resumes. He would be in a class only Michael Jordan accomplished since 1980 in pulling the possible hat trick of scoring. Durant was what Wade was like before the arrival of the other two amigos, with his ability to rebound, assist, steal and block shots. He also has an uncanny ability to get to the free throw and knock down the 3."
Who would you rather have this season: Kevin Durant or Dwyane Wade?
DURANT'S REP:
WADE'S REP:
"You are right. KD averaged over 20.3 pts and Wade 16.2 points in their first season. But let’s look at their third season - Wade was champion in 2006. Has Durant won an NBA Championship? What is the biggest success he’s achieved in the NBA? I agree that Durant is really talented and going to be a champion, but today it is wrong to compare him to Wade; we can make that comparison when he’s got an NBA championship and a Finals MVP award. Now, let’s check out some statistics. Although Wade shares the ball with two other superstar players, he averaged 25.5 points per game last year. He also averaged 37 minutes per a game, 4.6 assists and 1.46 steals. He played great last year and the Heat were the runners-up. If the Heat had taken down the Mavs in the Finals, Wade would’ve been the MVP. Full stop."
DURANT'S REP:
WADE'S REP:
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DURANT'S REP:
"Didn’t Dwyane Wade lose to the same team he previously defeated in the 2006 NBA Finals last year? He even had LeBron James and Chris Bosh and weren’t they supposed to be the new coming of the “Dream Team?” The only similarity is that Wade didn’t do it alone in that he had Shaq Prime before he became the following: The Big Cactus, Shamrock and 401k. Shaq averaged 20.0 pts, 9.2 reb, and 1.76 blks in the ’05-’06 season. He even stepped it up in the ‘06 Playoffs; he was top five in FGs, FG%, FTA and total PTS. Who does Durant have besides Russell Westbrook? Kendrick Perkins? Nazr Mohammed? Take that Shaq, at age 33 and voilà, the Thunder’s problems at center and scoring are gone, allowing them to advance against the Mavericks and give Durant a ring."
WADE'S REP:
"Yes, Wade lost at last year’s Finals but isn’t it still an honor to be a finalist? Is it fair to say Wade was unsuccessful last year? No it isn’t. In 2006, Shaq was really good while Wade was doing a fabulous job in the Playoffs with an average of over 28 points per game. It cannot be said that they won the title together; Wade carried his team to the Finals indeed. He also took home the Finals MVP award. Why do you criticize Wade and not talk about Durant a lot? Do not carp about Durant’s teammates, especially Russell Westbrook; he’s an up-and-coming point guard in this league. You can’t say ‘give me Shaq over those players.’ We are here talking about Wade and Durant not Kendrick Perkins and Shaq. I think it’s obviously done. Wade gets this argument."
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It's pretty ridiculous to think how incredible of a scorer Durant is at such a young age. The question I always like to ask is what will be Durant's highest points per game average for a season during his career? Do you think he will beat out Kobe's 35.4 ppg average of 05-06? How about MJ's 37.1 ppg average of 86-87?
ReplyDeleteHe's a mesmerizing scorer...seriously, I could watch him shoot for hours. BUT, he's a terrible defensive player and pretty much his only contribution is through scoring points. Granted, that's a pretty damn big contribution, but for a guy who some consider the best player in the league, I'd like to see a more well rounded game. There's no way he should average less than 9-10 rebounds per game, especially with the lack of elite rebounders on the Thunder.
ReplyDeleteI agree Richard, certainly Durant is not nearly the well-rounded player that Wade is. One of Durant's unfortunate downfalls in my opinion is that he's not as basketball smart as guys like Wade, James, Paul, or Bryant. And while some of that will certainly come with experience, I'm not sure he'll ever be capable of reaching that level of basketball IQ as those players I just mentioned. But maybe I'm alone in that camp - what do you guys think?
ReplyDeleteHe'll never be a passer the likes of LeBron, Wade, or (obviously) Paul, but what concerns me is his lack of rebounding prowess. He needs to find other ways to contribute to winning besides scoring droves of points, just like the other greats did: Jordan, Bryant, Bird, etc.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Durant will ever be as basketball smart as the guys you mentioned, Phil, but I do think he has great instincts of where to go to find/make an opening. My concern, like Richard's, is his lack of rebounding and overall defensive intensity. A player can work hard and learn to be a good defender: I think he just hasn't cared enough to put the work into this aspect of the game: he has been infatuated with shooting! He loves to shoot and we all love to watch him shoot. To be one of the all-time great players, however, he needs to develop the defensive half of his game--and make use of his hops and wingspan to rebound--on O. and D!
ReplyDelete