[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

This isn’t a ‘who would win in a game of two on two’ thread. I’m just wondering if anyone else sees the similarities between the two partnerships, and thinks history might repeat itself a little bit.

Nash and Dirk were the ultimate offensive duo in the early part of the millennium. However, their teams had a fatal flaw – they couldn’t play defence. That means that three years on the bounce (02-04), they got eliminated from the playoffs against great offensive teams (one year due to a dirk injury, it must be noted). Despite the great chemistry and friendship between the two players, they simply couldn’t get over the hump together.

So what happened? Nash left town and got control of his own team. His impact was undeniable, winning two MVPs and almost getting to a Finals. But the move ultimately benefitted Dirk too. With a team built solely around his offensive capabilities, with loads of three point shooting and great defenders across the team, especially Shawn Marion and Tyson Chandler, he finally got to the promised land, getting to his first Finals in 2006 and finally winning the Championship 5 years later.

Flash forward to 2016. KD and Westbrook are the ultimate duo in the NBA, both talked about individually as potential MVP candidates in different seasons. However, their teams have a fatal flaw – they revert to stagnant isolation offence down the stretch. That meant that three years on the bounce (12-14) they got eliminated from the playoffs against great defensive teams, running into the peak Lebron Heat team, the peak Memphis ‘grit and grind’ team, and the retooled Spurs (one year due to a Westbrook injury, it must be noted.) Despite the great chemistry and friendship between the two players, they simply couldn’t get over the hump together…and with the Warrors and Spurs standing in their way, that doesn’t look like changing. So looking at the lessons from history, splitting the two up might not be the worst idea. Given the chance to run their own teams – not just temporarily, but teams built around their own strengths and weaknesses – both players could thrive. I could see Westbrook in a super up tempo team that was aggressive defensively, like Lebrons Heat teams. Meanwhile, Durant would thrive as the focal point of a team, surrounded by secondary scorers and great defenders and shooters, just like Dirks two Finals teams. Does anyone else see the similarities…?

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Nash was good in Dallas but he didn’t really become Steve Nash as we know him until he went back to Phoenix and they centered their offense around his playmaking ability. Dallas didn’t resign Nash in 2004 because he was 30 with a history of back problems and they were concerned he would break down. The suns medical staff worked wonders with him. It wasn’t really a case of 2 superstars on the same team struggling to co-exist because Dirk was always the main guy in Dallas and nash (although a very good player) wasn’t really a superstar there. That’s why it’s hard to see a parallel with the Westbrook-durant situation.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 Nash was good in Dallas but he didn’t really become Steve Nash as we know him until he went back to Phoenix and they centered their offense around his playmaking ability. Dallas didn’t resign Nash in 2004 because he was 30 with a history of back problems and they were concerned he would break down. The suns medical staff worked wonders with him. It wasn’t really a case of 2 superstars on the same team struggling to co-exist because Dirk was always the main guy in Dallas and nash (although a very good player) wasn’t really a superstar there. That’s why it’s hard to see a parallel with the Westbrook-durant situation.

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 It’s not a perfect comparison for exactly that reason – but they still couldn’t get to the next level together. Westbrook and Durant had a very similar relationship a few years ago, before KDs injury allowed Westbrook to transcend into a proper superstar…whilst there were more external factors involved in the Dallas decision, they did make a conscious choice to give up what they had and rebuild around dirk. The thunder face a very similar dilemma…!

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

 It’s not a perfect comparison for exactly that reason – but they still couldn’t get to the next level together. Westbrook and Durant had a very similar relationship a few years ago, before KDs injury allowed Westbrook to transcend into a proper superstar…whilst there were more external factors involved in the Dallas decision, they did make a conscious choice to give up what they had and rebuild around dirk. The thunder face a very similar dilemma…!

[celticsthug]

stockon and Malone better than both

[celticsthug]

stockon and Malone better than both

[morestealsthanscoresParticipant]

This was a great take 

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