Who's the best player on the Spurs, Duncan or Parker?

[Longhornfan1234]

It's a very tough one for me.


Thoughts?

[b@llhog24]

It really isn't, it's Timmy D.

[Longhornfan1234]

It really isn't, it's Timmy D.

Parker is the closer. I've heard Pop say it's Parker's team.

[seikou8]

its duncan

[kdspurman]

The Spurs can win more games with Parker out than with Tim out. He means too much on both ends of the floor.

[Mr.Nate30]

The Spurs can win more games with Parker out than with Tim out. He means too much on both ends of the floor.

this

[Chronz]

The Spurs can win more games with Parker out than with Tim out. He means too much on both ends of the floor.

Maybe this year but what about the last few years?

[Giraffes Rule]

Maybe this year but what about the last few years?

Duncan's defense sets him above Parker. Parker is no doubt the main focus of the offense, but Duncan can be on any given night as well and consistently plays great defense.

[Chronz]

Duncan's defense sets him above Parker. Parker is no doubt the main focus of the offense, but Duncan can be on any given night as well and consistently plays great defense.

Yea but Parker was an MVP candidate and the team did fairly well with Duncan not getting much run

[kdspurman]

Yea but Parker was an MVP candidate and the team did fairly well with Duncan not getting much run

Numbers show how much the defense relies on Duncan. Even last year, with TP as an MVP candidate, that's simply cause his numbers were better than Duncan.

But in terms of importance to the team, it has to be Duncan. That's not taking anything away from Parker, he's been great, hitting clutch shots and getting his teammates open, but if you take out Duncan, this team will get lit up on a nightly basis.

[JasonJohnHorn]

Yea but Parker was an MVP candidate and the team did fairly well with Duncan not getting much run

Being an MVP candidate is a lot about perception and not always about who the better player is. I honeslty believe that had Parker gone down with an injury last season and George Hill played in his place, the team would have still been able to win 50 games. If Duncan had likewise gone down with an injury, the team would not have been able to compensate and there is no way they would have hit 50 wins.

And Nash has proved that you can win MVP and not be the best player on the team. Many people would argue that Amar'e was the best player on that Phoenix team, but at the same time that Nash was more valuable.


That, and people's perception about what is valuable are not always right. As an example, John Stockton never finished higher than Karl Malone in the MVP voting, but I think most people will agree that he was just as important to Utah's success as Malone. Why then has Stockton never won an MVP award? That said, I think Duncan is, and has been, the MVP of the Spurs since he was a rookie.

[NYSPORTSALLDAY]

Duncan.

[Gibby]

over a whole season parker is more valuable.

[b@llhog24]

over a whole season parker is more valuable.

Possibly.

[DreamShaker]

Parker is closer to his prime, and is more durable. Duncan still has enough left in the tank, though, to be the better player most nights.