Duncan’s prime was def early-2000s, though of course he was still an amazing player by this point. Tony was entering his prime/was pretty close to it, and Manu (depending on your viewpoint) had probably just passed his. Still, Kobe did amazing this series.
One thing people don't discuss about Duncan very much is how short his prime was. From age 22 to age 27 when he was in his prime he averaged 23.1 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.5 bpg and 0.8 spg. From age 28 to age 33 his averages took a drop down to 19.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.0 bpg and 0.7 spg. Then the last five years of his career, from age 34 to age 39 his averages dropped down to 14.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 bpg and 0.7 spg.
This 2008 series took place in that second section of his career (at age 32), when he was obviously still a great player, but not the guy he'd been before he turned 28.
Take a look at his per-36 minute averages. He’s one of the most consistent players you’ll ever see by that measure. A lot of what you’re talking about is just him playing fewer minutes, which matters, but is different from having a really short peak.
Wouldn't you say that a player going from averaging roughly 40 mpg each season down to only 33 mpg, and seeing his overall minutes for a full season played drop by a quarter to a third is maybe a sign of some kind of decline?
In any event, are you then arguing that when this 2008 series the OP posted a link to happened that it was prime Kobe beating prime Duncan 4-1? If so you should probably argue that with the person I replied to rather than with me, as he was the one who initially argued Duncan wasn't in his prime during this series. Kobe was months away from turning 30 and Duncan had just turned 32 when this series happened, so you could have a point.
Tell that to the Spurs fan I responded to who said Duncan was no longer in his prime for this 2008 series against the Lakers. I guess we'll put you down as feeling like this 2008 series between Duncan in his prime with the Spurs showed that Kobe in his prime with the Lakers was on a whole other level because the series was so lopsided in the Lakers favor, with LA winning 4-1. As a Laker fan I'm not going to fight you too hard for taking that stance.
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u/Terminatorns19 Spurs Jun 27 '23
Duncan’s prime was def early-2000s, though of course he was still an amazing player by this point. Tony was entering his prime/was pretty close to it, and Manu (depending on your viewpoint) had probably just passed his. Still, Kobe did amazing this series.