[TVI]

Interesting question...

There's no doubt that Dirk can score with the best of them. And though it's important, offensive firepower is not the complete game. He can handle the ball extremely well for a 7' player. It'd be nice to see him develop the all-court sense and passing ability like Bird had. Man, that would really be something!

But I tend to agree with 4cwebb. Until Dirk can consistently make opposing players take bad shots or force them into making bad passes (or even pass up shots), and then come up with that key block or steal with the game on the line, you just can't put him up against KG or TD. Until he takes his game to that next level, he'll probably never be seriously considered among the best in the league. In fact, Duncan's inexplicable mediocrity at the foul line (59% so far this year -- it costs him 2 points a game) is the only thing that keeps he and Garnett neck and neck. If Duncan were a 75% FT shooter, I believe Garnett would still be looking for his first MVP.