i can help out here ..when i took my new 454-r intake to my Port guy late last year,i ask the same thing you just did and he ( port man) did a comparable show and tell with me with each intake side by side looking down into the plentum..the team "g' did not have the direct alignment with the 1st two runners going into the head on both sides of intake..this was the biggest thing..which is huge itself..
My port guy said a team "G" can be made to work just as good as a 454-r but with a lot more work,(shortening front runners etc..and besides its metal you can make it what you want it to be..but the point becomes mute when you have $500/600 extra in making a team "g " work)...but he did confirm that the 454-r intake was a much better performing base line intake then the team "g".
i am a visual kind of guy..telling me something is one thing but showing me is worth a million words..and the difference i saw when comparing those intake runner alignments was NIGHT and Day..
i hope this answers some of your questions.
Brian
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Bjuice..
"I'M YOUR HUCKLEBERRY ! "