Obviously an idiot like me has no clue about anything bball related, but we can always go to 3:30 of this video and get a nugget from Pat Riley on that generation of players vs now. Maybe he is an idiot too? After all he never won a ring unless he had 2 of Wade/LeBron/Shaq/Magic/Kareem at the same time.
AD is better. I mean in a game where both had = teammates, he would just have too many physical advantages.
Even if you wanted to play the resume card and say he is unproven, only 21, injury prone etc
If you went to like Kevin Durant vs Bird...The people who would take Bird over AD would likely take him over Durant as well.
Even if you wanted to play the resume card and say he is unproven, only 21, injury prone etc
If you went to like Kevin Durant vs Bird...The people who would take Bird over AD would likely take him over Durant as well.
Right now? I mean LeBron pretty easily, ditto for Durant when he gets back. I think if AD stays healthy he'll be 1 of the best ever but you never know what can happen. Few bad dirty bulks and all of a sudden you are Shawn Kemp.
Even saying AD is better than Bird is moreso just based on advancements in the game/athletics. I do think AD is better but obviously I chose that specific example because it would be the most glaring one to make my point.
Even saying AD is better than Bird is moreso just based on advancements in the game/athletics. I do think AD is better but obviously I chose that specific example because it would be the most glaring one to make my point.
What do you guys think is the more competitive game with better defense, transition defense and which 1 is pretty much free flowing?
Which do you think is more of a showcase of athleticism, agility, speed? I'm gonna go with the 1 that doesn't feature Scott Wedman.
What is the better display of basketball skill?
I mean you need to suspend A LOT of disbelief to choose the one from 1984 but to each his own I suppose.
Small sample but you get the idea
Which do you think is more of a showcase of athleticism, agility, speed? I'm gonna go with the 1 that doesn't feature Scott Wedman.
What is the better display of basketball skill?
I mean you need to suspend A LOT of disbelief to choose the one from 1984 but to each his own I suppose.
Small sample but you get the idea
PatsFan, You're a smart guy, and I usually agree with most of what you post, but I just don't buy what you are pushing here.
If you're going to say that the game has changed sooo much since Bird's era, that the players are sooo much faster, athletic, agile... so much
that you'd take Anthony Davis over the best player in the game at that time - well then Michael Jordan played in that exact same
era (he started only 5 years after Bird). So, you might as well pick a bunch of players from today that you'd pick over Jordan too.
Might as well pick some unproven 3rd year player that hasn't done anything, like Anthony Davis, right? I mean, since today's players
eat so much better, and train so much better, they're sooo much more athletic, faster and more agile - shit there must be at least
10-15 players you could pick that are better than Jordan, because Jordan didn't have the nutrition and training expertise that today's
NBA players have, right?
I don't buy it for a second. And, I haven't seen any reputable sports-writer voice that same opinion either.
If you're going to say that the game has changed sooo much since Bird's era, that the players are sooo much faster, athletic, agile... so much
that you'd take Anthony Davis over the best player in the game at that time - well then Michael Jordan played in that exact same
era (he started only 5 years after Bird). So, you might as well pick a bunch of players from today that you'd pick over Jordan too.
Might as well pick some unproven 3rd year player that hasn't done anything, like Anthony Davis, right? I mean, since today's players
eat so much better, and train so much better, they're sooo much more athletic, faster and more agile - shit there must be at least
10-15 players you could pick that are better than Jordan, because Jordan didn't have the nutrition and training expertise that today's
NBA players have, right?
I don't buy it for a second. And, I haven't seen any reputable sports-writer voice that same opinion either.
[ Magic Johnson discusses how he would do in today's game, and salivates at the chance, and says Bird would dominate too. ]
<header class="entry-header" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;">[h=1]Magic Johnson discusses how he would do if he played in today’s NBA[/h]Posted on May 6, 2014 by Chris Trevino
</header>
Lakers legend Magic Johnson spoke at Cal State Long Beach’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center on a range of topics including; his childhood, basketball career, business acumen and even touched on Clippers ownership. At the beginning of the speech, Magic spanned the stage so that people could take “selfies” with him.
Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze
Magic Johnson got riled up by one student asking a question during his talk at Long Beach State University Monday evening. How does he think he would do if he played in the NBA today?
“If I played in this era, it would be over,” said Johnson. “See right now, there is no hand check. Back in my day, you could hand check. You could hard foul. They got private planes now. We had to take commercial and we were still winning 62 games. And all they do is shoot jumpers today too.”
“Don’t get me started, I’m sweating like I’m getting ready to play.”
While Johnson said he would thrive in today’s scoring friendly game, he offered up a couple players that could play in his NBA era. Those names included Lakers star Kobe Bryant and the Heat’s LeBron James.
“Could you imagine Michael Jordan with no hand checking? Larry Bird?” said Johnson.
At that point, Johnson went back on stage to demonstrate his rivalry with Bird and Jordan and their notorious trash talking. He showed the crowd how Bird would call his shots and ask why Johnson was bothering trying to stop his shot, moments before sinking the attempt. Or the time the Celtic great asked his peers during a three-point shooting contest who was coming in second because he was taking first.
“Larry Bird was unbelievable, up here with this,” said Johnson, pointing to his head. “That’s why Kobe is so dominate. He’s got game but his basketball IQ is off the charts.”
http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2...ing_wp_cron=1416716471.1390540599822998046875
<header class="entry-header" style="color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;">[h=1]Magic Johnson discusses how he would do if he played in today’s NBA[/h]Posted on May 6, 2014 by Chris Trevino
</header>
Lakers legend Magic Johnson spoke at Cal State Long Beach’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center on a range of topics including; his childhood, basketball career, business acumen and even touched on Clippers ownership. At the beginning of the speech, Magic spanned the stage so that people could take “selfies” with him.Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze
Magic Johnson got riled up by one student asking a question during his talk at Long Beach State University Monday evening. How does he think he would do if he played in the NBA today?
“If I played in this era, it would be over,” said Johnson. “See right now, there is no hand check. Back in my day, you could hand check. You could hard foul. They got private planes now. We had to take commercial and we were still winning 62 games. And all they do is shoot jumpers today too.”
“Don’t get me started, I’m sweating like I’m getting ready to play.”
While Johnson said he would thrive in today’s scoring friendly game, he offered up a couple players that could play in his NBA era. Those names included Lakers star Kobe Bryant and the Heat’s LeBron James.
“Could you imagine Michael Jordan with no hand checking? Larry Bird?” said Johnson.
At that point, Johnson went back on stage to demonstrate his rivalry with Bird and Jordan and their notorious trash talking. He showed the crowd how Bird would call his shots and ask why Johnson was bothering trying to stop his shot, moments before sinking the attempt. Or the time the Celtic great asked his peers during a three-point shooting contest who was coming in second because he was taking first.
“Larry Bird was unbelievable, up here with this,” said Johnson, pointing to his head. “That’s why Kobe is so dominate. He’s got game but his basketball IQ is off the charts.”
http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2...ing_wp_cron=1416716471.1390540599822998046875
Patsfan your 2 posts with videos make too much sense. FZ isn't capable of watching 2 videos objectively and coming up with an honest answer. His answer is already programmed in his brain and doesn't have a reset button. Most time he can't even string 4 sentences together and that's why you see him copy and paste so much.
Larry Bird averages against some *very athletic* defenders:
Larry Bird averages vs Scottie Pippen: 25.9 PPG 8.3 RPG 6.1 APG 50.3 FG% 1.0 SPG 0.6 BPG 45.0 3PT% 87.0 FT% 3.4 TPG 39.4 MPG.
Yes, Bird averaged about 8 more minutes per game than Pippen but when the two of them play equal minutes Bird torches Pippen EVEN MORE. Let us also keep in mind that Bird was past his prime when the majority of these 14 games took place. Oh and don't forget the fact that Pippen had a 48 inch vertical and that he's known as one of the greatest perimeter defenders of all-time.
Larry Bird averages vs Julius Erving: 23.8 PPG
Those are the only stats we really know but doesn't that tell you enough? When the all-around stats started being recorded you could see Bird had a big lead on J in those categories. The Doctor is one of the most athletic players in the history of the game. The man's dazzling aerial assaults on the rim back me up on that. An un athletic Bird averaged 24 points a game on J over 44 games.
Larry Bird averages vs Michael Cooper: 21.9 PPG on 20 regular season games, 25.3 PPG on 19 playoff games.
Again this is all we know but it really tells you enough. Michael Cooper dedicated his life to playing defense on Bird. When he was on vacation with his wife they'd lay in bed and he'd watch film of Larry Bird. If you take into account the all-around stats from the later box scores it only helps Bird's case that much more more. Cooper is an amazing defender and he was a very good athlete.
Larry Bird averages vs Dominique Wilkins: 25.0 PPG in 42 regular season games 25.9 PPG in 15 playoff games.
Out of those 57 total games Bird dropped 30 or more points on him 14 times, including his career high of 60 points and including a 50 point game. Yes I know, we only have the PPG but Bird was a monster when it came to all-around statistics and if those were recorded he'd be torching Wilkins even more just like the other guys. And yes I know that Wilkins wasn't the greatest defender in town but he was a monster athletically. Bird dropped 30 or more in 24.5% of all of their games against each other.
http://hoops-nation.com/community/topic/81195-larry-bird-would-dominate-todays-era/
Larry Bird averages vs Sidney Moncrief: 21.7 PPG in 45 regular season games 26.5 PPG in 18 playoff games.
Yes I know Bird has 5 inches on Moncrief but Sidney was a 2 time DPOTY and he would guard Bird a lot. Bird dropped 30 or more points on Moncrief 10 times. So in 15.8% of all their games against each other Bird scored at least 30 points on him. Then take into account some of the all-around domination Bird put on Moncrief and there you go.
Larry Bird averages vs Charles Barkley: 23.8 PPG in 30 regular season games 20.8 PPG in 5 playoff games.
Barkley would guard Bird more than you think, I'll tell you that straight up. He'd get thrown at Bird a lot when Bird would go down low because Barkley was strong as a bull. In 7 of their 35 games against each other Bird scored 30 or more points and lots of these 35 games was when Bird was out of his prime. So in 20.0% of all their games Bird scored 30 or more on Barkley.
So Bird really torched 6 very good athletes AND most of them were very good defenders. If Bird could drop 26/6/8 on Pippen why couldn't he do that to LeBron? If Bird could drop 24 a game on Erving why couldn't he do that to Luol Deng? If Bird could consistently score around 25 a game on Cooper why couldn't he do that to Avery Bradley? If Bird could drop 25 a game on Wilkins why couldn't he do that to Kevin Durant? If Bird could consistently get 23 a night on Moncrief why couldn't he do that to Kobe or Wade? If Bird could consistently get 23 a night on Barkley why couldn't he to that to Brandon Bass?
Conclusion: All-around stats aren't even implemented into these stats and that's what really made Bird a great player. Sure 23 a game might not sound like it lives up to Larry Bird's status but when you add in 6 assists and 10 rebounds it really does. Oh and keep in mind a lot of these numbers was when Bird was out of his prime. So in short, Bird would dominate this era and he and LeBron would be the only ones playing that would be on a different planet from the rest of the guys.
You're a funny guy. It's not like you're pushing Dirk because you're a Mavericks homer or anything, oh wait.... You're right about the 4 sentences thing though, 3 college degrees and post-grad work never taught me how to read or write. I'm sure you'll find plenty of examples of my lack of English and writing skills in my 10+ years of posting in here. You are brilliant. Sigh.
