My Dad Says Bird Is Overrated

[SilkkTheShocker]

Said there is no way he would have been a HOF playing in today's NBA

[mattvNJ]

your dads gay

[Jotaro Durant]

your dad is an idiot and prolly a *******

[donald_trump]

matt is right.

[Bandito]

He's probably from la...

[kennethgriffin]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL

[donald_trump]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL

so how is dirk dominating? bird was much like dirk apart from the fact he was a better passer and rebounder.

it wouldnt be crazy to think he'd put up 25/7/7 in todays era.

[Sarcastic]

There is no such thing as time machines.

[Patrick Chewing]

Your dad is of the homo orientation

[La Frescobaldi]

so how is dirk dominating? bird was much like dirk apart from the fact he was a better passer and rebounder.

it wouldnt be crazy to think he'd put up 25/7/7 in todays era.

pretty much yeah... take Dirk + add blitzkrieg first step then add Rubio level vision and passing

yeah that guy's dad is a fool

[blablabla]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL
humans that evolve a lot in 30years
dirk killed the hgh athletes of todays nba last year what makes you think bird and the 86' celtics wouldn't have done the same

[Rnbizzle]

:lol

This sounds like 7 year old bragging against his little friends.. 'My daddy says..'

[Faptastrophe]

Get rid of your father and find someone who actually knows a little something about basketball.

[SilkkTheShocker]

:lol

This sounds like 7 year old bragging against his little friends.. 'My daddy says..'

thats funny coming from the Bulls bandwagoner that has never been to Chicago

[Glide2keva]

Well, as long as your dad says so, :rolleyes:

[Rnbizzle]

thats funny coming from the Bulls bandwagoner that has never been to Chicago
Explain to me what that has to do with anything? :facepalm

Me saying this is funny because I'm a 'Bulls bandwagoner that has never been to Chicago'

Your logic is amazing. :bowdown:

[mattvNJ]

Explain to me what that has to do with anything? :facepalm

Me saying this is funny because I'm a 'Bulls bandwagoner that has never been to Chicago'

Your logic is amazing. :bowdown:

like father like son.:rolleyes: haha, get a new dad.

scratch that: next time ask your other dad, clearly your asking the one who catches

[kennethgriffin]

so how is dirk dominating? bird was much like dirk apart from the fact he was a better passer and rebounder.

it wouldnt be crazy to think he'd put up 25/7/7 in todays era.

dirks a 7 footer and can just shoot over people

when he wants he can drive and dunk because hes long

and not only that. hes in shape.

bird and magic looked sloppy

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/he3h5.png

even a rookie 17 year old kobe had more muscle

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/t5432y.png

[kennethgriffin]

humans that evolve a lot in 30years
dirk killed the hgh athletes of todays nba last year what makes you think bird and the 86' celtics wouldn't have done the same

i'l say it again...

you can get away with it if you have a 7 foot frame and can dunk over people/shoot over anyone whenever you want

[Lebron23]

Your dad is a http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh6w9kJH9i1qhw323o1_500.png

[get these NETS]

the immediate knee jerk comparison to dirk is off base

young bird (with the fro) had a killer outside shot, good midrange game, and the team offense put him in positions to score running screens( a la ray allen and reggie miller)

shot high % from the field and FT even though he was sometimes the KEY offensive weapon on his team...and he came through time and time again in clutch situations

neither ray allen or reggie miller were super athletes... paul pierece definitely isn't a super athlete... but these dudes were consistently able to score points....

factor in his LBJ-like court vision and passing touch and he'd be a BIG time player in this era

Bird WAS over rated...during his time...think he won 3 straight mvps which if you think about the era and who played then..was definitely questionable ,but he was the real deal.

[ProfessorMurder]

dirks a 7 footer and can just shoot over people

when he wants he can drive and dunk because hes long

and not only that. hes in shape.

bird and magic looked sloppy

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/he3h5.png

even a rookie 17 year old kobe had more muscle

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/t5432y.png

Muscle definition makes you a good basketball player? Then why aren't body builders taking the league by storm?

Larry Bird is one of the greatest of all time, and would kill everybody playing now.

[GOBB]

Said there is no way he would have been a HOF playing in today's NBA

Well that explains where you being an idiot came from.

[Sarcastic]

The stupid crap you are bringing up about physique is the same stuff that people said about Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.

[midatlantic09]

My dad said the same thing, and unlike 90%+ of ISH posters, he actually watched Bird play in college and the NBA for years and years.

[bwink23]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL


Wonder what Bird could do on HGH....:wtf: and a strict muscle-specific training regimen = THE BEAST

[dee-rose]

Steve Nash won 2 MVP's in this league. He still leads the league in assists and might break an all time record in AST%. He's 38. He could barely dunk when he was in his athletic prime.

You can still dominate in this league with your brain.

[GOBB]

My dad said the same thing, and unlike 90%+ of ISH posters, he actually watched Bird play in college and the NBA for years and years.

Your dad is stupid.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Well that explains where you being an idiot came from.

And your 50,000 posts would explain why you are a basement dwelling loser

[bwink23]

i'l say it again...

you can get away with it if you have a 7 foot frame and can dunk over people/shoot over anyone whenever you want


Bird was shooting over 7-footers with ease...he made Scottie Pippen look like a girl....SAVE IT.

[kennethgriffin]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/grweg.png

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/he3h5.png

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/y76534u.png

[bwink23]

My dad said the same thing, and unlike 90%+ of ISH posters, he actually watched Bird play in college and the NBA for years and years.


I believe your dad touched your private parts.

[ballup]

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsg4bqTmSy1qhr9cwo1_400.jpg

[JMT]

My dad said the same thing, and unlike 90%+ of ISH posters, he actually watched Bird play in college and the NBA for years and years.


Alright, so the OP isn't the only one with a stupid dad. Excellent news.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Your dad is a http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh6w9kJH9i1qhw323o1_500.png

At least I don't act like I saw certain players play like you do. Clown

[ProfessorMurder]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/y76534u.png

You're as good at photoshop as your dad is at spotting NBA talent.

[kennethgriffin]

You're as good at photoshop as your dad is at spotting NBA talent.

i'm not the o.p

:oldlol:

[Cali Syndicate]

dirks a 7 footer and can just shoot over people

when he wants he can drive and dunk because hes long

and not only that. hes in shape.

bird and magic looked sloppy

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/he3h5.png

even a rookie 17 year old kobe had more muscle

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/t5432y.png

And Bird was 6'10"

also had a great jumper,

was a much tougher defender,

far better court vision and better passer,

and had an excellent overall skill set, Lets see Dirk even remotely dominate a game shooting with only his left hand because he got bored like Bird has

and most of all hustled his ass off every game.

And superhuman athletes?

Then I wonder how Steve Nash has been such a dominant PG the last 5-8 playing well into his 30's. And Nash can't even dunk. Guess skills don't mean shit...

Duncan isn't the athlete Garnett or Dwight is yet he still gets the job done against the rest of the league as well if not better than they do. Guess fundamentals don't mean shit either...

[bwink23]

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/grweg.png

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/he3h5.png

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa280/cashforcards/y76534u.png



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3lAuohZvnE

GOTO 1:28......Larry Bird fights off 260-pound Charles Barkley with one arm and sticks the game winner while Chuck plummets to the ground.............:no:

[Bob Cousy]

^^^the funny thing about Steve Nash is that he has a pretty good vertical, and he could dunk in Santa Monica. As soon as he got drafted he stopped dunking for whatever reason.

[kennethgriffin]

Muscle definition makes you a good basketball player? Then why aren't body builders taking the league by storm?

Larry Bird is one of the greatest of all time, and would kill everybody playing now.


how many 6 foot 9 guys with twig bodies do you see finishing inside in todays nba?

how many post up?


strength and conditioning is a huge part of the nba today


F*cking idiot

[ProfessorMurder]

how many 6 foot 9 guys with twig bodies do you see finishing inside in todays nba?

how many post up?


strength and conditioning is a huge part of the nba today


F*cking idiot

http://www.kevindurantonline.org/images/kevin-durant-gallery-1.jpg

You think Larry Bird wasn't conditioned or strong?

[GOBB]

And your 50,000 posts would explain why you are a basement dwelling loser

You have a Silk the Shocker username. You became a loser before making one post. :roll:

So go ahead and have a son. That way 20yrs down the road he can tell people "My dad said Lebron James was overrated and he actually saw him play.". Continue the males in the family passing down the dumb trait.

[kennethgriffin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3lAuohZvnE

GOTO 1:28......Larry Bird fights off 260-pound Charles Barkley with one arm and sticks the game winner while Chuck plummets to the ground.............:no:


lol he got pushed to nearly the 3 point line... then barkley leaped out of bounds for the steal and bird went in unguarded

not a great example


especially when barkley himself admited a number of times on tnt that he was one of the worst defensive players ever

[SteveNashMVPcro]

Bird is like a combination of Dirk and Nash and those 2 are both top 10 players of the last decade so no Bird would be just as good in any era.

[fos]

The only thing your dad knows about is taking two ***** at one time.

[kennethgriffin]

http://www.kevindurantonline.org/images/kevin-durant-gallery-1.jpg

You think Larry Bird wasn't conditioned or strong?

dude is athletic as he*ll and has the wing span of andrew bynum

you dumby...

i said how many unathletic twigs dominate the nba today?

:roll:

[Scholar]

Said there is no way he would have been a HOF playing in today's NBA

I said no such thing. Don't put words in my mouth, fakkit.

[GOBB]

I said no such thing. Don't put words in my mouth, fakkit.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[bwink23]

dude is athletic as he*ll and has the wing span of andrew bynum

you dumby...

i said how many unathletic twigs dominate the nba today?

:roll:


Dennis Rodman once called Larry Bird overrated....ONCE...that was after getting busted for 37 points on 13-24 shooting by Larry Bird in Game 7 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals....:lol :lol :lol

A classic case of "YOU MAD BRO??"

[OhNoTimNoSho]

your dads gay
my immediate thought

[Bob Cousy]

how many 6 foot 9 guys with twig bodies do you see finishing inside in todays nba?

how many post up?


strength and conditioning is a huge part of the nba today


F*cking idiotYou mean like prime Andre Kirilenko ? or Kevin Durant ?

same body structure as Bird, actually Bird may have been slightly more built.

[kennethgriffin]

And Bird was 6'10"

also had a great jumper,

was a much tougher defender,

far better court vision and better passer,

and had an excellent overall skill set, Lets see Dirk even remotely dominate a game shooting with only his left hand because he got bored like Bird has

and most of all hustled his ass off every game.

And superhuman athletes?

Then I wonder how Steve Nash has been such a dominant PG the last 5-8 playing well into his 30's. And Nash can't even dunk. Guess skills don't mean shit...

Duncan isn't the athlete Garnett or Dwight is yet he still gets the job done against the rest of the league as well if not better than they do. Guess fundamentals don't mean shit either...

i see like 10 guys every day at the ymca that look like larry bird...

people jump over them and shove their nuts in their face

imagine what an nba player would do to larry


the 80s sucked... entertaining yes... but legit? no

no defense... only 1 guy who could do everything ( jordan )

and mostly just a bunch of guys who had to injure people in order to stop them defensively..

dominated by slow unathletic twigs..

pathetic compared to today IMO


but like i said before... i'm sure in 30 years todays nba will look like crap aswell

[Legends66NBA7]

A guy who is routinely in people's Top 5-10 players of all-time lists is overrated?

I guess whole Top 10 is overrated too. I can see a case for every player being overrated, but it doesn't make it true.

Hell, Bird was considered the GOAT at one point in his career, so I guess that's where the "overrating" comes from. Still doesn't mean he couldn't perform. And he performed better than the league for a good amount of time.

The 80

[SilkkTheShocker]

You have a Silk the Shocker username. You became a loser before making one post. :roll:

So go ahead and have a son. That way 20yrs down the road he can tell people "My dad said Lebron James was overrated and he actually saw him play.". Continue the males in the family passing down the dumb trait.


Yea, keep padding you post count clown. Why don't you actually go outside for once just to see what the friggin Sun looks like. How many hours a day do you post here? Posting here 20 hours day isn't healthy kid.

[bwink23]

If Bird were playing today, he'd be on same training and supplement regimen and the other guys. Henceforth he'd probably be 15-20 pounds heavier.....his skills put him above 99% of the players today, not his brawn.

[kennethgriffin]

You mean like prime Andre Kirilenko ? or Kevin Durant ?

same body structure as Bird, actually Bird may have been slightly more built.


well ak47 never dominated anything in his life

and like i said... durant can jump over people and has the wing span of manute bol ... so yea theres exceptions


larry didnt have any exceptions

[Legends66NBA7]

I said no such thing. Don't put words in my mouth, fakkit.

Come now, don't do your son like that. He's new to the internet.

:D

[get these NETS]

Steve Nash won 2 MVP's in this league. He still leads the league in assists and might break an all time record in AST%. He's 38. He could barely dunk when he was in his athletic prime.

You can still dominate in this league with your brain.


no you can't dominate the league with your brain..

nash isn't a 50 year old weekend warrior, he was a division 1 athlete....with a set of skills that he honed for years by countless hours of practice/games...just like every other nba player...


people overstate this "brain" stuff and underplay the athletic part when they talk about white athletes

as if Nash wasn't awarded a full athletic scholarship, like he's a pro bowler or something


nash, kidd, magic, lebron and bird have a kind of uncanny court vision but they had to workout/practice and hone their passing skills just like any other basketball skill.

[Legends66NBA7]

And Bird was 6'10"

also had a great jumper,

was a much tougher defender,

far better court vision and better passer,

and had an excellent overall skill set, Lets see Dirk even remotely dominate a game shooting with only his left hand because he got bored like Bird has

and most of all hustled his ass off every game.

And superhuman athletes?

Then I wonder how Steve Nash has been such a dominant PG the last 5-8 playing well into his 30's. And Nash can't even dunk. Guess skills don't mean shit...

Duncan isn't the athlete Garnett or Dwight is yet he still gets the job done against the rest of the league as well if not better than they do. Guess fundamentals don't mean shit either...

[QUOTE=Legends66NBA7]A guy who is routinely in people's Top 5-10 players of all-time lists is overrated?

I guess whole Top 10 is overrated too. I can see a case for every player being overrated, but it doesn't make it true.

Hell, Bird was considered the GOAT at one point in his career, so I guess that's where the "overrating" comes from. Still doesn't mean he couldn't perform. And he performed better than the league for a good amount of time.

The 80

[Kblaze8855]

Bird was lighting up and making game winners on:

http://uvtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1984-larry-nance.jpg

Dropping damn near 50 point triple dobles guarded by guys like:

http://home.messiah.edu/~pr1173/images/etick_w_drexler_310.jpg

http://www.best-basketball-tips.com/images/Jerome-Kersey-Bio2.jpg

and

http://media.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/photo/buck-williamsjpg-aeb7e1bc8a37657e_large.jpg

Two dunk contest level athletes, a guy in Buck you cant call anything similar to weak, and they had a little help from Cliff robinson who was still a good defender in like 2005.


He can drop 40 on Doc:

http://phillysportshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/drj.jpg

and 10 time all D Bobby Jones.

But players today are too athletic to contain him I guess. He could score on Rodman...a guy who guarded Jordan, Barkley, Malone, barkley, and even Zo at times. A guy who Phil Jackson called the greatest athlete he ever coached. But if he runs into Deng thats his ass I guess.

Here he is dropping 40+ on the Bulls

http://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M?t=2m28s

Taking Jordan into the post 3 posessions out of 4 on the way to 33 inthe first half.

He finds a way to score on:


http://www.sneakerfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/jordan_1988.jpg


But if he has to face Iggy hes gonna get hate crimed.....


Ive seen games from the early 80s when Bird was guarded by Darryl Dawkins. A guy who could probably put his nose on the rim...


http://youtu.be/Dxg7cLp-JIM?t=2m38s


If he chose not to tear it down

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3829/dawkinsdisplayimage.jpg


But I dont now what he would do with Danny Granger, Paul George, or David West....

Your dad makes great points.

[dyna]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL

Like Kevin Love right?
:rolleyes:

[kennethgriffin]

If Bird were playing today, he'd be on same training and supplement regimen and the other guys. Henceforth he'd probably be 15-20 pounds heavier.....his skills put him above 99% of the players today, not his brawn.


lmfao


i doubt theres anything that could help an irish white guy who could never jump high all of a sudden be able to leap over people

but as far as the strength part... yea give larry a few years in the gym and he might get in shape

but that wasnt the question... it was could larry of the 80s dominate todays nba

obviously if he had a body transplant than yes he could LOL

[Bob Cousy]

well ak47 never dominated anything in his life

and like i said... durant can jump over people and has the wing span of manute bol ... so yea theres exceptions


larry didnt have any exceptions
all you asked was which players with that body structure could post up consistently ? :confusedshrug:

with Bird's skill level the rest is history.

[WillC]

The ignorance of many people in this thread is incredible.

Since when is basketball solely about strength and athleticism? As has already been pointed out, some of the best players in the NBA over the last ten years aren't (or weren't) exactly known for their chiselled physiques: Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, Pau Gasol, Kevin Love, etc.

Fundamental skills are far more important than physical gifts. What do the above players have in common? They are all have a phenomenal grasp of the fundamentals.

And who had the greatest basketball fundamentals of all?

Larry Bird.

He would dominate today much as he (and Magic) dominated the 1980s.

Anyone who thinks differently clearly doesn't understand the game of basketball.

[Legends66NBA7]

Kblaze shutting down yet another thread.

[bwink23]

Young retarded kids today make the mistake of judging off what they see with their 2 eyes...you might have a case if basketball wasn't a skilled sport. Larry Bird is one to the most skilled players ever....i'm not talking about crossovers and doing all that unnecessary jazz....Bird had an I.Q. for the game rivaled by NO ONE.

Bird in today's game...with all it's advancements....would ADVANCE physically...that is a CERTAINTY.

[Legends66NBA7]

The ignorance of many people in this thread is incredible.

Since when is basketball solely about strength and athleticism?

Apparently, to young teenagers who base things of players they didn't bother looking up or know anything about to begin with or just by looks ?

:confusedshrug:

[kennethgriffin]

Bird was lighting up and making game winners on:

http://uvtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1984-larry-nance.jpg

Dropping damn near 50 point triple dobles guarded by guys like:

http://home.messiah.edu/~pr1173/images/etick_w_drexler_310.jpg

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/244/666/2118233_display_image.jpg

and

http://media.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/photo/buck-williamsjpg-aeb7e1bc8a37657e_large.jpg

Two dunk contest level athletes, a guy in Buck you cant call anything similar to weak, and they had a little help from Cliff robinson who was still a good defender in like 2005.


He can drop 40 on Doc:

http://phillysportshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/drj.jpg

and 10 time all D Bobby Jones.

But players today are too athletic to contain him I guess. He could score on Rodman...a guy who guarded Jordan, Barkley, Malone, barkley, and even Zo at times. A guy who Phil Jackson called the greatest athlete he ever coached. But if he runs into Deng thats his ass I guess.

Here he is dropping 40+ on the Bulls

http://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M?t=2m28s

Taking Jordan into the post 3 posessions out of 4 on the way to 33 inthe first half.

He finds a way to score on:


http://www.sneakerfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/jordan_1988.jpg


But if he has to face Iggy hes gonna get hate crimed.....


Ive seen games from the early 80s when Bird was guarded by Darryl Dawkins. A guy who could probably put his nose on the rim...


http://youtu.be/Dxg7cLp-JIM?t=2m38s


If he chose not to tear it down

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/630/152/dawkins_display_image.jpg?1294834302


But I dont now what he would do with Danny Granger, Paul George, or David West....

Your dad makes great points.

theres like 200 players in the nba right now who can do what only 5-6 guys back in the 80s could do



but like before... you also have to factor in the lack of defense played in the 80s

sure when they body slammed you on a break away it was harder... but more often than not theyed let you do whatever you wanted as long as they did the same for you on the other end lol

[ProfessorMurder]

GOAT basketball player:

http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/body_builder_13sfw.gif

[Sarcastic]

theres like 200 players in the nba right now who can do what only 5-6 guys back in the 80s could do



but like before... you also have to factor in the lack of defense played in the 80s

sure when they body slammed you on a break away it was harder... but more often than not theyed let you do whatever you wanted as long as they did the same for you on the other end lol

The athletes are so damn good, that this guy is tearing it up.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9N0zDQuQozQ/TzIQYL3PysI/AAAAAAAADAg/bDlM-FJgbns/s1600/jeremylin.jpg

[SilkkTheShocker]

kennethgriffin (griffmoney lol) is absolutely destroying some of you

[Bob Cousy]

Larry Bird would butt***** 99% of today's players in the post, its not even debatable. The array of moves he had would be unrivaled in today's league, were all players have to know is just right hooks and lean ins/fadeaways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDaY_-p3hSM

make sure you watch 0:20-0:27.

that's seems like elite quickness to me, beating your man baseline after posting up high.

[WillC]

theres like 200 players in the nba right now who can do what only 5-6 guys back in the 80s could do


You only think that because you never watched 1980s basketball.

Dominique Wilkins, David Thompson, Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler, James Worthy, Larry Nance, Tom Chambers, etc - those are some of the most athletic players ever and they all played in the 1980s. It's not like there was suddenly a vast drop-off in athleticism once you got past those players. The difference in athleticism between the 1980s and 2010s is negligible.

[bwink23]

lmfao


i doubt theres anything that could help an irish white guy who could never jump high all of a sudden be able to leap over people

but as far as the strength part... yea give larry a few years in the gym and he might get in shape

but that wasnt the question... it was could larry of the 80s dominate todays nba

obviously if he had a body transplant than yes he could LOL


Larry Bird never needed to leap over anyone....:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

I remember vividly in my youth, he was eating up guys like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant on the Bulls...remember Bird was a legit 6'9" with a shot that was unblockable cuz of his release point...

Let's not pretend athleticism was invented in the 2000's son...your age is showing with every post you make...and it's going DOWN.

[Scholar]

The athletes are so damn good, that this guy is tearing it up.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9N0zDQuQozQ/TzIQYL3PysI/AAAAAAAADAg/bDlM-FJgbns/s1600/jeremylin.jpg

:applause: :applause: :applause:


/Thread

[ILLsmak]

lmfao


i doubt theres anything that could help an irish white guy who could never jump high all of a sudden be able to leap over people

but as far as the strength part... yea give larry a few years in the gym and he might get in shape

but that wasnt the question... it was could larry of the 80s dominate todays nba

obviously if he had a body transplant than yes he could LOL

The game of basketball isn't only a vertical game. I don't think Larry could have guarded any SFs of today, but I'd slot him in at PF and he'd be doing work. Blake Griffin is a monster athletically, but he'd get wet up by Bird.

You guys probably think a small Sir Charles couldn't play today, too. We're not talking about someone from the 1960s here. Dude was doing it in the era of Michael Jordan.

I think Bird would be better vs today's people because he'd be tricking them left and right. It's kind of like Steve Nash with a bigger body.


-Smak

[bwink23]

I'd say Big Game James Worthy was very quick and athletic....and Larry Bird gave him hell.

[Kblaze8855]

theres like 200 players in the nba right now who can do what only 5-6 guys back in the 80s could do

Just because you dont know much about Roy Tarpley, Byron Scott, Artis Gilmore, Ron Harper, Stansbury, Brad sellers(a 7'1'' swingman who also played some 4...wasnt even a good player...but athletic as hell for his size), Rodman, Caldwell Jones, michael Cooper, Kevin Johnson, James worthy(ive seen him do back foot near the Ft line dunks in game), Skywalker, Kevin Willis, Orlando Woolridge, Ralph Sampson, Gerald and dominique Wilkins, jerome Kersey, Tom Chambers, Xavier Mcdaniels, and many many many others doesnt mean they didnt exist.

[Legends66NBA7]

kennethgriffin (griffmoney lol) is absolutely destroying some of you

What thread are you reading?

He's the one getting destroyed by everyone posting logical responses backed up with evidence and he's going up his own assumptions. But I guess I would only expect a troll to side with another troll.

[Burgz]

Your dad is overrated

[WillC]

Your dad is overrated

That's not true.

Everyone knows that his Dad is a fool.

[bwink23]

Who were the 2 teams trading shots in the Finals for a good portion of the 1980's??

Magic's run-and-gun Showtime athletic Laker squad of black guys and Larry Bird's slow-white-guy team of Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale, Danny Ainge, Bill Walton, Jerry Sichting, Greg Kite, etc.

On the surface you'd think the Lakers would mop the floor with them...yet we all know that wasn't the case....

Being a great TEAM is far more important than great individuals or athleticism.

[eliteballer]

Bird was 2 inches shorter than Dirk, and much more fluid/coordinated

[Bob Cousy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDaY_-p3hSM

1:24-1:32 ... IF THAT'S NOT ELITE ATHLETICISM, THEN WHAT IS ?

[copper]

Said there is no way he would have been a HOF playing in today's NBA
he also had sex with your mom, so we can all agree his eye for talent is BLIND

[WillC]

Basically, Larry Bird was better than Dirk Nowitzki at every single aspect of the sport of basketball.

And who's the reigning NBA Finals MVP? That's right, Dirk Nowitzki.

So sure, Bird would obviously struggle in today's NBA.... :facepalm

[ProfessorMurder]

Bird had f*cked up nerves and a disc taken out of his back, but played 37 minutes a game at 35 years old while averaging 20/10/7/1... LeBron can't even play with a sore elbow.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Basically, Larry Bird was better than Dirk Nowitzki at every single aspect of the sport of basketball.
And who's the reigning NBA Finals MVP? That's right, Dirk Nowitzki.

So sure, Bird would obviously struggle in today's NBA.... :facepalm

:oldlol:

[Legends66NBA7]

Basically, Larry Bird was better than Dirk Nowitzki at every single aspect of the sport of basketball.

And who's the reigning NBA Finals MVP? That's right, Dirk Nowitzki.

So sure, Bird would obviously struggle in today's NBA.... :facepalm

And don't forget, Nash lead the league in assist per game last year, as well as this year in his ages of 37-38.

Kevin Love lead the league in rebounding last year and is currently second this year.

Neither are stand out athletes, what so ever. But Bird's going to struggle away, alright. :rolleyes:

[Bob Cousy]

:oldlol:
he's right.

Bird trumps Dirk in every category. Every. Single.One.

[Legends66NBA7]

Bird had f*cked up nerves and a disc taken out of his back, but played 37 minutes a game at 35 years old while averaging 20/10/7/1... LeBron can't even play with a sore elbow.

Also, didn't Bird have a jammed finger or something, that he didn't get a chance to get surgery on... for his ENTIRE NBA career?

Just imagine how much better of a shooter he would have been... not to mention today's soft perimeter friendly rules.

[Legends66NBA7]

he's right.

Bird trumps Dirk in every category. Every. Single.One.

And even if there's a case for Dirk for one of those categories... Bird is still the better player, no question.

[WillC]

:oldlol:

It's not hyperbole; it's the truth.

Tell me one area that Nowitzki beats Bird?

Three point shooting: Bird
Free throw shooting: Bird
Post-moves: Bird
Individual defense: Tie
Team defense: Bird
Rebounding: Bird
Passing: Bird
Clutch: Bird
Team play: Bird
Leadership: Bird

[bwink23]

:oldlol:


What is Dirk better at???

Do everyone a favor.....post some vids of Dirk doing shit that Larry Bird could do....then Laugh, at Dirk.....:roll:

[Killbot]

It's not hyperbole; it's the truth.

Tell me one area that Nowitzki beats Bird?

Three point shooting: Bird
Free throw shooting: Bird
Post-moves: Bird
Individual defense: Tie
Team defense: Bird
Rebounding: Bird
Passing: Bird
Clutch: Bird
Team play: Bird
Leadership: Bird

Bird is the word.

[Legends66NBA7]

It's not hyperbole; it's the truth.

Tell me one area that Nowitzki beats Bird?

Three point shooting: Bird
Free throw shooting: Bird
Post-moves: Bird
Individual defense: Tie
Team defense: Bird
Rebounding: Bird
Passing: Bird
Clutch: Bird
Team play: Bird
Leadership: Bird


What is Dirk better at???

Do everyone a favor.....post some vids of Dirk doing shit that Larry Bird could do....then Laugh, at Dirk.....:roll:

I think maybe (well I don't think OP even thinks)... playoff performer?

But that's just looking at numbers alone and that's not exactly the be all-say all for it...

Not taking Dirk's side, but he's probably got a case for that.

Then again, the competition Bird went up against was insane, so I'm probably just mistaken.

[Scholar]

It's not hyperbole; it's the truth.

Tell me one area that Nowitzki beats Bird?

Three point shooting: Bird
Free throw shooting: Bird
Post-moves: Bird
Individual defense: Tie
Team defense: Bird
Rebounding: Bird
Passing: Bird
Clutch: Bird
Team play: Bird
Leadership: Bird

Bird was the answer here, too. You lose. Sorry. :cry:

[Legends66NBA7]

Bird is the word.

And would completely destroy today's league. :pimp:

[Bob Cousy]

it was pretty much a split decision between Bird and Magic.

and today's league has a Magic Johnson-like player in Lebron (Lebron more athletic than Magic but worse post game and worse court vision , so they're on even grounds)

If Bird was considered by many to be better than Magic, then that speaks wonders about how he would fair in todays league.

[TheMan]

how many 6 foot 9 guys with twig bodies do you see finishing inside in todays nba?

how many post up?


strength and conditioning is a huge part of the nba today


F*cking idiot
Kevin Durant:confusedshrug:

Unless you think he's strickly a jump shooter, I'd say he finishes around the rim pretty nicely:facepalm

[WillC]

I think maybe (well I don't think OP even thinks)... playoff performer?

But that's just looking at numbers alone and that's not exactly the be all-say all for it...

Not taking Dirk's side, but he's probably got a case for that.

Then again, the competition Bird went up against was insane, so I'm probably just mistaken.

Dirk was a better playoff performer than Bird? No way. Not even close. Dirk had a phenomenal playoff run last year, that's for sure. Before that, he had 1st round losses that threatened his legacy.

Bird, meanwhile, won a championship in his second year and never looked back.

[Legends66NBA7]

Dirk was a better playoff performer than Bird? No way. Not even close. Dirk had a phenomenal playoff run last year, that's for sure. Before that, he had 1st round losses that threatened his legacy.

Bird, meanwhile, won a championship in his second year and never looked back.

Well, I knew I would be wrong for even implying that one. :oldlol:

So pretty much everything, unanimous for Bird. :cheers:

[get these NETS]

Who were the 2 teams trading shots in the Finals for a good portion of the 1980's??

Magic's run-and-gun Showtime athletic Laker squad of black guys and Larry Bird's slow-white-guy team of Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale, Danny Ainge, Bill Walton, Jerry Sichting, Greg Kite, etc.

On the surface you'd think the Lakers would mop the floor with them...yet we all know that wasn't the case....

Being a great TEAM is far more important than great individuals or athleticism.


ok

was waiting for somebody else to point this out but people are taking the criticism of bird WAY too personally.


in trying to defend bird (really defending white, not bird)....people are oversimplifying stuff that objective basketball fan can see

Bird and Celtics won 3 rings .....they beat the Rockets twice..Lakers once..

Magic and Lakers won 5 rings....beat Celtics twice....sixers,pistons,and I forget other ring


played 3 times in finals...lakers won 2 times


during those 3 finals...can only think of worthy,cooper, and scott as "fast black guys" for the Lakers

Celtics athletes were Ainge, Sichting( quick,strong) and young Mchale..and the Celtics 'fast breaked" also (auerbach called it the dribble-less fast break)...players leak out..sprint....fill spots on the floor and make three passes to get an easy bucket


---------------------------------------------------
Bird was the real deal....but don't make up bulls.hit to make your argument.

By pulling shit out of your ass, you are making the case for OP about whether and why Bird was over rated.

[madmax17]

Is your dad Isiah Thomas?

[ILLsmak]

Is your dad Isiah Thomas?

He wishes his dad is Isiah Thomas.

-Smak

[TheMan]

Bird was lighting up and making game winners on:

http://uvtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/1984-larry-nance.jpg

Dropping damn near 50 point triple dobles guarded by guys like:

http://home.messiah.edu/~pr1173/images/etick_w_drexler_310.jpg

http://www.best-basketball-tips.com/images/Jerome-Kersey-Bio2.jpg

and

http://media.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/photo/buck-williamsjpg-aeb7e1bc8a37657e_large.jpg

Two dunk contest level athletes, a guy in Buck you cant call anything similar to weak, and they had a little help from Cliff robinson who was still a good defender in like 2005.


He can drop 40 on Doc:

http://phillysportshistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/drj.jpg

and 10 time all D Bobby Jones.

But players today are too athletic to contain him I guess. He could score on Rodman...a guy who guarded Jordan, Barkley, Malone, barkley, and even Zo at times. A guy who Phil Jackson called the greatest athlete he ever coached. But if he runs into Deng thats his ass I guess.

Here he is dropping 40+ on the Bulls

http://youtu.be/COiKFL3ky3M?t=2m28s

Taking Jordan into the post 3 posessions out of 4 on the way to 33 inthe first half.

He finds a way to score on:


http://www.sneakerfiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/jordan_1988.jpg


But if he has to face Iggy hes gonna get hate crimed.....


Ive seen games from the early 80s when Bird was guarded by Darryl Dawkins. A guy who could probably put his nose on the rim...


http://youtu.be/Dxg7cLp-JIM?t=2m38s


If he chose not to tear it down

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3829/dawkinsdisplayimage.jpg


But I dont now what he would do with Danny Granger, Paul George, or David West....

Your dad makes great points.
These stupid kids are under the impression muscles didn't exsist until 2000:facepalm
Moses Malone, Karl Malone, Darryl Dawkins to name a few were some strong m'fers, they'd be in the top tier of the stronger players in todays NBA, Larry was country strong, didn't look like it but he was tough as nails.


Kids today:facepalm

[Bob Cousy]

ok

was waiting for somebody else to point this out but people are taking the criticism of bird WAY too personally.


in trying to defend bird (really defending white, not bird)....people are oversimplifying stuff that objective basketball fan can see

Bird and Celtics won 3 rings .....they beat the Rockets twice..Lakers once..

Magic and Lakers won 5 rings....beat Celtics twice....sixers,pistons,and I forget other ring


played 3 times in finals...lakers won 2 times


during those 3 finals...can only think of worthy,cooper, and scott as "fast black guys" for the Lakers

Celtics athletes were Ainge, Sichting( quick,strong) and young Mchale..and the Celtics 'fast breaked" also (auerbach called it the dribble-less fast break)...players leak out..sprint....fill spots on the floor and make three passes to get an easy bucket


---------------------------------------------------
Bird was the real deal....but don't make up bulls.hit to make your argument.

By pulling shit out of your ass, you are making the case for OP about whether and why Bird was over rated.
Im not white.:confusedshrug:

I could give a crap if Bird was Moroccan ... he definitely wasn't overrated though.

[ILLsmak]

These stupid kids are under the impression muscles didn't exsist until 2000:facepalm
Moses Malone, Karl Malone, Darryl Dawkins to name a few were some strong m'fers, they'd be in the top tier of the stronger players in todays NBA, Larry was country strong, didn't look like it but he was tough as nails.


Kids today:facepalm

Yeah but on the other hand those guys you mentioned were "country strong" too, but they were all over the weights. Probably juicing.

People say Larry wasn't in good shape; the reason why I think that's bullshit is because if he practiced all of the time, how would he not be in good shape?

I think Bird's decline was not due to a faulty body but the fact that he road the shit out of it.

-Smak

[get these NETS]

Im not white.:confusedshrug:

I could give a crap if Bird was Moroccan ... he definitely wasn't overrated though.


didn't quote your post.

Bird was a great player but I question the 3 straight mvp awards.

and I grew up a McHale/Bird/DJ fan..and rooted for the Celts

[get these NETS]

Is your dad Isiah Thomas?


that incident came about after Bird lit up Rodman in a playoff game.

He said those comments.....but he was a nobody at the time..reporters walked up to Isiah and asked him his opinion of Rodman's comments.


If you look at the wives/girlfriends that Rodman has had....and his own backstory, you could see that Rodman had less of a problem with Bird being white than for getting destroyed in a big spot by Bird.

rodman LOVES white people

[Sarcastic]

It's not hyperbole; it's the truth.

Tell me one area that Nowitzki beats Bird?

Three point shooting: Bird
Free throw shooting: Bird
Post-moves: Bird
Individual defense: Tie
Team defense: Bird
Rebounding: Bird
Passing: Bird
Clutch: Bird
Team play: Bird
Leadership: Bird

Dirk beats Bird in height.

[bwink23]

ok

was waiting for somebody else to point this out but people are taking the criticism of bird WAY too personally.


in trying to defend bird (really defending white, not bird)....people are oversimplifying stuff that objective basketball fan can see

Bird and Celtics won 3 rings .....they beat the Rockets twice..Lakers once..

Magic and Lakers won 5 rings....beat Celtics twice....sixers,pistons,and I forget other ring


played 3 times in finals...lakers won 2 times


during those 3 finals...can only think of worthy,cooper, and scott as "fast black guys" for the Lakers

Celtics athletes were Ainge, Sichting( quick,strong) and young Mchale..and the Celtics 'fast breaked" also (auerbach called it the dribble-less fast break)...players leak out..sprint....fill spots on the floor and make three passes to get an easy bucket


---------------------------------------------------
Bird was the real deal....but don't make up bulls.hit to make your argument.

By pulling shit out of your ass, you are making the case for OP about whether and why Bird was over rated.


Listen Mr. DUMB DUMB guy......it's no secret that the Showtime Lakers were far more athletic than the Celtics, that's not even an argument....and that's the point i was making.


Take your WEAK SAUCE crap somewhere else kid:


L.A. Lakers

Magic Johnson - 6'9" fast and athletic
James Worthy - 6'8" fast, quick, athletic, great leaper
Byron Scott - 6'5" fast, quick, athletic and good leaper
Kareem - Very tall, long, good runner for his size.
A.C. Green - 6'9" good runner, muscle in the middle, hustler
Michael Cooper - 6'5", long arms, good leaper, quick feet.

Celtics

Bird - 6'9" - not a good leaper, average speed
McHale - 6'10"wide shoulders,long, average runner, not a good leaper
Parish - 7'0" - average runner, average leaper
Walton - 7'0"- nothing left of his athleticism post injuries
Sichting - 6'1" - tough guy, but not a prototype athlete
Johnson - 6'5" - average athlete, not great
Danny Ainge - decent athlete, not a leaper
Scott Wedman - average athlete


Saying the Celtics is comparable to the Lakers athletically is a straight admission of RETARDATION.....:hammerhead:

[AlphaWolf24]

Listen Mr. DUMB DUMB guy......it's no secret that the Showtime Lakers were far more athletic than the Celtics, that's not even an argument....and that's the point i was making.


Take your WEAK SAUCE crap somewhere else kid:


L.A. Lakers

Magic Johnson - 6'9" fast and athletic
James Worthy - 6'8" fast, quick, athletic, great leaper
Byron Scott - 6'5" fast, quick, athletic and good leaper
Kareem - Very tall, long, good runner for his size.
A.C. Green - 6'9" good runner, muscle in the middle, hustler
Michael Cooper - 6'5", long arms, good leaper, quick feet.

Celtics

Bird - 6'9" - not a good leaper, average speed
McHale - 6'10"wide shoulders,long, average runner, not a good leaper
Parish - 7'0" - average runner, average leaper
Walton - 7'0"- nothing left of his athleticism post injuries
Sichting - 6'1" - tough guy, but not a prototype athlete
Johnson - 6'5" - average athlete, not great
Danny Ainge - decent athlete, not a leaper
Scott Wedman - average athlete


Saying the Celtics is comparable to the Lakers athletically is a straight admission of RETARDATION.....:hammerhead:
Parish -


no Magic was actually slow and unathletic...


you have got to be the most handicapped person here...

[dude77]

Muscle definition makes you a good basketball player? Then why aren't body builders taking the league by storm?

Larry Bird is one of the greatest of all time, and would kill everybody playing now.

exactly .. there's an abundance of nba players past/present who are/were 'built' and were pieces of shit ..

it's amazing how the bird man is underestimated by 'today's fan' .. bird was a hustler .. he had a mean streak .. and most importantly he had the skills .. with the likes of overrated, overpaid fggts who play in today's league, bird would have just as much success if not more

[Bob Cousy]

Did somebody say Magic was slow and unathletic ?

what ?

the PG who ran the fastest uptempo offense in the late 80's was slow ?

"Mr. end to end" was slow ?

and "unathletic" ?

just because he wasn't a highlight caliber leaper doesn't mean he wasn't athletic, some players are more conservative than others.

[rodman91]

OP's dad = http://gifsforum.com/images/gif/trolling%20gifs/grand/midget_is_trolling_gif.gif

[dude77]

http://www.kevindurantonline.org/images/kevin-durant-gallery-1.jpg

You think Larry Bird wasn't conditioned or strong?


this post proves WHY bird is being dogged :facepalm

[bwink23]

no Magic was actually slow and unathletic...


you have got to be the most handicapped person here...


Magic slow and unathletic??? LOL!!!!!!!!!! :roll:

Does this look slow and unathletic to you??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZHXe3eTooY

Your a damn fool Kobe nerd....Magic Johnson could routinely LEAD a fast break like one ever has...you cant be "slow and unathletic" to do what Magic did you Kobe MORON.....:hammerhead:

[swi7ch]

My Dad says your Dad is overrated.

[WillC]

no Magic was actually slow and unathletic...


You've never watched him play, have you?

[dude77]

The athletes are so damn good, that this guy is tearing it up.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9N0zDQuQozQ/TzIQYL3PysI/AAAAAAAADAg/bDlM-FJgbns/s1600/jeremylin.jpg


:oldlol: 'kenneth' is getting raped in the ass in this thread .. yet he keeps coming back for more .. I think he likes it

[TheMan]

Magic was never the fastest but he was fast enough to lead maybe the greatest fastbreak ever, he wasn't the highest jumper either but he could dunk easily.

Calling him slow and unathletic is retarded.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Magic was never the fastest but he was fast enough to lead maybe the greatest fastbreak ever, he wasn't the highest jumper either but he could dunk easily.

Calling him slow and unathletic is retarded.


I guess you would be the expert on that, right? :oldlol: :oldlol:

[dude77]

yeah anyone who calls magic 'slow and unathletic' doesn't know wtf they're talking about .. slow and unathletic point guard running a fast paced run and gun offense :hammerhead: .. some posters here are fkin dumb

[Scholar]

Why is your dad talking about Sue Bird like that? She was a good baller for the WNBA.

[Bob Cousy]

yeah anyone who calls magic 'slow and unathletic' doesn't know wtf they're talking about .. slow and unathletic point guard running a fast paced run and gun offense :hammerhead: .. some posters here are fkin dumbReminds me of 2006 when stupid fans were dismissing Nash from being elite and called him "slow and unathletic".:roll:

you can never find a shortage of stupid and ignorant sports fans.

[KevinNYC]

didn't quote your post.

Bird was a great player but I question the 3 straight mvp awards.

and I grew up a McHale/Bird/DJ fan..and rooted for the Celts

Who was better than Bird 84-86?

The MVP voting was even close those three years
1983-84 NBA 0.858 (1)
1984-85 NBA 0.978 (1)
1985-86 NBA 0.981 (1)

[TheMan]

I guess you would be the expert on that, right? :oldlol: :oldlol:
That would be you, you post horrible shit, no one takes your opinion seriously, you get clowned here on the regular and threads you make get closed because they are crap.

Your retorts are juvenile...you a punk:lol

[KevinNYC]

Also a couple of other points on this thread.

Is Larry Bird Irish? That's the first I'm hearing of that.

Also all the stuff that's been said against Larry Bird was said back when he was in high school. It was said by the other Celtics when he joined the team. It was said by every rookie who tried to guard him.

Jayson Williams wrote a story like that for his book. He was on the bench watching Bird torch Barkley and then torch Armen Gilliam and he kept saying to himself that no way is this slow white guy going to torch me and he begged the coach to let him guard Bird. How's the story end? Williams said Bird torched him like nobody he'd ever played against and dropped like 14 points in 6 minutes and Williams went back to the bench and wouldn't even look the coach in the eye the next time when they needed someone to guard Bird. And Williams was an all-Star in 1998...so perhaps it's only in the last few years the players became too athletic for Bird.

Also stamina is a valuable athletic asset and Magic and Bird had that in spades. Both of them would play 40+ minutes in the fastbreaking 80's

[Fiasco]

You should probably stop telling people he's your dad.

[MiseryCityTexas]

You only think that because you never watched 1980s basketball.

Dominique Wilkins, David Thompson, Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler, James Worthy, Larry Nance, Tom Chambers, etc - those are some of the most athletic players ever and they all played in the 1980s. It's not like there was suddenly a vast drop-off in athleticism once you got past those players. The difference in athleticism between the 1980s and 2010s is negligible.


xavier mcdaniel, olajuwon, bernard king, bobby jones, sidney moncrief, terry cummings, and marques johnson were all also athletic players during the 80s also. bird had the luxury of playing against these players every night also.

[StateOfMind12]

Said there is no way he would have been a HOF playing in today's NBA
I actually agree that Bird is somewhat overrated but to say he would not be a HOFer playing in today's NBA is a joke.

Bird is also better and greater than Lebron ever has been and ever will be.

[christian1923]

My daddy told me kobe > bird

but hes dominican so idk wether to believe him or not. :lol

[KevinNYC]

I actually agree that Bird is somewhat overrated but to say he would not be a HOFer playing in today's NBA is a joke.

Bird is also better and greater than Lebron ever has been and ever will be.

Yeah. Bird could be overrated and still be dominant in today's NBA, they are not incompatible. But if Bird is overrated it would only be by a bit.

In MVP Award shares he's third all time, ahead of Russell, Chamberlain and Magic and only behind Jordan and Kareem.
Basically until the year he tore his Achilles tendon's he was never less than the 4th best player in the league.

MVP Award Shares
1979-80 NBA 0.068 (4)
1980-81 NBA 0.613 (2)
1981-82 NBA 0.661 (2)
1982-83 NBA 0.485 (2)
1983-84 NBA 0.858 (1)
1984-85 NBA 0.978 (1)
1985-86 NBA 0.981 (1)
1986-87 NBA 0.357 (3)
1987-88 NBA 0.659 (2)

[SilkkTheShocker]

That would be you, you post horrible shit, no one takes your opinion seriously, you get clowned here on the regular and threads you make get closed because they are crap.

Your retorts are juvenile...you a punk:lol


This kid is mad ^^^ :oldlol:

[FindingTim]

I've been studying Bird on youtube. He is a ****ing basketball genius.
He isn't one mental step ahead of everyone, he is five steps ahead.
No amount of HGH can teach you that.

The modern super-athletes may be faster, but they are much slower in mind. Larry would eat them alive, and shit on this entire league.

[ProfessorMurder]

this post proves WHY bird is being dogged :facepalm

How? The f*cker asked for a thin guy that dominates today... That's Durant.

[KevinNYC]

I've been studying Bird on youtube. He is a ****ing basketball genius.
He isn't one mental step ahead of everyone, he is five steps ahead.
No amount of HGH can teach you that.

The modern super-athletes may be faster, but they are much slower in mind. Larry would eat them alive, and shit on this entire league.

Good post. I'm assuming you didn't get to watch Bird play live?
James Worthy said he would be mentally exhausted after guarding Bird.

Youtube used to have the 1981 Celtics Sixers series up, but I think it was taken down. Watch the end of that series. Bird was all over the place.

The sense I used to get when watching Larry Bird was that he was making an impact in all phases of the game and was dangerous from virtually any spot on the court. All the very best players give you that feeling. Jordan didn't have that immediately. Bird's sense of anticipation of where the game was going is absolutely uncanny and up there with just a handfull of players in NBA history.

[bwink23]

[QUOTE=KevinNYC]Good post. I'm assuming you didn't get to watch Bird play live?
James Worthy said he would be mentally exhausted after guarding Bird.

Youtube used to have the 1981 Celtics Sixers series up, but I think it was taken down. Watch the end of that series. Bird was all over the place.

The sense I used to get when watching Larry Bird was that he was making an impact in all phases of the game and was dangerous from virtually any spot on the court. All the very best players give you that feeling. Jordan didn't have that immediately. Bird's sense of anticipation of where the game was going is absolutely uncanny and up there with just a handfull of players in NBA history.[/QUOTE


I personally feel Bird has the highest skill/I.Q. combination that's ever played the game...that's just my opinion.

[TheMan]

[QUOTE=KevinNYC]Good post. I'm assuming you didn't get to watch Bird play live?
James Worthy said he would be mentally exhausted after guarding Bird.

Youtube used to have the 1981 Celtics Sixers series up, but I think it was taken down. Watch the end of that series. Bird was all over the place.

The sense I used to get when watching Larry Bird was that he was making an impact in all phases of the game and was dangerous from virtually any spot on the court. All the very best players give you that feeling. Jordan didn't have that immediately. Bird's sense of anticipation of where the game was going is absolutely uncanny and up there with just a handfull of players in NBA history.[/QUOTE


I personally feel Bird has the highest skill/I.Q. combination that's ever played the game...that's just my opinion.
You say that because he's white.

Magic and MJ were as smart as Bird, Jerry West (white guy) even says that.

[WillC]

I personally feel Bird has the highest skill/I.Q. combination that's ever played the game...that's just my opinion.

Bird is the most fundamentally sound player ever. There is really very little room for debate. I believe he is also one of the three greatest all-rounders in NBA history (with competition from LeBron James and Oscar Robertson).

And yes, Bird has the highest basketball IQ ever in my opinion as well. He could read the game better than anyone.

He was a basketball genius.

[WillC]

You say that because he's white.

Magic and MJ were as smart as Bird, Jerry West (white guy) even says that.

Jordan had the best scoring mentality in history and also perhaps the greatest or most ruthless killer instinct.

But he couldn't read the game like Bird, i.e. the movement of his teammates. I agree that Magic Johnson's basketball IQ is right up there with Bird's, although Bird read the game better defensively, playing the passing lanes, etc.

[bwink23]

[QUOTE=bwink23]
You say that because he's white.

Magic and MJ were as smart as Bird, Jerry West (white guy) even says that.



:rolleyes: :rolleyes: ......NO..i say that cuz he has the best I.Q./skill combination to ever play the game. :facepalm

[bwink23]

Jordan had the best scoring mentality in history and also perhaps the greatest or most ruthless killer instinct.

But he couldn't read the game like Bird, i.e. the movement of his teammates. I agree that Magic Johnson's basketball IQ is right up there with Bird's, although Bird read the game better defensively, playing the passing lanes, etc.


Magic also didn't have the all-around skill combination that Bird had....Skill/I.Q. combo

[bwink23]

[QUOTE=bwink23]
You say that because he's white.

Magic and MJ were as smart as Bird, Jerry West (white guy) even says that.


Magic Johnson once said,"Larry Bird was good...it's frightening."

I'm sure his skin color had nothing to do with it.....:no:

[WillC]

Magic Johnson also said this:

[SilkkTheShocker]

TheMan,

Is this longest you have ever made it in a thread without bringing up Jordan?? :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Round Mound]

Larry Bird`s Most Underreated Part of his Game was his Strength To Post Up even on Heavier or Taller Players and his Natural Strength, especially Leg Power was unreal to Get Positioning for Rebounds.

Larry Bird schooled so many Athletic and Heavier Players it wasn`t even funny.

As Magic said before: "Alot of Black Guys Asked Me...Was Bird that Good?...I Said to them...Larry Bird was SO GOOD...IT WAS FREIGHTNING"

[eliteballer]

Jordan had the best scoring mentality in history and also perhaps the greatest or most ruthless killer instinct.

But he couldn't read the game like Bird, i.e. the movement of his teammates. I agree that Magic Johnson's basketball IQ is right up there with Bird's, although Bird read the game better defensively, playing the passing lanes, etc.


Huh...magic led the league in steals bruh

[WillC]

Huh...magic led the league in steals bruh

True, true. Both Bird and Magic were great at that part of the game, and both played with hustle too.

[bwink23]

TheMan,

Is this longest you have ever made it in a thread without bringing up Jordan?? :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:


Have you made quality post yet about anything??? It's so bad for you, you got to get DAD involved.....:banana:

[dude77]

How? The f*cker asked for a thin guy that dominates today... That's Durant.

think about it ..

[LBJMVP]

the same bird that destroyed the 80s while his whole body was practically injured? if bird is overrated then every single player in the 80's sucked dick.

tell you dad his is a straight up F*cking retard and should be ashamed of himself. then give him a nice little mushroom slap for me.

[TheMan]

TheMan,

Is this longest you have ever made it in a thread without bringing up Jordan?? :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:
I actually did mention him in this thread:roll:

Old habits die hard.

Let's face it, not saying Bird didn't have elite bball IQ, it' just that the media always say that about white players giving the impression black players do with natural athletic skill...that's all I'm saying.
That's why I brought up Magic and MJ, two black players known for their high IQ.

[blablabla]

how many 6 foot 9 guys with twig bodies do you see finishing inside in todays nba?

how many post up?


strength and conditioning is a huge part of the nba today


F*cking idiot
bird was always well conditioned and about strength
scola isn't the strongest guy and is great in the post, dirk isn't very strong durant

[SpecialQue]

My dad says there's a lot of black people in China.

[LockoutOver11]

op's dad is a ******

[AlphaWolf24]

yeah anyone who calls magic 'slow and unathletic' doesn't know wtf they're talking about .. slow and unathletic point guard running a fast paced run and gun offense :hammerhead: .. some posters here are fkin dumb


99.9% of NBA players I would catagorize as Athletic....Larry Bird was very athletic as was Magic...but I was comparing them to the Dr.J's....Drexler's....Jordan's...Nique's...and other great perimeter 1 -2 - and 3's

when talking about "athletic" I would not put Magic that ahead of Bird.

Magic was slow and Athletic compared to most stars...I watched his whole career...bieng fast and athletic was not what he was or what he relied on (as with Larry Bird)

Magic knew how to feel out the game's space and get people involved so they had room to make a move....

I question anyone who says Magic was fast! and athletic!...he simply was not when compared to the other fast athletic NBA stars of the 80's.


was he a great "athlete"?...sure...as was Larry Bird....

[FindingTim]

http://media.vindy.com/content/image/scalzo/larry-bird.jpg

ssshhhhhhh- don't tell them how brilliant I was. It will be our little secret.

[ProfessorMurder]

think about it ..

I answered the question, and many other people in this thread said the same. Just shut the f*ck up.

[bwink23]

99.9% of NBA players I would catagorize as Athletic....Larry Bird was very athletic as was Magic...but I was comparing them to the Dr.J's....Drexler's....Jordan's...Nique's...and other great perimeter 1 -2 - and 3's

when talking about "athletic" I would not put Magic that ahead of Bird.

Magic was slow and Athletic compared to most stars...I watched his whole career...bieng fast and athletic was not what he was or what he relied on (as with Larry Bird)

Magic knew how to feel out the game's space and get people involved so they had room to make a move....

I question anyone who says Magic was fast! and athletic!...he simply was not when compared to the other fast athletic NBA stars of the 80's.


was he a great "athlete"?...sure...as was Larry Bird....


Magic wasn't "slow and unathletic" compared to ANY athlete of his day....FOOL............:hammerhead:

[La Frescobaldi]

OP problem is congenital. Most likely no cure for that type of idiocy.

Such a shame really, he seems like such a nice lad

[dude77]

I answered the question, and many other people in this thread said the same. Just shut the f*ck up.

I wasn't asking for any answer .. just making a comment .. and the comment wasn't about you .. you're kinda slow there

[Kblaze8855]

i see like 10 guys every day at the ymca that look like larry bird...

people jump over them and shove their nuts in their face

imagine what an nba player would do to larry


I wonder how many of those people(or people on earth) can do anything like Larry nance did. Why exactly was Bird able to score on him? And Pippen. Jordan. Drop 40-50 on Nique. How does that happen exactly?

I swear its as if some of you think the NBA dropped 400 players in 1992 and rebuilt the league. Bird outplayed people who were all stars with Kobe(a lot of them). Guys Bird dropped 40 on were still starting games on ECF teams in 2006. When he drops 30 on Derrick Mckey when Mckey is in his prime it doesnt count but when Mckey is being put into finals games for defensive reasons it counts when Kobe scores on him in his 30s?
Mitch Richmond can guard young Kobe and its nothing to dismiss if Kobe performs well but Bird gives mitch the business and its weak defense...

When Bird had 29/6/5 on an Elliot/Drob/Avery Spurs team it doesnt count but when Kobe, Tmac, or AI play the Elliot/Drob/Avery spurs its a whole other level of player even though they were all older and worse than they were vs Bird? Dennis Rodman at 36 guarding Duncan and holding him to 14 points is great defense but when Bird drops 33 on Rodman in his prime its what...not impressive? A month before he retired...when he already had no knees and a back that forced him to lay on the floor at times instead of sit on the bench...he had 21/11/8 on Rodman at his best. 19RPG DPOY Rodman. Played 46 minutes. Bird at his worst literally a month from the end of his career can go at arguably the best defensive forward of all time at the peak of his ability. Unimpressive.

But Rodman deep into his 30s contains a very near prime version of a guy who put up 20/18 like a week ago....having gone through like 5 years of decline.

Old injured Bird standing toe to toe with the same defender in his prime...means nothing. Duncan doing it when the guy is 36 and Duncan is like 21.....thats two modern guys playing?

The 80s didnt exist then vanish into thin air. The players Larry ate up were still putting in work vs current stars. Shit Bird had a backup who started on the Lakers 3peat....

The league changes a lot slower than is being implied...

[Collie]

So, the UFC fighters are better than gladiators of 2000 years ago? I mean evolution right?

[CelticBaller]

op's dad is a ph@got

[bwink23]

I wonder how many of those people(or people on earth) can do anything like Larry nance did. Why exactly was Bird able to score on him? And Pippen. Jordan. Drop 40-50 on Nique. How does that happen exactly?

I swear its as if some of you think the NBA dropped 400 players in 1992 and rebuilt the league. Bird outplayed people who were all stars with Kobe(a lot of them). Guys Bird dropped 40 on were still starting games on ECF teams in 2006. When he drops 30 on Derrick Mckey when Mckey is in his prime it doesnt count but when Mckey is being put into finals games for defensive reasons it counts when Kobe scores on him in his 30s?
Mitch Richmond can guard young Kobe and its nothing to dismiss if Kobe performs well but Bird gives mitch the business and its weak defense...

When Bird had 29/6/5 on an Elliot/Drob/Avery Spurs team it doesnt count but when Kobe, Tmac, or AI play the Elliot/Drob/Avery spurs its a whole other level of player even though they were all older and worse than they were vs Bird? Dennis Rodman at 36 guarding Duncan and holding him to 14 points is great defense but when Bird drops 33 on Rodman in his prime its what...not impressive? A month before he retired...when he already had no knees and a back that forced him to lay on the floor at times instead of sit on the bench...he had 21/11/8 on Rodman at his best. 19RPG DPOY Rodman. Played 46 minutes. Bird at his worst literally a month from the end of his career can go at arguably the best defensive forward of all time at the peak of his ability. Unimpressive.

But Rodman deep into his 30s contains a very near prime version of a guy who put up 20/18 like a week ago....having gone through like 5 years of decline.

Old injured Bird standing toe to toe with the same defender in his prime...means nothing. Duncan doing it when the guy is 36 and Duncan is like 21.....thats two modern guys playing?

The 80s didnt exist then vanish into thin air. The players Larry ate up were still putting in work vs current stars. Shit Bird had a backup who started on the Lakers 3peat....

The league changes a lot slower than is being implied...


I think the production value of today's game and juiced-up players screws with young kid's heads. Larry Bird wouldn't get "dwarfed" by these guys if there were pics of him out there with them.

[get these NETS]

Listen Mr. DUMB DUMB guy......it's no secret that the Showtime Lakers were far more athletic than the Celtics, that's not even an argument....and that's the point i was making.


Take your WEAK SAUCE crap somewhere else kid:


L.A. Lakers

Magic Johnson - 6'9" fast and athletic
James Worthy - 6'8" fast, quick, athletic, great leaper
Byron Scott - 6'5" fast, quick, athletic and good leaper
Kareem - Very tall, long, good runner for his size.
A.C. Green - 6'9" good runner, muscle in the middle, hustler
Michael Cooper - 6'5", long arms, good leaper, quick feet.

Celtics

Bird - 6'9" - not a good leaper, average speed
McHale - 6'10"wide shoulders,long, average runner, not a good leaper
Parish - 7'0" - average runner, average leaper
Walton - 7'0"- nothing left of his athleticism post injuries
Sichting - 6'1" - tough guy, but not a prototype athlete
Johnson - 6'5" - average athlete, not great
Danny Ainge - decent athlete, not a leaper
Scott Wedman - average athlete


Saying the Celtics is comparable to the Lakers athletically is a straight admission of RETARDATION.....:hammerhead:


thanks for ignoring the first part of my post

celts played lakers three times in finals.......won once...lost twice

1)so much for your theory about "slow white guys" beating "fast black guys"


2)magic was not a better than average NBA athlete....EVER...he had exceptional dribbling skills, unreal court vision, and supreme craftiness and had quick wings (scott and worthy)
look at the fast breaks and see whether it was magic blowing by people or not..

Byron scott would guard the other team's pg if he was quick because magic didn't have the ability to stay in front of them

[TheMan]

I wonder how many of those people(or people on earth) can do anything like Larry nance did. Why exactly was Bird able to score on him? And Pippen. Jordan. Drop 40-50 on Nique. How does that happen exactly?

I swear its as if some of you think the NBA dropped 400 players in 1992 and rebuilt the league. Bird outplayed people who were all stars with Kobe(a lot of them). Guys Bird dropped 40 on were still starting games on ECF teams in 2006. When he drops 30 on Derrick Mckey when Mckey is in his prime it doesnt count but when Mckey is being put into finals games for defensive reasons it counts when Kobe scores on him in his 30s?
Mitch Richmond can guard young Kobe and its nothing to dismiss if Kobe performs well but Bird gives mitch the business and its weak defense...

When Bird had 29/6/5 on an Elliot/Drob/Avery Spurs team it doesnt count but when Kobe, Tmac, or AI play the Elliot/Drob/Avery spurs its a whole other level of player even though they were all older and worse than they were vs Bird? Dennis Rodman at 36 guarding Duncan and holding him to 14 points is great defense but when Bird drops 33 on Rodman in his prime its what...not impressive? A month before he retired...when he already had no knees and a back that forced him to lay on the floor at times instead of sit on the bench...he had 21/11/8 on Rodman at his best. 19RPG DPOY Rodman. Played 46 minutes. Bird at his worst literally a month from the end of his career can go at arguably the best defensive forward of all time at the peak of his ability. Unimpressive.

But Rodman deep into his 30s contains a very near prime version of a guy who put up 20/18 like a week ago....having gone through like 5 years of decline.

Old injured Bird standing toe to toe with the same defender in his prime...means nothing. Duncan doing it when the guy is 36 and Duncan is like 21.....thats two modern guys playing?

The 80s didnt exist then vanish into thin air. The players Larry ate up were still putting in work vs current stars. Shit Bird had a backup who started on the Lakers 3peat...


The league changes a lot slower than is being implied...


QFT

[get these NETS]

Who was better than Bird 84-86?

The MVP voting was even close those three years
1983-84 NBA 0.858 (1)
1984-85 NBA 0.978 (1)
1985-86 NBA 0.981 (1)

take ANY great player at their peak and you'll find that their peaks overlap with other great players.

any given year there's a legit case to be made for 3-4 guys


think of all the great players since 1980...how many do you think got 3 straight mvps?

Would you say that he had the greatest 3 year peak since 1980?

[bwink23]

thanks for ignoring the first part of my post

celts played lakers three times in finals.......won once...lost twice

1)so much for your theory about "slow white guys" beating "fast black guys"


2)magic was not a better than average NBA athlete....EVER...he had exceptional dribbling skills, unreal court vision, and supreme craftiness and had quick wings (scott and worthy)
look at the fast breaks and see whether it was magic blowing by people or not..

Byron scott would guard the other team's pg if he was quick because magic didn't have the ability to stay in front of them



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIRZyoNLpCs

yeah whatever kid....:hammerhead:

[colts19]

My dad said the same thing, and unlike 90%+ of ISH posters, he actually watched Bird play in college and the NBA for years and years.

Well I went to every home game that Larry played in college and followed him through his NBA career, and I say your dad is full of SH*T.

[Shepseskaf]

Bird IS overrated -- Rodman.

[OldSchoolBBall]

I wonder how many of those people(or people on earth) can do anything like Larry nance did. Why exactly was Bird able to score on him? And Pippen. Jordan. Drop 40-50 on Nique. How does that happen exactly?

I swear its as if some of you think the NBA dropped 400 players in 1992 and rebuilt the league. Bird outplayed people who were all stars with Kobe(a lot of them). Guys Bird dropped 40 on were still starting games on ECF teams in 2006. When he drops 30 on Derrick Mckey when Mckey is in his prime it doesnt count but when Mckey is being put into finals games for defensive reasons it counts when Kobe scores on him in his 30s?
Mitch Richmond can guard young Kobe and its nothing to dismiss if Kobe performs well but Bird gives mitch the business and its weak defense...

When Bird had 29/6/5 on an Elliot/Drob/Avery Spurs team it doesnt count but when Kobe, Tmac, or AI play the Elliot/Drob/Avery spurs its a whole other level of player even though they were all older and worse than they were vs Bird? Dennis Rodman at 36 guarding Duncan and holding him to 14 points is great defense but when Bird drops 33 on Rodman in his prime its what...not impressive? A month before he retired...when he already had no knees and a back that forced him to lay on the floor at times instead of sit on the bench...he had 21/11/8 on Rodman at his best. 19RPG DPOY Rodman. Played 46 minutes. Bird at his worst literally a month from the end of his career can go at arguably the best defensive forward of all time at the peak of his ability. Unimpressive.

But Rodman deep into his 30s contains a very near prime version of a guy who put up 20/18 like a week ago....having gone through like 5 years of decline.

Old injured Bird standing toe to toe with the same defender in his prime...means nothing. Duncan doing it when the guy is 36 and Duncan is like 21.....thats two modern guys playing?

The 80s didnt exist then vanish into thin air. The players Larry ate up were still putting in work vs current stars. Shit Bird had a backup who started on the Lakers 3peat....

The league changes a lot slower than is being implied...

Brilliant post. :applause:

[get these NETS]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIRZyoNLpCs

yeah whatever kid....:hammerhead:


I can stop posting, you're doing my job, FOR ME


that clip shows magic starting the break...dribbling around the defender at half court....nobody picks him up..and he dunks the ball


what was the point?

to show me his blazing speed? his 'leaping ability" at 6'8"?

=========================================

thanks....

[ralph_i_el]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL

But the thing is, when you compare players from that era to players today, you have to assume that the old time players have the same exercise and nutrition advances that we have today.

It's not like humans have evolved to be better athletes in past 40 years. We just have better technology and knowledge of the body.

[ralph_i_el]

I wonder how many of those people(or people on earth) can do anything like Larry nance did. Why exactly was Bird able to score on him? And Pippen. Jordan. Drop 40-50 on Nique. How does that happen exactly?

I swear its as if some of you think the NBA dropped 400 players in 1992 and rebuilt the league. Bird outplayed people who were all stars with Kobe(a lot of them). Guys Bird dropped 40 on were still starting games on ECF teams in 2006. When he drops 30 on Derrick Mckey when Mckey is in his prime it doesnt count but when Mckey is being put into finals games for defensive reasons it counts when Kobe scores on him in his 30s?
Mitch Richmond can guard young Kobe and its nothing to dismiss if Kobe performs well but Bird gives mitch the business and its weak defense...

When Bird had 29/6/5 on an Elliot/Drob/Avery Spurs team it doesnt count but when Kobe, Tmac, or AI play the Elliot/Drob/Avery spurs its a whole other level of player even though they were all older and worse than they were vs Bird? Dennis Rodman at 36 guarding Duncan and holding him to 14 points is great defense but when Bird drops 33 on Rodman in his prime its what...not impressive? A month before he retired...when he already had no knees and a back that forced him to lay on the floor at times instead of sit on the bench...he had 21/11/8 on Rodman at his best. 19RPG DPOY Rodman. Played 46 minutes. Bird at his worst literally a month from the end of his career can go at arguably the best defensive forward of all time at the peak of his ability. Unimpressive.

But Rodman deep into his 30s contains a very near prime version of a guy who put up 20/18 like a week ago....having gone through like 5 years of decline.

Old injured Bird standing toe to toe with the same defender in his prime...means nothing. Duncan doing it when the guy is 36 and Duncan is like 21.....thats two modern guys playing?

The 80s didnt exist then vanish into thin air. The players Larry ate up were still putting in work vs current stars. Shit Bird had a backup who started on the Lakers 3peat....

The league changes a lot slower than is being implied...

truth

[d21221hk]

lol kennethgriffin hightailed outta this thread soon as he gets called out for his retarded dumbass posts

[TheMan]

take ANY great player at their peak and you'll find that their peaks overlap with other great players.

any given year there's a legit case to be made for 3-4 guys


think of all the great players since 1980...how many do you think got 3 straight mvps?

Would you say that he had the greatest 3 year peak since 1980?
MJ from 1988 to 1993, 1995 to 1998 and Shaq from 2000 to 2003 come to mind.

[KevinNYC]

take ANY great player at their peak and you'll find that their peaks overlap with other great players.

any given year there's a legit case to be made for 3-4 guys


think of all the great players since 1980...how many do you think got 3 straight mvps?

Would you say that he had the greatest 3 year peak since 1980?

So now you're arguing something else. Bird was clear and obvious MVP for three straight years.

To answer the different argument you're making. Other than Jordan, I would put Bird's peak up there with any player since 1980. As the dominant player on a team that won 192 regular season games and 43 playoff games in three years. And an all-around player. Yeah, I'd take Bird.

[copper]

do the basketball world a favor and go slap your father. do it....now.. ok, now go slap your mother.

[DJ Leon Smith]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

I agree. How would he get in the paint against the guys who led the league in rebounds and blocks last season. Superhumans.

http://www.kevinlove.org/images/kevin-love-pictures%20%283%29.jpg

http://sportige.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Andrew-Bogut1.jpg

[RidonKs]

i love kblaze cross-era comparison posts, jumping from the early 70s to the late 90s with, like, three different players. such a refreshing perspective. absurd though it may seem to long time viewers, it's actually pretty easy for us young cats to get caught up in the modern day hoopla. not so so much with guys like bird and magic and dr j, but it's much easier with the seemingly stats-inflated guys like wilt and baylor and oscar and the rest.

again, with the dots laid out and so easy to connect... refreshing is the only word to describe it. though with the amount of available video showing off Bird's prowess, you'd have to be nuts or willfully ignorant to believe the bullshit of the op.

[Kblaze8855]

I just dont understand it. where does one even get the idea that a guy cant play well vs modern players when you can just...google the guy...and find him playing well vs modern players? Larry Bird played people who retired in like 2007. Half the 90s players played Bird and got outplayed by him past his prime at times.

At a glance...no less than 15 people who have been all stars with Kobe....played with or against Larry Bird. Dirk just off the top of my head...has had at least 6 teammates who played with/against Bird.

More than one person in the NBA in 2007 guarded Bird during a 40+ point game. Bird has lit up people who guarded Tmac. You can google the Magic/pistons series and see Tmac guarded at times by people Bird scored more against.

How can that be...and people keep talking about the players who cant translate? Its like....why even write out something expressing an opinion so clearly false? Say a guy cant ____ vs modern players when he already did it vs guys who are modern players and guarded modern stars.

Its just....hard to imagine how one still comes to these conclusions. You cant look into it and not see its false....and if you arent looking into your claims at all....how do some of these people state them with such conviction?

Is fact checking really THAT rare?

[La Frescobaldi]

I just dont understand it. where does one even get the idea that a guy cant play well vs modern players when you can just...google the guy...and find him playing well vs modern players? Larry Bird played people who retired in like 2007. Half the 90s players played Bird and got outplayed by him past his prime at times.

At a glance...no less than 15 people who have been all stars with Kobe....played with or against Larry Bird. Dirk just off the top of my head...has had at least 6 teammates who played with/against Bird.

More than one person in the NBA in 2007 guarded Bird during a 40+ point game. Bird has lit up people who guarded Tmac. You can google the Magic/pistons series and see Tmac guarded at times by people Bird scored more against.

How can that be...and people keep talking about the players who cant translate? Its like....why even write out something expressing an opinion so clearly false? Say a guy cant ____ vs modern players when he already did it vs guys who are modern players and guarded modern stars.

Its just....hard to imagine how one still comes to these conclusions. You cant look into it and not see its false....and if you arent looking into your claims at all....how do some of these people state them with such conviction?

Is fact checking really THAT rare?
***********************************

Yeah it really is that rare. This is similar to a lot of posts in the past year or two that are just flat disrespecting the earlier days of the game. It's not just on ISH, it's all over.

In a way, basketball is like chess. In the 1890s the world's best chess players were pulling just boneheaded blunders by today's standards. Mistakes that no average player would make today. Those guys were inventing the openings. They had no schools, no books of games to study. Today a pretty good chess player - not a master level, just a solid guy - has dozens, hundreds and even thousands of openings memorized.

Does that mean that the average player today is better than Steinitz or Lasker? LOL I seriously doubt it. Some of the greatest masters in history look like children compared to today's chessmasters - yet they were world champions only 100 or 125 years ago.

Of course today's masters have a more thorough knowledge, a stronger grounding of the game - it's simple study and practice, learning from the masters who came before. Very obvious in chess; very obvious in basketball.


I sat the bleachers when Gail Goodrich was playing. I am just as sure as I can be that if you could go to Inglewood with a time machine and put him in it, bring him straight to Staples, in his 1972 Lakers jersey, he would be able to run right on the court and play NBA level defense on these guys. There's not a guy in the NBA today that's quicker or smarter than Gail Goodrich.

He'd be irate about the rules (and he'd be furious with the stupidity of some of the players), but by end of season he'd be playing elite hoops & splitting traps to flip the ball over the front of the rim with his trademark finger roll.

Pistol Pete Maravich could walk on with the Jazz, right now today and take a starting spot. Darryl Dawkins would roll right over today's centers & so would Moses Malone. Kevin Love & Blake Griffin are destroying today's teams, and I have no doubt that David Thompson & Dan Issel would do the same. Elite, world class basketball players are timeless.

Larry Bird?

Yet I see all the time people on ISH declaring their scientific expertise... exhibiting their vast knowledge of Darwinian Theory.... of just exactly how and why athletes are so much more advanced than in the primitive decade of the 1980s - It's Evolution!!

[winnnaz]

Give me a dude who is fundamentally flawless in every aspect of the game, over a guy who can jump out of the gym but can't hit a jumpshot.

Basketball isn't purely about jumping high or being strong.
There's no point having god-given athletic ability if you don't have the mentality and fundamental skills to match.

I think people tend to forget that Bird was 6"9 and shot his jumper from over/behind his head - a shot that was very hard to block. Also deceptively strong, to go with great timing which made him a good rebounder. Could defend very well too.

Damnit some people are just too ignorant....

[jlauber]

The vast majority of posters on this topic agree that Bird (and Magic) would be great in TODAY's game.

But, it goes beyond those two, as well. Who were the league MVP's their first four seasons in the league? Kareem, Dr. J, and Moses twice-in-a-row.

The FACT was, the best players of the 70's, who crossed into the 80's, were just as dominant in BOTH decades. Players like the above mentioned, as well as guys like Dantley and Gilmore. In fact, Dantley and Gilmore were more dominant in the 80's, than they were in the 70's.

Take a look at the greatest "bridge" of all-time, Kareem. A 39 year old Kareem dumped games of 46 and 40 on Hakeem and Ewing in a span of about a week. Just OBLITERATED those two. Were they flukes? How about this...in Kareem's CAREER against Ewing, covering 10 games, and from ages 38 thru 41 (actually 42), he OUTSCORED Ewing, on average, 20.6 ppg to 18.8 ppg, AND, he OUTSHOT Ewing by the landslide margin of .581 to .446.

It was even WORSE against Hakeem. In his first TEN STRAIGHT games against Hakeem, Kareem averaged 31.8 ppg on an eye-popping .630 FG%! A 38-39 year old Kareem had THREE games of 40+ against Hakeem. Then, think about this...a PRIME Shaq, and against a washed-up Hakeem, had his HIGH game vs Hakeem, of 37 points.

Then, go back to a Kareem at his PEAK. In 28 H2H games against an OLD Chamberlain, Kareem shot .464. And, in their last TEN H2H games, Kareem could only shoot .434 (and this was from a 25-26 year old Kareem.) And a 34 year old Chamberlain, only a year removed from major knee surgery, and nowhere near the player he was in his PRIME, went H2H against a PRIME Kareem in 10 games in the '71 season. The two were statistically EVEN!

And, Kareem was even more held down by the relatively unknown Nate Thurmond. The two went H2H in some 50+ games, and Kareem seldom even scored 30 against Nate, with a HIGH game of 34. I am completely convinced that Kareem shot considerably less than .450 against Nate in those 50+ games, as well. In fact, in three straight playoff series, from '71 thru '73, Kareem shot .486, .428, and even as low as .405 (in a series in which Nate outscored and outshot him.)

In the '70 ECF's, Kareem outscored MVP Reed by a 171-139 margin, which was not a dramatic difference. And Reed pounded Kareem in the clinching game five win, a 132-96 blowut win over Kareem's Bucks.

In the '74 Finals, a PRIME Kareem was a superior player to the 6-9 Dave Cowens, BUT, in the clinching game seven, in Milwaukee, Cowens outplayed Kareem (particularly in the 4th quarter), in leading the Celtics to a blowout win on the Bucks home floor.

Hell, even Marvin Webster gave Kareem all he could handle in the '78 playoffs, including battling him to a draw in the clinching game three win for the Sonics.

Then in the early 80's, Moses outplayed Kareem in the '81 playoffs, in a shocking upset, and then pounded him in the '83 Finals.

I have said it before, and it is worth repeating...anyone who can come up with a season in which they believe that the game became close to what it is today, I can go back to the previous season, and conclusively show that many of the best players of the year before, were just as dominant in that particular season.

So, please, don't tell me that the greats of the 60's and 70's wouldn't be great today. Maravich, Oscar, West, Lucas, McAdoo, Bing, Archibald, Barry, Cunningham, Baylor, Reed, Bellamy, Greer, Goodrich, Monroe, Lanier, Thurmond, Hawkins, Havlicek, Russell, Thurmond, Kareem, and Wilt, just to name a few, would easily be great players today.

[Euroleague]

Your dad is at the very least a true moron, and is much more likely, a total racist.

[Euroleague]

i see like 10 guys every day at the ymca that look like larry bird...

people jump over them and shove their nuts in their face

imagine what an nba player would do to larry


the 80s sucked... entertaining yes... but legit? no

no defense... only 1 guy who could do everything ( jordan )

and mostly just a bunch of guys who had to injure people in order to stop them defensively..

dominated by slow unathletic twigs..

pathetic compared to today IMO


but like i said before... i'm sure in 30 years todays nba will look like crap aswell

The NBA now isn't half as good as it was in the 80s. The NBA can't even hang with the Euroleague today.

The current NBA is a god damn joke that is the single biggest pussified sports league on the planet.

[Euroleague]

I just dont understand it. where does one even get the idea that a guy cant play well vs modern players when you can just...google the guy...and find him playing well vs modern players? Larry Bird played people who retired in like 2007. Half the 90s players played Bird and got outplayed by him past his prime at times.

At a glance...no less than 15 people who have been all stars with Kobe....played with or against Larry Bird. Dirk just off the top of my head...has had at least 6 teammates who played with/against Bird.

More than one person in the NBA in 2007 guarded Bird during a 40+ point game. Bird has lit up people who guarded Tmac. You can google the Magic/pistons series and see Tmac guarded at times by people Bird scored more against.

How can that be...and people keep talking about the players who cant translate? Its like....why even write out something expressing an opinion so clearly false? Say a guy cant ____ vs modern players when he already did it vs guys who are modern players and guarded modern stars.

Its just....hard to imagine how one still comes to these conclusions. You cant look into it and not see its false....and if you arent looking into your claims at all....how do some of these people state them with such conviction?

Is fact checking really THAT rare?

You are a damn hypocrite. The OP is just a damn embarrassment to the site and all basketball fans everywhere. But you are a hypocrite.

Because all of this you complain about here, is EXACTLY what you do whenever any Euroleague players are mentioned. IMHO hypocrites are worse than even guys like the OP.

[winnnaz]

Yes JLauber, Kareem was a very good player.
I didn't have to read your essay to conclude that, however.

[Asukal]

Your dad is an idiot, you probably are too. :banana:

[dkmwise]

Your dad is an idiot, you probably are too. :banana:

Too slow and unathletic. Huh, it seems people would always say those same things about Dirk, Kevin Love, Jeremy Lin, and Ricky Rubio. I wonder, have those guys played decent in the 2012 NBA???

[Asukal]

Too slow and unathletic. Huh, it seems people would always say those same things about Dirk, Kevin Love, Jeremy Lin, and Ricky Rubio. I wonder, have those guys played decent in the 2012 NBA???

Athleticism does not always equal to greatness. :facepalm

[CeltsGarlic]

your dads right

its the hgh generation of superhumans

birds slow unathletic semi gut having no arm definition and no dunking ability... he would be turned into a spot up shooter and good play maker at best...

he wouldnt be taking people off the dribble or finishing inside like he did in the 80's when teams played little deference and some teams averaged 120ppg


the game evolves... i take nothing away from their accomplishments... birds top 5-6 player all time.

people hold onto the past way too much and think with their hearts... i'm sure 30-40 years from now i'l be the same and trying to prove kobe is better than any current player... blindly watching 10 guys in the league built like lebron and shooting like reggie/ray ray and dunking from the three point line LOL

http://i.imgur.com/R5WGt.gif

[SilkkTheShocker]

Your dad is at the very least a true moron, and is much more likely, a total racist.

Thats hysterical coming from someone that watches garbage Euro games. What would you know about the NBA after watching that watered down crap? I bet you are a big fan of soccer also hahaha

[Big#50]

i see like 10 guys every day at the ymca that look like larry bird...

people jump over them and shove their nuts in their face

imagine what an nba player would do to larry


the 80s sucked... entertaining yes... but legit? no

no defense... only 1 guy who could do everything ( jordan )

and mostly just a bunch of guys who had to injure people in order to stop them defensively..

dominated by slow unathletic twigs..

pathetic compared to today IMO


but like i said before... i'm sure in 30 years todays nba will look like crap aswell
Just STFU. Stop trolling. Bird would score 100 points on you while blindfolded and his shoes tied together. There will never be another Larry Bird. Larry Bird is timeless. Larry Legend would score 30 ppg with ease today. Let me guess you're black... ****ing idiot.

[get these NETS]

So now you're arguing something else. Bird was clear and obvious MVP for three straight years.

To answer the different argument you're making. Other than Jordan, I would put Bird's peak up there with any player since 1980. As the dominant player on a team that won 192 regular season games and 43 playoff games in three years. And an all-around player. Yeah, I'd take Bird.


Not arguing something else.

When you see that since 1980 nobody else got 3 straight mvps, including the man who you acknowledged that had a peak greater than Bird's, you start seeing my point.

Even after MJ got over the hump..and 3 peated twice....no 3 consecutive mvp awards....duncan neither

like i said, 3-4 legit contenders each year....even when mj OWNED the league....never won 3 straight

thanks for helping my side of the argument..

[KevinNYC]

So what is your point? Bird didn't deserve thee straight MVPs or Bird played in a weak ear or what? What is your actually point?

[Euroleague]

Thats hysterical coming from someone that watches garbage Euro games. What would you know about the NBA after watching that watered down crap? I bet you are a big fan of soccer also hahaha

80s NBA > 90s NBA > current Euroleague > current NBA.

I don't consider anyone that thinks otherwise to have the first freaking clue about basketball.

[Unstop]

haha euroleague;)
ur a joke euroleague, nobody is taking u serious if u say those things over and over again.
im confused...ive thought europeans are close to reality.

[dude77]

80s NBA > 90s NBA > current Euroleague > current NBA.

I don't consider anyone that thinks otherwise to have the first freaking clue about basketball.

when team spain(who isn't comprised of the best european players) takes the best of the best nba players to a very close game to the end in the gold medal game .. this statement has more credibility than nba homers would like to admit

[TheMan]

when team spain(who isn't comprised of the best european players) takes the best of the best nba players to a very close game to the end in the gold medal game .. this statement has more credibility than nba homers would like to admit
So you are telling me there's a better player than LBJ for example, playing in Europe?

[DJ Leon Smith]

Who are the athletic beasts who led the NBA in rebounds and blocked shots last season?

P.S. Op, your dad is a fggt. Sorry that you've got two dads who like to suck each other's balls. Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll find a nice gentleman to marry soon.

P.P.S. Jeff, another A+ thread.

[SilkkTheShocker]

Who are the athletic beasts who led the NBA in rebounds and blocked shots last season?

P.S. Op, your dad is a fggt. Sorry that you've got two dads who like to suck each other's balls. Don't worry though, I'm sure you'll find a nice gentleman to marry soon.

P.P.S. Jeff, another A+ thread.


You done talking about dudes, gayboy?

[Kblaze8855]

Because all of this you complain about here, is EXACTLY what you do whenever any Euroleague players are mentioned.

Feel free to point out any euroleague players whos games ive ever claimed to know. The last time I can remember even speaking to you about the euroleague was me asking you something about sarunas jasikevicius because I was briefly interested in him after watching the 04 olympics.

Who could you even be talking about?

What...you talking about numbers in euroleague games of players to have also played in the NBA? Not sure where you were going with that.

[Kblaze8855]

when team spain(who isn't comprised of the best european players) takes the best of the best nba players to a very close game to the end in the gold medal game .. this statement has more credibility than nba homers would like to admit

At least 7 players on the 08 Spanish national team were at the itme, currently are, or have recently been....nba players. And one im not counting was on the Jazz for 4 years. No less than 8 of their players are or have been NBA level(maybe call it 7 since Rubio was so far away). So im not sure how a group of many NBA players staying close to a group of better NBA players proves something about the euroleague vs the NBA. You would have a point if you had said Greece who didnt have many nba players or maye even that Puerto Rican team that beat us ones in 04(though they had a couple nba players). But im not sure how many of either countries teams are even in the euro league.

But spain? That was a lot of NBA level players vs other NBA players. 5 of the 7 players on spain to play over 18 minutes in that game were nba players(unless again...you choose not to count rubio).

[Bigsmoke]

my dad is a black man who dickrides Bird.

[OhNoTimNoSho]

Your dad is gay