Best second option in NBA playoff history?

[TheCorporation]

Among all NBA Finals MVP winners, who had the best second option of all time?

Jordan had:
Pippen in 1991 put up 22/9/6 on 50% with 2.5 steals per game

Shaq had:
Kobe in 2001 put up 29/7/6 on 47% with 1.6 steals per game

Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Kareem had:
Magic in 1985 put up 18/7/15 on 51% with 1.7 steals per game

Kobe had:
Pau Gasol in 2010 put up 20/11/4 on 54% with 2 blocks per game

LeBron had:
Dwyane Wade in 2012 put up 23/5/4 on 46% with 1.7 steals per game

Wade had:
Shaquille O' Neal in 2006 put up 18/10 on 60% with 1.5 blocks per game

Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game

Bird had:
McHale in 1986 put up 25/9/3 on 58% with 2.4 blocks per game

Duncan had:
Ginobli in 2005 put up 21/6/4 on 51% with 1.2 steals per game

Parker had:
Duncan in 2007 put up 22/12/3 on 52% with 3 blocks per game

When you look at who had the best second option of all time, it makes it pretty hard. If I had to rank them into tiers I would do it like this:


Tier 1
Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game

Bird had:
McHale in 1986 put up 25/9/3 on 58% with 2.4 blocks per game

Shaq had:
Kobe in 2001 put up 29/7/6 on 47% with 1.6 steals per game

Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Kareem had:
Magic in 1985 put up 18/7/15 on 51% with 1.7 steals per game

Tier 2

Jordan had:
Pippen in 1991 put up 22/9/6 on 50% with 2.5 steals per game

Kobe had:
Pau Gasol in 2010 put up 20/11/4 on 54% with 2 blocks per game

Parker had:
Duncan in 2007 put up 22/12/3 on 52% with 3 blocks per game

Tier 3

Duncan had:
Ginobli in 2005 put up 21/6/4 on 51% with 1.2 steals per game

LeBron had:
Dwyane Wade in 2012 put up 23/5/4 on 46% with 1.7 steals per game

Wade had:
Shaquille O' Neal in 2006 put up 18/10 on 60% with 1.5 blocks per game

[Black and White]

You are forgetting that LeBron had Bosh too, without Bosh, Wades stats would be much higher, thats a fact.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Magic was KAJ's sidekick in 1980

KAJ 1980 Playoffs:
31.9 ppg / 12.9 rpg / 3.1 apg / 1.1 spg / 3.9 bpg / 57.2 fg% / 79.0 ft% / 61.1 ts%

KAJ also won MVP during the regular season

[Deuce Bigalow]

This thread makes no sense. Maxwell was first option? Parker was too?

[SamuraiSWISH]

2001 Kobe is GOAT 2nd option. 29/7/6 is first option stuff. All around offensive versatility, lock down defense with elite volume scoring. And he was clearly his team's closer for those playoff runs.

[TheCorporation]

Magic was KAJ's sidekick in 1980

KAJ 1980 Playoffs:
31.9 ppg / 12.9 rpg / 3.1 apg / 1.1 spg / 3.9 bpg / 57.2 fg% / 79.0 ft% / 61.1 ts%

KAJ also won MVP during the regular season

I'm taking the Finals MVP winner, and comparing their second option that year.

We can argue Magic was KAJ's sidekick in 1980 and Parker vs Duncan, etc. but the easiest way is to take the Finals MVP winner that year and compare him to his second option. Less room to be subjective.

[TheCorporation]

2001 Kobe is GOAT 2nd option. 29/7/6 is first option stuff. All around offensive versatility, lock down defense with elite volume scoring. And he was clearly his team's closer for those playoff runs.

29/7/6 on 47% is amazing for a second option, but not GOAT 2nd option.

Check out 1980 when Magic won Finals MVP, Kareem put up godly numbers:

32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

That's some GOAT second option shit. No wonder them dudes won 5 chips haha

[TheCorporation]

Why are u saying Maxwell 'had' Bird in 81', Magic 'had' Kareem in 80', Parker had Duncan and Kareem had Magic in 85'? (this example is too a lesser extent then the others but still)...

Anyway, GOAT sidekick is 01' Kobe, dude was amazing that year...

In order to not be subjective I took the Finals MVP winner and compared their second option. Takes out the argument of "But Duncan/Parker/Magic etc was better that year."

[Milbuck]

2001 Kobe was on current Lebron/Durant level, knowing he was a 2nd option really sheds light on how incredible peak Shaq was.

[Eye Test]

kobe doesnt qualify since he played 1a for many series

[Rose'sACL]

You are forgetting that LeBron had Bosh too, without Bosh, Wades stats would be much higher, thats a fact.
you're also forgetting that without bosh/lebron, wade's career would already be over.
Wade got much more help from the big 3 than lebron or bosh. If wade is able to get another contract then he should pay half to lebron and bosh. although i am sure that wade will accept the player option and get some money. he would probably retire after next couple of years of very little playing time.

[Black and White]

you're also forgetting that without bosh/lebron, wade's career would already be over.
Wade got much more help from the big 3 than lebron or bosh. If wade is able to get another contract then he should pay half to lebron and bosh. although i am sure that wade will accept the player option and get some money. he would probably retire after next couple of years of very little playing time.

LeBron should pay Wade his entire salary for what happened in 2011

[TheCorporation]

2001 Kobe was on current Lebron/Durant level, knowing he was a 2nd option really sheds light on how incredible peak Shaq was.

Not quite, junior.

LeBron in 2012:

30/10/6 on 50% with 2 steals per game. Nice try, though.

Unless you think scoring slightly less points much less efficiently, while getting far less rebounds and steals is on the same level? :no:

[Rose'sACL]

LeBron should pay Wade his entire salary for what happened in 2011
why? He and bosh carried them to finals. Wade's finals stats wouldn't matter if he lost against chicago. Wade had worse stats against bulls in ECF than lebron's 2011 finals stats.

[Black and White]

Not quite, junior.

LeBron in 2012:

30/10/6 on 50% with 2 steals per game. Nice try, though.

Interesting how he said current LeBron and you then bring up stats from 2012

[Black and White]

why? He and bosh carried them to finals. Wade's finals stats wouldn't matter if he lost against chicago. Wade had worse stats against bulls in ECF than lebron's 2011 finals stats.

Wade choked in the 4th quarters?

[Warfan]

In order to not be subjective I took the Finals MVP winner and compared their second option. Takes out the argument of "But Duncan/Parker/Magic etc was better that year."

But it's false, anyone can logically come to the conclusion that the examples I said were wrong are wrong. 01' Kobe>80' Magic, 81' Maxwell, 85' Kareem and 07' Parker...

FMVP isn't always an objective way of deciding who was the best player on the team. Most of the time it's given to the best player but there's atleast 5 times where the player who won the FMVP wasn't the best player.

[Black and White]

But it's false, anyone can logically come to the conclusion that the examples I said were wrong are wrong. 01' Kobe>80' Magic, 81' Maxwell, 85' Kareem and 07' Parker...

FMVP isn't always an objective way of deciding who was the best player on the team. Most of the time it's given to the best player but there's atleast 5 times where the player who won the FMVP wasn't the best player.

Don't have to look that far back either, see 2008 Celtics

[Warfan]

Don't have to look that far back either, see 2008 Celtics

Yeah that would've been my 5th example...

[Rose'sACL]

Wade choked in the 4th quarters?
why do you act like you are unbiased when you clearly aren't? i like lebron but you don't see me posting anything against durant. I don't even post much about kobe even though his stans hate lebron the most.
you like kobe/lakers/celtics fan. i don't have a problem with that but if someone liked both heat and pacers then i bet you would have a problem with that because you try to fit in that false definition of a "true fan" created by media so private clubs make a lot of money.

[Milbuck]

Not quite, junior.

LeBron in 2012:

30/10/6 on 50% with 2 steals per game. Nice try, though.
Love the condescending dickhead gimmick. You're pulling it off quite nicely.

Anyways, if you read my comment, you'd have seen the CURRENT part in it. As in 29 year old 2013-14 Lebron, 25 year old 2013-14 Durant, and 22 year old 2000-01 Kobe.

Lebron these playoffs: 27/7/5/2/1 on 67% TS with average defense outside of some games here and there

Kobe in 2001: 29/7/6/2/1 on 56% TS with elite defense...as a 2nd option.

And another cute little fact for you - Kobe trashed prime Duncan and the Spurs for 33/7/7/2/1 on 51/36/77 shooting.

"Not quite" :oldlol: Try again, kiddo.

[Black and White]

why do you act like you are unbiased when you clearly aren't? i like lebron but you don't see me posting anything against durant. I don't even post much about kobe even though his stans hate lebron the most.
you like kobe/lakers/celtics fan. i don't have a problem with that but if someone liked both heat and pacers then i bet you would have a problem with that because you try to fit in that false definition of a "true fan" created by media so private clubs make a lot of money.

Firstly, I'm not a Lakers fan, I just like the way Kobe plays, secondly I dont care who you like and who you dont, thats your opinion, who am I to tell you thats wrong.

Anyway, back to the topic, Wade did need help, but they all benefitted equally from signing together, Bron and Bosh from a help standpoint and Wade from a health standpoint.

[Rose'sACL]

Firstly, I'm not a Lakers fan, I just like the way Kobe plays, secondly I dont care who you like and who you dont, thats your opinion, who am I to tell you thats wrong.

Anyway, back to the topic, Wade did need help, but they all benefited equally from signing together, Bron and Bosh from a help standpoint and Wade from a health standpoint.
i just said that wade will benefit the most if he gets another contract. there is no way wade plays this year if he had to carry the team alone for past 4 seasons.

[AnaheimLakers24]

5> 2

[ImKobe]

2001 Kobe is the best "2nd option" in league history in the Playoffs, 2002-03 Kobe would have to be the best "2nd option" in league history in the regular season, just look at the damn numbers nikka. 2002 Finals was also very impressive by a 2nd option, not sure how many "2nd options" have put up those numbers on high efficiency like he did against the Nets.

2001 led the Playoffs in WS and had the same WS/48 as Shaq and put up 33/7/7 against the Spurs in the WCF, b2b 45+ pt 10+ reb games, what other sidekick has done that? I mean, Kobe's numbers against the Western Conference in the Playoffs in 2001 rival MJ's numbers and his 2002-03 regular season is as good as at least 80% of MJ's regular seasons in terms of all-around impact (rebounding, passing, defense) + scoring 30 ppg and winning 50+ games.

Kobe as a sidekick was a top 3-5 player in the league, Kobe as a 1st option was the best player on the planet from 06-09. Can't hate on the brodie.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Among all NBA Finals MVP winners, who had the best second option of all time?

Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game

Parker had:
Duncan in 2007 put up 22/12/3 on 52% with 3 blocks per game



:biggums: :coleman: :facepalm

Neither of those guys were a 2nd option :facepalm

KAJ was MVP in 1980, best player in the league, easily better stats and impact than rookie Magic, in the RS and the PS, without him they don't even get to the Finals, let alone win it. Jabbar was the alpha and the true FMVP.

Cornbread the 1st option? :rolleyes: :oldlol: Bird was 4th in MVP voting as a rookie, all-nba 1st, Maxwell was never top10 in MVP voting or all-nba in his career, Larry took the team from 2nd worst record in the league to best and the ECF, with the same roster that already had Max who wasn't doing shit. Bird had much more impact and better stats in the regular-season or the playoffs, Bird outplayed the MVP in the toughest series for them and he should've been Finals MVP tbh, as he was much better than Cedric in everything except for scoring (which wasn't far at all), he was getting more attention, clutch af too. Larry was the leader and easily the best player.

Timmy was the one putting more points on the board throughout the year, he was all-nba 1st and 4th in MVP voting, Parker ain't ****ing with that. Duncan was the main-man still, and best player.

[TheCorporation]

5> 2

Kobe won 2 finals MVPS in 7 trips
LeBron won 2 finals MVPs in 5 trips (could potentially win 3 of 5)

3/5 > 2/7

Unless your 5 >2 is Fisher > LeBron :lol

[red1]

2001 Kobe is GOAT 2nd option. 29/7/6 is first option stuff. All around offensive versatility, lock down defense with elite volume scoring. And he was clearly his team's closer for those playoff runs.
you are correct

[jzek]

Kobe was always at his best as a second option.

[97 bulls]

Forget the stats. Who was the most impactful?

[HOoopCityJones]

01 Kobe

Goat second option

[Magic 32]

01 Kobe

Goat second option

this


http://s4.postimg.org/w2y6othq5/khgjl.png

[HurricaneKid]

29/7/6 on 47% is amazing for a second option, but not GOAT 2nd option.

Check out 1980 when Magic won Finals MVP, Kareem put up godly numbers:

32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

That's some GOAT second option shit. No wonder them dudes won 5 chips haha

Not only was the second option 32/12/3/4 on 57% but he was the NBA MVP and was in his 11th straight year of being top 2 in the NBA in PER.

Anyone that thinks Kobe is better is a dolt.

He isn't a #2. He is a definitive #1. Maybe even #1 in the history of the game. But even as the #1, he missed a game and his team won the title without him. Can you imagine Miami beating SAS without LeBron? Didn't think so.

[Ne 1]

Easily 2001 Kobe. He was dropping what, 33ppg on the Spurs and 35ppg on the Kings in the playoffs and closing out games? Only reason he was a "2nd option" was because he was playing with peak Shaq. But his level of play was beyond that of a second option and he would be the best player on any other team in the league without Shaq and the fact of the matter is that any guard/perimeter player in history would have also been the "second option" playing with prime/peak Shaq Especially his 2001/2002 rings, to put a qualifier on them because he played with Shaq is ridiculous considering his production was on par with or superior than some rings won as the "first option."

[ArbitraryWater]

this


http://s4.postimg.org/w2y6othq5/khgjl.png

why did you cut it before the finals?

:roll: :roll:

[Magic 32]

why did you cut it before the finals?

:roll: :roll:

Just like you would do in 2007, 2011 and 2013.

It's just an amazing streak, and the west was better. Kobe was posting his best numbers against the better competition.

And after game 1 of the finals: 27 ppg, 9 rpg, 6 apg 44% shooting.

[ArbitraryWater]

Just like you would do in 2007, 2011 and 2013.

It's just an amazing streak, and the west was better. Kobe was posting his best numbers against the better competition.

And after game 1 of the finals: 27 ppg, 9 rpg, 6 apg 44% shooting.

the sixers were the best team they faced :facepalm

early 00's was horrible in general

[Magic 32]

the sixers were the best team they faced :facepalm

early 00's was horrible in general

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/NovaReon/notsureifserious.jpg

[NumberSix]

You are forgetting that LeBron had Bosh too, without Bosh, Wades stats would be much higher, thats a fact.
Yeah, but they don't win and aren't in this discussion to begin with.

[TheCorporation]

why did you cut it before the finals?

:roll: :roll:

:lol :lol

Oh, you know lol

That's why I posted the entire playoff stats, to shy away from any biased opinions.

[red1]

Easily 2001 Kobe. He was dropping what, 33ppg on the Spurs and 35ppg on the Kings in the playoffs and closing out games? Only reason he was a "2nd option" was because he was playing with peak Shaq. But his level of play was beyond that of a second option and he would be the best player on any other team in the league without Shaq and the fact of the matter is that any guard/perimeter player in history would have also been the "second option" playing with prime/peak Shaq Especially his 2001/2002 rings, to put a qualifier on them because he played with Shaq is ridiculous considering his production was on par with or superior than some rings won as the "first option."
except jordan and lebron problem?

[played0ut]

Forget the stats. Who was the most impactful?

I think Pippen has a great case. His numbers obviously weren't as high as Kareem/Kobe, but his impact was felt in different ways.

First of all, he didn't need to score as much with a GOAT offensive player beside him. He would also do a lot of the dirty work. Defensive anchor, getting teammates involved, doing a lot of the dirty work so MJ can concentrate on scoring.

He was fully immersed in his sidekick role, and played it beautifully. :applause:


If Kobe fully accepted his role as sidekick instead of playing 1b, shaq's numbers would've been significantly higher and his, lower.

They still dominated so it doens't really matter.

[Magic 32]

except jordan and lebron problem?

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/798/558/ShaqDrinks_original.gif?1365130868

[Rubio2Gasol]

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b343/NovaReon/notsureifserious.jpg

Dude said the early 00's were horrible :lol:

The West had like 7 50+ win teams every year :lol

[red1]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/798/558/ShaqDrinks_original.gif
fixed it for you

[Rubio2Gasol]

except jordan and lebron problem?

Would not be able to play the same type of game.

[played0ut]

except jordan and lebron problem?

I actually think Lebron would be happy to feed Shaq the ball. Lebron's strength is in his natural affinity to always doing the right play.

His problem in these series is that he's doing the right play basketball-wise (passing when teammates are open, etc etc), instead of going 'against' basketball rules and personally forcing the points.

[Ne 1]

:oldlol: @ Kareem being the "second option" in 1980...what a joke. Kobe was actually closer to Shaq in 2001 and 2002 than Magic was Kareem in 1980. Finals MVP? Pretty useless award and even so Kareem was to literally robbed of Finals MVP in 1980 thanks to CBS persuading voters to switch their ballots.

[NumberSix]

Forget the stats. Who was the most impactful?
Probably Pippen. Jordan and Pippen were a legit duo on both sides of the court. It not like the Lakers where they would throw the entire team at Shaq and leave everybody including Kobe wide open.

The clear strategy for most teams was "make Kobe beat us".

[ArbitraryWater]

Dude said the early 00's were horrible :lol:

The West had like 7 50+ win teams every year :lol

You can't compare that across seasons/eras with different teams being out there on the court... 00's were horrible in general.

East was dog shit, and in the West you had the '00 Blazers and '02 Kings, that's it. 2001 Spurs were crap besides Duncan.

[Ne 1]

they would throw the entire team at Shaq and leave everybody including Kobe wide open.

:roll: @ anyone who actually believes this.

[SexSymbol]

Probably Pippen. Jordan and Pippen were a legit duo on both sides of the court. It not like the Lakers where they would throw the entire team at Shaq and leave everybody including Kobe wide open.

The clear strategy for most teams was "make Kobe beat us".
How long have you been watching basketball?

[TheCorporation]

I think Pippen has a great case. His numbers obviously weren't as high as Kareem/Kobe, but his impact was felt in different ways.

First of all, he didn't need to score as much with a GOAT offensive player beside him. He would also do a lot of the dirty work. Defensive anchor, getting teammates involved, doing a lot of the dirty work so MJ can concentrate on scoring.

He was fully immersed in his sidekick role, and played it beautifully. :applause:


Pippen didn't seem to have the ego like Kobe or Wade or Westbrook, etc, so that helps in fully accepting your second option role. It also helps to accept it if your #1 option collects 10, yes ****ing 10 straight NBA scoring titles haha

Pippen did have some godly stats at his stats peak:

22/9/6 on 50% with 2.5 steals per game

That's some cray cray stats for a second option. That's not even including Horrace Grant's number that year:

13/8/2/1 on 58% Not a bad third option haha I guess you could say Jordan had a little help when he won, too.

[Akrazotile]

2001 Kobe is GOAT 2nd option. 29/7/6 is first option stuff. All around offensive versatility, lock down defense with elite volume scoring. And he was clearly his team's closer for those playoff runs.


Agreed, Kobe was in his prime as a second option in 2001, by 2009 he was considerably less effective in that role, altho still firmly entrenched as the #2 option, just ahead of Odom.

[TheCorporation]

:oldlol: @ Kareem being the "second option" in 1980...what a joke. Kobe was actually closer to Shaq in 2001 and 2002 than Magic was Kareem in 1980. Finals MVP? Pretty useless award and even so Kareem was to literally robbed of Finals MVP in 1980 thanks to CBS persuading voters to switch their ballots.

How the hell is the Finals MVP a "useless" award? What the hell lol

The shit you read on ISH sometimes :lol

"We are giving you this award because you are the reason we won the Championship, the highest award you can get in the NBA, but it's not worth anything really. Even though this signifies who helped the team win the Championship the most." - Ne 1

wat

Well, if in 1980 Kareem was the #1 option then Magic was by far the best second option because he nearly averaged a triple double...

18/11/9/ on 52% with 3 steals!

Also, since you probably didn't know, Kareem sprained his ankle in game 5 and didn't play game 6 in the Finals, AND was doubtful for game 7.

During that game 6, Magic played all 5 positions, including the 5, and in Philadelphia he got the W to close out the series and managed to put up a monster game of:

42/15/7

Magic was a 20 year old rookie at the time, and completely slayed PHI without Kareem's help.

[TheCorporation]

Finals MVP? Pretty useless award

This quote is so dumb, in fact I bet if you had to use top 10 rankings based on Finals MVPs most would agree or come close to agreeing with the rankings.

1: Jordan with 6
2: Russell with ? Eh, we will give him 5 or 6 I guess?
3: Magic with 3
4: Shaq with 3
5: Duncan with 3
6: Kareem with 2
7: Bird with 2
8: Kobe with 2
9: LeBron with 2
10: Hakeem with 2

Yep, an award so useless we can practically rank a top 10 based off of the winners and the amount they achieved...

:rolleyes:

[KG215]

Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game
Just because Maxwell won FMVP doesn't mean Bird was the second option.


Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Kareem was the Lakers best player in 1980 and probably still deserved FMVP despite Magic's legendary game 6.

[TheCorporation]

I do realize that Maxwell and Bird is probably the one example we can "switch" but as I've mentioned before, I only did it this way so peeps wouldn't say "But what about Kareem, what about Duncan, What about Parker, etc"

If we are comparing Bird's second option in 1981 the he had:
Cedrix Maxwell in 1981 put up 16/7/3 on 58% with 1 block per game

But we would probably also have to include his third option, Robert Parish:
Robert Parish in 1981 put up 15/9/1 on 49% with 2 blocks and 1 steal per game

Since they're very close in stats. So he had like 2 good 2nd options vs 1 great one? lol McHale was still a rookie and didn't play a lot of minutes in 81, he started to come alive in 82 though.

Bird also had yet another 16 ppg scorer in Tiny Archibald (16/6 on 45% with 1 steal per game). Dat stackage.

[Ne 1]

For all the greatness of Magic's Game 6, Kareem had 2-3 games in that series vs the Sixers alone with as much impact, if not more (when defense is considered) than Magic had in Game 6 (people forget Wilkes' performance in game 6 as well btw, who also had the best game of his career, but would anyone say he was more valuable during that series than Kareem?) Kareem was unstoppable on offense, he was the defensive anchor (5 freaking blocks a game) I wouldn't even say Magic created as many plays for his teammates as Kareem did in the half court, he was the clutchest player who won games in the 4th quarters for the Lakers...went down to injury in third quarter of game 5, came back in fourth quarter and made clutch shot after clutch shot in the last three minutes to secure the 3-2 lead. But that's not as heroic as Magic's performance because Kareem is a 7 footer who people don't relate with as much.

[MagnumT/A]

Not quite, junior.

LeBron in 2012:

30/10/6 on 50% with 2 steals per game. Nice try, though.

Unless you think scoring slightly less points much less efficiently, while getting far less rebounds and steals is on the same level? :no:

Kobe was getting it done in crunch time too though.

[riseagainst]

the sixers were the best team they faced :facepalm

early 00's was horrible in general


:biggums: :biggums: :biggums:













:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:











:roll:

[TheMilkyBarKid]

You are forgetting that LeBron had Bosh too, without Bosh, Wades stats would be much higher, thats a fact.
I don't think you know what a fact is.

[TheMilkyBarKid]

Kobe was getting it done in crunch time too though.
Because lebron choked hard in 2012 right? :facepalm

[ArbitraryWater]

I don't think you know what a fact is.

:oldlol:

[Odinn]

Magic had:
KAJ in 1980 put up 32/12/3 on 57% with 4 blocks per game

Cedric Maxwell had:
Bird in 1981 put up 22/14/6 on 47% with 2.3 steals per game

Parker had:
Duncan in 2007 put up 22/12/3 on 52% with 3 blocks per game
It's sad that you think you understand the game.

[KG215]

I do realize that Maxwell and Bird is probably the one example we can "switch" but as I've mentioned before, I only did it this way so peeps wouldn't say "But what about Kareem, what about Duncan, What about Parker, etc"

If we are comparing Bird's second option in 1981 the he had:
Cedrix Maxwell in 1981 put up 16/7/3 on 58% with 1 block per game

But we would probably also have to include his third option, Robert Parish:
Robert Parish in 1981 put up 15/9/1 on 49% with 2 blocks and 1 steal per game

Since they're very close in stats. So he had like 2 good 2nd options vs 1 great one? lol McHale was still a rookie and didn't play a lot of minutes in 81, he started to come alive in 82 though.

Bird also had yet another 16 ppg scorer in Tiny Archibald (16/6 on 45% with 1 steal per game). Dat stackage.
Fair enough on the first part.

On another note, the whole "Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers were unfairly stacked," comments always bug me. In theory, yes, that's true, but if I recall correctly, teams at that time were deeper in general...or at least the contenders/better playoff teams were. I remember reading an article a while back (can't even begin to remember where or the name of it or I'd look for it) about how teams today (2000s) simply wouldn't be able to afford rosters like that under the more recent CBAs. Never mind that it wasn't just one "stacked" team competing against the rest of the league. The Lakers, Celtics, and 76ers were all "stacked", and other fringe contenders throughout the decade (Rockets, Hawks, Bucks, Suns, etc.) were more "stacked" than what we're used to in the NBA today.

[Heavincent]

except lebron

:roll:

[TheCorporation]

Kobe was getting it done in crunch time too though.

I always love these comments so I serve out an ether

So you're saying that either:

a) LeBron is so good he didn't even need to play in "crunch" time, thus playing less and STILL maintaning better stats? lol

b)LeBron is so good his team doesn't usually play much crunch time since they don't have guys shooting 44% from the field and thus making the game very close.

[Ne 1]

b)LeBron is so good his team doesn't usually play much crunch time since they don't have guys shooting 44% from the field and thus making the game very close. You know difference between 50% and 45% in one game is like 1 extra missed shot?

[TheCorporation]

You know difference between 50% and 45% in one game is like 1 extra missed shot?

10/20
9/20

Yes, exactly. Do you know how many times an extra 2-3 points would make all the difference in a game? Imagine having that edge, every single game.

[Ne 1]

10/20
9/20

Yes, exactly. Do you know how many times an extra 2-3 points would make all the difference in a game? Imagine having that edge, every single game.
It would matter, except it's well known LeBron plays to his FG% and admittedly protects his induvidual efficiency.