1984 Larry Bird vs 2019 Kawhi Leonard: Better playoff run?

[HBK_Kliq_2]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=Kawhi+Leonard&player_id1_select=Kawhi+Leonard&y1=2019&player_id1=leonaka01&idx=bbr__players&player_id2_hint=Larry+Bird&player_id2_select=Larry+Bird&y2=1984&player_id2=birdla01&idx=bbr__players

Who had the better playoff run? I would say Kawhi because he carried a much bigger scoring load by points per 100, better defender guarding giannis and butler in elimination games, more athletic and stronger physically, better ball handler and while bird is better passer he doesn't average more assists in finals 1984 then Kawhi 2019, bird is also not nearly the scoring threat in late games that Kawhi is. So overall I think Kawhi is better but that's my view. What do you think?

[Lion's pride]

Not even close if you factor how much tougher the Eastern conference was compared to KL's.. Then to have the LAL's of the 80s waiting for you???

[Turbo Slayer]

Debatable.

[FKAri]

Kawhi due to the MUCH tougher competition. He went through GOAT candidates like Giannis, Embiid and Durant. Whereas Bird's toughest opponent was an AIDS patient.

[1987_Lakers]

Very comparable, but probably Bird because of his all-around game. I don't think you can give Kawhi an advantage on defense, Kawhi in that postseason was hobbled and spent most of his energy on offense, Bird at that point was at his peak defensively.

[Axe]

Kawhi had a better playoff run because the league in the 80s was such a weak era according to some bball geeks in this board, right?

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Very comparable, but probably Bird because of his all-around game. I don't think you can give Kawhi an advantage on defense, Kawhi in that postseason was hobbled and spent most of his energy on offense, Bird at that point was at his peak defensively.

Kawhi still switched on to Jimmy Butler in game 7 and it was effective. He switched on Giannis in games 3-6 in finals and it was effective. I don't see Bird being able to defend a guy like Giannis. By finals he spent most of his energy on offense but during the east run he was still elite defensively.

[HBK_Kliq_2]

Not even close if you factor how much tougher the Eastern conference was compared to KL's.. Then to have the LAL's of the 80s waiting for you???

Kawhi had to face 76ers were two top 10 players in Embiid\Butler and also the MVP with the best record Bucks. Giannis was a better player then anybody that Bird faced in the east.

[Round Mound]

Bird beat Kareem, Magic, Worthy, Cooper, Scott, McAdoo and Wilkes with McHale not being a starter.

Bird: 27.4 PPG on 48.4% FG, 84.2% FG, 66.7% 3-Point FG, 14.0 RPG, 3.6 APG. 2.1 SPG and 1.1 BPG

So Bird. He beat better casts!

[Akeem34TheDream]

Kawhi still switched on to Jimmy Butler in game 7 and it was effective. He switched on Giannis in games 3-6 in finals and it was effective. I don't see Bird being able to defend a guy like Giannis. By finals he spent most of his energy on offense but during the east run he was still elite defensively.

Agreed. Kawhi is such a freak athlete(wingspan, hands, strength) with good fundamentals so he was pretty good defensively even last year.

[light]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=Kawhi+Leonard&player_id1_select=Kawhi+Leonard&y1=2019&player_id1=leonaka01&idx=bbr__players&player_id2_hint=Larry+Bird&player_id2_select=Larry+Bird&y2=1984&player_id2=birdla01&idx=bbr__players

Who had the better playoff run? I would say Kawhi because he carried a much bigger scoring load by points per 100, better defender guarding giannis and butler in elimination games, more athletic and stronger physically, better ball handler and while bird is better passer he doesn't average more assists in finals 1984 then Kawhi 2019, bird is also not nearly the scoring threat in late games that Kawhi is. So overall I think Kawhi is better but that's my view. What do you think?

https://s7.gifyu.com/images/Bird-Leonard.png

The Bird might be the word.

Kawhi didn't even have to go through the best player in the league so that reduces his argument somewhat.