Larry Bird discussion

[QUOTE=Mamba]08 garnett allen and pierce are way to much for the slower unathletic 84 celtics.[/QUOTE]
I want to think that that was sarcasm.

Where O where to begin:roll:

Magic was 3 years younger than Bird

Magic could play all 5 positons.

Kareem was NOT at a top 5 all-time level when he played with Magic, he was old.

Magic beat Bird 3-1 in head to head championship play(NCAA, 3 Finals)

In fact the last time they met in 87 Magic THROTTLED him.

Why the '84 Celtics and not the far superior '86 version? They actually had a bench then. The '08 Celtics would manhandle the '84 Celts...but '86 would probably involve some barn burners and brawls.

There's a reason why most knowledgeable basketball experts who evaluate league history, without having an obvious ulterior agenda, rate Magic above Bird. The versatility, the ability to affect all phases of the game, the leadership.... it all favors the Magic Man.

No doubt this subject has been debated ad infinitum. When all is said and done, though, Magic is Top 5, while Bird is in the Top 10.

[QUOTE=Godfather]For that matter I don't believe Magic could do what he did in his era. Magic would be unable to play all 5 positions like he did previously and would be unable to consistently run the point. Instead he would play a role similar to LeBron in the Cleveland passing scheme (be the secondary passer who can rack up assists) also he rebound and point total would also decline in today's game (due to being unable to have such authority around the rim). A player who could succeed in all facets (like I previously stated) was a Charles Barkley or a Karl Malone, who possess the all around athleticism to compare to and dominate today's players.[/QUOTE]

Magic is a much better athlete than you think and u act as if the league is stocked with great athletic defenders. like who Larry Hughes? Carmelo? JR Smith? Bron? D-Wade? you think Kobe could shut down Magic? Chris Paul? Deron? Tayshaun? there were always some defenders that gave Magic problems but on the whole today's cats would get waxed.

Name me one PG today that can go end to end faster than Magic.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJYO--zM5Vs[/url]

[QUOTE=Shepseskaf]There's a reason why most knowledgeable basketball experts who evaluate league history, without having an obvious ulterior agenda, rate Magic above Bird. The versatility, the ability to affect all phases of the game, the leadership.... it all favors the Magic Man.

No doubt this subject has been debated ad infinitum. When all is said and done, though, Magic is Top 5, while Bird is in the Top 10.[/QUOTE]

Many people, maybe even the majority, put Bird in the top 5 as well.

They were both great players who won multiple MVP's. If you took a poll among people who actually watched them in their primes and asked who was better the voting would probably be pretty even. I am not even sure which one i would vote for.

[QUOTE]They were equal, but Magic was more entertaining and likable..
Magic wasn't as good a scorer, but he could score.
Magic WAS a better passer and playmaker, although Bird was great too.
Bird was a much better defender and rebounder.
They were both CLUTCH x 10,000.
Larry was smarter.
Magic was more,well, MAGICAL.

Larry wouldn't have won 10 titles with jabbar.
It would've been f#@king unstoppable sick in the half court though.
Larry was dominant in 1/2 court defense and offense.
But Byron Scott and Worthy needed magic to run.
Larry wasn't DOMINANT leading the break like Magic.
Magic put on a better show. [/QUOTE]

Larry wasn't a better defender than Magic, he was just guarding guys his own size or or a little smaller most of the time. Magic was at a disadvantage at his position. Hell Magic led the league in steals.

Magic was just as a good a rebounder...except he was grabbing boards from the PG position, hes not going to get as many as a guy playing from the 3.

Bird was a better shooter. He was more of a high volume scorer BUT, Magic shot significantly higher from the field(he was more efficient) he was better at getting to the rack and had a great post game.

[QUOTE=DULLAH]Top 5 all time:
#1. Jordan
#2. Jabbar
#3. Magic
#4. Bird
#5. Can't call it[/QUOTE]


#5. Wilt Chamberlain

[QUOTE=Mamba]08 garnett allen and pierce are way to much for the slower unathletic 84 celtics.[/QUOTE]

I highlighted your post to look for the "jk" in white. Maybe you forgot to put it there? :confusedshrug:

Anyway, someone should run this through WIS and see who comes out on top. My money is on the 84 Celtics.

I would say they're both pretty even but I guess Bird is better in clutch situations while Magic is better at running the offense

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wA0Xt0EHw"]Game 4[/URL]