Kareem was beastin' in 84 and 85 still. In 84, I thought he and Bird were the best players on the floor. Bird constantly attacked was great at fighting for the boards, and it saved them a few times. And he hit a game winner over Magic too, so that must'a felt good for him. Bird carried that team to victory in some of those games.
Magic shot selection was damn near perfect, and took what the defense gave him. James Worthy was a beast in 84 too. They were the better team in 84, but mental errors cost them the series.
85, I thought the Celtics were better. At least they were better than they were in 84, but Bird wasn't as good as he was in 84 (in the Finals). He injured his hand, but still. Kareem was a beast in that series like I said before. Mchale was a beast that series too.
Mchale: 26.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.8 blks, on 59.8% on 64.4% TS. Mchale was unstoppable.
One thing that ppl don't mention is the defense that Michael Cooper played on Bird. Worthy played solid D as well. You have to give it to Cooper tho. He had to quickness to keep up when Bird used to use screens to get free. I thought Bird would post him up more, but he tend to have trouble finishing.
I don't know. I read an article saying that the near end of the season Bird looked a tad slower and took rushed and forced shots. He didn't look like the regular Bird that ppl were used to seeing. The article or whatever mentioned that maybe he got injured then, but he still played good against the Hawks and Knicks, so maybe he just abnormally sucked big time against them that year.Now I haven't read anything about Bird injuries in that post-season, but he was simply pathetic. In the Piston series he put up these numbers:
19.8 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 6.2 apg, on...get this... a .351 FG%.
Results 16 to 30 of 212
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01-24-2014, 11:55 PM #16NBA sixth man of the year
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
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01-25-2014, 12:03 AM #17NBA Legend
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
They never guarded each other. Not really a true "head to head". Just their stats when their teams were facing the other players team.
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01-25-2014, 12:06 AM #18NBA rookie of the year
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Your only mention about Bird's teammates was one about DJ, and even this came after you edited your initial post...Just because I didn't spend time to comment doesn't mean I didn't see it.
Originally Posted by dankok8
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01-25-2014, 12:59 AM #19NBA lottery pick
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
True but people still consider it a big rivalry because they came into the league and faced each other several times in the Finals on the head of the two biggest dynasties. Originally Posted by CavaliersFTW
I also mentioned each starter scoring over 20+ points in another game and McHale in Game 3 and 6 of the '85 Finals. I only mentioned the noteworthy performances in the recap. Originally Posted by Psileas
If it bothers you that much I'll remove the recaps. Sheesh people think I'm biased or some shit because I mentioned Kareem's great games in the finals.
And yes I edited the post to post additional stats I gathered.
Last edited by dankok8; 01-25-2014 at 01:02 AM.
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01-25-2014, 01:59 AM #20NBA Legend
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Here is their post-season scorecard folks... Originally Posted by dankok8
'80...Magic by a mile
'81...Bird, even with a horrid Finals (Magic had missed half the season due to injury BTW)
'82...Magic...by a mile
'83...Magic
'84...This is interesting..."Tragic's" statline was probably at least the equal of Bird's, but since Bird was handed that ring...I'll go Bird, but just barely
'85...Easily Magic
'86.. Bird. The only post-season in which he was clearly better
'87...Magic and by several miles
'88... Magic by a continent
'89...Magic (well, you get the picture)
'90...Magic (again, just a lopsided margin)
'91...Magic (not even close.)
Hmmm... Bird "wins" in '81, '84, and '86
Magic "wins" in '80, '82, '83, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91
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01-25-2014, 02:15 AM #215-time NBA All-Star
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
In '85, when Bird was in his incredible peak of three years, in the finals who was the best player for the Celtics? McHale also had pretty much better series than Kareem who guarded him a lot in that series. McHale guarded Bird's man too. Not only did he outscore Bird by 2ppg but he outshot him 598% to 449% and outrebounded him by 2 as well. Originally Posted by dankok8
I also mentioned each starter scoring over 20+ points in another game and McHale in Game 3 and 6 of the '85 Finals. I only mentioned the noteworthy performances in the recap.
If it bothers you that much I'll remove the recaps. Sheesh people think I'm biased or some shit because I mentioned Kareem's great games in the finals. And yes I edited the post to post additional stats I gathered.
Also you don't mention how Magic took the legs of DJ, one of the most clutch players in the 80's and Danny Ainge. They shot 20% in that last game 6 for 31 because Magic ran them to death. Bird shot 40% in this game and this happened because Magic was the only player in the history of the game that could run on a made shot. It could qualify as one of the best defensive effects ever by a player. Magic legally took their legs from them.
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01-25-2014, 02:36 AM #22NBA Legend
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
This. Originally Posted by Pointguard
Magic engineered the Laker offense. No player was ever a more effective "coast-to-coast" player than Magic. Or forcing opposing teams to play at light-speed. And his brilliant passing basically forced opposing defenses to have to defend EVERY Laker player.
And while KAJ deserved the FMVP in '85, had their been a playoff MVP that season, Magic would surely have won it. Not only that, but Magic was clearly robbed of his 4th FMVP in '88.
His overall contributions went far beyond the scoring, rebounding, and assists...
He simply made everyone around him so much better. My god, KAJ's FG%'s went thru the roof after Magic arrived. Worthy put up some ungodly FG% post-seasons. Byron Scott became a 20 ppg scorer because of Magic. He took Michael Cooper, who couldn't shoot a lick before he entered the NBA, and made him an effective 3pt shooter. The reality was, Magic made player-after-player, much better.
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01-25-2014, 06:05 AM #23College star
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Good shit.
Pretty close, all in all, if Bird didn't have an injured hand and elbow in 1985, the Celtics would've probably repeated and even this thing out some more, Kareem was a monster though.
And adding to the injured hand/elbow, also has to be said that after 1988, Bird was just a shell of his former self, even if still really good.
Basically looking at stats they "confirm" the same, Bird was a better shooter, better and more willing scorer (had to score more), Magic could still score and was always efficient, Bird was a better rebounder still Magic was a really good rebounder, Magic's the GOAT passer and Bird's one of the greatest, there's always more to it than stats and it doesn't show the defense part obviously, Bird was easily a better defensive player. Also, Magic had better teammates around when you look at everything, at the whole picture, through the years/overall, that's clear.
Thanks for posting Kareem's numbers too. Shows how much impact he had, and how much he determined games. Still a beast even after 35. Magic was only clear-cut #1 after 1985 or 1986.
Of course, this ***** Lazeruss (with his alt's) always with the same type of bullshit, looks at stats, checks what's better and claims a certain year to be a player's peak when it's really not (bet you don't do that with Wilt).. Now Bird's peak was in 1988?
Dude had serious back and heels problems, just because he was still a beast and with better numbers because he had to carry the team, doesn't mean that that was his peak year. 
Of course this child will always hate on Bird (or Kareem) to prop up Magic (or Wilt), same agenda, same ignorant arguments.
Originally Posted by Odinn
Don't mind lazeruss and his alt's. With Wilt or Magic he will talk about broke fingernails, Bird had a severely injured hand and elbow during the 1985 playoffs and he never talks about it (like talking about Larry's 1983 post-season never even realizing he was injured and didn't even play one game). Originally Posted by dankok8
at him talking about Bird's 1988 series against the Pistons (claiming that that year was his peak too 
) without even mentioning that Bird had to get back surgery and surgery on both heels after that post-season. Let's just forget that or the fact that he was carrying all the load since 1987, playing in some really physical and intense series, getting beat up and getting most attention, having to be the best scorer, the best rebounder, the best passer, the team defender, playing major minutes while the Celtics had plenty of injuries to go around, old players and virtually no bench. While Magic had one of the most stacked up teams, one of the GOAT teams, could afford to play less than 37 mpg in the regular season, easily fewer minutes in the playoffs than Bird, considering their level Lakers were like coasting to the Finals in the Western Conference (EAst was much tougher). Where was Magic when Bird was healthy with a stacked team, in 1986? Shit, Magic had easily a better cast around in 1984 (not even clear-cut #1), all playing better in the playoffs, Bird was carrying the team with most underperforming, as the alpha, and they won vs the Lakers.
Shit, let's also "blame" Magic for not playing in 1991-92 and say Bird was above in that season lol. Gets that ridiculous with these people.
Bird had a better peak/prime than Magic as an overall player and while they were both healthy, Bird was, and was considered, the best player for the most part, easily. That's the bottom line.
Last edited by SHAQisGOAT; 01-25-2014 at 09:04 AM.
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01-25-2014, 11:26 AM #24NBA rookie of the year
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Your initial post only mentioned Kareem. Zero mentions about McHale or any Celtic apart from Bird. Yeah, pretty sure we have an objective Magic fan here...also mentioned each starter scoring over 20+ points in another game and McHale in Game 3 and 6 of the '85 Finals. I only mentioned the noteworthy performances in the recap.
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01-25-2014, 11:55 AM #25College superstar
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Originally Posted by jlip
If I'm understanding you correctly, are you saying that according to public opinion at the time, Bird was not considered better than Magic pre-'87? If so I have to disagree. I personally consider Magic greater overall, but I'm almost certain that before '87 the consensus was Bird. Originally Posted by Pointguard
As it pertains to winning, prior to '87 they both had the same number of rings and Bird had more MVPs. They were 1-1 in the Finals against each other. Also, Magic was not perceived by the masses as his team's leader before '87. Bird was. I even remember Magic saying in an interview that before Rilley asked him to take a larger scoring role in Kareem's absence in '87, many people considered him basically a "game manager" who didn't have to ability to take over a game with his scoring. Again, Magic may have already truly been the leader, but that wasn't the consensus. The '87 season and beyond are what swung the pendulum in Magic's favor in regards to the public perception of who was greater.
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01-25-2014, 11:57 AM #26NBA Legend
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Yep...your Bird was just brilliant in all of his post-seasons wasn't he? Originally Posted by SHAQisGOAT
Good shit.
Pretty close, all in all, if Bird didn't have an injured hand and elbow in 1985, the Celtics would've probably repeated and even this thing out some more, Kareem was a monster though.
And adding to the injured hand/elbow, also has to be said that after 1988, Bird was just a shell of his former self, even if still really good.
Basically looking at stats they "confirm" the same, Bird was a better shooter, better and more willing scorer (had to score more), Magic could still score and was always efficient, Bird was a better rebounder still Magic was a really good rebounder, Magic's the GOAT passer and Bird's one of the greatest, there's always more to it than stats and it doesn't show the defense part obviously, Bird was easily a better defensive player. Also, Magic had better teammates around when you look at everything, at the whole picture, through the years/overall, that's clear.
Thanks for posting Kareem's numbers too. Shows how much impact he had, and how much he determined games. Still a beast even after 35. Magic was only clear-cut #1 after 1985 or 1986.
Of course, this ***** Lazeruss (with his alt's) always with the same type of bullshit, looks at stats, checks what's better and claims a certain year to be a player's peak when it's really not (bet you don't do that with Wilt).. Now Bird's peak was in 1988? Dude had serious back and heels problems, just because he was still a beast and with better numbers because he had to carry the team, doesn't mean that that was his peak year.
Of course this child will always hate on Bird (or Kareem) to prop up Magic (or Wilt), same agenda, same ignorant arguments.
Don't mind lazeruss and his alt's. With Wilt or Magic he will talk about broke fingernails, Bird had a severely injured hand and elbow during the 1985 playoffs and he never talks about it (like talking about Larry's 1983 post-season never even realizing he was injured and didn't even play one game).
at him talking about Bird's 1988 series against the Pistons (claiming that that year was his peak too ) without even mentioning that Bird had to get back surgery and surgery on both heels after that post-season. Let's just forget that or the fact that he was carrying all the load since 1987, playing in some really physical and intense series, getting beat up and getting most attention, having to be the best scorer, the best rebounder, the best passer, the team defender, playing major minutes while the Celtics had plenty of injuries to go around, old players and virtually no bench. While Magic had one of the most stacked up teams, one of the GOAT teams, could afford to play less than 37 mpg in the regular season, easily fewer minutes in the playoffs than Bird, considering their level Lakers were like coasting to the Finals in the Western Conference (EAst was much tougher). Where was Magic when Bird was healthy with a stacked team, in 1986? Shit, Magic had easily a better cast around in 1984 (not even clear-cut #1), all playing better in the playoffs, Bird was carrying the team with most underperforming, as the alpha, and they won vs the Lakers.
Shit, let's also "blame" Magic for not playing in 1991-92 and say Bird was above in that season lol. Gets that ridiculous with these people.
Bird had a better peak/prime than Magic as an overall player and while they were both healthy, Bird was, and was considered, the best player for the most part, easily. That's the bottom line.
Again, thanks to Colts18...
Just look at Bird's long list of playoff failures while Dirk improves his play in the postseason:
1980- Averaged a .511 TS% in the postseason. In game 5 vs. the Sixers, he shot poorly, 5-19 with just 12 points, as the Celtics lost the game. His man (Dr. J) averaged 25 PPG in this series. His team loses in 5 games despite having HCA and winning 61 games. Had a 18.3 PER in the postseason
1981- Has a .532 TS% in the postseason. He had a bad finals where he averaged just 15 PPG on .419 shooting and .460 TS%.
1982- PPG average dropped from 22.9 PPG to 17.8 PPG. He has an embarrassing .474 TS% in the playoffs. He averaged a pedestrian 18.3 PPG against the Sixers. Averages 17 PPG in the final 2 games of the series. The Celtics lose again with HCA. The Celtics won 63 games and had the #1 SRS in the league. Has a 17.9 PER in the postseason.
1983- The Celtics get swept by the Bucks. The Celtics win 56 games and had the #2 SRS in the league and lose again with HCA. Bird plays awful again. .478 TS%. His PPG average drops 2 PPG in the playoffs. Bird missed a game in the series but that game happened to be the closest one (Celtics lose by 4). In the 3 other games, the Celtics lose by 14.3 PPG with Bird on the court.
1984- Great playoffs. Averaged 27-14-4 in the Finals and had a .607 TS% in the playoffs. First great playoff of his career. Celtics win the title over the Lakers.
1985- Celtics make the finals, but Bird's numbers drop in the playoffs. His PPG drops by 2.8 PPG, Reb by 1.2 Reb, and AST by 0.7 AST. Had an average .536 TS% in the postseason. Bird plays even worse in the finals. His PPG dropped 4.9 PPG, his Reb 1.7 Reb, and AST by 1.6 AST in the finals compared to his regular season average. His Finals TS% is just .527. Not only that, but Celtics finish with 63 wins and lose once again with HCA a constant theme in Bird's career. This is the first time in Celtics history they lost in the finals with HCA.
1986- Great year. His best year ever. Wins the title. .615 TS% in the postseason and amazing finals.
1987- I think this is his most admirable playoffs up until the finals. The Celtics were quite banged up this year. Averaged 27-10-7 in the postseason with .577 TS%. Though his numbers in the finals dropped off once again. His PPG was 3.9 PPG down from the regular season, AST down by 2.1 AST and his TS% was just .534. In game 6, Bird scored just 16 points on 6-16 (.375) shooting. In the final 3 games of this series, Bird averaged just 20 PPG on .377 shooting and .492 TS% with 3.7 TOV. This is the first time Bird has played without HCA in the playoffs and his team loses.
1988- Bird's PPG drops by 5.4 PPG, Reb by 0.5 Reb. Bird shoots an awful 40-114 (.351) against the Pistons. Has a mediocre .538 TS% and 20.2 PER in the playoffs. The Celtics had HCA and the #1 SRS in the league and you probably guessed what happened next, Larry Bird loses with HCA once again.
1989- Injured doesn't play in the postseason.
1990- Bird shoots .539 TS% and has 3.6 TOV as the Celtics once again you guessed it, lose with HCA.
1991- In the first round, his team needs to go 5 vs. the 41 win Pacers. His PPG drop by 2.3 PPG and his Rebounds and Assists also drop quite a bit. Has a .490 TS% 15.8 PER in the playoffs. Against the Pistons Bird averages 13.4 PPG on .446 TS%. His 56 win team played with you guessed it HCA and loses with it.
1992- Doesn't play in the first round as the Celtics sweep the Pacers. In round 2, his team goes 7 against the Cavs, but Bird plays in 4 games and his team was 1-3 in those games. Averages a pathetic 11.3 PPG and 4.5 Reb which are 8.4 PPG and 5.2 Reb down from his regular season average. He has a .514 TS% and 16.4 PER in the postseason.
So out of 12 years, you get 9 years under .540 TS%, 5 under .520 TS%, and 3 under .500 TS%. From 80-83, he had a 19.9 playoff PER. In that span, Johnny Moore, Franklin Edwards, Gus Williams, and Bob Lanier all had better playoff PER and WS/48. Teammates Parish, McHale, Tiny Archibald, and Cedric Maxwell had better TS% in that span. From 88-92, he had a 18.8 PER which is 25th among players with 10 playoff games played. Players who had better playoff PER's in that span include Fat Lever, Terry Cummings, Roy Tarpley, Cedric Ceballos, and Sarunas Marciulionis. His teammates Reggie Lewis and Kevin McHale had better playoff PER's in that span.
With Bird you get a nice 4 year run that had 4 straight finals appearances but outside of that you get a 4 year span of .505 TS% (80-83) and a .525 TS% span (88-92). In 12 years, you get 7 losses with HCA. Basically out of Bird's 13 year career, you have 1 injury season and 3 non-descript postseasons at the end of his plus some playoff disappointments early in his career.
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01-25-2014, 12:07 PM #27NBA Legend
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Bird was considered the greater player from '84 thru '86. Originally Posted by jlip
Magic was hurt in the MVP voting by two things. One, Kareem was taking votes from him, and two, his 80-81 regular season.
But, if you include post-season play, Magic was easily the better the player from '80 thru '83.
And then in the '85 Finals, Bird was the only the FIFTH best player on the floor in that series, and wasn't even the best player on his own team.
The reality was, Magic was a considerably better post-season player, outplayed Bird in their post-season series, and overall, had a greater career. Plain-and-simple.
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01-25-2014, 12:13 PM #28You are amazing
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Is wilt Magic's mother? Originally Posted by LAZERUSS
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01-25-2014, 12:35 PM #29College star
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
Originally Posted by LAZERUSS
You really think anyone read(s) that quote and took/takes it seriously or gave/gives it any though with the amount of hate and ignorance in it? Get a grip child. You couldn't get any decent response to my post (because just mostly facts and the clear truth) so you just go on posting that useless crap again.
Furthermore, I rebuked/exposed that shitty quote so many times and everyone knows it, shit ain't even funny anymore, yet you keep quoting that ignorant post from an ignorant someone again and again, you must be mentally ill or something and it further adds on with the long-ass (dumb) essays just to prop-up "your" Wilt Chamberlain (go mention Wilt's broken fingernail or something while neglecting injuries for Bird or Kareem, also)
Stop it please. Your agenda is clear to anyone by now why do you keep trying? It's stupid and leads nowhere.
This post was brilliant, I quote it again:
By now you're just mad because you know the majority of people, or at least knowledgeable basketball fans:Originally Posted by Odinn
jlauber, no-one gives a f... about what you say. We all know memorized your agenda;
- Larry Bird, which has a case for having top 5 peak ever, isn't greater than Magic Johnson.
- Magic Johnson helped a lot Kareem to boost his legacy. So Kareem isn't that great.
- Then we reach the final step; Wilt is better than Kareem beucase Kareem's legacy is built on Magic.
There is no post of you that isn't related to Wilt agenda. Just stfu already.
-pretty much always put Kareem in their top3 and Wilt plenty of times not even top5
-know that Bird had a better prime/peak than Magic and was (considered too) mostly above when they were both healthy; also that Magic had better teammates around, overall/on average, for the most part throughout their careers when you look at the whole picture, and Bird was always the clear-cut #1 in his team as opposed for Magic
Also the fact that Bird and Kareem won more than Wilt and are above on most lists.
In fact, Kareem, Bird and Magic most of the time are ranked above Wilt, by people who know their shit too.
Just accept it and live your life. Just sad right now.
I'm a big fan of Wilt, he had a top5 peak (Bird and Kareem too) and a great career, would be great in any era, also love Magic... But your agenda is dumb/ignorant, already known and it gets sad.
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01-25-2014, 01:19 PM #30NBA Legend
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Re: Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson - Complete Career Head-to-Head Stats
You have NEVER rebuked anything I have posted. Originally Posted by SHAQisGOAT
You really think anyone read(s) that quote and took/takes it seriously or gave/gives it any though with the amount of hate and ignorance in it? Get a grip child. You couldn't get any decent response to my post (because just mostly facts and the clear truth) so you just go on posting that useless crap again.
Furthermore, I rebuked/exposed that shitty quote so many times and everyone knows it, shit ain't even funny anymore, yet you keep quoting that ignorant post from an ignorant someone again and again, you must be mentally ill or something and it further adds on with the long-ass (dumb) essays just to prop-up "your" Wilt Chamberlain (go mention Wilt's broken fingernail or something while neglecting injuries for Bird or Kareem, also)
Stop it please. Your agenda is clear to anyone by now why do you keep trying? It's stupid and leads nowhere.
This post was brilliant, I quote it again:
By now you're just mad because you know the majority of people, or at least knowledgeable basketball fans:
-pretty much always put Kareem in their top3 and Wilt plenty of times not even top5
-know that Bird had a better prime/peak than Magic and was (considered too) mostly above when they were both healthy; also that Magic had better teammates around, overall/on average, for the most part throughout their careers when you look at the whole picture, and Bird was always the clear-cut #1 in his team as opposed for Magic
Also the fact that Bird and Kareem won more than Wilt and are above on most lists.
In fact, Kareem, Bird and Magic most of the time are ranked above Wilt, by people who know their shit too.
Just accept it and live your life. Just sad right now.
I'm a big fan of Wilt, he had a top5 peak (Bird and Kareem too) and a great career, would be great in any era, also love Magic... But your agenda is dumb/ignorant, already known and it gets sad.
Once again, the REALITY is, Bird is now a borderline Top-10 player, has no case over MJ, Russell, MAGIC, WILT, Kareem, Shaq, Duncan, and now Lebron, and is fighting for his Top-10 life with Kobe, Hakeem, and Moses.
As for Chamberlain, simply the most dominant player of all-time. Kareem played FOUR years in the WILT-era, and never sniffed his records, nor the absolute domination that a prime Chamberlain just crushed many of the same centers that a prime KAJ would face later on (and most all of them were on the decline when a peak KAJ was playing against them.)
A prime Chamberlain was a better scorer (even in the POST-SEASON), a considerably better rebounder (hell, and OLD Wilt was a better rebounder), at his peak, a more efficient shooter from the field, a much better passer, and much better defender (again, an OLD Wilt was outvoting a PEAK Kareemi on the All-Defensive teams), and MUCH better shot-blocker (Wilt in his LAST season, blocked 5.4 shots per game...Kareem in the very next season was at 3.5, and his career high was 4.1.)
Again, take MAGIC out of Kareem's career, and he would have been a considered a major under-achiever.
As for Magic and Bird. Not even close. The evidence is there...Bird was a HUGE Choker in the post-season. And H2H against Magic, he was just waxed. While Bird, with stacked rosters, went to five Finals, and won three (and arguably, he had no business winning in '84), and only two FMVPs (and was not even the best player on his own team in two of those five Finals)... MAGIC carried his Laker teams (even without KAJ) to NINE Finals in his 12 full seasons, won FIVE rings, won THREE FMVP's (and clearly was robbed of a 4th in '88), and was LA's best player in the vast majority of his post-seasons, and especially in his Finals.
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