[EspressoParticipant]

 So i came across a video "Magic vs. Bird: the greatest rivalry?"… Paul Pierce mentions that Larry was the first guy that was launching 3s at the PF spot, because he stood at 6’9/6’10.

For those of you who were fortunate enou gh to see Larry, how do you all feel about that.

Another point i want to make is…. How does Larry stack up against the all time great PFs? Say, could he match up against Tim Duncan?

From what ive seen, heard, and read Larry was a great rebounder. Averaged 10 rebs for his career, maxing out at 11rpg his 4th or 5th season. 

 

 

 

 

 

[cohenbc1Participant]

Positions were more rigidly defined in the ’80s, and Larry was mostly a ‘3’ during his career. (At first he played alongside Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell in the frontcourt, and although Larry was the bigger guy, Cornbread was more of a slasher/cutter/postup guy, as I recall, while Larry was all over the court, so by the standards of the day Larry was the "small forward." Later on he was clearly such when playing alongside Kevin McHale).

In today’s game Larry would definitely be a ‘4.’ He was basically a shorter version of Dirk, with a similar offensive game. Like Dirk he was nothing special as a one-on-one defender, but he knew his role within the team defense and could make plays on that end. 

Larry was a better rebounder than Dirk — at 7 feet he might have led the league in boards. And Larry was the best passing forward of all time, hands down. LeBron is a great passer — he could have played his whole career at PG if he’d wanted to — but Larry was a Magic/Stockton/Nash level passer. He had that same uncanny ability to see passing lanes before they’d formed, and he knew where his teammates were at all times so well that he could throw blind passes with stunning accuracy.

As far as matching up with Timmy … they’re so different I doubt they would have guarded each other much. It would be like Timmy vs. Dirk or Timmy vs. Durant.

 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 I see what you’re saying, but Bird was way better in the post, had a much better handle and a way better off hand than Nowitzki, just to name a few things. And yes, Bird is easily the best passing forward to ever play, and probably in the top 5 passers of all time. Bird had that quote that he didn’t think triple-doubles were that impressive ’cause if he wanted to he could average a TD with ease, and I believe him. Put him in today’s game with the lack of aggressive Rand emphasis on shooting? Dude…

[EndlessknightParticipant]

Look no further than Bird’s career rebounding average to see that he would’ve been consider a 4 in today’s game.

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 Dolph Schayes played before Larry aye?

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Larry Bird was the original Pasty Hope. The original Lonzo Ball of rebounding, touch passing, and goofy shooting. He also had the personality of a Soviet-Era Tank.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 ^^^

Can’t run, can’t jump, can’t shoot.

The One. The Only. Lonzo Legend.

 

Memphis Madness

LiAngelo Ball: The STEAL of the 2018 NBA Draft!

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Larry Jo Bird: the original King of the Almost Triple Double!

[BasterdInABasketParticipant]

 Looking at the numbers Harden and Simmons put up in the NBA today Bird would probably be right along with RW averaging a triple double

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Lonzo Legend: the guy Ben "Magic" Simmons thanks as he wins another Finals MVP award.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Bird really only played 8 or 9 Healthy season in the NBA & he competed against 3 of the Greatest teams of All Time in Phila, Detroit & LA & Two of those teams were in the same conference AND Bird Still led his Celtics to 5 Finals, 3 Championships & 3 League MVP’s! 

When Bird came into the NBA the game was strictly a Big man’s game – if you did not have a Dominant Center you were NOT winning a Title

And NO Bigs could shoot outside 18 ft. NONE, ZIP, Zero

In fact, Very few players over 6’5” could shoot further than 18 feet away. 

Larry Bird was Revolutionary! Magic was too but when we talk about All Time great players we rarely Ever hear Bird’s name in that Top 5 & Bird Absolutely belongs in that Top group 

And I Despised the Celtics growing up & I especially HATED Larry Bird! 

But OMG this guy was AMAZING! 

Bird would AVERAGE 25 pts 10 reb & 7 assists while shooting 50% FG% & 43% from 3pt range! 

This combination of Skills in a 6’9” player was Unheard of! It felt like Bird was Created in a Lab – Bird’s 1st Six years in the NBA he either finished 1st or 2nd for League MVP EVERY year 

READ that last line again! 

Bird, Magic & Dr J were So good, So diverse & so dominant it’s really difficult to Quantify them even by today’s standards. 

And the battles between Bird & Dr’J from 1980 – 1985; And the battles between Dr J & Magic from 1980 – thru 1983 & the battles between Bird & Magic from 1984 – 1987 & then when you add Isiah Thomas’ battles w/ Bird & Magic from 1986 – 1990 

It was just the Best Basketball the NBA has EVER seen! & unless you witnessed the rivalries it’s Impossible to explain b/c even as Amazing as the game is from the Bulls 1990’s Dynasties to the Lakers & Spurs in the first decade of the 2000’s & Lebrons Dominance from 2010’s & now Golden States 

It just does Not measure up – the Only year that matches those rivalries in the 1980’s was the 2016 Cavs vs Warriors b/c both teams were fully heatlhy & it went to 7 games 

But I really encourage young fans to go on NBA Reference dot come & actually Look up the per game stats for Dr.J – his WHOLE career include the ABA where he won 3 Championships & Avg 30 & 10 & was a Bigger version of Jordan – we thought Dr. J came from Outter Space he was So much better than EVERY one athletically

And Larry Bird & Magic Johnson. Isaiah Thomas was 1st team All NBA in his 2nd year & Isiah won TONS of awards & ALl Star appearances his first 5 years in the League but Isaiah had the misfortune of playing the same position – at least on the All Star ballets – as Michael Jordan so when Jordan exploded on to the scene in 84/85′ it was like Thomas disappeared from the award circuit but his Piston’s team were som eof the Best teams we Ever saw in the NBA 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EspressoParticipant]

 

I honestly could never wrap my head around Dr. J’s athleticism. His combination of *hand size*, acrobat finishing at the rim, soft touch, and sheer vert is something only MJ can rival.

 

[HeroescantdieParticipant]

 Bird’s athletecism was limited.  He outsmart and out hustle everyone when it comes to rebounding the ball.  He’s so smart.  He’s like curry’s shooting with cris paul’s IQ,  but with pachulia’s athletecism lol

[bigfungotitdone5timesParticipant]

 bird is one of my all time favs. best trash talker ever he’d tell the defender where he was gonna score from and go do it every time. used to love watching him and nique battle

[Author]

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