Larry Bird -vs- Magic Johnson

#2
#2
I'll take Johnson.

Both were damn good.
 
#11
#11
You cant compare because they are two different positions.
 
#12
#12
NEOCON said:
You cant compare because they are two different positions.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ. It's not like football where you have distinct separation of duties. Everybody on the floor scores and gets rebounds, and assists. Magic was like a small forward that they ran the offense through. They also tended to run the offense through Bird, he just shot more.

Per 36:

Magic - 19.2 pp, 11.0 ap, 7.1 rp, 1.9 sp, 3.8 top, shooting .610 TS%
Bird - 22.8 pp, 6.0 ap, 9.4 rp, 1.6 sp, 2.9 top, shooting .564 TS%

Magic had better career averages, but he didn't play until 35 like Bird did. In their primes, it was a push.
 
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#13
#13
nbakerld said:
I beg to differ. It's not like football where you have distinct separation of duties. Everybody on the floor scores and gets rebounds, and assists. Magic was like a small forward that they ran the offense through. They also tended to run the offense through Bird, he just shot more.

Per 36:

Magic - 19.2 pp, 11.0 ap, 7.1 rp, 1.9 sp, 3.8 top, shooting .610 TS%
Bird - 22.8 pp, 6.0 ap, 9.4 rp, 1.6 sp, 2.9 top, shooting .564 TS%

Magic had better career averages, but he didn't play until 35 like Bird did. In their primes, it was a push.
Click to expand...

Wrong. Johnson directed the offense for the Lakers. Bird did not direct Boston's offense. Offensively, their roles were completely different. That's a fact. ON defense, though, it could be said they basically played the same position.

Still, it's a legimate question and I would have to say they were equals. One step above Bernard King(who both Bird and Magic claimed was the best player they went up against other than each other) and one step below Michael Jordan
 
#14
#14
2ironVol said:
Wrong. Johnson directed the offense for the Lakers. Bird did not direct Boston's offense. Offensively, their roles were completely different. That's a fact. ON defense, though, it could be said they basically played the same position.

Still, it's a legimate question and I would have to say they were equals. One step above Bernard King(who both Bird and Magic claimed was the best player they went up against other than each other) and one step below Michael Jordan
Click to expand...

Bird wins a championship in 1984 scoring 20 ppg, and leading his team in assists.

Magic wins a championship in in 1987 scoring 20 ppg, and leading his team in assists.

Yeah, completely different roles.
 
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#17
#17
nbakerld said:
I beg to differ. It's not like football where you have distinct separation of duties. Everybody on the floor scores and gets rebounds, and assists. Magic was like a small forward that they ran the offense through. They also tended to run the offense through Bird, he just shot more.

Per 36:

Magic - 19.2 pp, 11.0 ap, 7.1 rp, 1.9 sp, 3.8 top, shooting .610 TS%
Bird - 22.8 pp, 6.0 ap, 9.4 rp, 1.6 sp, 2.9 top, shooting .564 TS%

Magic had better career averages, but he didn't play until 35 like Bird did. In their primes, it was a push.
Click to expand...
still two entirely different players. One was the go to guy and had to take most of the winding down clock tough shots. I would argue that both orchestrated their offenses. Defensively, Magic was positioned for more steals and had them, but Bird was an equal on defense to Magic.

They were two of the greatest ever, but stats just don't tell the story of what they meant to teams they were on.
 
#19
#19
I've seen better athletes for sure, but I don't know that I've ever seen a player mysteriously be in the right place at the right time as often as Larry Bird.
 
#20
#20
I suppose everyone has their own definition of what makes a great player. For me, it's relatively simple. Great players make those around them better and both Bird and Magic made several journeyman-class players into all-stars.

Magic was the greater talent and play-maker, Bird was the better basketball player per skill set and all-around play. It's a wash for me, both were amazing and those old enough were lucky enough to get to watch them go head-to-head in several classic match-ups.
 
#21
#21
BigPapaVol said:
still two entirely different players. One was the go to guy and had to take most of the winding down clock tough shots. I would argue that both orchestrated their offenses. Defensively, Magic was positioned for more steals and had them, but Bird was an equal on defense to Magic.

They were two of the greatest ever, but stats just don't tell the story of what they meant to teams they were on.
Click to expand...

I agree points and rebounds don't tell you their value. Wins Produced tells you they were worth about 25-30 wins per season in their prime. I think that pretty accurately tells you what they meant to their teams.
 
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