Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
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Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 9:18 AM EDT
- Duke4
- Posts: 2781
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I thought about it and I have to ask myself the question....would Magic and Bird have made the Celtics a better team than Bird, McHale, and the Chief....? ...man, I'm not so sure now that I think of it....Cowens was at the end of the line by then... -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 9:20 AM EDT
- pliu
- Posts: 508
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Magic and Bird together? Man, a purist's wet dream. Can you imagine the ball movement? -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 9:21 AM EDT
- deanocelt
- Posts: 279
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Who's better Majic or Bird is kind of like saying what's better a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce? These were wto awesome basketball player and both clearly merits consideration when discussing the best basketball players of all time. My brain is not capable of reaching a solution to that problem. I loved them both.
Favorite Bird moment: Although there were many and many counted more than this, I loved the play when he was falling out of bounds behind the basket and he shot up a high rainbow over the backboard for a swish. I know the basket didn't count but that was sooo Larry. What a touch!
As far as Majic goes those no look passes were so awesome. I can see them like they were yesterday.
Many memories to cherish forever. I like thinking about who was better because it brings back all the great memories. I am tempted to say Larry becuase he was so awesome and I am a Celts fan. But Magic was - magic. The perfect nickname for the Ervin. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 9:49 AM EDT
- Fiercest34
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Kareem won his first ring with the Bucks in 1971. When Kareem was replaced by Vlade Divac, Magic Johnson never won another ring. So there's some truth when saying Magic never won without Kareem. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 10:01 AM EDT
- pliu
- Posts: 508
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Kareem was the 1st option until about 1987 but Magic revived his career. Kareem won his first title with Oscar Robertson in 1971 but then didn't win one again until 1980.
During this stretch there were times when it seemd that Kareem was just going through the motions playing without joy or passion. Sometimes it seemd that Kareem no longer enjoyed the game. I think Magic relit the fire under him.
Of course that a passionless Kareem was still so dominant was a testament to the surreal talent he had. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 10:58 AM EDT
- 21st
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Robert "The Chief" Parish is one of the great Celtic players, but if Kareem was the Center during Larry Bird's career, the Celtics would have had another 8-peat! -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 11:13 AM EDT
- pliu
- Posts: 508
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It's amazing that the last player to imitate Kareem's hookshot was Magic Johnson.
I mean, Kareem is only the all-time scoring leader. How many came on that skyhook? -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 11:31 AM EDT
- clappy
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As I remember, they were both pretty good. And they did play different positions. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 1:51 PM EDT
- jdm894g
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Bird, but not by much. As much as I hate the LA FAKERS, Magic made some awesome plays. He was more flashy than Bird, but Bird was lunch pail and hard hat type player. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 3:13 PM EDT
- Laker-Nation32
- Posts: 1118
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Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 3:18 PM EDT
- Red-16Russ-11
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Magic
Michael
Bird
Malone
Russell
All great, I'd start a franchise with any one of them.....esp Russ!! -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 10:20 PM EDT
- lakersavenger
- Posts: 574
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Magic 5 plus 1 college, Bird 3 no college. 'Nuff said. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 10:30 PM EDT
- Red-16Russ-11
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:Magic 5 plus 1 college, Bird 3 no college. 'Nuff said.
Posted by lakersavenger
Thanks for acknowledging Russell - 11 titles, 2 college and 1 Olympics (when they were amateurs!!) as the best ever - by YOUR words!!!!
Best PG ever, best SF ever - NOW 'nuff said! -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 10:55 PM EDT
- Fiercest34
- Posts: 15670
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson : Thanks for acknowledging Russell - 11 titles, 2 college and 1 Olympics (when they were amateurs!!) as the best ever - by YOUR words!!!! Best PG ever, best SF ever - NOW 'nuff said!
Posted by Red-16Russ-11Looks like Laker-Nation32 just became Goner-Nation32. Ha Ha -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/10/2011 11:06 PM EDT
- Red-16Russ-11
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson : Looks like Laker-Nation32 just became Goner-Nation32. Ha Ha
Posted by Fiercest34
Yup, so much for the "longest thread." -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 12:20 AM EDT
- lakersavenger
- Posts: 574
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson : Thanks for acknowledging Russell - 11 titles, 2 college and 1 Olympics (when they were amateurs!!) as the best ever - by YOUR words!!!! Best PG ever, best SF ever - NOW 'nuff said!
Posted by Red-16Russ-11
I thought we were talking about modern times. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 1:42 AM EDT
- Laker-Nation32
- Posts: 1118
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Magic Johnson drafted #1
Larry Bird #6
Magic won NCAA Championship
Bird got beaten by Magic's Spartans
Magic won 5 NBA championships
Bird won 3
Magic gave rise to SHOWTIME
Bird's celtics were known as.....celtics (yawn)
Game over. Thanks for playing! -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 1:50 AM EDT
- RUWorthy
- Posts: 941
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Both players should be given as the example for all players to emulate. They made their teams better and they were always competitive while both men were on there rosters.
Lakers stayed competitive for slightly longer. Making the Finals over a longer period of time. Bird was more fragile physically in the end. And Boston just wasn't able to realistically challenge for the title after 1987. However this didn't mean that Bird wasn't dangerous. I saw a game that he played in 1992 against Portland where he really turned back time.
Magic allowed the Lakers to be much more consistent for longer. Making the finals almost every year. Even if we did lose in '89 (because of injury) and '91 we were at least playing for the championship. After '91 we were just not a strong team for a very long time.
Both men were equally fantastic. I'd take Magic just over Larry but I'd be happy with either of them playing in my team. I do think that what Larry accomplished with Indiana State was incredible, and such a feat may well never happen again. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 3:00 AM EDT
- Laker-Nation32
- Posts: 1118
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:
Posted by RUWorthy
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....................................................! -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 7:42 AM EDT
- Karllost
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Good point.
In perspective of Birds impact to the Sycamores and leter with the Celtics his first year.... well those two events are very significant.
Taking a no nothing history at Indiana St and instantly turniong them into a national power until the day he left... when they reverted back to garbage.
Joining the C's and making the greatest turn-around in NBA history at the time... speaks volumes on how great Larry was and how much better he made teammates.
Magic may have been able to do the same only there is no evidence of it since the teams he played on have always had a good tradition and were pretty good when he joined.
Consider this hypothetical.. Take Magic & Larry both in their primes.. If either was placed on last years NJ Nets team ... what kind of impact would it make? -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 9:06 AM EDT
- Fiercest34
- Posts: 15670
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If Larry Bird was a Laker, the Lakers would already have 18 championships by now. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 9:32 AM EDT
- Duke4
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson : I thought we were talking about modern times.
Posted by lakersavenger -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 9:33 AM EDT
- Duke4
- Posts: 2781
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we are talking about modern times....that era started with the shot clock...almost one third of the Laker titles came in the old days...... -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 9:51 AM EDT
- pliu
- Posts: 508
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No Duke.
According to the trolls "modern times" is when the Lakers began winning titles. Thus what the Celtics did from 1957-1969 doesn't count.
Oh but wait a minute, these same trolls claim the Minny titles of the early 50's as their own.
So I guess what they are really saying is that "modern times" is whatever they say it is. -
Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson
posted at 9/11/2011 10:37 AM EDT
- Red-16Russ-11
- Posts: 5704
- First: 6/2/2011
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In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson:In Response to Re: Larry Bird Was Better Than Magic Johnson : I thought we were talking about modern times.
Posted by lakersavenger
I thought this was about the NBA - didn't "modern times" start with the steam engine? You cannot spin the facts to suit your own conclusions............does that make Robert Horry better than both?