How good would Larry Bird be in today's game?

monstar1

monstar1

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Sep 1, 2011
I was thinking how there aren't any great white American wing players today.  None are All-Stars and probably will never be. 

I'm just wondering as great as Larry was would he still be an 1st team/2nd team All-NBA type player?  His skillset was amazing, he had size, and his jumper was water.  The main thing that set him apart was his competitive fire and ability to make big plays.  Even with those things would he be killing like he did? He did play in a more physical era so maybe he'd take advantage of the today's softer rules.  Im not sure where I stand on this yet tho. I do feel like he'd have a problem with the athletic ability of opposing players.  The size, speed, length, and athletic ability is wayyy different in today's game.  What do ya'll think? 
 
Defense was better back in his day. All that crap you listed doesn't exactly translate to good defense in today's game. I rarely see it and I will watch an NBA solely for that.

Bird had a quick release and shot it from behind his head, high IQ, and all the quirky moves. He would be insanely good in today's game and you can lock this one up!
 
First off, I hate these arguments. Can't compare across eras. But I'll play along.

I'll say he'd be a better Dirk (who is a top 20 player of all time, regardless of what the knuckleheads on here think). His basketball IQ was ridiculous. Incomparable, really. And the fact he was so unathletic makes it even crazier thathe was so great. He could dominate a game without even scoring. Dirk can't do that. Also, Bird wasn't a great defender, but he had his moments. He played with reckless abandon as well. My only reservation in today's game is his height, especially with these long wing players in the league, but I think his basketball savvy trumps that.
 
Still one of the absolute best. Any other answer is pretty much unacceptable.
 
Defense was not better back then. You could be more physical but TEAM defense was much worse and as a whole, athletes are better today. Either way, if Dirk could completely dominate today's game against anyone (there are some absolute monster athletes that guard him), I have little doubt Bird would be able to. I'm not sure how he'd do against someone like Lebron. Most great SFs today have some sort of physical advantage over the league. I don't know if Bird's height would be enough to make up for his lack of speed, strength and explosiveness. My only question would be how he could finish against the defenses today. That's what really separates good players from great players in the league.
 
Originally Posted by mgrand15

Defense was not better back then.
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Originally Posted by MzD650

Originally Posted by mgrand15

Defense was not better back then.
Click to expand...

roll.gif
Click to expand...
Hard fouls and hand checking = better defense?

Combine the physical play of back then and the schemes of now and you get 70 ppg like the early 2000s. Not the high scores of the 80s bro.
eyes.gif
 
Originally Posted by mgrand15

Originally Posted by MzD650

Originally Posted by mgrand15

Defense was not better back then.
Click to expand...

roll.gif
Click to expand...
Hard fouls and hand checking = better defense?

Combine the physical play of back then and the schemes of now and you get 70 ppg like the early 2000s. Not the high scores of the 80s bro.
eyes.gif
Click to expand...
You might be the only one in the world that thinks there is better defense now.  And I love how you downplay the physicality of the players back then, as if that isnt a huge factor.
 
Originally Posted by MzD650

Originally Posted by mgrand15

Originally Posted by MzD650


roll.gif
Click to expand...
Hard fouls and hand checking = better defense?

Combine the physical play of back then and the schemes of now and you get 70 ppg like the early 2000s. Not the high scores of the 80s bro.
eyes.gif
Click to expand...
You might be the only one in the world that thinks there is better defense now.  And I love how you downplay the physicality of the players back then, as if that isnt a huge factor.
Click to expand...
You're also downplaying how much more athletic the average NBA player is now, the rules that let you play zone (or throw your whole team at superstars), and how intricate team defense is now. Even with all the advantages offenses have now, the defensive ratings of a bunch of teams now are better than they were back then. If you think its just cause players are worse now, then youre probably one of those old school guys who thinks everything was better "back in the day."
 
Not sure why you guys are comparing him to Dirk...Dirk is 7ft.  he gets off alot of shots because of that.  Bird was listed at 6'9.   And him > Dirk in passing, ball-handling, IQ.

Players are so unique its hard to compare. Especially crossing eras like this.  Random but thats why I hate seeing classic players in 2k move like guys in 2012. They didn't have the same moves or style.
 
Originally Posted by MonStar1

Not sure why you guys are comparing him to Dirk...Dirk is 7ft.  he gets off alot of shots because of that.  Bird was listed at 6'9.   And him > Dirk in passing, ball-handling, IQ.

Players are so unique its hard to compare. Especially crossing eras like this.  Random but thats why I hate seeing classic players in 2k move like guys in 2012. They didn't have the same moves or style.
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It's not about height though. I compare to Dirk based on their general lack of athleticism (compared to other guys who are ranked in the pantheon of NBA history). They both understood their physical limitations and they worked hard to become great players in other aspects of the game. Bird was a cerebral player who could destroy you without scoring a point. Dirk is a guy who developed an unguardable shot, and could carry a team despite his limitations. And Bird had a high release from behind his head that was practically unguardable as well. Just watch the Youtube videos of Bird and see how ridiculous he was. The youngsters on this board talk about how Lebron is a great passing SF, but Bird is just so far ahead of him it's disgusting. You don't think that could translate to today's game?
 
Bird would be a star.

why did you pick out bird op? why aren't you asking how good Magic Johnson would be, he is from the same era?
or did you think there were no blacks in the NBA back then?
 
The easy answer would be, "He would do the same."

But the game is more athletic now, yes that matters, and there is racial discrimination against white players in today's game so he might ride the pine.
 
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Honestly Bird would be nothing more than a JJ Reddick type player.



























lol jk... he would beast
 
Originally Posted by mgrand15

Originally Posted by MzD650

Originally Posted by mgrand15

Hard fouls and hand checking = better defense?

Combine the physical play of back then and the schemes of now and you get 70 ppg like the early 2000s. Not the high scores of the 80s bro.
eyes.gif
Click to expand...
You might be the only one in the world that thinks there is better defense now.  And I love how you downplay the physicality of the players back then, as if that isnt a huge factor.
Click to expand...
You're also downplaying how much more athletic the average NBA player is now, the rules that let you play zone (or throw your whole team at superstars), and how intricate team defense is now. Even with all the advantages offenses have now, the defensive ratings of a bunch of teams now are better than they were back then. If you think its just cause players are worse now, then youre probably one of those old school guys who thinks everything was better "back in the day."
Click to expand...


I rarely comment on topics like this but Bird wouldnt be top 25. Has anyone actually watches 80's basketball? That man had ugly form no lift in his shot and didn't see zone d. Maybe he would of adjusted but of he played exactly how he did back then he'd be an average player
 
^Kevin Martin had a horrendous shooting form...he's one of the better scorers in the league. And seeing as Larry is a shooter, a zone defense is not something you'd want to throw at him. He would still have his rebounding ability, his passing ability and he'd still be clutch. I wouldn't rule him out just like that. He would have some problems with more athletic players, but every player has their flaws.
 
I agree these are never easy to answer but you also have to factor in then putting today's training methods into Bird's body too.

Back in the day Larry wasn't going down to Phoenix to work at athlete's performance camps nor working with dieticians and new age weight training and body work. He was throwin back beers with McHale, workin on the farm, and shooting jumpers all day
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It's a valid question though by OP I think because it is so rare you see a white American wing player, let alone one that is very good.
 
Bird in his prime? Aside from Kobe & maybe Durant, I'd take Bird in his prime over any of the clowns playing in the L today. Word is born. His game transcends any era. He was fundementally sound which isn't the case for 85% of these fools now in the L now. He might have trouble guarding some of the athletic small forwards, but there would be no small forward or power forward that could check him. Birds J was crazy, not only his 3s but his mid range. He'd tell the player guarding him & the coach (& the bench) where he was going to shoot it from & he'd stick the jumper right there too. I swear you guys are so young...Old school to most of you is Larry Johnson...
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Originally Posted by Bean Pie Slanga


Defense was better back in his day. All that crap you listed doesn't exactly translate to good defense in today's game. I rarely see it and I will watch an NBA solely for that.

Bird had a quick release and shot it from behind his head, high IQ, and all the quirky moves. He would be insanely good in today's game and you can lock this one up!
Click to expand...



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Yamsauce
 
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