Would Larry Bird be a starter for these Celtics

There are a lot of people who put up those numbers? Really?

Yanqui wrote:

There are a lot of people who put up those numbers? Really?

yeah... really?? Bird posted 24/10/6 for a *13 year career*... name me one player that matched those numbers and isn't getting his due props.

Yanqui wrote:

There are a lot of people who put up those numbers? Really?

I was about to say the same thing. Yeah, there are plenty of guys like that who won multiple titles, MVP awards and were considered one of the best players of their generation that no one talks about.

Let's go a step further. Bird won the MVP in 84, 85, and 86. He was statistically even better than that in 87 and 88 (both years over 28 ppg, 9 rpg, 6 apg, with over 52% shooting, over 40% from behind the arc, and over 91% from the line). His career numbers are pulled down by the sub-par years from his surgery-shortened year in 89 until his retirement, and even so, those stats taken as a whole rival any player in the history of the game. I assume most of the people spouting basketball ignorance are just young. It would be like some kid today saying, "I don't see what's so great about Shaq" based on seeing him now at the end of his career.

Larry Bird would start for any team in any era.

He was a much better athlete than he ever got credit for being.

I hated Bird in the 80s, because I was a Lakers fan as well (and a Dr. J. fan), and he sure doesn't look like much of an athlete in those old videos, but no one could ever guard him and he was clutch and he was tremendous at swiping the ball from guys or playing the passing lanes (team # of shots is a key stat) for a guy who was six nine, and he could score from anywhere, while also rebounding in double figures for his career. How many other six nine guys (notice in the videos that he is at least an inch taller than Magic, so maybe six ten) have ever averaged 6.3 assists per game for a career? His 3 pt stats were put up in an era where the line was much further back than in later years. You could discount the points and rebounds and assists a bit because he played in a high scoring offensive era, by looking at percentage of team points, available rebounds, and assists, but he also played against much deeper teams, prior to '90s expansion, and had to share the ball with Hall of Famers like Parris, DJ, and McHale, not to mention Walton, and solid players like Cornbread Maxwell and Danny Ainge. But when you think about how much his game was diminished by back problems about ten years into his career, then you get an idea that he could have won multiple more championships. He still had the skill even at the end. I remember him at the end of his career, unable to sit down on a chair and lying on his stomach off the court with ice bags on his back during breaks, staying healthy enough for one game to put up something like 49/14/12 against the Portland Trailblazers.

Something no one has mentioned was his famous left handed game where he got bored and decided he would use his left hand to finish any shorter shots. He scored 47 with 22 from his left hand. Not to many guys get bored so they start using their other hands.

I think the worst part about playing with Bird is if you are his teammate you never know when you are going to get a pass. You had to be ready for one at any moment. Some of his passes were unreal.

jjjjjjjj wrote:nd had to share the ball with Hall of Famers like Parris, DJ, and McHale, not to mention Walton, and solid players like Cornbread Maxwell and Danny Ainge..

Don't forget Nate Archibald, who is the only player in league history to lead the league in scoring and assists in the same year.

God only knows how good the Celtics would have been if Len Bias (probably the best backroom maneuver Auerbach ever made) didn't kill himself partying like a rock star!

Wendell Gee wrote:

possibly wrote:

I have to agree with you, but this team would be in it until MJ hits the winning shot at 0:02...

C - Wilt

PF - Malone

SF - LeBron

G - Kobe

PG - Stockton

I'd take that team but with Russell at PF instead of Malone.

Dang. And ruin my Stockton-to-Malone chemistry?

In a game against the Jazz, Bird was one steal away from a quadruple double. He had double digit points, rebounds, and assists, along with 9 steals!

He and Magic Johnson were the best I've ever seen. Magic was the best on the fast break ever. Bird was an incredible passer and rebounder. In the crucial game 4 against the lakers in 1984, Bird had 22 rebounds.

Michael Jordon is probably the best all around player ever. I never got to see him in person, however. But to take the teams he had, which had good but hardly great talent, and win 6 rings is pretty amazing.

OMG, I don't even know where to start. These players today are PUNKS, pure and simple. That's right....PUNKS. They badly lack fundamentals and are poorly disciplined. I don't even think there is one player today that would start on the Dream Team - not one. The NBA today is a far cry from what it was in the 70's and 80's.

I feel like this team would win no matter who plays them. You won't team chemistry and winners on your team not overhyped ball hog wilt chamberlain for godsakes.

C-Bill Russell because "all he do is win win win no matter what"

PF-Tim Duncan

SF-Larry Bird

SG-Michael Jodan

PG-Magic Johnson

When MJ is the most selfish on the team that is a terrible thing im talking about post 80's jordan he would pass the ball more anyways with this team. All the rest 4 players will win a game no matter what the cost. No matter how many points they have to give up to one another or how many bruises it takes this team is probably the best all time.

For the OP please go rent "Larry Bird Hardwood Classics" see some of the moves he made in that and just watch the movie please. Plus someone alredy mentioned this but he took Indiana State to the National Championship, exactly.

Also read Jackie Mac book about Magic and Bird, there is another great source for how amazing the dream team, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson were.

You are a racist idiot. If a running forum is not the place to discuss this then why are you discussing this issue on a running forum. The only reason that anyone could even think that Bird would not start is that it just pains them that there was a white guy who could hang with any brother that ever lived. If you are going to seriously validate this idiotic thought that questions whether bird would start then you also would have to question whether Magic would start for this years Lakers. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that you would think it would stupid to question whether magic would be a starter so the only reason you can say that Bird might not start and was overrattedis racially driven. Oh, and get your facts straight, because Bird was one of the all time great defensive players who brought an intensity to the defensive side that few others have even come close to matching. I'm not sure what his steal and block stats are, but I would venture to say they are on up there.

No, I think he is too old.

I was lucky enough to get to watch Larry Bird in his prime but dumb enough not to appreciate him because I was a Laker fan and hated the Celtics, but that dude was GREAT!!! Not only would he have started on any team right now but on any Dream team you could think of. The guy knew how to play, win and was a great shooter. Give him his props and quit calling him the great white hype, just GREAT.

Yet another clinic - look at his stats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p-9GI85xcs&feature=related

I don't think I've ever seen anyone shoot the ball like Bird. The night he downed 60 Atlanta, he could have shot it from the men's room and made it.

Stupid question!

(3) players ever to play the game that could take total control of the game for the win. Michael, Magic, Larry. It's as simple as that. Don't tell me about Wilt, Lebron, Kobe, Oscar, Doc and others. There have been real good players, but none in this class.

Watch this video - he sure as hell doesn't look slow to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhnRtgBGMl4&feature=fvw

Another reason he was so good? He was willing to get his nose busted on any play. How many of those passes does he make after having crashed to the floor!?!?!

you never lose your jumpshot. if you watch enough of the sport you will see how effortless it is still for KG to pull up that turn around jumper, even though his knee isn't right. you always have the touch, you just lose your athleticism but Larry was never very athletic to begin with so...