Yep, he'd be a beast. He has the WILL to get it done. I would say the NBA players of 80's and early 90's were much more physical (even if not as athletic) and more defensive minded.
I'm making two points specific to the notion that Bird would be stopped. All the best teams that Bird had to beat had defenses just as good as any current defense, and they couldn't stop him. There were just as many athletic defensive specialist in the '80s trying to stop Bird as there are today. What's missing is interior defense, so the 80s was actually more difficult for Bird. To your points, all removal of illegal defense rules is offset by hand-checking and defensive 3 (which opens the lane). Bird never really ISO'd anyhow. That is not how he played, so removing ISO does not hurt Bird. Plus, your comment "a superstar ISO is pretty much a thing in the past" needs to be corrected. You are talking about perimeter-based, facing the basket ISOs. People still ISO in the low block...Melo does that all the time. Magic would do it, and so would Bird. Today's defense is definitely more sophisticated, but Daly started it in the '80s and sophistication does not completely replace lack of defensive bigs....technically it is more cerebral, but effectively that 76er '83 defenses might have been one of the best ever, and the'86 Rockets defense would reign supreme over the NBA today as well. Bird definitely had to go through better interior defenses that he'd have to face, today. What is really different, imo, aside from sophistication is that Coaches have realized that defense wins...the 80's proved it and stopped the bs of the 70s. Fastbreak defense has changed tremendously because of Magic and Bird. Coaches do not go all out for the offensive rebounds anymore...they release transition defenders. Teams concentrate more time, effort and money on defense. But I contend all this is about stopping the role players and weakside, and removing the one-dimensional spot-up shooters from the game--replacing piss poor defenders with more balanced players...but all those championship teams and Finals losers in the '80s bought into this already. But, no matter what, you still cannot stop superstars. The Van Gundy's and Thibodeaux's of the world are merely trying to make them beat you by themselves.
You honestly think that because Lebron could slow down Pau and Rose he would be able to do the same to Bird? Lebron is weak mentally, Bird thrives off trash talk and competition. Lebron may have all the physical tools that Bird lacks but mentally it's not even close. I could guarantee you in today's game Bird will be challenging James to shoot a 3 ball whenever he guards him, and Lebron will crumble.
Without a doubt, yes. Short shorts mean less restriction in movement. I have nothing scientific to back that statement. haha. Larry Legend would scoff at idea of wearing baggy 12 inch inseam shorts of today.
The lesson for you kids is that Basketball Skill and IQ > athleticism We've had a bunch of athletic players that fell off the map once their athleticism is gone. A great example are Steve Francis vs Jason Kidd and Sam Cassell Jason Kidd is still playing PG at his ancient age, I believe he got in the league in 1995 while Steve was in 2000. Kidd's court vision and superior ball handling skills have kept him in the league. He's also gotten much better at shooting which was his problem in his early years. Cassell wasn't the most athletic player, but his jumper and mid range game was so effective, he was extremely successful despite not being as athletic as Russell Westbrook Poor Steve never improved his skills as a player
that must be why offensive efficiency peaked in the 80's and early 90's. all the defensive-mindedness going around. why would this supposed increase in interior defense affect a jump shooter so much? of the two, guess whose stats fall off more in the playoffs.
Why is this guy VBG bringing up LeBron vs Bird? Anybody who knows anything about NBA history would compare him to Magic Johnson. Magic could play multiple positions and had a huge size advantage over his opponents. Bird had to face incredible defenders in his time. MJ was good defensive player. Anybody remember that guy?
so what, bird would do even better than normal against one of the absolute best defenders in the league today? i'm sure no one else ever thought about that strategy.
Larry's Playoffs Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 1980 Boston 9 9 41.3 .469 .267 .880 11.2 4.7 1.6 0.9 21.3 1981 Boston 17 17 44.1 .470 .375 .894 14.0 6.1 2.3 1.0 21.9 1982 Boston 12 12 40.8 .427 .167 .822 12.5 5.6 1.9 1.4 17.8 1983 Boston 6 6 40.0 .422 .250 .828 12.5 6.8 2.2 0.5 20.5 1984 Boston 23 23 41.8 .524 .412 .879 11.0 5.9 2.3 1.2 27.5 1985 Boston 20 20 40.8 .461 .280 .890 9.1 5.8 1.7 1.0 26.0 1986 Boston 18 18 42.8 .517 .411 .927 9.3 8.2 2.1 0.6 25.9 1987 Boston 23 23 44.1 .476 .341 .912 10.0 7.2 1.2 0.8 27.0 1988 Boston 17 17 44.9 .450 .375 .894 8.8 6.8 2.1 0.8 24.5 1990 Boston 5 5 41.4 .444 .263 .906 9.2 8.8 1.0 1.0 24.4 1991 Boston 10 10 39.6 .408 .143 .863 7.2 6.5 1.3 0.3 17.1 1992 Boston 4 2 26.8 .500 .000 .750 4.5 5.3 0.3 0.5 11.3 Career[13] 164 162 42.0 .472 .321 .890 10.3 6.5 1.8 0.9 23.8 LeBron's Playoffs Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG 2006 Cleveland 13 13 46.5 .476 .333 .737 8.1 5.8 1.4 .7 30.8 2007 Cleveland 20 20 44.7 .416 .280 .755 8.1 8.0 1.7 .5 25.1 2008 Cleveland 13 13 42.5 .411 .257 .731 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 28.2 2009 Cleveland 14 14 41.4 .510 .333 .749 9.1 7.3 1.6 .9 35.3 2010 Cleveland 11 11 41.8 .502 .400 .733 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 29.1 2011 Miami 21 21 43.9 .466 .353 .763 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 23.7 Career 92 92 43.6 .460 .323 .746 8.4 7.0 1.6 1.0 28.0
First, Bird was more than a jump shooter. He played the low block a lot. He was a SF/PF. But to really answer your question...an anchor in the middle or a Piston's style guard the post by committee...allows more aggressive double teams of superstars. The defense is just flat out...all around...better with a close lane. And to really, really answer your question ... for every playoff defender in today's game that would guard Bird I can match you with someone who guarded Bird in the playoffs. Bird caused teams to get specialist just to guard him. Come on francis 4 prez, you're one of the best game thread predictors at cf.net. It just feels like you are disagreeing just to disagree....ulterior motives are something.
Larry Legend averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in 1989-90, while shooting 93% from the line, as a 33-year old with a bad back. I think he'd fare alright.
What the numbers don't tell you is what you know as a fan. LeBron's numbers dropped in Miami because he's playing with Wade and Bosh. Bird played with the Celtics and had McHale, Parrish, DJ, Ainge In this case you have to watch the games and see what the intangibles and leadership skills are for both teams. Bird after a loss against the Lakers (in the finals) called out his team as sissies and they responded by playing better. Again. This whole LeBron vs Bird is a stupid argument because they are not similar . Magic vs LeBron is the correct comparison.
Stop comparing LeBron to Bird Start comparing LeBron to Magic <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HJYO--zM5Vs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
