a less physical game means a biasedly offensive stat like per will be inflated today compared to then.
Bird averaged a trible double in finals of 86 against Rockets at the age of 30 and he's no way near Dirk in the age of 30 respectively? This PER stats are complete crap
No they wouldn't. Dirk's 7-1 height puts him in a league of his own. It's just that his overall game is much more similar to MacDoo than Bird.
I don't think so. Other stars that played in the 80's had some nice numbers as well: My opinion is that Bird was on one of the two superteams of the 80s and as a consequence, he won titles. Dirk never had this kind of team and as a consequence fell short. Which results in Dirk being somewhat underrated and Bird being somewhat overrated.
You probably didn't have an opportunity to watch this <object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jxqKLEMTBo4?version=3&hl=ru_RU"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jxqKLEMTBo4?version=3&hl=ru_RU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
They're two different players, Bird is a legend though, scoring PPG in ridiculous amounts, being super clutch, and winning all of those championships of course. Bird made lots of trick passes, and scored mostly from layups and mid range. Dirk usually uses his size advantage to make super high arch jumpers, as well as to post up occasionally(this is an aspect he should utilize more).
I didn't say Bird never had great games. But you could make the same stuff for Dirk, too. The Mavs have 3 15 point-Comebacks in the 4th in this year's playoffs alone. Dirk's 4th quarter points record is at 29 iirc (although that was reg. season). Dirk has 7 playoff games over 50 points. 48 points on 15 shots againts OKC this playoffs. 52 points against Phoenix after Tim Thomas blew him the "kiss of death". He has a career record of 28 pts, 12 rpg on 49% fg, 39% 3pt for elimination games. 13 of these were 30pts or higher, the only other two players with 13 or more elimination games with 30 points are Wilt Chamberlain (13) and Jerry West (14). Dirk's in an exclusive club with playoff averages of 26 points and 11 rebounds per game. The other two members? Hakeem and Elgin Baylor. There should be enough stuff for a few hero videos in there.
This is actually a great example of his point, considering that Wilkins did the same, if not more, than Bird that game, put up similar career numbers, and yet no one ever thinks of him as an all-time great.
Without a doubt he's gotten better and worked on certain parts of his game but the change was in evidence ever since the 07 playoff loss to GSW. After that he's been playing fantastic ball with the "spare parts" he had around him before most of the team came together in about 2009/2010.
