Before Magic showed up the Lakers had been the biggest disappontment in the league for 3yrs straight not being able to get over the hump and make the finals despite having Kareem who was probably the best player in the game at the time. Magic shows up and they become one of the best teams the NBA has ever seen. Magic wins this and the fact we have a poll is utter insanity. Magic and Bird saved the league. We watched the NBA finals on tape delay before they showed up now its a prime time event.
Definitely not average, but Magic makes him look average. My argument is centered more around greatness of Magic. To me, he's the best basketball player that ever lived. He just made everyone he played with better in a very tangible way.
Paul has to surpass the likes of Kidd, Nash, Payton, Stockton, Big O, Isiah, Nate Archibald, Cousy and Frazier before we can even start comparing him to Magic. As things stand he's the TMac of point guards. One outstanding individual season but ultimately a loser. Couldn't even get past a mediocre Grizzlies team with a stacked roster.
I'm only 24 so I can't really argue with ya on that, but he hasn't played on a truly great team yet. He makes his teammates better than some give him credit for.
Griffin ended up hurt that series. The Clippers are not as stacked as people act. Their starting 5 isn't even stacked.
This... I'll even take Kidd in his prime over Paul. Isaiah Thomas comes into mind also. WTH, even Parker showed a lot already than CP3. CP3 might not even taste any championship. He should have gone to Houston when given the chance. He's got a better chance here than in LA.
Yep, that's how I feel about it. All of those guys have had a lot individual success AND team success. He may be better than Payton, Payton may fall closer to the end of that list IMO...but nowhere...NOWHERE close to Magic. It's not a knock on Paul...it's just how great Magic was. In the end it's not even close and Paul has a lot of catching up to do to catch up to Magic Johnson.
Magic was insanely good in his time. The guy could guard 4 positions while averaging 20/12/7 and 2 steals. A better question would be, who was better, Magic or LeBron? Because LeBron is actually a much closer comparison, albeit more focused on scoring and less on creating for others.
Magic in his 12 year career never won less than 54 games in a regular season and had the best record in the league 9 times. They won over 60 games in 6 of those years. When he retired from HIV, the Lakers dropped to 43 wins that season. Even Kareem's efficiency numbers went up as soon as Magic joined the lakers as a 20 year old.
That would be impossible to answer because they are so different. Magic was guy you couldn't double because he would always find the open man. That is what made his post up of smaller guards so lethal. You couldn't really scheme against him. With Lebron, you have to double just to get it out of his hands.
I feel you like I said I can't say much since I didn't grow up watching Magic but I know he's a great player. But I do think people sell CP3 short because they hate his constant flopping and whining. People overrate the talent around him in LA.
Nah, I'll take CP3 over Peyton. G-P was one of the greatest defenders but Paul's offense is more of an asset. Pgs I would have over Paul (descending order) Magic Isiah Robertson Stockton Nash Kidd Parker (yes I would if I had the right team with a system that could utilize Parker better) Peyton
CP3 should come here to Houston. He might win a ring or two here then that's the only time we can at least compare him to Magic. I'm not a fan of the Lakers but I love watching Magic and Jordan duel it out even when Magic already lost a step.
To the people that said Lebron, yea that is much better of a comparison. That actually makes you think, but in the end I'll take Magic. He is a much more refined Lebron with a high BB IQ minus some athleticism .
