If Larry Bird played in today's league..

[No Homo]

When you translate players into different eras, the majority of you just look at the athleticism of today and the stats but forget to look at the mental. You really think Bird would play against todays league the same way he did back then? He wouldnt be able to adjust to the defense and use his skills to his advantage? Not to mention the more advanced scouting, game prep that they have now? He'd still kill today.

 

[big_moe]

Cant hate Larry was a superstar player
he would easily stack up to the players nowadays
them 80's n*ggas were reckless



skip to 1:17
all that and no one got ejected
and if your a shooter it doesnt matter what era you played in, your still gonna be a shooter,

 

[Imyremeshaw]

When you translate players into different eras, the majority of you just look at the athleticism of today and the stats but forget to look at the mental. You really think Bird would play against todays league the same way he did back then? He wouldnt be able to adjust to the defense and use his skills to his advantage? Not to mention the more advanced scouting, game prep that they have now? He'd still kill today.

This!! plus Larry Bird had some of his most epic games against some of the most athletic players ever, Larry Bird v Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 ECSF. Half these players don't even have the BBall IQ let alone the fundamentals Bird had. Look at Duncan, even with his lost of athleticism( 90s-early 2000), his fundamentals are still carrying him.

 

[Doctor Gonzo]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R76nMD8buR8"]Larry Bird 47 pts vs. Portland (Left handed game) - YouTube[/ame]

Larry Legend played an entire game left-handed and dropped a triple double (47 points, 22 left handed)

But somehow, somewhere, someone thinks he'd struggle in today's NBA?

 

[dantheman9758]

He'd probably be listed at 6"10 or 6"11 today -

With his shot and passing skills he'd be a matchup nightmare today, too skilled for most PFs to check and too big and gifted in the post for SFs to check. Prime Bird would be right there with Bron and Durant for best in the league discussions.

True, if he wanted to be listed taller he could. He measured 6-9 w/o shoes in the 1992 Olympics - and that's after his back was wrecked. That's the same height as Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard, and taller than most other players who are listed or referred to as 6-10 in todays league (like 6-7.75 Kevin Love or 6-8.5 Blake Griffin). Bird prob didn't have Durant's or Howards wingspan but if you saw him out on the floor next to modern players you'd think that's one towering looking small forward. I could be wrong but I think Dirk measured 6-10 w/o shoes for international competition, so Bird would only be an inch shy of a guy we commonly refer to as a "7 footer". Bird, despite his "lack of athleticism" and other cliches, was actually always somewhat of a physical mismatch because of his size. That Celtics front line must have been pretty imposing with McHale Parish and Bird out there

 

[jerniebert]

So one of the best players of his era would suck now. Some people are either or know nothing about basketball.

 

[mastermind]

He would be the same thing he was then. Shooting, passing, and IQ translate across era. On top of that he had good size and was fearless. As others have mentioned the most interesting thing would be seeing him without the HOF teammates. There is no doubt he could get his but it would certainly be interesting seeing him with a lottery squad with all kinds of holes. It would really be interesting to see how the media reacted to him. Wonder if he would still be such a "winner".

the Celtics were a 50 loss team before Bird arrived (for a couple of seasons too). They ended up a 60 win team in his rookie year, and he won ROY. And this was before Parrish and McHale and Dennis Johnson.

Tiny Archibald was there, but people thought he was finished before Bird arrived.

 

[Art Barr]

it's funny whenever a cac writer compares black quarterback coming outta the draft to another black quarterback the wanna be black panthers in the coli get all up in arms about it. Behold this thread where every single comparison of Bird is to another white player no matter the difference in game. like Dirk? really?

He would probably average 15,6,4 in todays NBA. Chill with the he'd be one of the best players in the league shyt. That's fantasy.

bird would get more than fifteen a game, breh.
Bird's bball IQ, confidence and ability to execute at any moment of a game.
Is distinctly higher than anyone that plays in this Gen.
Plus physically he had the pre-req's in height and intangibles.
to cause significant nightly damage to any team in this era night in, night out.

I saw bird unphased two straight years in the playoffs put the bulls out.
People can say he was white as a bullshyt deflection point all they want.
Yet, and still.....
Bird was a beast for real.

You sleep if you discounting bird.
Bird was Darth Vader of sports, for my Gen.
Other than ric flair,...
He was the top mainstream drawing villain on television and existence, for that time for a Blackman.

Art Barr

 

[calh45]

So one of the best players of his era would suck now. Some people are either or know nothing about basketball.

Bolded the answer.

I seriously don't even think Jordan could pull off the left handed game Larry dropped on the Trailblazers.

You see Sportscenter now and how ESPN is built. According to them whomever the best player is today is automatically the greatest of all time. They don't do history, Kareem was slow and old with goggles, Larry was an unathletic shooter, Wilt and Bill only dominated because they were the only black dudes. They're even doing it with MJ, he only dominated because the league was full of Craig Ehlo's.

 

[Lord Beasley]

cacthletes?


yall nikkas are racist!

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

Bird is fukking incredible. He'd be the real White Mamba if he were in the league today. His passing and vision is just mindblowing... his footwork was superb... insane shooter... clutch as fukk... He used to tell opponents exactly how and where he would hit the game winner.

NBA is soft right now.. Dude had that Michael Jordan killer mentality.

 

[Eastside Get The Money]

I don't know how but even with his 0% athleticism Legend would still get buckets somehow. White boy had talent

 

[threattonature]

Bird is fukking incredible. He'd be the real White Mamba if he were in the league today. His passing and vision is just mindblowing... his footwork was superb... insane shooter... clutch as fukk... He used to tell opponents exactly how and where he would hit the game winner.

NBA is soft right now.. Dude had that Michael Jordan killer mentality.

THIS. Bird would drop 25-30 a game, 10 rebounds and 7-8 assists a game in my opinion and would be right up there among the top players in the league.

 

[mastermind]

They're even doing it with MJ, he only dominated because the league was full of Craig Ehlo's.

You're doing too much here.

 

[Rice N Beans]

Dirk with Ray Allen shooting and crazy footwork/passing.