Magic & Larry in the current league; what position and how good?

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

What is all this talk about today's game not suiting Magic??? The last PG to have great influence on the league was Nash - a poor man's Magic. They shot around the same TS%, despite Magic taking at least one half court heave a game. Magic was significantly better passer and much more of a mismatch. Magic had better instincts, better post play, could control the game better, would be the smartest player in the game, could feature players better, was better on the fast break, could snatch and create momentum better... and Nash did all of these things better than Chris Paul did. Outside of defense, in most point guard duties Magic was two levels better than CP3 and two years ago CP3 was on the majority of you guys top five list.

Magic rarely guarded PGs in his day and its not like his defense ever came into play where they lost big games because of it. It wasn't something big like you guys are making it out to be. Once again see Nash. And how you control pace is part of defense. And Magic was significantly better than the next in line in controlling a game. Magic also had the best defense to offense play in the game: When Magic stole the ball (and he lead the league in steals a couple of years) it was the best defense to offense play in the game as it was often a 4 or 5 point turnaround.

When Curry and Westbrook were considered top notch defenders at their position, neither guarded Derrick Rose at the end of games, so the playing off the point on defense isn't a big thing. And both were considered better than Paul who has the defense thing locked up.

WTF are u talkin about When TF were Curry or Westbrook considered top defenders

[Hey Yo]

What is all this talk about today's game not suiting Magic??? The last PG to have great influence on the league was Nash - a poor man's Magic. They shot around the same TS%, despite Magic taking at least one half court heave a game. Magic was significantly better passer and much more of a mismatch. Magic had better instincts, better post play, could control the game better, would be the smartest player in the game, could feature players better, was better on the fast break, could snatch and create momentum better... and Nash did all of these things better than Chris Paul did. Outside of defense, in most point guard duties Magic was two levels better than CP3 and two years ago CP3 was on the majority of you guys top five list.

Magic rarely guarded PGs in his day and its not like his defense ever came into play where they lost big games because of it. It wasn't something big like you guys are making it out to be. Once again see Nash. And how you control pace is part of defense. And Magic was significantly better than the next in line in controlling a game. Magic also had the best defense to offense play in the game: When Magic stole the ball (and he lead the league in steals a couple of years) it was the best defense to offense play in the game as it was often a 4 or 5 point turnaround.

When Curry and Westbrook were considered top notch defenders at their position, neither guarded Derrick Rose at the end of games, so the playing off the point on defense isn't a big thing. And both were considered better than Paul who has the defense thing locked up.

Magic's lack of defense is what kept other teams in the game!

[Pointguard]

Magic's lack of defense is what kept other teams in the game!

He won at one of the best rates ever? Please give me an example.

[Hey Yo]

He won at one of the best rates ever? Please give me an example.

That's because the Lakers division sucked, as did the conference, throughout Magic's prime and stacked team.

[T_L_P]

i think larry would play the 3, 4, or 5 in today's game, but regardless of what position he played, his GAME is that of a small forward, just in general.

larry ran off screens like rip hamilton and MADE PLAYS on the perimeter like a wing player, not a big man..

Seriously - watch Bird for a couple minutes - power forward and centers simply don't play like this - ONLY WINGS DO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msEmcemLR7M&t=0m25s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgPpTvX86n8&t=0m39s

Bird had a wing-like shot-creation style and PULL-UP shooting ability - PF's like blake griffin and tim duncan don't play this way.. Btw, in today's spacing, Bird's passing would be unreal - i think he could thoroughly dominate the game like we've never seen before with his unique passing ability in today's spacing (achieved in a non-ball-dominant fashion).
.

Do you think Bird in today's game would be the best off-ball passer ever?

[Pointguard]

WTF are u talkin about When TF were Curry or Westbrook considered top defenders

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12...light-defender
http://basketballbloggers.sportsblog...t_frazier.html

There are a lot of boards here about Westbrook. He came into the league with that reputation after he won defensive player of his conference. And before he got caught up on offense in OKC.
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...=352767&page=2
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=376085

Curry it was obviously this year. I think its more by default as there are rarely good defenders at the position.

I always thought you were a regular here but you should have seen the Westbrook talk here.

[Pointguard]

That's because the Lakers division sucked, as did the conference, throughout Magic's prime and stacked team.

Well then your example should come from the playoffs then... right?

[Rose'sACL]

so pointgaurd, prime magic vs prime lebron, who would be the better player in today's league?

[Pointguard]

so pointgaurd, prime magic vs prime lebron, who would be the better player in today's league?

I think Lebron is the better player but I would bet on Magic's team to win more. Kind of like Hakeem/Duncan in most people all time rankings. Magic/Duncan allow their team to flow and depend on others at a very high rate as well as keeping them on the same page. Magic is like MSG in food: Whatever the teams does better offensively Magic will multiply it. And right now, its about better teams over the super talent teams like OKC, Clippers, Heat in retro.

[HighFlyer23]

They would dominate this weak era with only 2 superstars, being Lebron and Durant

[pauk]

Magics 4 first years in NBA he spent starting SF/SG where Nixon was the starting PG, his game/role didnt change when he started PG instead when Nixon departured in 1983 / 84 somewhere, so he would maybe today spend a bit more time starting SF doing the "point-forward" thing a la Lebron/Penny/Pippen...... defensively is no problem, Magic didnt guard opposing PGs much anyways, he was a PG offensively but defensively it is the SG (like Byron Scott) who would more often take care of the PGs... Magic would be the best "PG" in the league and one of the 2-3 best players (Lebron/Magic/Bird/Durant).

Bird would perhaps spend more time at PF or maybe not, who knows. Not much else to be said, Bird is Bird, he worked on 100% raw skills which just so happen to be transcendent & anomaly to any era, he is the most offensively skilled player i ever seen, he will be in conversation for best player.

[rmt]

Bird would do better than Magic. PG position is played very differently now then it was in Magic's time so he would have to adjust his game more. Any time an all time great has to adjust or change something, you're making them worse more times than not imo

Adjusting his game is not a problem - remember he played center when KAJ went down in the Finals. Magic would probably guard the opposing SG/SF in today's game.

I'd love to see Magic on the 13-16 Spurs instead of the ball-hogging Parker. The passing would be out of this world

[TheBigVeto]

What is all this talk about today's game not suiting Magic??? The last PG to have great influence on the league was Nash - a poor man's Magic.

Nash is not poor man's Magic.
Nash >>>> Magic.

Having said that, Magic will do just fine in current league, he's after all a top 5 GOAT PGs.

[Marchesk]

Nash is not poor man's Magic.
Nash >>>> Magic..

In what universe? You are literally the first person I've seen rate Nash over Magic.

[Kvnzhangyay]

[QUOTE=Marchesk]In what universe? You are literally the first person I've seen rate Nash over Magic.[/QUOTE

Only in shooting i guess