Magic Johnson Greatest Games: 13/17/21 (Passing Clinic) vs Hawks (1983)

[King1991nba]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRrGynCd7c


Magic Johnson in his young prime destroying Atlanta Hawks with his all-around greatness. Magic racked up 21 assists and dished the ball to perfection to Kareem, Wilkes, McAdoo, Worthy and Nixon.

Johnson had zero points and 14 assists in the first half without even taking a shot at the basket. Talking about great player not caring about his scoring numbers. Magic was always ''team first, everything else second'' player, that's why him and his great rival and friend Larry Bird saved the NBA from absolute apocalypse.

In the end Magic had a great triple-double; 13 points (6/10 FG), 17 rebounds and 21 assists.

Kevin McHale had a great qoute about Larry and Magic: ''Larry and Magic could control the game with 12 shots, it was amazing. They'd be 7 from 12, they have 20 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. And you'd go 'that guy shoot the ball 12 times and he was the best player on the floor, by far'.''

This game is a definitive proof of this qoute, Magic shoot the ball only 10 times and he was so dominant it was almost unreal to watch. Showtime basketball at its best.

Lakers won the game 120:101.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...301150ATL.html

[Jlamb47]

Magic controlled the game at his pace, thats what made him so great

[choppermagic]

He also knew how to keep his teammates engaged/involved by feeding them in good position and when they really needed to get touches. Guy was a master at lifting his team and controlling tempo.

I can't think of one guy today that could put up that statline.

[G0ATbe]

He also knew how to keep his teammates engaged/involved by feeding them in good position and when they really needed to get touches. Guy was a master at lifting his team and controlling tempo.

I can't think of one guy today that could put up that statline.

Rondo.

18-17-20

[SHAQisGOAT]

People were asking about Magic (and Bird) between 1980-1983, this is a nice exemple.
Young Magic, at his athletic best, grabbing lots of board, running up the court, scoring mostly in the paint using his skill and size, gambling on defense, always with amazing passes, already terrifc at running the show, leaving the Hawks' players looking clueless, "attacking" them from every side.

Love those showtime Lakers' fastbreaks. Magic, Worthy, Cooper, Nixon (later Scott who was also a great shooter but more athletic), Wilkes, so on, running at ya... shit was scary.

Kevin McHale had a great qoute about Larry and Magic: ''Larry and Magic could control the game with 12 shots, it was amazing. They'd be 7 from 12, they have 20 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. And you'd go 'that guy shoot the ball 12 times and he was the best player on the floor, by far'.''

That's a great quote.

[pauk]

[PistonsFan#21]

Rondo.

18-17-20

[StrongLurk]

Rondo.

18-17-20

Nice.