Did Magic Johnson defend PG's?

[Fatal9]

This is what happened when Magic tried to defend SG's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2mcFXUOwag

So no, he didn't defend PG's, who are even faster. ;)

Saw your comment on that video, Jordan's been crossed up tons of times. Here is old DJ sending him to the floor:



Magic falling is not replayed the same reason Jordan getting sent to the floor isn't, you have to make the shot for it to be a highlight.

[EllEffEll]

Yeah...small wonder he led the league in steals

Twice.

[KoRn]

not good defense, but other were worst. at least at 6'9" he use his wingspan to make it harder for shooters. when he double teams, the defender has to deal with a hard trap instead of a short player which he can throw an easier pass over their head. and he was big enough to help rebound. now with a defender like nash or iverson, what can they do? if you say they can steal passes, magic also did too.

[jlauber]

Saw your comment on that video, Jordan's been crossed up tons of times. Here is old DJ sending him to the floor:



Magic falling is not replayed the same reason Jordan getting sent to the floor isn't, you have to make the shot for it to be a highlight.

Excellent post.

And let's be honest here, most of these guys are so good offensively, that it is just about impossible to shut any of the down. If good defense could stop good offense, how come teams are routinely scoring 100+ points in a game?

[gts]

Twice.

he also leads the lakers in career steals with 1724, also #15 all time in the NBA

#3 all time in nba playoff games behind pippen and jordan with 358

[Pointguard]

No he was a pure PG on offense after like 81 or so, whenever Nixon left. Magic would catch the outlet to start the break and if not he'd get them into the offense.

The Lakers sometimes used a line-up of Magic, Worthy, Cooper or AC Green, Mychal Thompson and Jabbar. They essentially played match-up zone with that group and actually ran some half and three quarter court traps on a fairly regular basis.

Against the Bad Boy Pistons Magic guarded Isiah, Joe, Dantley (rarely) Rodman and even Laimbeer.

Again his strength as a defender was away from the ball and his match-up versitility at 6'8"+

Once Rodman opened up a series against them getting a ton of offensive rebounds. Magic said all you had to do was put a body on him. Magic moved over and did work.

[Pointguard]

Magic was used strategically in who he guarded. To me it seemed like whoever couldn't shoot. His offense was so aggressive that whoever was guarded by him was already on defensive or worried about how quickly offense turned into defense.

[magnax1]

Not very often. He usually guarded SFs, and Byron or Nixon guarded the PGs.

He was one of the worst defenders of SFs though too. Just a terrible defender all around.

[ProfessorMurder]

Once Rodman opened up a series against them getting a ton of offensive rebounds. Magic said all you had to do was put a body on him. Magic moved over and did work.

What series was that? Show me Rodman's numbers please.

[Zak]

That's why he got HIV.

wow this is one of the funniest posts i've read on this site


repped

[Kobe 4 The Win]

Magic's defense was not his strength, but he far from a poor defender. The man was nearly 6-9, and posed problems for smaller guards. He was more of a team defender, than an individual defender, as well. Those Laker teams were never remembered for defense, but in close games, they shut opposing teams down.

Fact

[Inception]

Ofcourse he didn't defend pg's, especially not the faster pg's, that's what guys like Norm Nixon and Byron Scott were there for. Usually Magic would defend a non offensive threat if there was one, Michael Cooper was the main perimeter defender.

[Pointguard]

What series was that? Show me Rodman's numbers please.

Magic exposed it in a championship series - can't find stats now, '89??? But it was well known and other teams adjusted in the playoffs and kept Rodman off the boards. A few years later I remember because the Knicks '91-92 playoffs, used Magic's call to "put a body on him." Oakly and Mason knocked 8.5 bounds per game off of Rodman's regular season average. This was the year Rod average 18 rpg. It took awhile before Rodman could adjust in the playoffs.

[nbacardDOTnet]

This is what happened when Magic tried to defend SG's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2mcFXUOwag

So no, he didn't defend PG's, who are even faster. ;)

I could remember David Wingate.

The Admiral destroyed (LJ and )Wingate.

[Bandito]

Magic doesn't even know the meaning of the word Defense.