Lakers: Anyone watching the show about how Magic caught AIDS on HBO this Sunday?

[lefty]

Sure and Timmy didn’t beat dirk Kobe etc.
I just live by reciprocity consistency and loathe hypocrisy

Yep it's a team sport at the end of the day

[Killakobe81]

Yep it's a team sport at the end of the day

Agreed so let’s be consistent with that if that’s the case …

[MultiTroll]

How the 1985 Championship was won.

https://www.sportscasting.com/larry-...ng-a-driveway/

[Killakobe81]

How the 1985 Championship was won.

https://www.sportscasting.com/larry-...ng-a-driveway/

Lakers still had players dabbling in coke and banging hoes and slanging D in the Forum club … to even trannies (allegedly)
I don’t want to hear about Birds bad back wasn’t he still mvp that year?

[Killakobe81]

Indiana state was so inferior to Michigan State outside of Magic and Bird that I don't believe I have to go into it. In fact, Michigan State actually practised by having Magic play the role of Bird with a bunch of end of bench players to show how the other guys can stop a one-man team. It's not really a fair fight.

For Lakers vs. Celtics, I actually thought the two teams were almost equal talent-wise. The differences are:
1) The East was so much tougher than the West, the Celtics were totally beat up by the time (and if) they made the finals. I don't recall the Celtics ever playing a sub-500 team in the ECF like the Lakers did (in the WCF). I don't think they went through a sub-500 team in the ECSF too (I may be wrong) but that is the difference between the compe ion. The Celtics had to go through the 76ers, Pistons, Bucks, Bulls, and to a lesser extent Knicks. Cavs and Hawks to get to the Finals. In the West, I would say none of the teams were as good as the early decade 76ers or late decade Pistons, mid-decade Rockets, late decade Jazz, and late decade Blazers were as good as the Bucks and Bulls, while the Suns and Mavs were the Knicks/Cavs/Hawks level teams. There is a reason the Lakers made the finals 9 times in a 12 year span. The compe ion was terrible, and none of those teams that beat the Lakers actually went on to beat the East Conference representatives in the finals, which is an indication they beat the Lakers more on match-ups than on being better in talent, which leads to:
2) The Lakers were the better constructed team, with balance in all 5 positions and strong bench. They just match up better with the Celtics because of it. The bench played plenty earlier in the rounds as the Lakers were blowing out subpar teams in earlier rounds, allowing the starters to rest up, while the Celtics, already comparatively thin at the bench, had to play the starters heavy minutes just to survive.

I have not heard of Pierce surpassing Bird in any lists, that's just asinine. It's Bird or Russell at the top of the Celtics pile, there is no debate.

Finally, Hakeem was better, but not that much better. They were very close and Hakeem was by far a better offensive option in 90s ball due to his insane post up game (2nd best ever in my books behind McHale), but it was exaggerated due to one series, whcih was a product more because of coaching (no doubles on Hakeem vs. constant doubles or even triples on David), team construction (one team had Sam Cassell and Mario Elie coming off the bench, the other had Avery Johnson and Vinny Del Negro starting), and Kenny Smith being on TNT pimping that series every chance he has.



I had been very consistent on this. I do not take les as the be-all-and-end all. Context in those les are more important. Kobe actually had a better head to head vs Duncan, well because he had Shaq (more like Kobe). I can never figure out how Shaq and Kobe were better than Duncan, when they were 3-2 with 2 on 1 side and 1 on the other side. Duncan was better than Dirk because he was more versatile in his game. I don't know if Dirk can win 5 les switching places with Duncan (I don't think so because his defence just won't hold the Spurs together) and I am not sure if Duncan could win more than 1 le switching places with Dirk, but Duncan was undoubtedly the easier guy to build around. Same goes for Garnett (offence instead of defence.)

H2H records are more products of teammates, team construction (matchups) and coaching. it's rarely individual talents. That said, individual talents often dictates team construction (how the supporting casts fill in for your weaknesses or amplify your strengths), but teammates and coaching is often dictated by front office and market-sizes. Duncan was able to do so in one of the smallest markets in the NBA speaks to how good he was. I have no doubt if he played for the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics, Bulls or Heat (with a competent front office) he will undoubtedly be ranked top 3 in the history of the league.

If we gonna tell all the facts about Larry legend …
He had the squad in college … the Hoosiers a true powerhouse in the same power conference as Magic
But pussed out quit went crying back to French lick and transferred to state
Bird only has himself ti blame that he faced Magic with a weak squad so not buying that excuse either he chose the hard route and got his ass kicked by the better player when it mattered.

[ambchang]

If we gonna tell all the facts about Larry legend …
He had the squad in college … the Hoosiers a true powerhouse in the same power conference as Magic
But pussed out quit went crying back to French lick and transferred to state
Bird only has himself ti blame that he faced Magic with a weak squad so not buying that excuse either he chose the hard route and got his ass kicked by the better player when it mattered.

He didn’t like the large campus. Some people doesn’t like large crowds and parties while others prefer snorting coke and going in orgies. Cost bird an ncaa le, the other costs magic … well, nothing?

[lefty]

Lakers still had players dabbling in coke and banging hoes and slanging D in the Forum club … to even trannies (allegedly)
I don’t want to hear about Birds bad back wasn’t he still mvp that year?

And somehow only Rockets and Mavs players were suspended for coke consumption, the only teams the Lakers feared in the West

[Killakobe81]

He didn’t like the large campus. Some people doesn’t like large crowds and parties while others prefer snorting coke and going in orgies. Cost bird an ncaa le, the other costs magic … well, nothing?

Sure but it’s part of the story …
Magic win state in HS his senior year
Ncaa his sop re year
And an nba le his rookie year as finals mvp
Team sport of course but few guys (kareem bill russell?) can say they even did all 3 but ti do so in 4 years is pretty wild and speaks to the type of impact Magic had Bird had it too
But to say that they are not close or Bird is clearly better is bull .
Larry was a bad man … so was magic and I think his career and impact was better.
Celtics won les before Bird crushing the Lakers often to do it
Lakers never beat the Celtics before Magic and Bird was on those teams

[Killakobe81]

And somehow only Rockets and Mavs players were suspended for coke consumption, the only teams the Lakers feared in the West

Hey coke was apparently flowing in LA and NYC
Lakers had better functioning addicts apparently

[Killakobe81]

Btw as great as a pG is still the goat PG even if Steph is gaining on him …
Tired of his ego and self promotion…
Y’all kill Kobe Bron and others for sone of the sane y’all give Magic and Jordan a pass for …
And since we telling truth Bird had some of the sane crummy traits off the court like being a poor father …
Y’all just pick and choose who y’all condemn for off the court bull

[lefty]

Hey coke was apparently flowing in LA and NYC
Lakers had better functioning addicts apparently

No they were just Stern's favorite team tbh

[lefty]

Btw as great as a pG is still the goat PG even if Steph is gaining on him …
Tired of his ego and self promotion…
Y’all kill Kobe Bron and others for sone of the sane y’all give Magic and Jordan a pass for …
And since we telling truth Bird had some of the sane crummy traits off the court like being a poor father …
Y’all just pick and choose who y’all condemn for off the court bull

Magic had a massive ego
Imagine if he had access to social media during his playing days

And yeah Bird is a POS, terrible father tbh

[MultiTroll]

I don’t want to hear about Birds bad back wasn’t he still mvp that year?

I stand corrected.
It was Birds broken hand that allowed the Lakers to win the 85 Finals.

Larry Bird's injury in a bar fight cost Celtics 1985 NBA championship (clutchpoints.com)

[ambchang]

Sure but it’s part of the story …
Magic win state in HS his senior year
Ncaa his sop re year
And an nba le his rookie year as finals mvp
Team sport of course but few guys (kareem bill russell?) can say they even did all 3 but ti do so in 4 years is pretty wild and speaks to the type of impact Magic had Bird had it too
But to say that they are not close or Bird is clearly better is bull .
Larry was a bad man … so was magic and I think his career and impact was better.
Celtics won les before Bird crushing the Lakers often to do it
Lakers never beat the Celtics before Magic and Bird was on those teams

I’m not saying magic is chopped liver but he never really had the peak bird did and that peak was the greatest I’ve seen, along with jordan, Lebron and shaq (in that order, I’d put bird around Lebron area). Magic was great at his peak but he was hakeem/duncan peak. Still damned impressive but not there. Longevity are relatively even I’d say. Bird peaked early and magic peaked late.

Magic was in a lot of great teams and much has to do with his ability to make his teammates better. Bird had the same. Birds passing was as good as magic.

And for the record, I think the lack of both of their defences were exaggerated.

[baseline bum]

Hey coke was apparently flowing in LA and NYC
Lakers had better functioning addicts apparently

Only for sure coke addicts I remember from Pearlman's book were Haywood and Landsberger. Who else? Maybe Worthy? Thought I heard something about him.

[baseline bum]

Birds passing was as good as magic.

Don't agree with that. Bird was an amazing passer but I can't imagine anyone else in league history being able to run the break the way Magic did, making the passes he did.

And for the record, I think the lack of both of their defences were exaggerated.

Bird was 100% a better defender than Magic just for his ability to rack up steals.

[Killakobe81]

Only for sure coke addicts I remember from Pearlman's book were Haywood and Landsberger. Who else? Maybe Worthy? Thought I heard something about him.

Cooper admitted he dabbled I hear norm did too from his ex wife’s account I believe

[Killakobe81]

Don't agree with that. Bird was an amazing passer but I can't imagine anyone else in league history being able to run the break the way Magic did, making the passes he did.



Bird was 100% a better defender than Magic just for his ability to rack up steals.

Huh? Magic led the league in steals twice … iirc.

Neither were horrible defenders played good team defense and neither gambled recklessly

[lefty]

I’m not saying magic is chopped liver but he never really had the peak bird did and that peak was the greatest I’ve seen, along with jordan, Lebron and shaq (in that order, I’d put bird around Lebron area). Magic was great at his peak but he was hakeem/duncan peak. Still damned impressive but not there. Longevity are relatively even I’d say. Bird peaked early and magic peaked late.

Magic was in a lot of great teams and much has to do with his ability to make his teammates better. Bird had the same. Birds passing was as good as magic.

And for the record, I think the lack of both of their defences were exaggerated.

Bird’s passing was better than overrated Magic’s “no look” passes on 3 on 1 fastbreaks

Also his assist numbers were inflated. Basic entry pass to Kareem , dribble dribble dribble, swing left, seing right, sky hook, assist Magic

[Killakobe81]

Bird’s passing was better than overrated Magic’s “no look” passes on 3 on 1 fastbreaks

Also his assist numbers were inflated. Basic entry pass to Kareem , dribble dribble dribble, swing left, seing right, sky hook, assist Magic

Stop it Bird had great vision and anticipation but Magic is the best passer I ever seen Kidd Bron Stockton Bird others have been elite, magic was the best.

[Thread]

How the 1985 Championship was won.

https://www.sportscasting.com/larry-...ng-a-driveway/

Uh, uh. Nope. The Celtics tried their mightiest to talk Magic out of it, you know shame him, beat him down as they had numerous Lakers previously. Had him on the ropes in '84, beat him like dog, shamed him & me, humiliated him & me, thought they'd ruined Magic & me. Nope. With the proverbial Jimmy Dean's "jacks and timbers, he started back down." Taught himself how to shoot outside, a declared 100-game grailed quest was initiated in training camp by Magic and on 9 June 1985 in Massachusetts he led the Lakers, all of them, Mult dead & alive to it and left the Celtics where he'd found them in Boston, dead in the ground.

Magic Johnson

[Thread]

I’m not saying magic is chopped liver but he never really had the peak bird did and that peak was the greatest I’ve seen, along with jordan, Lebron and shaq (in that order, I’d put bird around Lebron area). Magic was great at his peak but he was hakeem/duncan peak. Still damned impressive but not there. Longevity are relatively even I’d say. Bird peaked early and magic peaked late.

Magic was in a lot of great teams and much has to do with his ability to make his teammates better. Bird had the same. Birds passing was as good as magic.

And for the record, I think the lack of both of their defences were exaggerated.

Bird was White when White was right.
Magic was still Black then.

[Thread]

If we gonna tell all the facts about Larry legend …
He had the squad in college … the Hoosiers a true powerhouse in the same power conference as Magic
But pussed out quit went crying back to French lick and transferred to state
Bird only has himself ti blame that he faced Magic with a weak squad so not buying that excuse either he chose the hard route and got his ass kicked by the better player when it mattered.

Killa

[Thread]

No they were just Stern's favorite team tbh

He knew for the NBA to prosper, to abandon the humiliation once and for all of (delayed broadcasting of games) something had to change.

Stern changed it, and the NBA has never looked back.

[ambchang]

Don't agree with that. Bird was an amazing passer but I can't imagine anyone else in league history being able to run the break the way Magic did, making the passes he did.



Bird was 100% a better defender than Magic just for his ability to rack up steals.

Magic running the break was a thing of beauty and the reason why he’s my favourite non spur ever. That said it was also a function of his teammates and coaching philosophy. Magic had worthy Scott and Cooper. Bird had …. Ainge and Dennis Johnson?

Also birds running the half court sets were great.

As for d, magic stole the ball plenty. He was slow on the perimeter guarding these quick guards but bird get to match up with guys his own size and quickness. I overall think it’s a draw.