James Worthy: did he benefit from playing with Magic, or was he underrated?

[midnightpulp]

Not sure if Dominique was a better player overall

He wasn't 'Nique was primarily a slasher and didn't have a post game, like Worthy.

[lefty]

He wasn't 'Nique was primarily a slasher and didn't have a post game, like Worthy.

And Worthy was also a much better team defender

[cantthinkofanything]

Good question

But he did step up in big games: game 7 vs Detroit in 88, game 4 vs Detroit in 89 (they lost the series, but still stepped up big time in an elimination game - 39 pts), also game 5 of the 1st round vs Phoenix in 1993, tired old dirt bag Worthy had a stretch where he was unstoppable late in the 4th; really impressive (still lost the series, but the Suns were the better team)


But could he carry a team over a lon period of time? I guess we'll never know

Regarding Pippen, let's not forget the 93-94 season; the Bulls still won 55 games (the previous season with Mike they won 57 games) and almost knocked out the Knicks in the ECSF (if not for tat call in game 5)

Yeah. I do remember the stretch you're talking about. No doubt he could (and did) take over a game(s). I could be way off...it's been so long since I saw him play...but I have more memories of him benefitting from the Laker's run and gun than him creating his own shot. I don't think he was suited for carrying a team like Jordan or as the other poster brought up, Wilkins. But like you said, we'll never know. He may have been a good enough athltete and smart enough that he could have been able to make his game fit whatever the team cir stances needed.

All that being said, I don't know that many PF that I'd take over him.

[lefty]

All that being said, I don't know that many PF that I'd take over him.

Worthy is one the biggest matchup nightmares in the history of the game

At the 3 spot, he would use his size, at the 4 spot he would bamboozle McHale 1-on-1 with his quickness

[cantthinkofanything]

Worthy is one the biggest matchup nightmares in the history of the game

At the 3 spot, he would use his size, at the 4 spot he would bamboozle McHale 1-on-1 with his quickness

lol..."bamboozle"
good description

[Giuseppe]

Yeah. I do remember the stretch you're talking about. No doubt he could (and did) take over a game(s). I could be way off...it's been so long since I saw him play...but I have more memories of him benefitting from the Laker's run and gun than him creating his own shot. I don't think he was suited for carrying a team like Jordan or as the other poster brought up, Wilkins. But like you said, we'll never know. He may have been a good enough athltete and smart enough that he could have been able to make his game fit whatever the team cir stances needed.

All that being said, I don't know that many PF that I'd take over him.

He had the con after Magic retired and couldn't handle it. Worthy was a follower. He had the ultimate leader to lead him in Magic. Same with Byron Scott. Boston went after both Worthy & Scott, knowing full well they were the weak links. Tried to cut 'em out and end them. But, Magic wouldn't allow it. He ran herd over those two and Jabbar. Then later he did likewise to Daddy and Kobe.

I thought it was the end on that Tuesday night in June of '84. The Celtics whooping up with their towels laughing and mocking us at the other end of the benches. CBS pimping them continuously. Jabbar thought it was the end. West thought it just a continuation of a boundless nightmare. So did I. I never thought there'd be a way out, a way back from that calamity. Boston was convinced they'd ended us. That they'd destroyed Magic's psyche like they'd destroyed West & Wilt in a similar manner.

Uh, uh. No. Not that in' time.

With jacks & timbers Magic started back down.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

For what it's worth, the Celtics had no answer for James Worthy either, which is why they drafted Len Bias.

I have seen some video feed of Worthy in the last season or two. He works as a pre , half, and post game analyst for the Lakers on TV and seems to b e very knowledgable about the plays on the court.

He was in the shadow of Kareem and Magic in his prime, but he was a damn good player. A true top 50 NBA at 50 year player.

[Giuseppe]

He was in the shadow of Kareem and Magic in his prime, but he was a damn good player. A true top 50 NBA at 50 year player.

If he hadn't been under the au es of Magic the Celtics woulda ate him alive.

[cantthinkofanything]

If he hadn't been under the au es of Magic the Celtics woulda ate him alive.

tl/dr

[pass1st]

If he hadn't been under the au es of Magic the Celtics woulda ate him alive.

Magic just orchestrated the team so he would be able to use his strengths better. Worthy would have been the same player, but more inconsistent without Magic. Most teams still couldn't find a definate answer for him.

[Venti Quattro]

Worthy was already good by only himself. Now you add Magic in the mix and you have a Top 50 caliber player over-all. He benefitted from Magic and he was an underrated player.

still can't forgive him for '84 though

[cobbler]

Can be summed up in the only 5 words Chuck Daley yelled before he turned his back and walked away in a 88 finals timeout.

"WORTHY WORTHY WORTHY WORTHY WORTHY!!!!!!!!"

[cobbler]

One benefit as being a pampered Laker is getting away with offensive fouls continually on one of his signature moves. He would get the ball at about the ft line where it meets the standing line. With back to basket and defender right up on him, he would spin and as he spun hook the defender with his off arm and slingshot towoards the basket. The hook would illegally stop the defender from rotating with him and also gave him pushoff momentum towards the hoop.

The no call was standard Laker bull during the Stern "Marketingtime-showtime" era.

Beyond that he was a fantastic finisher on the break. Defense was merely average but he had Cooper and Rambis and Stern to take up the lack.

Common move by all post players and never called until the recent pussification of the NBA. To suggest that Worthy was given special consideration for hooking when it was quite clear to everyone that his quickness is what separated him from his defender is just plain idiotic. He simply had the quickest low post spin move of any player ever.

But I can see where you would draw your conclusions with your history of pussification and idiocy.

[Giuseppe]

Common move by all post players and never called until the recent pussification of the NBA. To suggest that Worthy was given special consideration for hooking when it was quite clear to everyone that his quickness is what separated him from his defender is just plain idiotic. He simply had the quickest low post spin move of any player ever.

But I can see where you would draw your conclusions with your history of pussification and idiocy.

Cobby