Better Defender, Dirk vs. Bird

[Jodelo]

This question posed in this thread is who is the better defender: Dirk or Bird.

All Defensive Teams seem pretty relevant to me in an argument about defense, but maybe I'm wrong...

Just wanted to point out that the teams are jokes at times, like with the Kobe the last 2-3 years...

[Dunc n Dave]

Just wanted to point out that the teams are jokes at times, like with the Kobe the last 2-3 years...

You're right in that some people make the All Defensive team based off their stats (namely steals and blocks). That's because when you let local media guys select the teams, you always get guys who know very little about players outside of their coverage area. So they comb the stat sheets and make their selections that way.

Bird averaged just under 1 block and 2 steals a game those 3 years he was All Defense. Respectable numbers, for sure, but his hustle (diving for loose balls, etc.) is also what got him on the All Defensive Team those 3 years.

Mavs fans have admitted that Dirk is lazy on defense, and the media talking heads have agreed over the years, never having voted him to an All Defensive Team. Bird is also a good 3 inches shorter than Dirk, yet averages the same number of blocked shots, despite playing small forward for a good chunk of his career (alongside McHale and Parish), while Dirk has played PF.

[DMC]

If you listen to interviews of players from the Bird era, they all say he couldn't defend.

[Dunc n Dave]

If you listen to interviews of players from the Bird era, they all say he couldn't defend.

Who specifically? Dominique Wilkins maybe? Who COULD defend that freak of nature back then? Definitely not a slow, white guy from French Lick.

Same could be said about Dirk. Only Larry has 3 All Defense selections to combat the nay-sayers with, while Dirk has 0.