My latest reports on the world of sports. Welcome to Vaughn's World Sports Network. Here, you will receive nothing but pure, absolute, unbiased facts and opinions on the world of sports. I was inspired to create this, because of my undying passion for sports, and love of history. For those who desire a healthy combination of history with modern facts, this is the place for you. Follow me on Twitter: @301kingvaughnjr
After 24 years, Larry Bird has officially passed the torch of the Greatest Small Forward to none other than LeBron James himself. The debate is still very strong, and it is not an inflammatory thing to say. For many years, I was of the mindset that it was considered somewhat blasphemous to say that someone would surpass Larry Legend as the Best Small Forward Ever. Over the past few years, LeBron James has made his climb quickly to that throne. Now, it is safe to say that LBJ has established a stronger legacy than Bird:
Like other fans who respect the history of the game, I hold Larry in high reverence as one of Basketball's most influential legends because of how he and his West Coast arch-rival Magic Johnson saved the NBA during the 80's. Larry and Magic built the foundation for the NBA for the next 35 years before they ushered in the likes of Michael Jordan to escalate the NBA to an even more global status. Even though David Stern was the Commissioner that introduced Jordan, Olajuwon, etc in 1984, where would he be without Magic and Larry? Bird took a Celtics team that only won 29 games the previous season and turned them into a 61 win powerhouse his rookie season. A 32 Game improvement is monumental. Not only that, but Bird brought the once proud Celtics Dynasty back to prominence as the Premiere Team in the Eastern Conference as they won 3 Championships in the 80's.
At 6'9", Bird was dangerous as a Scorer (24.3), Shooter (49.6%) Rebounder (10.0) and Passer (6.3). Bird was Mr. All-Around and one of the toughest minds in NBA History. He also had an incredible flair for the dramatic, as his performances and moments in the Playoffs and NBA Finals are forever part of NBA lore. His performances against the Lakers in the Finals are what further established his Legend. Bird was Finals MVP in 1984 when Boston defeated LA in a Classic 7 Game Series. Bird was a player of great instinct and genius. When he intentionally missed a shot against the Rockets in the 1981 Finals so that he could run to the basket in time for the Offensive Rebound and layup was clearly improvised. Bird saved the day in Game 5 of the 1987 ECF when he stole an inbound pass from Isiah Thomas to pass it to Dennis Johnson for the score to lead the Celtics to victory. Larry also joined Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain as only the third player in NBA History to win three straight NBA MVP Awards ('84, '85, '86). Each time Bird won MVP the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals.
With all of those accomplishments, Bird is rightfully considered a mountainous figure in NBA History because of his contributions. What LeBron has accomplished in the same time span as Larry makes it even more amazing that James has passed him.
Exceeding The Hype:
Much like Bird, Magic, even Michael himself, (just to name a few) LeBron was one of those players that you could tell was great from the start. At 6'8" 240 lbs, James was a dynamic small forward with point guard skills and a power forward body. LeBron was without question the Rookie of the Year. All eyes were on LeBron, especially when he gave himself the moniker of "King James" and was called "The Chosen One". From that point, LeBron had a massive bullseye on his chest and had the World on his shoulders.
Originally, LeBron just got by with his freakish athleticism and impeccable playmaking skills. Now, he is regarded as one of the most polished perimeter players in the history of Basketball. Over the course of his illustrious career, LeBron has redefined himself and cleaned up his weaknesses (Broken Jumper, Lack of Post Game, Average Defender, lack of Mental Toughness) and turned them into weapons against his opponents.
Not only does James have the natural size, strength, speed and quickness to give him the edge against many opponents, but he also has become the Total Package as a Player. Still, those natural abilities were not enough to help the Cavaliers reach the pinnacle of the NBA Mountain no matter how many times he made them perennial contenders. The inability to break through the glass ceiling forced LeBron against the wall and caused him to make two big career changing decisions: Join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami and improve as a player.
Things were not getting any better at that time in Cleveland and LeBron was humbled and had to go back to the drawing board to become even better. LeBron was someone that I felt had a hidden genius. He probably did not know it yet, as Bill Simmons has mentioned before. Simmons even asked "What if he KNEW he was a Genius?". Apparently, LeBron had to go to South Beach to discover that Genius that was hidden for so long in Cleveland.
Evolution of LeBron in Miami:
LeBron wanted what players like Larry and Magic enjoyed, and that was the privilege of having teammates capable of not only sharing responsibility but could also rise to the occasion when he needed them the most. His Exit from Cleveland to Miami was heavily scrutinized by legends and fans all across. As a long time fan of LeBron, "The Decision" left me jaded for some time, but ultimately it was the best thing that he had to do for himself at that time. In order to reap those rewards, he had to go to a place with greener pastures.
It was just the way it was executed. Miami was in the process of rebuilding and LeBron was the defining piece of the puzzle to make the process work. The LeBron Beast was UNLEASHED in Miami. LeBron did not have to be weighed down by being a Point Forward. Although LeBron was building himself as an All-Time Great in Cleveland, he knew that he could reach for even greater territory. Even though LeBron was regarded by many to be the Best Player in the World, he became even more of a Savage with the Heat.
No longer did LeBron have to settle for being a combination of a stronger Oscar Robertson and a Superior Scottie Pippen. LeBron tapped even deeper into his Greatness and became the Undisputed Most Complete Player in Basketball. James developed into a more polished shooter and refined his Post Game to become a bigger threat in the paint because of his training with Hakeem Olajuwon. LeBron also became the Top Perimeter Defender in the NBA and arguably one of the best defenders of all-time. Not the best, but one of them.
Even in a new uniform, LeBron still posted LeBron-level numbers. If not for the voters being tired to vote for him as well as the fiasco with "The Decision", LeBron James would have won 5 Straight MVP Awards. In the Playoffs, LeBron showed the world that he was the REAL MVP and The NBA's Alpha Male when he emasculated Derrick Rose and nullified him Defensively. They also conquered the Boston Celtics Big 3. Miami became Juggernauts with that Core lineup, and LeBron James was the Ultimate X Factor. During his time in Miami, LeBron led the Heat to Back to Back Championships.
Blemishes:
When it comes to evaluating greatness for all-time rankings, blemishes have to come into the equation. When deciding where to rank a player, one has to look not only at the accomplishments, but also the shortcomings. This is where things really become tough.
Players from a previous generation have the benefit of nostalgia and a certain mystique because their failures and mistakes are largely forgotten. Their careers are painted in a rosier picture as opposed to current athletes' whose shortcomings are far more prevalent especially with the advent of Social Media.
In Game 5 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semi Finals vs the Boston Celtics, LeBron mailed the game in. He played with no passion or motivation at all as Boston destroyed Cleveland. In the process, LeBron was grilled by the Media and NBA Legends like Charles Barkley for how abysmal he played. In Game 6, he put up a Triple Double but the writing was clearly on the wall at that point. At that time, LeBron's days in Cleveland were numbered.
In the 2011 Finals, Miami would hit a wall when LeBron underperformed. It was unbelievable to see him collapse like that mentally. The Dallas Mavericks took advantage and won the NBA Finals for the first time in Franchise History. There is no question that Miami had that series won if LeBron dominated the way that he was capable of dominating. That series and "The Decision" TV Special are the Watergate of his Career. He has made up for that, but it always hurts whenever someone brings it up. LeBron was the punchline for jokes about not having a ring.
After the Heat imploded in the 2011 Finals, LeBron went back to the drawing board and added another element to his game. That element was the Low-Post Back to the Basket Game taught by Olajuwon himself. That became the ultimate equalizer as LeBron won his 3rd MVP on his way to his first Championship with Miami. LeBron won Regular Season and Finals MVP that year. His dominance in the Playoffs was legendary in and of itself, especially against the Celtics.
Larry himself did not exactly have a spotless legacy. In the 1981 NBA Finals, Bird only averaged 15.3 PPG and shot 41.9% from FG. The biggest difference is that he had the other Celtics teammates to cover up his flaws.
Perhaps the flaws for LeBron could be seen in a different light if his teammates around him stepped their game up the way that Larry's did.
Return to Cleveland:
LeBron ultimately decided that it was time to make the return to his homeland of Cleveland. James made the promise of bringing a Championship to his hometown. In his first season back with the Cavs, LeBron led them to the Finals only to lose 4-1 to a Powerhouse Golden State Warriors team. James carried an unhealthy Cavaliers team to the best of his abilities. Cleveland would get their revenge the next year when they overcame a 3-1 deficit to conquer a 73-win Warriors team to win their first Championship in Franchise History. LeBron James won his third Finals MVP Award along with his third Championship. This proved that with a healthy team, the Cavs could beat the Warriors. LeBron delivered on his promise and in the process, took the crown from Larry Legend.
Conclusion:
Both men have had phenomenal careers. Larry Legend had an understanding of the game that very few players have ever had. His impressive Offensive Repertoire, instincts and fundamentals were legendary as well as his drive to win. You could argue that Bird had a better stretch as MVP because of the Era that he came from. However, time has not been very kind to Larry and his numbers. Of his 13 NBA Seasons, Larry enjoyed 9 Transcendent Seasons ('80-'88). After the 1988 Season, Bird's body started to break down on him. For the rest of his career, Larry had to nurse his back whenever he was on the sideline. Back injuries, as well as foot problems cut off extra quality years from Bird's career. Meanwhile, LeBron has played the same number of seasons with no health problems. Overall, LeBron has had a Transcendent Season every year. He clearly wins in the Durability Category. LeBron has the edge Defensively along with his versatility as an athlete. Those are the things that create the separation. LBJ has truly made the most out of what was given to him. Over his Career, LeBron has been named to 6 All-Defensive 1st Teams, while Larry Legend has none. LBJ has evolved into one of the most well-rounded defenders in a long time. As mentioned before, LeBron has improved his already amazing offensive skillset. You can say they are nearly on even footing in that department. This has led LeBron to win 4 MVP Awards to Larry Legend's 3 MVPs. James has tied Bird with 3 Championships. LeBron has gone from being the butt of the no ring jokes to having as many rings as one of the greatest Champions in NBA History. However, LBJ has 3 Finals MVPs while Larry has 2. When it comes to Metrics, those numbers are also in LeBron's favor.
Win Shares:
LeBron James: 192.5
Larry Bird: 145.8
Offensive Win Shares:
LeBron James: 134.1
Larry Bird: 86.8
Defensive Win Shares:
LeBron James: 58.4
Larry Bird: 59.0
Win Shares/48 Minutes:
LeBron James: .240
Larry Bird: .203
PER (Player Efficiency Rating):
LeBron James: 27.7
Larry Bird: 23.5
These numbers show how much of an Impact LeBron's presence has on his team. James has the second highest PER only behind Michael Jordan himself, which speaks volumes of his Efficiency as a player. Bird carried a big load and was incredible, but the load that he carried was nowhere close to what LeBron had to carry on his shoulders for much of his career. LeBron showed that he constantly had to turn lemons into lemonade. The Overall Volume of LeBron's numbers and achievements outshine his no-show games and give him a strong enough case to move ahead of Bird.
The most common criticism about Larry Bird among modern NBA fans is that he was "slow, unathletic white guy that cannot survive in today's game". That is a hilarious commentary I have heard and read because Larry was very cerebral. Larry Bird was cut from a unique mold, one that we have not seen before or will ever see again. He had a variety of ways to destroy the defense. Larry could hit shots from the inside, close range, mid-range, long-range, from beyond the three-point line, posting up, driving, and from the foul line with his precise free throw shooting. Larry was also a master of off-ball offense, with the catch and shoot game, as well as creating his own shot. His footwork without the ball made it harder for defensive assignments. Bird's form, along with his height was a combination that was hard for others to defend. The slightest pump fake would completely throw even the best defenders off guard. Bird's overall IQ was legendary. He knew how to control the game in many different ways, from his scoring, rebounding, as well as his passing. Larry's playmaking and versatility were among the best at that time, along with Magic Johnson. His passing skills still stand the tests of time. He was great at anticipating plays. A perfect example was when he stole the inbounds pass from Isaiah Thomas to pass to Dennis Johnson for the game-winning layup in the 1987 ECF. His toughness and resilience were legendary as well. The way that he fought through pain is what added more to his legacy. In spite of a finger injury before entering the NBA, Larry was still able to shoot 40% from behind the arc in 6 different seasons. Larry was the first player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better on his field goals, 40% or higher on 3-pointers, and 90% or higher on free-throws, in a single season. Players like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash have since done that. Bird is the only player in NBA History to do this while averaging more than 25 ppg, as he did it twice (1987-28.1, 1988-29.9) Even though his prime was cut short because of back injuries, that never diminished the impact that he made. Too many people rank him too low, because of his lack of mobility during his final years while playing with a career-ending back injury. Larry has faced a "Who's Who?" of great players who were more athletic than him, who could also defend.
Profile:
6'9"
220 lbs
NBA Career: 1979-1992 (Boston Celtics)
"Larry Legend"
"Hick From French Lick"
Accolades:
3x NBA Champion (1981, '84, '86)
3x NBA MVP (1984-86)
2x NBA Finals MVP ('84, '86)
12x NBA All-Star ('80-'88, '90-'92)
9x All-NBA 1st Team ('80-'88)
All-NBA 2nd Team ('90)
3x All-Defensive 2nd Team (1982-84)
NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
All-Rookie 1st Team (1980)
All-Star Game MVP (1982)
3x Three-Point Shootout Champion (1986-88)
Olympic Gold Medalist (1992)
6'7"
220 lbs
2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1991)
7x All-Defensive 1st Team (1989-1993, 1995-1996)
All-Defensive 2nd Team (1994)
Dennis Rodman is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players ever. He was a great natural all-around athlete in his prime, because of his strength, agility, and quickness. Rodman's trademarks were his defensive hustle, mind games, and dirty work. Dennis covered all ground as he could defend all 5 positions. His main assignment was to neutralize the opponent's best player. (Ex: Karl Malone)
However, even a Defensive menace like Dennis (no pun intended) could not completely stop Bird. Larry was able to use his intelligence, quickness and ability to drive and finish against a superior athlete. Bird also had enough strength to back Rodman down in the paint. This is the same guy that bulked up later in his career to guard players like Charles Barkley, Karl Malone to even Shaq himself. Bird bullied him around.
Cliff Robinson (F/C):
6'10"
225 lbs
2x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2000, 2002)
Cliff Robinson was tall, athletic, strong and very mobile. His size helped him guard both the paint and the perimeter. He was a solid to good defender throughout his career but was overshadowed.
Cliff was only able to play with an injured, older version of Larry Bird who was past his prime. However, even a broken down version of Larry with back problems, destroyed the younger, more athletic Cliff Robinson. Robinson played the best defense he could play, but Bird still destroyed him. A Prime version of Bird would have annihilated him even more. Robinson was regarded as one of the best defenders of that era!
Scottie Pippen (SF):
6'8"
210-228 lbs
8x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (1992-1999)
2x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (1991, 2000)
Scottie Pippen is widely considered to be one of the best defenders ever. Pippen was a brilliant athlete. Scottie's reach made him very versatile, as he was able to guard multiple positions. His long arms helped him cover plenty of ground. Pippen's strength on defense was staying in front of his assignment at all times. He could also guard in the post. He also had great defensive hand speed.
Pippen was just coming into his prime, as Larry's career was coming to a close, with a broken down body. Scottie was a rookie during Bird's last prime season. Even with the baggage, Bird was still able to get the best of Scottie from time to time, even when he lost the ounce of quickness and mobility that helped him get through the 80's. Clearly, Bird was a shell of his former self in the 90's.
However, Bird was able to still move around to score from screens, as well as fake a defensive genius and amazing athlete like Scottie. Larry was able to break him down in the post and light him up outside.
Dominique Wilkins (SF):
6'8"
215-230 lbs
Dominique was freakishly athletic, as he is one of the best pure athletes in NBA history. Wilkins was never regarded as a defensive wizard, but his athleticism helped him to be solid at best.
Regardless of 'Nique's defensive weakness, Larry was going up against one of the greatest athletic players the NBA has ever witnessed, and dominated most of the time. (Ex: The Battle in the 1988 ECSF- Game 7)
Dominique was well known for his 42" vertical. Bird was still able to make him look silly, with his quick pump fakes, faking Nique out of his sneakers. Larry even torched him and the Hawks for a career-high 60 points in 1985.
Horace Grant (PF/C):
6'10"
245 lbs
4x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (1993-1996)
Horace Grant was best at guarding the post. Horace was a big man who knew how to move very well. Grant's strength and size helped his defensive play. He was a decent shot-blocker with his presence in the low post.
The Bulls rotated their defensive assignments, where they even used Grant to guard Bird because of his size advantage, and mobility. Larry still had his way with Horace in the post, and dominated him even more on the outside.
Bobby Jones (SF/PF):
6'9"
210 lbs.
8x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (1977-1984)
NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (1985)
Bobby Jones was a great on-ball defender, as well as guarding the post. Bobby's long arms helped him even more on defense. Jones used hustle and determination as a defender. He was a key part of the Sixers defense for the 1983 championship season.
Bobby was great at locking down players, because of his excellent awareness on defense, height and athleticism. However, not even Jones' great D could shut down Larry's superior offense. Larry was able to have his way with Bobby from everywhere, including the 3pt line.
Larry used a series of pump fakes, post ups, and drives to throw Jones off.
Michael Cooper (SG):
6'5"
170 lbs.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1987)
5x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (1982, 1984-1985, 1987-1988)
3x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (1981, 1983, 1986)
Michael Cooper is one of the greatest perimeter defenders of all-time. The Lakers put Cooper on many of the best perimeter players, because of his conditioning and athleticism. Cooper was the weapon that the Lakers used to shut down the opponent's best scorer. With all of that being said, he was clearly one of the best man-to-man defenders before the likes of Scottie Pippen, Gary Payton and even MJ himself.
Michael Cooper's stamina and quickness made him sharp enough to guard a player of Larry Bird's caliber. Michael studied Larry more than any other player. Bird considers Cooper the best defender that he ever played against. In spite of being four inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter, Coop was always able to keep Bird out of position with his terrific man-to-man D.
However, excellent O beats great D anytime. Larry's unstoppable Offense was able to counter Cooper's amazing Defense. Bird used his size and strength advantage to destroy Coop in the post.
Michael Jordan (SG):
6'6"
195-216 lbs.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
9x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (1988-1993, 1996-1998)
Michael Jordan was exceptional and dominant on the Defensive End, just like he was on Offense. His unmatched athleticism, strength and relentless man-to-man D made him a force to be reckoned with. Jordan was able to cover all ground as a defender, especially when he was younger. He was a master pick-pocket, as he led the league in steals three times (1988, '90, '93), and knew how to stifle the opposing player. Jordan was also a great shot-blocker at his position.
Jordan in the 80's and early 90's was an athletic savage, and a defensive beast. He had better reflexes and reaction time to help him respond on defense. This was the same defense that gave players like Magic Johnson a hard time (1991 NBA Finals). However, even this version of Jordan had a hard time shutting down Larry Bird. Larry was the one guy who can make a strong case in saying that he outplayed Michael "Air" Jordan. As amazing as Michael was on D, Larry actually burnt him a few times. Bird used his size advantage to post up MJ and pretty much scored with ease. Even an athletic freak could not stop that.
Julius Erving (SF/SG):
6'7"
210 lbs
Dr. J was another great athletic player that Larry Bird battled with. Julius Erving was very underrated defensively. His greatest strengths were help defense, playing passing lanes and shot blocking. His on-ball defense was solid at best. Not exceptional, but solid.
Larry never went up against the Dr. in his absolute prime (ABA), but Julius was always in tremendous shape. However, Erving's athletic superiority did not stop him from getting torched by Bird.
James Worthy (SF):
6'9"
225 lbs
Worthy was a nice, athletic defender who was Bird's size and played his position. The Lakers rotated assignments, where they would switch between Michael Cooper and Worthy to guard Larry. Even though James did not play the intense D that Cooper played, he was still very solid. However, Bird's superior offense beat Worthy's defense.
During the Finals, James Worthy played with the classic old school defense, where you can grab a player's jersey. James nearly ripped it. Bird used his off-ball movement to get around him to get off his shot, as well as drive through him.
Rodney McCray (SF):
6'7"
220 lbs
NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (1988)
NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (1987)
Rodney McCray is said to have been an often overlooked defender in NBA history, especially with the era that he played in. McCray had a pretty good stretch from the mid-late 80's, early 90's.
McCray was the primary defensive assignment the Rockets used on Larry Bird during the 1986 NBA Finals, because of his position (SF). In spite of his good defense, like others he could not contain Bird. In spite of the frontcourt combo of McCray, Hakeem and Sampson, Larry still averaged roughly a Triple-Double in that series, if you round up the numbers.
Jerome Kersey (SF):
6'7"
215 lbs
Jerome Kersey's strength, power and athleticism helped him to become a pretty decent defender. However, even with his physical gifts, Bird still knew how to burn him. Larry punished him with a combination of post moves, ball fakes, shooting in his face. game winners, etc., to prove once again that great athletic defenders could not stop him.
Clyde Drexler (SG):
6'7"
210-220 lbs.
Clyde Drexler was another spectacular athlete during that era. He was a very solid and underrated defender at the time. Drexler was one of the other Blazers (along with Cliff Robinson, Jerome Kersey) that were used in rotations to defend Larry Bird.
However, Larry proved that if he could torch players like MJ, Dominique, Doc, and others, Drexler would be no different.
Hakeem Olajuwon (C):
7'0"
255 lbs
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 1994)
5x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (1987, 1988, '90, '93, '94)
3x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team ('91, '96, '97)
Phenomenal Athlete and Defender. Hakeem Olajuwon was not only one of the premier shot-blockers of his generation, but clearly one of the best pure defenders of all-time. His footwork, speed, agility, reach and athleticism helped him to become one of the more versatile defenders ever. Olajuwon could cover both the post, and the perimeter. The Rockets used his versatility to help guard Bird during the 1986 NBA Finals.
However, the younger, more explosive and athletic Olajuwon could not contain Larry's unstoppable offense. Bird would either destroy him in the post, use ball fakes, or catch him off guard with a mid range jumper. Bird's catch and shoot abilities were too much for anyone, including Hakeem.
Now, time to move on to some of the best defenders of the Modern Era.
Modern Era Defenders:
Bruce Bowen (SF):
6'7"
200 lbs.
5x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (2004-2008)
3x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2001-2003)
Bruce Bowen was one of the premier defenders of the past decade. He would actually do a great job at guarding Bird through man-to-man defense, and keeping up with him on screens. He was San Antonio's key perimeter defender.
However, Larry would use his significant size advantage in both height, and weight, to punish him in the post, and shoot over him. Bowen's tactics would not frustrate Bird at all, because he went through even worse in the 80's. Bird faced dirty defensive tactics on a regular basis.
Tony Allen (SG):
6'4"
213 lbs.
2x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (2012, 2013)
1x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2011)
Tony Allen is without question, among the top perimeter defenders today in the NBA. Allen is a smart, strong defender who can keep others out of position, but he is not strong enough to move Bird. Larry would simply have his way the entire game with Allen, and light him up like he has done to others like Drexler, MJ, Cooper and others.
Shane Battier (SF):
6'8"
220 lbs.
2x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2008, 2009)
Shane Battier is widely regarded as one of the best perimeter defenders the game has recently seen. Shane is best known as being an aggressive and smart defender.
Battier would keep up with Bird man-to-man, but Larry's size advantage would be a major problem for him. Bird would either shoot over him, or damage him down low in the post.
Andre Iguodala (SF):
Andre's athleticism helps him to be a really good defender, but Larry has faced this challenge time and time again during the 80's. Bird has often conquered this challenge as well.
Iggy would become yet another notch on Larry Bird's belt.
Josh Smith (PF):
6'9"
225 lbs
1x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2010)
Josh Smith is a great athletic, shotblocker who could play some nice D.
Overall, Bird has seen it before and would torch him.
Kevin Garnett (PF):
6'11"
240 lbs.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2008)
9x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (2000-2005, 2008, 2009-2011)
3x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2006, 2007, 2012)
Kevin Garnett would be a serious threat to Larry, because of his height advantage, mobility, reach, mobility, athleticism, defensive ability, strength and of course, intensity. Like Olajuwon, Garnett could cover plenty of ground on both the post and parts of the perimeter. These are two areas where Bird is the most dangerous.
However, Bird would outsmart him through screens, and his tremendous off-ball offense (catch and shoot) along with Larry's great all-around game.
Tayshaun Prince (SF):
6'9"
215 lbs.
4x NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team (2005-2008)
Like Pippen and Rodman, Prince has never been a great offensive player, but an amazing defender with great length.
Tayshaun would be solid at best, but like those before him, he falls to Bird. Nothing new for Larry Legend.
Kobe Bryant (SG):
6'6"
200 lbs.
9x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (2000, 2003-2011)
In his prime, he was a very willing defender who had more energy. Bird would use the same tricks that he used to burn Jordan. In fact, Larry would destroy and outplay him worse than he did MJ.
LeBron James (SF):
6'8"
240-250 lbs.
5x NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (2009-2013)
LeBron is clearly the best perimeter defender in the NBA right now. He is great at locking down is assignment man-to-man, and can do serious damage as a team defender as well. You can also add that he is one of the best athletes that the NBA has ever had.
LeBron would challenge Larry in all areas from the perimeter to the post. LeBron's athleticism and quickness helps him with his defensive slides, which will give Bird problems on the outside. His strength will throw Bird out of position down low in the post. Larry would then be forced to take bad shots, but Bird has proven that he could make even the toughest shots. Bird would neutralize James by posting him up outside near the 3 point line.
James has also had a reputation of being mentally-weak. Bird's greatest advantage was his mind, which is where he would pick LeBron apart.
Bird may have his fair share of off-shooting nights like everyone does. However, his numbers would still find room to be enhanced.
At 6'9" Bird was considered to be very tall for his position. In fact, the NBA was at its peak in terms of height in the 80's. (1987 is considered to be the tallest year in NBA history)
Like Jordan, when Bird went past the best perimeter defenders, he faced some of the most bruising, physical interior defenders (Centers/Power Forwards) in NBA history.
Unlike today, the paint was ruled and protected by taller and superior Centers, playing great aggressive Defense. The paint was guarded by real Enforcers.
Players included:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Moses Malone
Patrick Ewing
Buck Williams
Karl Malone
Charles Barkley
Hakeem Olajuwon
Bill Laimbeer
Ralph Sampson
Mark Eaton
Rick Mahorn
Artis Gilmore
Jack Sikma
Joe Carroll
Maurice Lucas
The 80's NBA was clearly much, much tougher. There was no entitlement given, because the league did not give superstar treatment. Players were called for traveling, and carrying (unlike now), and the refs let them play their game without blowing the whistle on the slightest touch. In today's game, players would get called for a foul by just laying a finger on someone or even by how they look at the ref. Hard fouls were a normal part of the game, defenders scratched, clawed, pushed and held players back while using every trick necessary. Players got knocked on the floor on a regular basis. This is what made the game that much more exciting, because you had to find a way to score against intense physical resistance. This was the definition of "Old School Basketball".
Bird would exploit the holes of every zone defense that would come his way in today's game with his shooting and passing. If opponents chose to double or triple team him, Bird would use his spectacular court vision to find someone for an easy basket. Just ask Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson, and others.
Larry Bird pretty much never had to have the duties of the main ball-handler. Many occasions, he played the point-forward role before it was ever recognized, and before it was popularized by Scottie Pippen and LeBron James. Bird was a great ball-handler without being a point guard.
Bird never had to carry that load, because he played with legit PG's and great passers such as Nate "Tiny" Archibald, Dennis Johnson, and Danny Ainge.
Despite those things, Bird still averaged 6.3 APG for his career, while only having half the turnovers (3.1 TO per game). His assist average peaked at 7.6 APG. Bird also had his own flair to passing.
Bird was a superb rebounder for his position. Bird's rebounding average peaked at 11.0 RPG, while averaging 10.0 RPG for his career.
As it has been said countless times before, Bird was not full of athleticism (or at least great athleticism), but his rebounding ability was exceptional.
His strength, basketball I.Q., and ability to anticipate made up for any other deficiencies in his game. He knew where the ball was going when the shot bounced off the rim. A perfect example of that would be in the 1981 NBA Finals. Bird took a shot from long range. When the ball was moving to the basket, he moved immediately to the paint, so that when it missed, he was able to jump up and tip it in. That is a perfect example of I.Q, and anticipation.
When it comes to defense, Larry Bird is very underrated in that area as well.
Although he did not have great lateral quickness and was never a lock-down defender, his ability to anticipate helped him to steall the ball, intercept in passing lanes, cause turnovers and block shots.
He was great team defender, especially on the perimeter.
When Bird roamed around the perimeter, he caused major problems because he caught the opposing players off guard. Bird could be a threat in the passing lanes, or he could allow his man to drive past him so that he could block from behind. This is an underrated strategy overall.
Bird was also consistent defending in the post.
The 80's was stacked with great small forwards:
Juliius Erviing
Dominique Wilkins
Alex English
Adrian Dantley
Mark Aguirre
Bernard King
James Worthy
Kiki Vandeweghe
And many others.
The fact that Bird won most of his matchups in spite of a great team, is a testament to how special he was as a player. He also won 3 defensive teams in a decade with great perimeter defenders.
Bird's value was remarkable, because of his leadership and ability to make teammates better. Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale became recognizable and HOF'ers, because they played with a transcendent player like Larry Bird. I am not knocking the players that Bird had, but I am simply saying that he made a huge difference. Neither of those players were ever in the same discussion for MVP as Larry.
As good as Robert Parish was, if he stayed in Golden State, I doubt that he would have the legacy that he had if not for Bird.
Kevin McHale started off as a great sixth man, but his abilities were enhanced by playing with Larry.
Even though Dennis Johnson won a championship (Finals MVP) with the Sonics (1979), his legacy was finally cemented when he played for the Celtics.
Although Bill Walton led the Blazers to their first and only NBA championship (1977), his career was sabotaged because of injuries. He also floundered with the Clippers. His career was revived and reinvented when he played with Bird in Boston as a Sixth Man.
As I have mentioned before, Bird's value should not be overlooked. In 1979, the Boston Celtics only won 29 games, the second worst in the league. However, in Bird's rookie season (1980) the Celtics made a 32 game improvement (61-21) which was the best record in the league. McHale and Parrish had yet to arrive.
In 1988, the Celtics when 57-25 (1st in East, 2nd in NBA behind Lakers). In 1989, when Bird was out with injury, they dropped to 42-40. When he returned the following year (1990) they improved to 52-30, even though he was a shell of the player that he once was.
The 80's has to probably be the strongest era of competition in NBA history. The 90's was an extension of that Decade. This is considered by many to be the Golden Era of Basketball, and for very good reason.
There were almost virtually no bad teams that you could think of (maybe a few you could count on a few fingers)
This era was loaded with deep teams, legacies, and stacked with phenomenal players. This was a time where the NBA truly reigned supreme.
Besides titles, the greatest testament to Bird's game and value is the fact that he won 3 MVP's in a row in the same league with Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Erving, Moses, Isiah, Dominique, Hakeem, and others. That alone is noteworthy.
Bird danced with Wolves (not like the movie), but he survived and conquered them all.
Larry Bird was the ultimate example of toughness. He was a general who fought through pain (Broken fingers, several back injuries, foot problems, broken jaw, fevers, broken nose, whatever). Bird went on, because he knew that it was his job. He was not one who wanted attention for his injuries.
He was never a flopper, or a cry baby searching for a foul. He got up after hard fouls, and after having stitches.
Bird fit the definition of "clutch player". Pressure was nothing for Larry Legend, because he always excelled in big situations. Gamewinners, and buzzerbeaters were normal for him. People get excited today, when they replay them on ESPN, but for Larry it was another day in the office.
Bird was one of the greatest clutch performers ever, along with players like Michael Jordan and Jerry West. Larry was clutch on both offense and defense.
In fact, he also knew how to put his teams in the best position to win.
