Which raises another question:yeah, DWade and Kobe would've probably been the least affected by the physicality of '92-style defense.
Donaghy, take '92 and the UNDER.Which raises another question:
Who is officiating this matchup?
With their mentalities, they may even play better with it. Some of these other dudes on the 08 squad, not so much. Could see it getting in their heads.yeah, DWade and Kobe would've probably been the least affected by the physicality of '92-style defense.Lol no. Wade was extremely physical.
Barkley was an athletic freak. People forget this because they see the 400 lb. guy on tv that can barely walk. The dream team Barkley was just as athletic as LeBron, just 4 inches shorter. He's also by far the best rebounder on either team. He left the Olympics and led the Suns to the finals and won the MVP. He was an absolute stud in 92.lnteresting that the difference makers are likely the guys not scoring. Also amazing that Barkley could outrebound guys that had 5+ inches on him and 9+ inches in reach.
How far past their primes were Magic and Bird in 1992? If they were playing real competition would they even get minutes?
How far past their primes were Magic and Bird in 1992? If they were playing real competition would they even get minutes?
whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa slow down man you ain’t gotta lie on hereBarkley was just as athletic as LeBron
I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
Bird could barely even walk.How far past their primes were Magic and Bird in 1992? If they were playing real competition would they even get minutes?
I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
This thread is amazing
Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
This thread is amazing
Maybe you just aren't the student of the game I thought you were...
Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
This thread is amazing
Maybe you just aren't the student of the game I thought you were...
*** counts in rebounding.lnteresting that the difference makers are likely the guys not scoring. Also amazing that Barkley could outrebound guys that had 5+ inches on him and 9+ inches in reach.
Yea I think it could go either way. Bird and Magic weren’t at the peak of their game then. Kobe/Lebron were close to it, it’s definitely one of those things I wish we could see.Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
This thread is amazing
Maybe you just aren't the student of the game I thought you were...
He didn't pass/assist at the volume rate of Lebron or Kidd, who were running their offenses. For Bird, it's not about quantity, it's about quality. IMO he is severely underrated on that front. At least before Jokic, he was reasonably viewed as the best passing big man ever.
That said, I will concede the point. I overstated. However, I still believe that Dream Team > Redeem Team in passing/playmaking.
More importantly, this doesn't change my view that the Dream Team would beat the Redeem Team in a single game or series for the other reasons already stated.
Threw that part in just to get a rise out of you. Don't discount Barkley's athleticism in 92 though.whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa slow down man you ain’t gotta lie on hereBarkley was just as athletic as LeBron
The bold is an excellent statement. And if you watched the Celtics play in that era, he would basically get the "Gretzky assist" (for you young'uns that's the pass to the guy that then gets the assist). He is most certainly a better passer.Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
This thread is amazing
Maybe you just aren't the student of the game I thought you were...
He didn't pass/assist at the volume rate of Lebron or Kidd, who were running their offenses. For Bird, it's not about quantity, it's about quality. IMO he is severely underrated on that front. At least before Jokic, he was reasonably viewed as the best passing big man ever.
That said, I will concede the point. I overstated. However, I still believe that Dream Team > Redeem Team in passing/playmaking.
More importantly, this doesn't change my view that the Dream Team would beat the Redeem Team in a single game or series for the other reasons already stated.
Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.
Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.
It is not preposterous. He was an exceptional passer that saw the floor as good or better than anybody. The only thing he is lacking is being a PG where he was the primary distributer. He could have done that and been a point forward if the game was played that way back then but he wasn't called on to do it. That doesn't take away the skill he possessed.
Bird is simply not a better passer than Lebron and Kidd. That is preposterous.I respect Paul, Kidd, and Lebron a lot, but none of them match the passing/playmaking of Magic or Bird
This thread is amazing
Maybe you just aren't the student of the game I thought you were...
The game was far more physical in the 90’s. And as much as I loved watching Lebron and Wade the amount of crying they would do up and down the floor would make me puke.
Wade and Lebron are true ballers. Stating the obvious. I agree. They would have been fine in the 90’s. Wade would have developed his mid range game quickly if he played in that era.The game was far more physical in the 90’s. And as much as I loved watching Lebron and Wade the amount of crying they would do up and down the floor would make me puke.
I do agree they whine a whole lot but I believe that is a function of the era they have played in where whining was what got them more calls down the road. I have no doubt Lebron could have still excelled in the 80's-90's as he had the frame that could handle the punishment. Wade I am not so sure about and he would have had to change his game some. I do think he had the mentality to get through it and probably would have been fine.
Wait, you think Bird's "reading of the game" is superior to Lebron's??I’m torn on this - Kidd and James are top-10 all-time in assists and Larry is 44th as a forward who didn’t have the ball nearly as much as those two. Larry’s court vision and reading of the game is superior to the other two so I’ll hedge and say it depends on how you define passer. Larry was happy to shoot - same with LeBron. He didn’t play nearly as many games as people maybe think. If forced I’d give the nod to Bird because of his position but it’s close - there’s no losers here.
Wait, you think Bird's "reading of the game" is superior to Lebron's??I’m torn on this - Kidd and James are top-10 all-time in assists and Larry is 44th as a forward who didn’t have the ball nearly as much as those two. Larry’s court vision and reading of the game is superior to the other two so I’ll hedge and say it depends on how you define passer. Larry was happy to shoot - same with LeBron. He didn’t play nearly as many games as people maybe think. If forced I’d give the nod to Bird because of his position but it’s close - there’s no losers here.