Bird vs. Magic: The War of 2007
Posted by Matt McCready on 09.18.2007
Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The two greatest basketball players of the 1980s. But which was the better player? Who would you want on YOUR team? Matt McCready takes a look at each NBA roster and determines which of these two all time greats would be the better fit. May the best baller win!
Bird or Magic?
There are no two players more associated with basketball in the 1980s than Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. They both arrived with immediate success in 1980 as Bird won the rookie of the year while Magic won a NBA championship, making it the most successful rookie season in NBA history outside of Mike Miller's dominating 2001 campaign.
The Lakers or the Celtics went on to win eight of ten championships that decade, proving the dominance of the two players. But which player was superior? Which would you rather have on your team? We look at this question as we count down each NBA team and determine which player would be a better fit if he were to arrive on that team as a rookie.
To make these decisions one must look at the strengths and weaknesses of each player. Both won the NBA MVP three times. Both were complete players with a tremendous will to win. If one were to compare their competitiveness to children on a playground, Bird would be the kid who would yell at you if you were to miss an easy layup while Magic would attempt to get your confidence back up with a pat on the back. Same destination, different route.
Three point range, shot range in general, is Bird's biggest edge over Magic.
Bird was no slouch when it came to making plays but Magic had him beat. Despite being six-foot-nine Magic still holds the NBA career mark for assists per game at 11.2. His size was a great advantage defensively as well as he used his reach to lead the NBA in steals twice. A lot of people compare LeBron James with Magic Johnson, with good reason as they are both physically gifted players with playmaking abilities, but think of this for a second; when King James first hit the NBA finals he struggled mightily. When Magic hit the finals (in his rookie season) he was named MVP of the series and filled in for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center in game 6 when he went down. In the clinching game of the series, the point guard playing center put up 42 points, 15 assists and 7 rebounds. Magic's versatility is his greatest strength, he didn't have a position on the court and he didn't need one. He just dominated.
Keep in mind we're assuming that these two players are entering the league as rookies and each team would have, say, the first overall pick.
Magic Johnson
Larry Bird
The Atlanta Hawks
This is possibly the easiest team to pick a player for. The Hawks roster is filled with players able to play either the 4 or the 3 (Bird's primary position) while they have no proven point guard whatsoever. Besides, I think there's some sort of mandate in Atlanta that every player on the roster has to be between 6'6 and 6'9. Magic would improve every player on this roster and could even play some center if Zaza Pachulia (the modern day Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) goes down.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 1 - Bird 0
The Boston Celtics
Another easy choice. Despite the proclamations of the die-hard Beantowners, Rajon Rondo is no Magic Johnson. Imagine Magic running the break with Garnett down low, RayRay parked at the three point line and Pierce finishing at the basket? The Celtics could win playing 4 on 5 and just have Brian Scalabrine doing the electric slide at halfcourt all game. SHOWTIME!
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 2 - Bird 0
The Charlotte Bobcats
Well acquiring either one of these players would probably persuade Michael Jordan, the 44 year old minority owner of the Bobcats, to come out of retirement. For the sake of MJ's Washington Bullets-proof legacy, let's hope that neither one joins this team. Besides, I missed last season and Adam Morrison is supposed to be the next Bird anyways right? Right?
Winner: None
The Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are the deepest team in the Eastern Conference so, positionally, either player would be redundant. Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon continue to improve each season, Chris Duhon is an above average backup and Thabo Sefolosha is the greatest player ever born from Vevey, Switzerland since Oscar Robinson. The Chicago frontcourt is filled with athleticism and defense, but not a lot of scoring as Ben Wallace, Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas' shooting range are shorter than Muggsy Bogues' penis. Bird would be the better choice as he adds the needed scoring punch to the frontline.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 2 - Bird 1
The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers frontcourt is deep, experienced (Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden) and youthful (Anderson Varejao). This was also a team that was second in the league in rebounding. As much as I like Eric Snow (and I don't) he's one of the worst starting point guards in the league. The lineup of the IZ Drip, Gooden, James, Larry Hughes and Magic would be rifunkulous.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 3 - Bird 1
The Dallas Mavericks
The player that Dirk Nowitzki is most commonly compared to is Larry Bird. The reasons for that are that they're probably the two best shooting big men of all time. In a head to head matchup, Nowitzki is superior in size and shot blocking. Larry Legend is superior in probably every other facet. Jason Terry is the starting point guard but is more of a shooter than a playmaker. Baron Davis rocked the Dallas backcourt in last year's playoffs but would be looking in the mirror, if he were five inches taller and five body appendages healthier, if he was matched up against Magic.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 4 - Bird 1
The Detroit Pistons
It's questionable how much longer Rasheed Wallace and Tony McDyess can keep going so Bird gets a big positional advantage over Magic as Chauncey Billups is their point guard for the next few years. One question is: how would Bird and Rasheed get along? They're both competitive assholes on the court, so I think they'd get along great. Kind of like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash with less hugging.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 4 - Bird 2
The Denver Nuggets
With Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson on the roster, the last thing the Nuggets need is more scoring. This might be the team where Magic would have his greatest impact as he would allow Iverson to move back to his natural shooting guard position on offense while guarding whoever is taller defensively. He and Marcus Camby would be a devastating interior/perimeter defensive duo. Magic Johnson > Chucky Atkins
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 5 - Bird 2
The Golden State Warriors
How much faith can a GM have that Baron Davis will stay healthy? That's the question one must ask when debating who to select here. Regardless, when healthy Baron is the best player on this team and it is a system that calls for taking every available open shot, giving Bird the slight edge here.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 5 - Bird 3
The Houston Rockets
With Steve Francis, Mike James and Rafer Alston on the roster, the last thing this team needs is another point guard. Yao Ming isn't a fast break player, which would play in the hands of Bird while McGrady does enjoy handling the ball. . Bird and Ming could be the most killer inside/outside frontcourt duo of all time and if Bird could convince Yao to grow some facial hair, the best mustachioed duo this side of a Burt Reynolds/Tom Sellick action-comedy.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 5 - Bird 4
The Indiana Pacers
As bad as the Troy Murphy/Mike Dunleavy Jr. trade was for Indiana last year, Murphy had the range last year, converting on over forty percent of his three point attempts. Tinsley over dribbles the ball too much and has proven that he's not an effective point guard. Unlike nearly any other team in the East, adding either player to this lineup probably wouldn't make them a contender in that conference.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 6 - Bird 4
The Los Angeles Clippers
Tough choice as the two biggest deficiencies facing the Clips are quality shooters and point guard play. Some would say that they're new point guard signee Brevin Knight is the modern day Magic, minus sixteen inches of height. It's close, but with Brand holding an iron fist over the power forward position and Corey Maggette running things at the small, Magic is the more logical choice.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 7 - Bird 4
The Los Angeles Lakers
The only point guards that the Lakers have on their roster are Jordan Farmer and rookie Javaris Crittenton. While both have promise and Phil Jackson's triangle offense doesn't need a true point guard but I think he might tinker with it a bit when given a player with Magic's gifts.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 8 - Bird 4
The Memphis Grizzlies
A difficult choice, but with the team now heavily invested in Mike Conley Jr., Bird is the better choice. He and Mike Miller would open up all sorts of room for Pau Gasol down low and he could maybe give Darko a good talking to.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 8 - Bird 5
The Miami Heat
With Jason Kapono leaving as a free agent and Antoine Walker still in the league for some reason, the Heat are in serious need at the small forward position. Jason Smith looked mediocre at summer league and will probably not be able to contribute this year. Miami pursued point guard Mo Williams in the offseason as they are unsure of Jason Williams and his cardboard knees but I think Bird's range would benefit Shaq and Wade more than Magic's playmaking would. The last time I saw Shaq really run on a fast break was when his wife asked him who ate all the wedding cake.
Hey-O!
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 8 - Bird 6
The Milwaukee Bucks
The bizarre Bucks lineup isn't ideal for either legend. The two biggest impact players on the roster, Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd are both players who excel in the half court attack while their newest hard fought for draft pick Yi Jianlian is purely a fast break player. I'd give the edge to Magic as the team is in need of a playmaker more than a finisher like Bird is.
Winner: Magic Johnson Magic 9 - Bird 6
The Minnesota Timberwolves
There is some talent on this truly terrible team. Randy Foye had a solid rookie season and looked like a polished player in summer league action. The athletic guard is likely to get a long look at point. Their other promising young player is interior bruiser Al Jefferson so Larry Legend's range would be tremendous in helping Big Al carve out space in the paint seeing that Ricky Davis, of all people, was the team's most accurate outside shooter last year. Assuming he would join such a team, Bird would play a bit of point forward, as Foye is a stronger scorer than playmaker.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 9 - Bird 7
The New Jersey Nets
With Jason Kidd in town, Magic's greatest strength, passing, is a little redundant. Bird would move into the power forward spot, with Richard Jefferson at small and Vince Carter at shooting guard. With a lineup like that Jamaal Magloire can continue eating a 40 of timbits with each meal and they could still win the East.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 9 - Bird 8
The New Orleans Hornets
This is Chris Paul's team. It's debatable whether he or Deron Williams is the top young point guard in the league. Meanwhile, they also have wonky back Stojakovich who would fill Bird's role as the elite shooter. I'd still go with Bird. There's question marks all over Peja's rapidly declining game and even if he were to return, imagine having two perimeter weapons like that in the forward positions.
Winner: Larry Bird Magic 9 - Bird 9
The New York Knicks
Magic's strengths are playing at an uptempo style while the Knicks employ possibly the slowest frontcourt in the league (Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph). While Magic would fit in well with the Knick reserves (mainly the equally over and underrated David Lee and Renaldo Balkman) the contracts demand that the dumpy dunking donuts duo (Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph) get the majority of the minutes. Bird's range would also help carve out space for the New Age Natural Disasters.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 10 - Magic 9
The Orlando Magic
As tempting as it would be to combine the soon-to-be impossible-to-stop Dwight Howard interior presence with Larry Bird's outside game, the allure of a Magic leading a fast break attack with a finisher like him is too hard to ignore. Howard is the easiest OOP in the league.
Winner: Magic Johnson Bird 10 - Magic 10
The Philadelphia 76ers
Andre Igoudala is the focal point of the 76ers and one of the league's a most underrated and athletic player so it makes sense to pick the player who would fit in with him the best. Unfortunately his versatility would allow him to fit in with any talented player making this decision very difficult. On one hand, Bird's scoring would lessen Igoudala's biggest weakness, scoring. On the other hand, Magic's up tempo playmaking would compliment his greatest strength, athleticism. Andre Miller, the 76er point guard, is a broke man's Magic but he's probably also Philadelphia's second best player. Give a slight edge to Bird here.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 11 - Magic 10
The Phoenix Suns
Another contender for easiest selection. Phoenix is another squad that preaches taking the first available shot that would play right into Bird's hands. Also, the Suns have some Canadian dude at the point that the scouts tell me is decent.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 12 - Magic 10
The Portland Trailblazers
Portland is another tough choice as their two thinnest positions (small forward and point guard) are Bird and Magic's respective positions. Bird's rebounding advantage over Magic would be lessened on a team that already has LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. Ja-Double R-e-Double tt Jack is a decent point who'll hit his free throws but Magic could kickstart the attack while Oden and Aldridge would own the paint.
Winner: Magic Johnson Bird 12 - Magic 11
The Sacramento Kings
If Brad Miller and Mike Bibby were five years younger (and healthier) this would be a contending team. Kevin Martin is one of the league's bright young stars, Ron Artest can still run things on the defensive end and Shareef Abdur-Rahim is um… the GREATEST Vancouver Grizzly of all time (and that means something in Bryant Reeves' house). Plug Bird into the power forward position and this would be a team that could legitimately challenge for a title this year, assuming the old timers stay healthy.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 13 - Magic 11
The San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are obviously set at point guard for the next decade with finals MVP Tony Parker. Larry Bird is the easy choice here based only on intangibles, as he and Greg Popovic would probably replace Parker and Eva Longoria as the team's closest couple they'd get along so great.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 14 - Magic 11
The Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle seems pretty set at the forward positions for the future with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and I'm not sold on Luke Ridnour being a starting point guard on a contending team. Magic is the man here for sure provided he can deal with the ball being in the hands of Saer 'The Dribbling Machine' Sene.
Winner: Magic Johnson Bird 14 - Magic 12
The Toronto Raptors
While Bird's range might seem redundant with the sweet shooting big man duo of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani both on the Raptors roster, the team's deepest position this year is undoubtedly the point, where TJ Ford and Jose Calderon share the duties effectively and harmoniously. Bryan Colangelo announces Bird as his choice and Jason Kapono promptly hangs himself.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 15 - Magic 12
The Utah Jazz
The Jazz employ one of the best young point guards in the league in Deron Williams and are in dire need of some perimeter shooting, making Bird the easy choice and further pushing Andrei Kirilenko into a state of madness over his playing time.
Winner: Larry Bird Bird 16 - Magic 12
The Washington Wizards
Is Gilbert Arenas a true point guard? Most would say yes but there's an opinion out there that he's one of the league's biggest chuckers at the point position. Many players are not as effective when deprived of the ball (see Steve Francis) so would Agent Zero's game deteriorate with Magic handling the point or would they be enhanced playing with one of the greatest playmakers of all time? I'm leaning towards the latter but I think adding Bird to the three-headed monster (Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler being the other...heads) would be the better move.
Winner: Larry Bird
FINAL SCORE: Bird 17 - Magic 12
Good work Larry! To celebrate I'll take you out for some frothy chocolate milkshakes!
