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**Seuss** · 08-24-2005, 11:14 PM

Who would you pick. Larry "Legend" Bird, Ervin "Magic" Johnson or Julius "Dr. J" Erving?

I would take magic.

Rockstone · 08-24-2005, 11:24 PM

Gimme Larry Bird. He's the most complete player out of all three of them.

**The One** · 08-24-2005, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstone

Gimme Larry Bird. He's the most complete player out of all three of them.

Magic hands down. He played every position in one game

ralaw · 08-25-2005, 05:17 AM

Magic

On a side not, am I the only one who thinks Dr. J was overrated as a basketball player (now before you go crazy continue to read). I'm making this comment based off of never actually seeing him play, but from looking at stats and old video I am not impressed. I understand during his time he was the league and younger players looked up to him, such as Jordan, but I just don't see it. I believe the reason he is mentioned among the greatest of all-time is because of his flash, creativity and dunks. Now, before you go and get his career stats I understand he has combined averages in the ABA and NBA of 25.4ppg, 9.5rpg, 4.4apg and 50% fg%. Though I respect it maybe I have become use to seeing flash, creativity and dunks, so it really doesn't impress me as much. I found this excerpt from NBA.com

Quote:

Julius Erving, the great and wondrous "Dr. J," was the dominant player of his era, an innovator who changed the way the game was played. He was a wizard with the ball, performing feats never before seen: midair spins and whirls punctuated by powerful slam dunks. Erving was one of the first players to make extemporaneous individual expression an integral part of the game, setting the style of play that would prevail in the decades to follow.

I think I got it; maybe Dr. J's legacy isn't on the court as much as it is on the NBA as a whole. The excerpt mentioned he was one of the first to bring individual expression to the league. He was an originator and forerunner for the NBA we see today, allowing for players like Jordan, Magic, Kobe, McGrady, V. Carter, Iverson and Wade to be the players they are today. It is like a lineage of influence. Dr. J had great stats, but his influence was bigger than stats and games. Dr. J gets this status is due to the fact he was the originator of this style of play we see today and his influence on the NBA as a whole, so maybe he does deserve that respect.

Deke · 08-25-2005, 05:59 AM

Dr J, Magic can dominate if you give him a great team around him but Dr J can dominate with no one.

Mavericks_Fan · 08-25-2005, 06:15 AM

Depends on what my team needed the most, but more than likely I'd take Larry Bird.

kflo · 08-25-2005, 06:18 AM

remember, dr j led the sixers to 3 finals appearances before winning with moses, and won 2 titles in the aba. he was a dominant individual who led his teams, as well as an originator / influencer.

that said, he wasn't as good as magic or bird, and would fall probably in the (my) top 20-25 players ever.

i think it's impossible to pick between magic and bird. i think anyone siding difinitively for either one is crazy. bird was considered the more dominant player for most of their careers playing together (until his injury in '89). he actually finished ahead of magic in mvp voting every year except '87 prior to his injury. he came to a team that won 29 games, and they won 60 his rookie year. he was the best passing forward ever, and a dominant scorer. he was even all-defense 2nd team 3 times (his defense deteriorated with his back problems).

magic simply was the greatest player ever at running an offense. he could provide whatever was necessary.

they both understood ball movement and game flow as well as anyone. connected at the hip they are, and they should be in rating them as well. imo.

**The One** · 08-25-2005, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kflo

remember, dr j led the sixers to 3 finals appearances before winning with moses, and won 2 titles in the aba. he was a dominant individual who led his teams, as well as an originator / influencer.

that said, he wasn't as good as magic or bird, and would fall probably in the (my) top 20-25 players ever.

i think it's impossible to pick between magic and bird. i think anyone siding difinitively for either one is crazy. bird was considered the more dominant player for most of their careers playing together (until his injury in '89). he actually finished ahead of magic in mvp voting every year except '87 prior to his injury. he came to a team that won 29 games, and they won 60 his rookie year. he was the best passing forward ever, and a dominant scorer. he was even all-defense 2nd team 3 times (his defense deteriorated with his back problems).

magic simply was the greatest player ever at running an offense. he could provide whatever was necessary.

they both understood ball movement and game flow as well as anyone. connected at the hip they are, and they should be in rating them as well. imo.

My thoughts exactly.

ralaw · 08-25-2005, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kflo

remember, dr j led the sixers to 3 finals appearances before winning with moses, and won 2 titles in the aba. he was a dominant individual who led his teams, as well as an originator / influencer.

Maybe I need to go and do some research, thanks for the knowledge.

Silent But Deadly · 08-25-2005, 08:35 AM

Magic, easily.

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