The Greatest ALL-AROUND Player... Larry Bird? \ stacker news ~Stacker

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The Greatest ALL-AROUND Player... Larry Bird?odysee.com/@JonnyArnett:0/the-greatest-all-around-player...-larry:6?r=8T2xqWjtafHWYGxQBSsrbw1wQPm7sWRq

239 sats \ 17 comments \ @Undisciplined 8 Apr Stacker_Sports

This is just a fun video about how awesome Bird was?

I do wonder who people think of as the best all-around player. In this video, the argument is that while many players were better at some stuff, Bird was good at everything while everyone else was below average at something.

This goes along nicely with two of my favorite approaches to the GOAT debate:

Would a team of 5 Larry Birds beat a team of 5 Jordans or a team of 5 Lebrons?
Would any other player add more average value than Bird if you just dropped them on each NBA roster throughout league history?

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100 sats \ 3 replies \ @siggy47 8 Apr

He's great. I watched that game last night.

125 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby 8 Apr

Bird played last night?

100 sats \ 1 reply \ @siggy47 8 Apr

He was questionable, but the ankle felt okay before tipoff.

200 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 8 Apr

He is a gamer.

60 sats \ 3 replies \ @Voldemort 9 Apr

I love Larry Bird. My brothers and I used to watch a Larry Bird VHS all the time.

I think you are on to something wrt your second question. He could fill a role on any team for any generation.

I think the 5 v 5 question is interesting but in general will favor tall people who are mobile. Kevin Durant would be tough to beat. In 5 years, the answer might be Wemby.

10 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 9 Apr

In 5 years, the answer might be Wemby.

No kidding. Team Wemby would have like an 85% block rate and no one else is tall enough to disrupt their passing lanes.

50 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bell_curve 10 Apr

Turnovers from ball handling and dribbling would be a problem

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 10 Apr

Team Wemby wouldn't need to dribble.

50 sats \ 5 replies \ @grayruby 8 Apr

I am having difficulty wrapping my head around this framing of 5 Birds vs 5 Jordans etc. Probably I am just in the lack of intelligence, lack of imagination camp we discussed yesterday but I have always thought one of the key components to the greatest of all time debates is how those players elevated the play of those around them. I can't factor that in if I am imagining the same player playing all 5 positions.

If I do, I intuitively think of scoring first which might be a mistake and that actually brings me to Steph Curry. I think 5 Currys would score the most points as one would always be open for 3 but 5 Currys could not possibly guard or rebound with any of these other guys.

I am just going to go with Jordan due to killer instinct. He will find a way to win even if he shouldn't.

45 sats \ 0 replies \ @Bell_curve 10 Apr

His defense is another comparative advantage

60 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 8 Apr

I also wonder if 5 Stephs is the right answer, for the same reasons you mention. The most efficient shot in basketball history is a Steph Curry 3. If you go to extremes, 5 Shaqs vs 5 Stephs, I think it illustrates your point. Neither can stop the other, at all, but 3 > 2 and the Stephs would win.

Someone I really like thinking about for this is KG. I think 5 Garnetts would be an absolute nightmare for anyone to play against. He might not be efficient enough on offense, but I'd probably take whatever odds were available on Team Garnett.

one of the key components to the greatest of all time debates is how those player elevated the play of those around them

I agree and that's more the point of the second question. I think Steph is a very strong answer to this one also, but I'd give it to Bird because of his positional versatility.

110 sats \ 2 replies \ @Voldemort 9 Apr

5 Dirks would wreck 5 KGs :)

https://m.stacker.news/25956

60 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined OP 9 Apr

Unexpected take. I like it.

It's a team sport, though, and only one of those guys passes the ball.

Dirk's not someone I've thought about in these hypotheticals, though. Great rebounder and great shooter with an unstoppable shot: I could see Team Dirk being a tough out.

80 sats \ 0 replies \ @Voldemort 9 Apr

To be fair, Dirk had a generational PG on his team in Steve Nash so not many other players got assists on that team.

50 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bell_curve 10 Apr freebie

What separates MJ and Lebron from other great players is their defense.

Larry Bird would have averaged 40 points today with his deadly shooting

Regarding question 2, unlikely

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined OP 10 Apr

I agree. Bird was a very good defender (smart, tough, high motor), but Lebron and Jordan (also Wilt and Kareem) are amongst the best defensive players ever.

I think Bird today would have stats somewhere between Luka and Jokic, while also being a strong defender.

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @IamSINGLE 21 Apr

The team ov 5 Birds can beat any team IMO.