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50 sats \ 5 replies \ @grayruby 8 Apr \ on: The Greatest ALL-AROUND Player... Larry Bird? Stacker_Sports
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.
His defense is another comparative advantage
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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.
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5 Dirks would wreck 5 KGs :)
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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.
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To be fair, Dirk had a generational PG on his team in Steve Nash so not many other players got assists on that team.
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