Filed under: Basketball, GOAT, NBA | Tags: Basketball, best of all time, bracket, GOAT, NBA
Here’s the updated bracket so far…time to hit up the right side now.
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Filed under: Basketball, GOAT, NBA | Tags: GOAT Bracket, Julius Erving, magic johnson, round 1
Finally, we return to our little project, the NBA Greatest of All-Time Tourney. This one’s gonna be a little tough for moi, because one half of the matchup is one of my all-time favorite players, but also inherently complex because Erving played almost half of his career in the ABA,which obviously is not the NBA. For argument’s sake, his ABA numbers are going to be included, but only his NBA awards will count.
Records- Where to begin? The good Doctor is fifth all time in points, sixth all time in steals and 13th all time in offensive boards. Erving was a pretty well-rounded player, and his stats show it well. Magic, on the other hand, isn’t as high on as many different categories, but the ones he is on, he’s near the top. Having the third most assists and the highest career assist per game totals are impressive, but in the end Julius just has more on is statistical resume. Johnson has three Finals MVP’s, 12 ASG appearances, and is a nine time 1st team all NBAer. Julius was elected to an astounding 16 All Star Games, 11 of which were NBA ASGs, is a six time 1st team all NBAer, and twice was an ASG MVP in the NBA. The place where Magic has the distinct advantage is in rings. His five to Erving’s one gives him the edge. ADVANTAGE: MAGIC
Context- Both of these players played on some of the greatest teams the respective franchises have ever known. Dr. J was the leader of the legendary Fo-Fo-Fo 1982-1983 Sixers team, which included Mo Cheeks, Moses Malone, Andy Toney and Bobby Jones, and also played with the Round Mound of Rebound the following three seasons. Magic was the point man for the equally if not more legendary Showtime Lakers, alongside Kareem, McAdoo, Worthy and Wilkes. This one’s hard to throw to either player, but it has to go to Magic on this one. He did more with more, and has those rings to prove it. (Side note: It’s interesting that both of these guys had a distinct and popular rivalry with Larry Bird. I think Magic had the edge over Erving on Bird, too.) ADVANTAGE: MAGIC
MVP Awards- Magic has three, Dr. J has one in the NBA. Give it to Earvin, not Erving. ADVANTAGE: MAGIC
Innovation- Here’s where it gets tricky. Erving came into the NBA and was an instant success and a dominant force. He defined what it means to be a highflyer while at the same time legitimizing the ABA AND proving himself an all-time talent. A new position needed to be created for Magic, the “point forward”. He was so different, that he could easily play EVERY position on the floor successfully. Just look at the 1980 Finals in which he took over for Kareem at center and had one of the best games of his entire career. (Another crossing in these two players’ paths, the Sixers faced off with the Lakers in that Finals.) Magic was just to special and innovative to not win this category. ADVANTAGE: MAGIC
Transcendence: Another difficult category. As popular and legendary as Dr. J was and is, Magic gets this one as well. Johnson was the face of some of the greatest teams of all time, and is a true Hall of Fame talent. But none of that is as important, I think, as what he did for HIV/AIDS awareness in America and around the world. Magic showed that AIDS wasn’t nessicarily a death sentence. You don’t get much more transcendent than influencing culture like that. ADVANTAGE: MAGIC
Leadership: While Magic helped lead the Lakers to five titles, he did exactly that: he HELPED lead. Earvin always had that Kareem guy helping him out in the long run. The closest Dr. J had to a Kareem was Moses. A good player in his own right, Moses certainly had a leadership role on those Sixers teams, but nothing like the legend of the Doctor had. Chalk this one up for Erving. ADVANTAGE: ERVING
So in the end, this matchup wasn’t as close as it at first seemed. As much as I want to give it to Julius, he doesn’t have the greatness that Magic had and has. Sorry Doctor, this is Magic’s win.
P.S. We’ve recently hit 1000 views. Thanks everybody.
Filed under: Basketball, GOAT, NBA | Tags: allen iverson, Basketball, best of all time, bracket, GOAT, LeBron James, NBA, round 1
It’s that time again and this time it’s between LeBron James and Allen Iverson. These guys have more in common than you may think so let’s get it y’all.
Records- Both players are former #1 draft picks, both have been ROY, both are perennial all-stars, both have won 2 All-Star Game MVP awards, and both have been on Team USA. So where are the differences? Well, LeBron has two olympic medals (Bronze 2004, Gold 2008 ) whereas Iverson only has one medal (Bronze 2004). Also, LeBron has every record for youngest player to reach a point milestone up to 11,000 points. ADVANTAGE: LEBRON
Context- This would be so much easier of Iverson could just stay put. He has played in Philly, Denver, and now Detroit. In Philly no doubt AI was their superstar and he was basically all they had before the new AI came. Then he goes to Denver and plays with a pretty good team. After that he hits up Motown and plays for a team who is stacked. Then you look at LeBron. Cleveland was so much trash before LeBron was there. Once he got drafted, he turned that team around and to this day he still doesn’t have much of anyone to back him up. This one should be an easy giveaway to LeBron because of Iverson’s trips to Denver and Detroit, but it’s not. Because Iverson had to deal with a garbage team in Philly for so long and had to do it all himself I’m calling this a draw. Mutombo’s blocks only go so far. Sorry Bron, maybe when you have a couple more years under your belt. ADVANTAGE: PUSH
MVP Awards- This is a quickie due to LeBron’s young career. The Answer won this award back in ‘01 and Bron is still looking for numero uno. ADVANTAGE: IVERSON
Innovation- I love this category because it can always go either way. Both of these players have unique styles of the game that are incomparable to anyone. AI brought the sickest crossover to the league while Bron brought hops greater than Erving and Wilkins combined. I’ve seen both players make innumerable great plays on offense and defese. AI crossed Jordan and led the league in steals in multiple years. Bron rips shots off the backboard and scores at will. Who wins this round? It’s a toughie but I must say that Iverson’s 12 years have changed the game a little more than James’ 5. ADVANTAGE: IVERSON
Transcendence- Both of these guys will be Hall of Famers when their times come. Right now I don’t think you can call either one of these guys legends. This is OK for LeBron because he is so young, but Iverson has been in the league for years. I can’t seem to get his run-ins with the law out of my head either. LeBron’s endorsements, commercials, Redeem Team gold and many other things will get him to that legendary status sooner than you think. ADVANTAGE: LEBRON
Leadership- This is just an ad-lib category because we had an unexpected tie. Iverson led his team to the Finals back in 01, but he came up dry. After that he was basically done leading anything. LeBron led his team to the Finals two years ago with some heroic performances and now he may be back there this year. On top of that, he always goes to practice. ADVANTAGE: LEBRON
LeBron pulls out the win in this battle, but Iverson still does his thing. He plays hard and is passionate about what he does. He just got matched up with a phenom and was dealt a first round loss.
Filed under: Basketball, GOAT, bracket | Tags: Basketball, GOAT, jason kidd, larry bird, NBA, Round
VS.
So here we go with game two of our Greatest of All Time tournament, with a competition between one of the greatest mustaches in NBA history pitted against one of the best shaved heads.
Records- Surprisingly enough, Larry Bird actually dosen’t hold any individual NBA records. The closest he has to one is his very above solid 10th all time free-throw percentage, .886. Statistical records aside, the Hick from French Lick sure had a carreer for the ages. 1979-1980 ROY. 1983-1984 Finals AND League MVP. (Which he did again in 85-86.) Another MVP in 84-85. Nine time First Team All-NBA. 12 time All-Star. Oh, and those three rings. Kidd is the complete opposite. A statistical machine, he’s already 9th all time in three-point FGs, 5th all time in assists and 9th in steals. However, Jason’s also 12th all time in turnovers. Tisk tisk. Kidd has 9 ASG appearances and 5 First team All NBA awards, but no championships or MVP’s. This one comes down to what floats your boat: stats or awards. As it just so happens, Bird can steer my boat any day. ADVANTAGE: BIRD
Context- Bird had it made in Beantown. Any player that shares the court with McHale, Parish, Ainge, Johnson and Walton is going to look good. Sure, Bird is the greatest of all these Celtics, but Kidd has been extremely sucessful with a whole lot less. The best players he’s played with are Mashburn, Carter, and Dirk. Bird has done more with more; Kidd a bit less with less. Give it to the shaven one. ADVANTAGE: KIDD
MVP Awards- Larry wipes the floor with Jason on this one. Chalk up a win for the Hick, with three straight MVP’s from ‘83-’86. ADVANTAGE: BIRD
Innovation- Neither of these players changed the way little kids around the nation hooped. Bird was nothing special as an athletic specimen, nor is Kidd. Both are just about as good as you can get for their respective positions (Swing man and Point), but did either innovate the play of the game? I wouldn’t say so. Larry and Jason did not change anything, they simply just brought their positions’ play as high as it can go. In the immortal words of Salt N’ Pepa, PUSH IT REAAAL GOOD. ADVANTAGE: PUSH
Transcendence: Another category where it’s no contest. LB is one of the faces of not only a team, but a decade, and one of the greatest in the heralded history of the NBA. Can Jason Kidd’s parents say that their son helped put the NBA onto our television screens and into our hearts? No they cannot. Bird is one of THE all time greats of the NBA, while Jason Kidd is on the slightly lower tier of one of the greatest point guards of all time. Plus, Kidd never starred in a videogame against Dr. J AND MJ. ADVANTAGE: BIRD
In the end, this matchup isn’t as close as you would think. Or maybe it is, depending on your opinion of the greatness of Larry Bird. Jason Kidd has some gaudy numbers for an active player, and is a shoo in for the Hall of Fame, but there aren’t many players who can match up with Bird’s greatness. Sorry Jason, but you aren’t one of those players. Give the win to the ’stache.
