We had a very heated discussion about whether Michael Jackson or Prince is the more talented performer. In that spirit, who is the more talented (intentionally ambiguous) basketball player, Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson?
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Magic...
He could and did play every position on the court... He made the almost single handedly took the Lakers from the basement to the championship in one year... He redefined the game of basketball for guards(previously, if you were taller that 6'6" you were a forward or center)... He made passing an art form...
IMHO
He could and did play every position on the court... He made the almost single handedly took the Lakers from the basement to the championship in one year... He redefined the game of basketball for guards(previously, if you were taller that 6'6" you were a forward or center)... He made passing an art form...
IMHO
Michael. He turned basketball into an art form. Watching him on the court was amazing and he had an elegant type of flair. Even people who hated the Bulls loved to watch him.
Magic all the way. I think it's been mentioned, but Magic could play the 1-5 WELL. And from day one in the NBA, he made his teammates better. It took MJ 6-7 years to realize he had to get the other four guys involved. MJ was supremely talented, but his legend is also a function of good timing. Jordan came along just as sports media & marketing was taking off for the NBA.
Magic-Enuff said. He was the ultimate in personality in B-Ball.
I haven't watched B-Ball b/c the Magic is gone.
I haven't watched B-Ball b/c the Magic is gone.
quote:Originally posted by AudioGuy:
Magic...
He could and did play every position on the court... He made the almost single handedly took the Lakers from the basement to the championship in one year... He redefined the game of basketball for guards(previously, if you were taller that 6'6" you were a forward or center)... He made passing an art form...
IMHO
Uh- AG- Magic's teammates his rookie year included Kareem, Michael Cooper, Jamal Wilkes, Norm Nixon. And they were hardly at the bottom making the playoffs several years in a row prior to the coming of Magic. Although they were fourth of fifth in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, the West had most of the dominant teams in the league at the time.
Plus, Magic was surrounded by very good talent for most of his years in the league.
Michael on the other hand came to the Bulls with... Well... less than stellar talent on his team until Scotty, Bill, and those three point shootin' guys came around.
I will agree with you that Magic made it a whole new game for big men with a talent for ball handling. He was amazing.
But the whole question of who was better?
That's like asking which is better- red apples or green apples. I'm givin' red the edge here. I think Jordan was the better player. (Although I might say that Magic may have been the better teammate- just like green apples are better in pie
In the 4 years prior to Magic's arrival, the Lakers were a little better than a .500 team...quote:Originally posted by Marty:
Uh- AG- Magic's teammates his rookie year included Kareem, Michael Cooper, Jamal Wilkes, Norm Nixon. And they were hardly at the bottom making the playoffs several years in a row prior to the coming of Magic. Although they were fourth of fifth in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, the West had most of the dominant teams in the league at the time.
- LOS ANGELES LAKERS » 1974-1975
» Head Coach Bill Sharman
» Division Finish 5th Place Pacific
» Conference Finish 9th Place Western
» Overall Record 30-52 (.366)
» Home 21-20
» Away 9-32
» Scoring Leader Gail Goodrich (22.6 ppg)
» Assists Leader Gail Goodrich (5.8 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Happy Hairston (12.80 rpg)
PLAYOFFS
Did Not Make Playoffs
LOS ANGELES LAKERS » 1975-1976
» Team Stats: Regular Season
» Individual Stats: Regular Season
» Schedule/Results: Regular Season
» Team Roster | NBA Season Standings
REGULAR SEASON
» Head Coach Bill Sharman
» Division Finish 4th Place Pacific
» Conference Finish 5th Place Western
» Overall Record 40-42 (.488)
» Home 31-10
» Away 9-32
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27.7 ppg)
» Assists Leader Gail Goodrich (5.6 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16.90 rpg)
PLAYOFFS
Did Not Make Playoffs
LOS ANGELES LAKERS » 1976-1977
» Head Coach Jerry West
» Division Finish 1st Place Pacific
» Conference Finish 1st Place Western
» Overall Record 53-29 (.646)
» Home 37-4
» Away 16-25
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (26.2 ppg)
» Assists Leader Lucius Allen (5.2 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13.30 rpg)
PLAYOFFS
» Playoff Finish Lost Conference Finals
» Playoff Record 4-7 (.364)
» Home 4-2
» Away 0-5
» Conference Semi-Finals Beat Warriors 4-3
» Conference Finals Lost to Trail Blazers 4-0
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (34.6 ppg)
» Assists Leader Don Chaney (4.4 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (16.80 rpg)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS » 1977-1978
» Head Coach Jerry West
» Division Finish 4th Place Pacific
» Conference Finish 5th Place Western
» Overall Record 45-37 (.549)
» Home 29-12
» Away 16-25
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (25.8 ppg)
» Assists Leader Norm Nixon (6.8 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Don Ford (4.50 rpg)
PLAYOFFS
» Playoff Finish Lost First Round
» Playoff Record 1-2 (.333)
» Home 1-0
» Away 0-2
» First Round Lost to SuperSonics 2-1
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (27.0 ppg)
» Assists Leader Norm Nixon (5.3 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13.70 rpg)
I would hardly call them "dominant"... Then came magic in 1979...
- LOS ANGELES LAKERS » 1979-1980
» Head Coach Jack McKinney, Paul Westhead
» Division Finish 1st Place Pacific
» Conference Finish 1st Place Western
» Overall Record 60-22 (.732)
» Home 37-4
» Away 23-18
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (24.8 ppg)
» Assists Leader Norm Nixon (7.8 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (10.80 rpg)
PLAYOFFS
» Playoff Finish Won NBA Championship (7)
» Playoff Record 12-4 (.750)
» Home 7-2
» Away 5-2
» Conference Semi-Finals Beat Suns 4-1
» Conference Finals Beat SuperSonics 4-1
» NBA Finals Beat 76ers 4-2
» Scoring Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (31.9 ppg)
» Assists Leader Magic Johnson (9.4 apg)
» Rebounding Leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12.10 rpg)
In the years subsequent to Magic's arrival, they won nearly 75% of their games... They did not dominate until after Magic got there...
Also, here is the roster from the '79-'80 season:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center 7'2" 267 lbs. August 16, 1947 UCLA, 1969
Ron Boone Guard 6'2" 193 lbs. September 6, 1946 Idaho State, 1968
Marty Byrnes Forward 6'7" 220 lbs. April 30, 1956 Syracuse, 1978
Kenny Carr Forward 6'7" 220 lbs. August 15, 1955 North Carolina State, 1977
Jim Chones Center 6'11" 220 lbs. November 30, 1949 Marquette, 1972
Michael Cooper Guard/Forward 6'7" 170 lbs. April 15, 1956 New Mexico, 1978
Don Ford Forward 6'8" 215 lbs. December 31, 1952 California-Santa Barbara, 1975
Spencer Haywood Forward 6'9" 225 lbs. April 22, 1949 Detroit, 1971
Brad Holland Guard 6'3" 220 lbs. UCLA, 1979
Magic Johnson Guard 6'9" 220 lbs. August 14, 1959 Michigan State, 1979
Mark Landsberger Forward 6'8" 225 lbs. May 21, 1955 Arizona State, 1977
Butch Lee Guard 6'0" 175 lbs. December 5, 1956 Marquette, 1978
Oliver Mack Guard 6'3" 195 lbs. June 6, 1957 East Carolina, 1979
Norm Nixon Guard 6'2" 175 lbs. October 11, 1955 Duquesne, 1977
Jamaal Wilkes Forward 6'6" 190 lbs. May 2, 1953 UCLA, 1974
They may have had the players you mentioned, but who else??
These stats can be found here.
I wasn't calling the Lakers Dominant. I'm saying they were a good team in a dominant Western Conference. Heck- a dominant Pacific Division... Magic made a good team outstanding.
But obviously I gotta start looking things up. Only two consecutive playoff years (including a Conference finals) prior to Magic. Not exactly the basement, but I also stand corrected.
But FYI- I'm not in any way knocking Magic. He is on my top 5 list and should be on anyones.
Again- Red Apples, Green Apples.
But obviously I gotta start looking things up. Only two consecutive playoff years (including a Conference finals) prior to Magic. Not exactly the basement, but I also stand corrected.
But FYI- I'm not in any way knocking Magic. He is on my top 5 list and should be on anyones.
Again- Red Apples, Green Apples.
Sorry. I misread your orig. post...quote:Originally posted by Marty:
I wasn't calling the Lakers Dominant. I'm saying they were a good team in a dominant Western Conference. Heck- a dominant Pacific Division... Magic made a good team outstanding.
How exactly was the west dominant?? In the 10 yrs prior to "the Magic Johnson era", six of the NBA championships were won by a team from the east... Even after in the 10 after Magic came into the league, there were split 5-5...
Eastside!!!
