Would Larry Bird be an All-Star today?

[ma11l]

This is a debate that will go on forever and ever.  One day us young guys will be defending this Big 3 like people have to do with Larry and the others now.  My friend and I have this discussion just about every time we watch a game together, which is often.

There will be one side saying today's game is quicker, stronger, faster, and more skilled.  There will be the other side saying that older generations would run circles around these guys.  This one can't be defended by numbers or stats, there is a huge gray area.  Once a side is taken this debate is one of the hardest to sway them the other way.

[Redz]

larry was a 3-time LEAGUE mvp at a time when the nba was at its peak...it wasn't a jump-shooting / motion offense oriented league that it's become today.  some of the greatest players to EVER play the game did so during Bird's era.

would he be a great player today?  hell yes!!  he'd dominate the league...sadly, as time goes by we begin to diminish the greatness of those who played years ago.

don't let the short shorts fool you...Larry Legend made everyone around him better, something that is a rare trait in any era of professional basketball.

Absolutely.  In fact, look at the other two Big 3 as well.  Does anyone currently in the league have the skill set that McHale had?  Or Chief.  How many centers in the NBA today have his game?  Either of those would be perennial All-Stars today as well.  In fact, I think McHale almost more so than Bird would be valued in the league now. 

[Birdmanbr]

I am assuming that this thread is a joke. Nothing else to say.

[Aaron]

Another argument that keeps popping up is the level and intensity of today's defenses compared with the past.

This is true... and, like conditioning, etc., is completely a by-product of our time.  Teams now have the ability to pour over hours and hours of game footage at will.  They can take watch opponents plays/schemes while their in their private planes on the way to the game.  We now have employees dedicated to making "tapes" that show players like Kobe and how they react in certain situations.

This kind of preparation just wasn't available in Bird's era.  Teams now know everything you're going to do, and exactly when you're going to do it... it's just another reason that it's silly (while still fun) to play these "what if" games.  Nothing happens in a vacuum.  

Bird was at the top of the league then, and with today's technology/advances, he'd be at the top of the game today.

[Reyquila]

Someone a little back just said that with todays athletisism, guys like Bird and Drexler and Isaiah would not have survived. He is right, only guys as athletic as Gerald Green can only dream of surviving today. Gimme a break! lololololol. You only had to watch Magic, Bird, Oscar, Pistol, Kareem, Walton, Olajuwon, Jordan the Great, Nick and a few others, to see poetry in motion. Today, Kobe belongs to that crowd.
 

[Reyquila]

Sorry, but McHale would not have been i/2 of what he was without Bird feeding him like he did. Bird had to be guarded all the way out there so he would sink his treys and Bird always worked on McHale's side, so McHale couldnt be double team so often. Bird made McHale and everybody else in that team. Thats what made him so unique. 

[liam]

Another argument that keeps popping up is the level and intensity of today's defenses compared with the past.

This is true... and, like conditioning, etc., is completely a by-product of our time.  Teams now have the ability to pour over hours and hours of game footage at will.  They can take watch opponents plays/schemes while their in their private planes on the way to the game.  We now have employees dedicated to making "tapes" that show players like Kobe and how they react in certain situations.

This kind of preparation just wasn't available in Bird's era.  Teams now know everything you're going to do, and exactly when you're going to do it... it's just another reason that it's silly (while still fun) to play these "what if" games.  Nothing happens in a vacuum.  

Bird was at the top of the league then, and with today's technology/advances, he'd be at the top of the game today.

Bird would tell guys what he was going to do and then do it.

[BrickJames]

I have a hard time believing that anyone who actually saw Bird play is seriously considering this question.

[TheReaLPuba]

Bird would be the best player today hands-down.

With the technology and knowledge we have of health today he would no doubt be in even better condition and health than he was in the past which would make his psychological and cognitive talents even more greater.

Bird wasn't just a great basketball player he was a great chess player and thought the game while playing it....he was always 2 steps ahead and don't give me this cr@p about players being super athletes....Bird played against Wilkins, Jordan, Worthy...and even when Bird was old and playing with a broken back he held his own against Drexler.

It's funny how people forget the past so easily.

[GLS]

Yes, he would be an All-Star.  If Rasheed Wallace can be an All-Star in 2008, and he doesn't have half the game Larry did, then yes.....Larry Joe Bird of French Lick, Indiana would be an All-Star in the NBA.

One other thing....there have been some INCREDIBLE athletes throughout the years in the NBA.  Athletes that could actually play a little.  Dr J was breathtaking in his early ABA days...and still pulled off some amazing things once the leagues joined.  Ditto David Thompson, Connie Hawkins, etc.  

To say that Bird (or anyone from say 89 down) isn't athletic enough to play in the league today I present you Exhibit A:  Mehmet Okur

[BballTim]

Sorry, but McHale would not have been i/2 of what he was without Bird feeding him like he did. Bird had to be guarded all the way out there so he would sink his treys and Bird always worked on McHale's side, so McHale couldnt be double team so often. Bird made McHale and everybody else in that team. Thats what made him so unique. 

  I'm a huge Bird fan, but this is silly. The guy had arguably the best post moves in the history of the game and made all defensive 1st team 3 times and 2nd team 3 times. He was 1st team all NBA in 86-87 when he screwed up the rest of his career playing on a broken foot. Give McHale the credit he deserves.

[Andy Jick]

Sorry, but McHale would not have been i/2 of what he was without Bird feeding him like he did. Bird had to be guarded all the way out there so he would sink his treys and Bird always worked on McHale's side, so McHale couldnt be double team so often. Bird made McHale and everybody else in that team. Thats what made him so unique. 

so if mchale was playing next to pierce, he wouldn't be nearly as good?  sorry, but your logic is faulty.  mchale, even without bird, would have dominated any team he played on.

this thread is bordering on ridiculous...

[Edgar]

Larry Bird > any Cs right now
why
Clutch
Knowdledge of the game
Acuracy
style
Class
Court vision
Know how to xplode missmatches
No more
He was and he is the best
For the record...ANY post player in this league would LOVE to have half of the post moves Kevin M. Had

[Kuberski33]

The only guy in the NBA right now who passes at Bird's level is Steve Nash and with Bird being 6' 9", let's just say that skill alone would make him a rather unique offensive weapon.  But throw in the fact that he was a great scorer with both the heart, competiveness and sniper like mentality of Jordan (unlike Nowitzky)and the fact that was an excellent rebounder for his size and I think it's safe to say he would be every bit as effective today.  Yes, the defenses are much better, but the points made about the shorter 3pt line and lack of handchecking are very good ones.

The great NBA players would be great in any era.

BTW, I wouldn't say McHale wouldn't be half the player he was without Bird, but he definitely would not have been as effective.  A guy like McHale needs someone to get him the ball and when you had to deal with Bird's ability to score outside as well as inside -- not to mention The Chief's ability to hit the mid range jumper, it's safe to say that opened things up quite a bit for McHale underneath.  That team was a nightmare to try to defend.

[TitleMaster]

mchale, even without bird, would have dominated any team he played on.

Hate to say it but judging by the '86 finals, Olajuwon had out done McHale (and Parish) on the block. So using my all time favorite big man as an index, McHale would have been another top tier PF today, like Stoudamaire, and like Amare, would need a team around him to dominate in the paint though AS has done it alone, from time to time, during breakout times.

A player, who singlehandedly takes over the offense of a game is someone like Pierce. And that's the type of player, Larry Bird was. PP, for the first time, had a team equivalent to the one Bird had, back in the 80s.