todays celts vs Bird's / Gorman's opinion (merged)

[moiso]

I think I would take House over Sichting too.  Sichting hit only 6 3's in that whole season- and only 48 in his entire career.

[bballdog384]

I think I would take House over Sichting too.  Sichting hit only 6 3's in that whole season- and only 48 in his entire career.

Since when have 3 pointers been a deciding factor in how good a player is? Rondo is obviously better than House, even though he can't shoot the deep ball. 

[moiso]

In today's nba it is very important for a guard to be able to hit 3's.  Maybe not as important in 86.

[bballdog384]

In today's nba it is very important for a guard to be able to hit 3's.  Maybe not as important in 86.

Rondo can't hit 3's. He's 22, an all-star caliber pg, and already has a championship under his belt with another on the way. A 3 point shot is not what makes a player... unless they are Reggie Miller.

[TrueGreen]

Last year it would have been '86 without giving it a thought. This year I need to think a bit, but I would probably still go for '86. It's rare for a team to have a Hall Of Fame starting center and a HOF backup who was a great passer. From 1-8 they were probably better. Bird and Walton, 2 of the best passers in the game on one team is tough to beat. But an interesting note from an earlier post mentioned the difference in officiating. This team is quicker and faster and could possible overcome '86 who would, from 1-8, probably be more physical (with rules that are outlawed today).

[yupitsme]

I think alot of people on here would be surprised. Basketball has grown alot since when Bird played... faster, stronger and more athletic players. I'm not saying the Celtics from last year would win in a series but don't be surprised if they did.

[moiso]

In today's nba it is very important for a guard to be able to hit 3's.  Maybe not as important in 86.

Rondo can't hit 3's. He's 22, an all-star caliber pg, and already has a championship under his belt with another on the way. A 3 point shot is not what makes a player... unless they are Reggie Miller.

true but rondo would be even better if he could hit the 3.  And House and Ray wouldn't be as good if they didn't have 3 point range.  I don't think Sichting would have a chance to even make the nba in 2008.  6'1", below average athlete, not a true point guard, without 3 point range...there arent many players that fit that description in the current nba.  Rondo is a freak athlete and a true point.

[Andy Jick]

I think alot of people on here would be surprised. Basketball has grown alot since when Bird played... faster, stronger and more athletic players. I'm not saying the Celtics from last year would win in a series but don't be surprised if they did.

you can have your team of "athletes"...i'll take a team of basketball players.  basketball IQ is something you don't just toss aside and roll your eyes at.

i'd say those celtics with gerald and big al and telfair were more athletic than our current group...but we'd kill them in a 7 game series.

i think many here are being fooled by these 5 white guys running around in short shorts...well, word of warning: don't be.  they WERE that good.

[Celtics17]

Todays players are probably faster, bigger and stronger on average but sports are not only about those qualities. If they were, we would never see a guy under 6' 8" tall doing much of anything. Basketball IQ does count for more then athletic ability, much more, and the 86 squad had much more of it then our current team. I still say though, todays starting 5 would give the 86 squad a good series. If you swap benchs I say todays group wins the series. Now there is a good debate.

[cornbreadsmart]

most people talk about the hand check rule changes are a bad thing. the whole "mj would have averaged 50" kind of talk.  all i know is this is the way it SHOULD be officiated. i know when i used to play and someone used to start handchecking me i would call them out loud on the court that they had to use their hands to stop me,knock the hand away hard  and if anyone started clutching and grbbing i would try and punch their knuckles.lol. hey everyone can do what they can get away with i guess but i'd rather see who's best rather than who can "cheat" the best. thi is the way the game is supposed to be played. handchecking is sad.

[cornbreadsmart]

who is the better passing team? individually bird is better than pierce ofcourse but i'd say  garnett way over mchale, perk over parrish in a close one for me. rondo over dj and ainge over ray allen. 

[housecall]

with respect to Perk i do not rate Perk over Parish as a player.

[Andy Jick]

who is the better passing team? individually bird is better than pierce ofcourse but i'd say  garnett way over mchale, perk over parrish in a close one for me. rondo over dj and ainge over ray allen. 

bill walton may be the best passing big man EVER and he was on that '86 team as well.  trust me, the '86 team was a better passing team than the current version.

[cornbreadsmart]

whoops. yeah i meant better individual passers not players overall.yeah walton was as good as it gets at the 5.

[xmuscularghandix]

with respect to Perk i do not rate Perk over Parish as a player.

i don't think anyone does, at least not at this point.