GYERO ARCHIVE

[TheShowKiller]

Curry has to log a couple more years at this level or close to creep into Bird territory...but, this current version of Curry is damn near unparalleled. That's not error of recentcy bias, either. The guy is playing modern basketball with the best athletes, training, scouting in history and he looks like a damn computer game on cheat mode.

All this time I thought the greatest players were going to be evolutions of Lebron that looked like they were made in a lab to play basketball and along comes this 6'3" 170lb glitch in the system. It's truly amazing and good for the game.

 

[TransyCat09]

The Spurs, Warriors, and Thunder are playing beautiful ball. But, pre-Bad Boys, the pace of play in the NBA was much higher than today (the pace of play was actually higher than today all the way up until the Bulls second three-peat). There were also fewer teams, meaning more concentrated talent.

Yes, there was a lot more hand checking and hard fouls, but the pace of play was higher, the scoring averages were higher, and similar FG%. The biggest difference is, of course, the 3PA/3PM. So the game probably "looks" better today because of spacing and the pace going up from the early 2000s. But the fact that the numbers are so similar between the eras while one rewards a free-flowing, spaced court, fouls being called game and the other one...didn't, probably speaks to the fact that those guys in the 80s/90s were really damn good. At least as good as today

 

[Dore95]

It's ironic that someone would throw out the "old greats would be scrubs today" argument in a conversation about the best player today, Curry, who is (relatively) short, skinny, and lacking in explosive athletic ability. The fact that someone like Curry is so dominant today should tell you that many of the greats from 30 years ago (Bird for example) would do just fine.

 

[krazykats]

While the stars would no doubt make it in today's NBA I think the point was a lot wouldn't and it just depends. Remember today just like years ago benches are filled with specialist whether it be rebounding, defense, shooting etc. So from that perspective not much has changed.

I agree with only person I'd take over Curry is Jordan, but imagine those two on the same team. Who is top dog on that squad?

One would say Jordan naturally and maybe so, but Steph isn't greedy and gets his in the flow of the game too. Not to mention he is so overwhelmingly fascinating I think he may just overshadow Jordan at this point!

 

[BLUEHILLS]

Meh, Curry is ok...

Signed,

The Big O

 

[BlueKel_rivals210266]

The game evolves. I remember when a typical NFL WR had the physique of a Cris Collinsworth. Now look at the freaks they put at WR, DE, LB, etc. In MLB, in the 80s into early 90s you'd have 2B that would hit .240 with 4 HR and 35 RBI...but not anymore.

Basketball has gotten so much more athletic. (Tangent: I think that is part of problem with officiating). Not to say that stars of another generation couldn't compete, but they were playing against a much less athletic, less talented group of players.

MJ is still the GOAT, but Curry could end up there.

 

[Mattox]

What I find interesting is how quickly LeBron became an afterthought after the emergence of Curry. Five years ago he was poised to be "GOAT" and now he hasn't even been mentioned in the conversation until this post.

 

[BBdK]

^ agree.

He also stole Durant's one time lock as "next".

 

[UnfrozenCatfanLawyer]

I'm not just talking about bball players being bigger, more athletic, faster, etc. these days - and they inarguably are. I think they're more skilled. 6'9 guys do stuff now that PGs couldn't pull off back in the day. And NBA guys are doing it in a league that places more emphasis on complicated, intricate defensive systems than it ever has. Seriously, go back and watch the defense teams played back in the 80s. It's an absolute joke. You know why pace of play was faster, then? Because the term "transition defense" wasn't invented yet.

 

[MaxPowerrr]

Plus those guys from the 80s are olds now. Larry Bird can barely walk. Curry would kill them.

 

[UnfrozenCatfanLawyer]

Bird could play today. So could many of the stars of that era. No one has argued or is arguing otherwise. But there were some scrubby-*** stiffs who played major minutes back in the day. I mean, Kurt effing Rambis started for the Showtime Lakers. He'd be lucky to make the Sixers roster these days. TS.

 

[BBdK]

Larry Bird would be an all star in today's game...he just wouldn't be as good as Steph Curry is right now.

 

[UnfrozenCatfanLawyer]

Larry Bird would be an all star in today's game...he just wouldn't be as good as Steph Curry is right now.

His shotmaking and shot creating abilities right now are unparalleled in NBA history. There is no such thing as a bad shot for him. He has a long way to go to be compared to Jordan, but he is the most skilled perimeter offensive player I've ever seen.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Larry Bird never would have lost the 3pt contest to McHale, so Bird is better imo.

 

[roguemocha]

The thing is, those guys like Bird were playing against people from their own era. THere's nothing they can do about that. They were just better, like Curry is now. GIven, he's tiny compared to LeBron and all that but you can't say Magic and Bird wouldn't be good. The athletes now are just better and when people like UCL say some of these guys wouldn't sniff the D league, he's right. But in 20 years guys will joke about Curry saying they could guard him or he wasn't that good.

It's the same as when UL fans say our titles in the 50s/60s dont count. I always tell them, "So in 50 years your title in 2013 doesn't count?" What do you think the response is?

 

[2blue4u_rivals376918]

Wow, Willis has been the answer all along and to think this all came from a desperate mid-season tweak made begrudgingly by a coach left with few, if any, other options. It seems so obvious now, doesn't it?The fact that Willis gives you nothing in terms of defense, rebounding, or pretty much anything else BB related, has been an overstated liability through out his career here. He stretches the floor so Murray and Ulis can be good BB players and ******** it, that's all he needs to do.

 

[UKRob 73]

I think Curry is better because he is black.

 

[GYERater]

Yeah, but if you HAD to have sex with one who would you pick?

 

[[email protected]]

Don't feel like Googling it, but I thought his improved rebounding effort was THE reason Cal gave for giving Willis more playing time.

 

[DNOKAT]

Willis is averaging 7 boards a game since being inserted into the starting lineup but 2blue4u ain't got no time for that.

 

[cole854]

This is gonna hurt some feelings, but half the guys Bird played with and against would have a hard time sniffing the D-league these days. The game has changed a lot.

Game has changed but not necessarily the quality. Better athletes today but that doesn't always equate to better "basketball" players. Your post is ridiculous. Golden State would be well down the list in a ranking of NBA Champs from 84-96 for example.

The Curry argument is pointless...great in any era. However, he would have had to get used to hitting the floor on occasion in the MJ era, for example, as did all the stars of that time frame.

Bird would be the smartest player on the court in today's game...probably avg a triple double easy given how the physicality has lessened from his era.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Some of you need to learn Larry Bird. Vern gets it.

Curry isn't even Top 10. In no particular order:

Jordan
Magic
Wilt
Bird
Russell
Kobe
Duncan
Lebron
Kareem
Big O

Don't see how Curry would replace anyone on this list. At SG you have Jordan and Kobe in front of him. Not really debatable IMO.

 

[BristolCat_rivals158386]

Golden State would be well down the list in a ranking of NBA Champs from 84-96 for example.

Turbo false. This Golden State team is in the conversation for best team ever if it finishes this run as strongly as it seems poised to. Would murk all but maybe a handful of historic championship teams 4-1 or 4-2.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

They'd get murked by the best of the Showtime Lakers and Celtics. Those teams were ridiculous. Hall of Famers everywhere. Golden State has Curry as a Hall of Famer and maybe Thompson. Maybe.

 

[BleedBlueCats21]

They'd get murked? Lol, okay.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Not even sure they'd win a game honestly.

Boston Garden with a drunk Celtics crowd on a 80 degree day with no ac? Good luck.

 

[BristolCat_rivals158386]

Totally agree. But the Showtime Lakers and Celtics would get murked by the 1942 Sandusky Brown Sox. And Sandusky was great, but they'd get smashed by the 1808 Bunker Hill Slaveships. And they'd get beat by those Aztecs who used to throw human heads through stone circles to appease the gods.

Basically, nothing new can be as good as anything old. Because everything gradually gets better over time except sports.

 

[BBdK]

Nobody is saying he's top 10 all time yet you idiot.

...and come back when you have a top 10 that doesn't leave out Kareem, K?

 

[B Rax_rivals210137]

If bunker hill was playing at home they were damn near unbeatable, thanks to the rowdy crowds. Slaveship nation

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Thought I had Kareem on there. So yeah him over Shaq.

 

[BristolCat_rivals158386]

If bunker hill was playing at home they were damn near unbeatable, thanks to the rowdy crowds. Slaveship nation

The Celtics had no one inside who could match up with star power forward Tiberius Goodfellow. Sure he was 5'7, portly, and openly suffered from tuberculosis for the majority of his career, but dude was crafty. Would've run circles around McHale.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Jordan is arguably the most athletic guy to ever play in the NBA. But yeah Bird wouldn't stand a chance in today's game. Dr. J. Magic. Kareem (sky hook was unguardable). Etc.

Some of you need to watch more basketball.

Guess Willie Mays sucks too.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Jamal Mashburn wouldn't stand a chance in today's era. Lol. He's no Derek Willis.

 

[VernHatton52]

Lawrence Taylor would have to play in Canada nowadays. His speed would be no match for today's nimble tackles.

 

[2blue4u_rivals376918]

Willis is averaging 7 boards a game since being inserted into the starting lineup but 2blue4u ain't got no time for that.

Imagine how many he would average if he was a good rebounder.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Can you imagine Bo Jackson trying to break a tackle in today's game? Ha ha.

 

[cricket3]

Larry Bird : Jamal Mashburn :: Steph Curry : Derek Willis

That's a prime example why everyone rolls their eyes when you get on a tangent. Those two are nothing alike but somehow proves you're right.

 

[ukalum01]

Curry vs Bird is a weird comparison to begin with.

Different sizes/body types/positions/games/eras/etc.

 

[BristolCat_rivals158386]

These are all great examples of things literally nobody is arguing.

The past isn't by definition better, and the present isn't by definition better. There are great athletes in most generations once you get out of the fifties and forties when the game was still forming. But on the whole, the game and the athletes are getting better. That's why it's hard to imagine that most teams from back in the 80's (which just so happens to be the time when you were coming up and falling in love with the game) would all just mudstomp today's best team that's destroying everybody.

 

[krazykats]

Wait, Golden State is murking the most athletic players time has to offer and they don't stand a chance against LA and Boston of the 80's?

Yesterday was the closest a "good" team played Golden State this year. Cleveland, San Antonio and OKC all have lost by 20+ to them already, and yesterday the guy you all are saying isn't a top 10 player all time because he is 6 years into a career just nonchalantly pulled up on a 40 footer for the game for his 12th 3 of the game. Oh and let's not pretend he was facing nobody either because Russell Westbrook is the most athletic PG in today's game and maybe ever as well.

Yep Golden State would get swept and Magic would dog Steph like he did Danny Ainge, Ced Maxwell, Denis Johnson or even........Scott Wedman, lol!

Might want to research Boston players that lit LA up on the regular before claiming they would defensively have a chance to stop this team.