Dirk Nowitzki vs. Larry Bird: Who Truly Is the Better of the Two?

[doubledeuce22]

You can see the game how you want to I guess. I can't imagine anyone could deduct that defense was better in the 80s than the 00s and win $ betting this sport, but good luck.

i just bet what the line tells me to in the nba. spread looks high, take the fave. something looks too easy, take the dog. and public dogs normally don't do well.

 

[Seymour]

Spurs (twins towers)
Pistons (physical)
Boston (swarming)

All better teams than any of the 80's teams though the pistons were tough

 

[devocr]

I don't think you can even talk about Nowitzki even being in the same class as Bird.

After watching tonight's game (heat vs mav's) Bird (or Magic) would without a doubt would have been the best players out of everyone on the floor tonight, IMO.

 

[HacheMan]

Hate to see Dirk get this far and not get the ring he is so deserving of.

He's almost single handedly carrying the Mavs to victory over Miami's Big 3.

This will more than likely be his last shot at a title and I'm sure that's on his mind....

 

[jordan17]

1. Bird is Way better
2. Bird is American
3. anyone who says Dirk? never seen Bird play
:grandmais

 

[WorldNumberOne]

Never said they would be below average. As with Magic and Bird, they would be all-stars but they wouldn't be off-the-charts-dominant as they were in their era.

ya , i really think they would... i dont see anybody in the nba right that could handle guarding a 6 foot 9 point guard. bird's skill set would still be better than 98 % of the players now.

 

[JAYHAWKNATTY]

Bird was better- think of it this way. you can choose one for a team your building. Which one would you chose?

 

[steaktartar]

bird wouldnt have turned the ball over like dirk did and then miss the game tying shot.......i like dirk but this is silly

 

[doubledeuce22]

1. Bird is Way better
2. Bird is American
3. anyone who says Dirk? never seen Bird play
:grandmais

bingo

 

[Fishhead]

Bird #12

dirk #59

 

[festeringZit]

Bird #12

dirk #59

12? I think not.

 

[KennyB]

Are you guys for real. No contest for Bird.

 

[PatsFan1283]

Bird #12

dirk #59

12 and 59? You must be including the aliens Jordan had to face in Space Jam and everyone gets pushed down.

 

[deadmoney72]

1/18/2012;

With 23,050 career points, Nowitzki is 90 away from overtaking Hall of Famer and former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor for 22nd place all-time. The only active players with more points than Nowitzki are Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.

 

[festeringZit]

1/18/2012;

With 23,050 career points, Nowitzki is 90 away from overtaking Hall of Famer and former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor for 22nd place all-time. The only active players with more points than Nowitzki are Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.

I still say anyone who thinks he's better than Bird is out of their friggen mind.

Better shooter: Bird
Better passer: Bird
Better rebounder: Bird
Better defense: Tossup
Made team-mates better: Bird
Better in clutch: Bird
Intangibles: Bird
Most rings: Bird
Most MVPs: Bird

I could go on...

 

[nuckers]

I still say anyone who thinks he's better than Bird is out of their friggen mind.

Better shooter: Bird
Better passer: Bird
Better rebounder: Bird
Better defense: Tossup
Made team-mates better: Bird
Better in clutch: Bird
Intangibles: Bird
Most rings: Bird
Most MVPs: Bird

I could go on...

you can't compare different generations...you put Bird on the floor in todays game and he's not anywhere as dominant as he was, you put Dirk back in Birds time you'd see his numbers go up across the board, you'd see more rings, mvps...athletes and times have changed...all you can really compare is who was the better player in their time, Bird was the better player in his day thus he is the better player but saying I'd take Bird over Dirk in todays nba is silly.

 

[festeringZit]

you can't compare different generations...you put Bird on the floor in todays game and he's not anywhere as dominant as he was, you put Dirk back in Birds time you'd see his numbers go up across the board, you'd see more rings, mvps...athletes and times have changed...all you can really compare is who was the better player in their time, Bird was the better player in his day thus he is the better player but saying I'd take Bird over Dirk in todays nba is silly.

Disagree 100%. When Bird was in his prime, many thought he was the best of all time, no one has ever even thought to make that claim about Dirk.

There is no comparison between the two, and to do so is asinine.

 

[nuckers]

Disagree 100%. When Bird was in his prime, many thought he was the best of all time, no one has ever even thought to make that claim about Dirk.

There is no comparison between the two, and to do so is asinine.

A more impactful player in his time...

comparing their impact on the sport in their respective eras is asinine I agree, Bird meant infinitely more in his time than Dirk does in his time so in that regard you're right but that doesn't mean the sport and athletes haven't evolved, to bury your head and not see that the modern athlete is bigger faster stronger is letting sentiment overide common sense. You can acknowledge what somebody meant to the game and how they changed it, meaning they're one of the all time greats without it being insulting to say but the modern athlete has taken what he brought and built upon it. It's actually an honor, most of these kids aren't making the plays they are if it were done by the likes of Magic, Bird, and so on first. Tony Hawk paved the way in boarding, elementary school kids are doing the stuff he was the first to do, times change, someone does it first so the new school can build on it.

Bird is an all time great, Dirk isn't that isn't being debated, my point was simply if you think Bird impacts the game today the way he did in his day you're delusional, in todays game with todays athlete Dirk is the better player.

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

In 1980 a 20 year old Magic Johnson was able to start at center and play all five positions while scoring 42 points to lead the Lakers to victory in a title-clinching Game Six over the Sixers. Is anybody stupid enough to think that would be anywhere near-possible today? The talent level is the NBA is head and shoulders above what it was in the 80's.

 

[festeringZit]

In 1980 a 20 year old Magic Johnson was able to start at center and play all five positions while scoring 42 points to lead the Lakers to victory in a title-clinching Game Six over the Sixers. Is anybody stupid enough to think that would be anywhere near-possible today? The talent level is the NBA is head and shoulders above what it was in the 80's.

Bullshit. The Laker and Celtic championship teams of the 80's would crush any team in today's NBA. And, it wouldn't even be close. They actually played team ball back then.


1986 Celtics:
Bird
McHale
Parrish
Ainge
Dennis Johnson
Bill Walton

1987 Lakers:
Magic
Kareem
Cooper
Rambis
Scott
AC Green
Worthy