I simply do not understand Modern - Doncic vs Mantle

Peter_Spaeth · #1 01-28-2022, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Allen Iverson with multiple championships and a longer career.

Optimists see Doncic's ceiling as a Euro-/Lite version of Magic Johnson, but for me that's a big stretch. He's a tall, thick point guard, but the comparison doesn't go beyond that for me.

Other than LeBron, I don't see anyone ever being as versatile as Magic was. He was a point guard who often moved down to power forward in the half court set, and in a pinch he could play freaking center and score 40 points in the NBA final, still one of the most amazing things I ever saw. He was a revolutionary too, nobody that big had ever played the point that well or maybe at all, nobody had ever ripped the ball out of the net and started a fast break off a made basket. And I don't think anyone had stood at the top of the key waiting for his forwards to cut and then whipped the ball between five people into someone's hands for a layup. If anything he is underrated lol.

BobbyStrawberry · #2 01-28-2022, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Other than LeBron, I don't see anyone ever being as versatile as Magic was. He was a point guard who often moved down to power forward in the half court set, and in a pinch he could play freaking center and score 40 points in the NBA final, still one of the most amazing things I ever saw. He was a revolutionary too, nobody that big had ever played the point that well or maybe at all, nobody had ever ripped the ball out of the net and started a fast break off a made basket. And I don't think anyone had stood at the top of the key waiting for his forwards to cut and then whipped the ball between five people into someone's hands for a layup. If anything he is underrated lol.

I totally agree! I'm glad you mentioned LBJ though...the Lakers are struggling mightily this year but what he is doing at his age is truly remarkable: switching from point guard to center and dominating everyone at the position except the most elite big men.

Peter_Spaeth · #3 01-28-2022, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

I totally agree! I'm glad you mentioned LBJ though...the Lakers are struggling mightily this year but what he is doing at his age is truly remarkable: switching from point guard to center and dominating everyone at the position except the most elite big men.

I understand the dislike for the man, but he has been and still is an astonishingly good basketball player, the complete package.

Peter_Spaeth · #4 01-28-2022, 08:10 PM

BTW I saw Magic in college in 1979. It was like seeing the game through new eyes, he just played it in a way I had not seen before. I had a similar experience seeing David Thompson as a freshman, he had an unreal height on his jump shot and at least on this afternoon was just drilling everything in sight, scored 40.

BobbyStrawberry · #5 01-28-2022, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

BTW I saw Magic in college in 1979. It was like seeing the game through new eyes, he just played it in a way I had not seen before. I had a similar experience seeing David Thompson as a freshman, he had an unreal height on his jump shot and at least on this afternoon was just drilling everything in sight, scored 40.

Very cool�I never saw him play live, bu I've heard that David Thompson in person was something to behold.

tlhss · #6 01-28-2022, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

BTW I saw Magic in college in 1979. It was like seeing the game through new eyes, he just played it in a way I had not seen before. I had a similar experience seeing David Thompson as a freshman, he had an unreal height on his jump shot and at least on this afternoon was just drilling everything in sight, scored 40.

I had a similar experience watching Larry Bird play in all his home games his senior year at Indiana State (I was a freshman at the university).

It was something special to experience in-person. I've never seen anything quite like it.

Tim

Peter_Spaeth · #7 01-28-2022, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlhss

I had a similar experience watching Larry Bird play in all his home games his senior year at Indiana State (I was a freshman at the university).

It was something special to experience in-person. I've never seen anything quite like it.

Tim

I saw him as a pro but not as a collegian, would have liked to have seen that.

Gorditadogg · #8 01-28-2022, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

BTW I saw Magic in college in 1979. It was like seeing the game through new eyes, he just played it in a way I had not seen before. I had a similar experience seeing David Thompson as a freshman, he had an unreal height on his jump shot and at least on this afternoon was just drilling everything in sight, scored 40.

I did too. MSU and Illinois were 1 and 2 in the country and the Illini won on a jumper by Eddie Johnson in the last few seconds. Eddie went on to have a great NBA career with the Suns and is now a sportscaster.

As for Doncic, he's made 1st team All NBA two of his first three years. Lebron and Magic never did that.

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Peter_Spaeth · #9 01-28-2022, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

I did too. MSU and Illinois were 1 and 2 in the country and the Illini won on a jumper by Eddie Johnson in the last few seconds. Eddie went on to have a great NBA career with the Suns and is now a sportscaster.

As for Doncic, he's made 1st team All NBA two of his first three years. Lebron and Magic never did that.

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I saw Magic in Ann Arbor. Funny, Michigan wasn't that good but as I recall won the game on a jumper by Mike McGee who went on to the NBA as well. Similar games, crazy.

My then girlfriend, who was visiting from out of town, did not want to go. I was like, if a 6 foot 9 point guard they call Magic is in town, you don't pass up the chance to see him.

BobC · #10 01-28-2022, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Other than LeBron, I don't see anyone ever being as versatile as Magic was. He was a point guard who often moved down to power forward in the half court set, and in a pinch he could play freaking center and score 40 points in the NBA final, still one of the most amazing things I ever saw. He was a revolutionary too, nobody that big had ever played the point that well or maybe at all, nobody had ever ripped the ball out of the net and started a fast break off a made basket. And I don't think anyone had stood at the top of the key waiting for his forwards to cut and then whipped the ball between five people into someone's hands for a layup. If anything he is underrated lol.

Though he wasn't necessarily tall enough to go down low and play center against the likes of Chamberlain or Russell, I'd throw Oscar Robertson's hat into the ring. The man was a triple-double machine, back when people didn't really even know what that was yet. Of course that was early in his NBA career, and later on he fell more back into just acting as a point guard. And he was 6'-5", so definitely not short for back then.

Peter_Spaeth · #11 01-28-2022, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobC

Though he wasn't necessarily tall enough to go down low and play center against the likes of Chamberlain or Russell, I'd throw Oscar Robertson's hat into the ring. The man was a triple-double machine, back when people didn't really even know what that was yet. Of course that was early in his NBA career, and later on he fell more back into just acting as a point guard. And he was 6'-5", so definitely not short for back then.

If I recall correctly, he and West both debuted in the same game. I wish I had seen Oscar although I remember him from Bucks playoff games.

Gorditadogg · #12 01-28-2022, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

If I recall correctly, he and West both debuted in the same game. I wish I had seen Oscar although I remember him from Bucks playoff games.

Yeah I only saw Big O on TV. I do remember though going to see Bob Pettit play for the St. Louis Hawks in 1964. Looking at the box score Lenny Wilkins played for the Hawks that year so I guess I saw him too.

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Exhibitman · #13 01-29-2022, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Other than LeBron, I don't see anyone ever being as versatile as Magic was. He was a point guard who often moved down to power forward in the half court set, and in a pinch he could play freaking center and score 40 points in the NBA final, still one of the most amazing things I ever saw. He was a revolutionary too, nobody that big had ever played the point that well or maybe at all, nobody had ever ripped the ball out of the net and started a fast break off a made basket. And I don't think anyone had stood at the top of the key waiting for his forwards to cut and then whipped the ball between five people into someone's hands for a layup. If anything he is underrated lol.

Yep. Watching Showtime all those years here in LA on local TV (yeah, that existed), it was just incredible, like I felt watching Dr. J with the Nets as a kid in NYC. The man was a magician out there. Grabs the ball and somehow it ends up in Worthy's hands for a finger roll or in Scott's hands for a jumper, or into Kareem for a skyhook.

Seven · #14 01-29-2022, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Yep. Watching Showtime all those years here in LA on local TV (yeah, that existed), it was just incredible, like I felt watching Dr. J with the Nets as a kid in NYC. The man was a magician out there. Grabs the ball and somehow it ends up in Worthy's hands for a finger roll or in Scott's hands for a jumper, or into Kareem for a skyhook.

I've never seen this Magic Johnson card. Very cool.

I'm also looking forward to the series they're putting together on HBOMax, about the showtime Lakers. Should be a great watch.

Peter_Spaeth · #15 01-29-2022, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seven

I've never seen this Magic Johnson card. Very cool.

I'm also looking forward to the series they're putting together on HBOMax, about the showtime Lakers. Should be a great watch.

He and Bird were in the massive Sportscaster set.

Peter_Spaeth · #16 01-29-2022, 10:56 AM

Here's another Magic you don't see every day.

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