Whos better?
- Thread starter Bballkingsrock
- Start date
Gargamel said:
Magic was a deadeye from the perimeter, didn't shoot a lot of treys, but he never really had to until he started to age. No team was ever dumb enough to dare him to shoot.
Compare that with Stockton, who was a career 38% three point shooter, and punished teams from distance. He shot 46% from outside when he was 38 years old. No team dared him to shoot, but he got his shot off and was truly what I'd call "a deadeye from the perimeter".
Magic was definitely a mismatch, no matter who was guarding him. There were few with the size and quickness to match up against him. But that's why he gets classified as a "player," instead of trying to restrict him to the point guard position. He did way too much to just call him a point guard, if you ask me.
It's hard to get a good percentage from the arc when you only shoot 29, 43, and 56 a year. Bird shot .286 or less from the arc in 4 of his first 5 seasons. Stockton shot .242 or less in 4 of his first 5 seasons. Many players who broke into the league when the arc was in its infancy had similar choppy shooting percentages from three. They had to acclimate to the distance over time and some players who played during the 80s never really accepted it as a good shot since they were brought up trying to get the best shot possible. I think Magic was one of those players. He didn't start chucking up a lot of threes until his final 3 years so it's hard to compare he and Stockton in that regard.
On the other hand, Magic was .520 from the field - career. They weren't all hook shots and layups. He wasn't suspect from the field for the great majority of his career. Perhaps his range never got out as far as Stock's did. That, I'd have to concede.
On the other hand, Magic was .520 from the field - career. They weren't all hook shots and layups. He wasn't suspect from the field for the great majority of his career. Perhaps his range never got out as far as Stock's did. That, I'd have to concede.
Tracy McGrady. The man came into the league billed as a "new Scottie Pippen"; and he proved that billing correct, as his long arms, basketball intelligence, and quick feet helped him dominate as a defensive, passing second banana playing with Vince Carter and the Raptors.
Of course, once Tracy left as a free-agent to Orlando, and became a 30 ppg scorer, he stopped exhibiting those defensive strengths, but that doesn't mean he doesn't possess them... Along with a proven ability to lead the league in scoring- something Scottie could never have done...
Wang ZhiZhi or Menk Bateer?
Of course, once Tracy left as a free-agent to Orlando, and became a 30 ppg scorer, he stopped exhibiting those defensive strengths, but that doesn't mean he doesn't possess them... Along with a proven ability to lead the league in scoring- something Scottie could never have done...
Wang ZhiZhi or Menk Bateer?
