Comments on: The ‘Greatest Pure Scoring Machine in Celtics History’

By: KevinNYC

KevinNYC — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:10:39 +0000

If I remember correctly Bird could get his own shot anytime he wanted. I remember Bird routinely posting up about 12-15 feet from the basket, defender right on his hip. Turn-around J. All net. Next trip Bird posted same spot. Defender even tighter. Step back, dribble. Baseline J from 20. All net. Third trip, defender giving him no space at all. Up fake. Defender bites. Layup Bird.

Then Bird would get tired of abusing the defender and pass down low to McHale or out to Ainge.

Bird once had 24 points in a quarter.

I never saw Halvicek live, but I think an argument can be made for Kevin McHale being a better scorer than Pierce. Barkeley calls him the “best player I ever guarded.” Pierce’s career high is 50 points. McHale’s is 56. McHale had two seasons with a field goal percentage of over .600. He had a nearly a two month stretch where his percentage was over .700! Pierce’s avg this playoff run is under 20ppg. McHale had a playoff run in a championship year where was averaging 24 ppg. This is all when McHale was not the first option on his team.

But then again we’re comparing different positions and different eras; the Celtic teams of 80′s averaged well over a 100 points a game and those days of the NBA are over.

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:09:46 +0000

why are chips even being mentioned in a debate about the ability to score? chips are won by teams, not individuals. read dwyer’s recap in yahoo! if bird played in some of the teams pierce played for, i think he’d have a hard time getting past the 1st round.

as for the real debate about who’s the best scorer, i admit, i’m not old enough to remember bird. i agree that if he wasn’t so unselfish he would’ve been the celtics’ all-time leading scorer. but he wasn’t. last time i checked though he was pretty good scorer too.

i’m a pierce fan and as much as i’d like to think he’s the celts’ greatest scorer, it’s probably nothing more than an overreaction to 1 really good game. he needs to do it a couple more times to truly justify the argument. that said, these kinds of debates are definitive anyway.

By: doc

doc — Tue, 20 May 2008 03:46:58 +0000

dollar is a dickhead.And last I checked shooting the ball was scoring so Bird was is and will always be better than Paul.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:05:54 +0000

ugggh, showing my age. But 2/3.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:59:52 +0000

*Today’s league has zone defense, no hand checking, and a shorter 3.

Deadbeat Larry would be lighting this place up.

By: K Dizzle

K Dizzle — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:40:21 +0000

Wow!!! What PALake said. This is the stupidest article ever written. Basin this junk on one game is ridiculous. Did Bob Ryan write this after the Bird vs. Dominique game 7 shootout in ’88? If he didn’t, then he needs to scrap this article. Larry Bird was a scorin machine who could shoot, but sayin Pierce is better after strugglin against the Hawks then strugglin against the Cavs before turnin it on for one game is blasphemy.

By: PALakerFan

PALakerFan — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:32:43 +0000

D.I. Dollar…you are either an idiot or 22 years old. Bird had one of the best all around games – ever. In 13 seasons he averaged 24/10/6. Pierce – 23/6/4. His last season he could barely play because of his back and averaged 20/10/7. He could and did take people off the dribble. At 6’9″ he could play SF or PF and would still be able to put up huge numbers in today’s league. He was one of the true greats of all-time. Even back then, he didn’t look athletic enough to do what he did. Ask Michael Cooper or Dr. J.

Also, Pierce sucked most of this series. Bird never took 5 out of 7 games of a series off.

By: You Can't Handle the "Truth"

You Can't Handle the "Truth" — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:20:38 +0000

MY ALLTIME PURE SHOOTER GREAT SCORER LIST
Michael Jordan – Great Scorer
Larry Bird – Great Scorer
Kobe Bryant – Scorer
Oscar Robinson – Pure
Jerry West – Pure
Reggie Miller – Pure
Mitch Richmond – Scorer
Bernard King – Pure
Jamaal Wilkes – Pure
Adrian Dantley – Pure
World B Free – Scorer
George Gervin – Pure
Elvin Hayes – Scorer
Dominique Wilkens – Scorer
Alex English – Pure Shooter
Glen Rice – Pure
Allen Iverson – Great Scorer
Paul Pierce – Scorer

By: D.I. Dollar

D.I. Dollar — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:04:41 +0000

It wasn’t too long ago that Paul was being considered one of the top scorers in the league behind Kobe. Larry was money, but Paul does it all. I know you can’t compare eras without a lot of speculation, but it’s my opinion that Larry would get no run in todays League. Pauls the best ever in Boston because he was there through the ROUGH times. Larry was a Legend, but there’s no denying the Truth.

By: DaPro

DaPro — Mon, 19 May 2008 17:35:43 +0000

To me a scorer has an arsenal of moves and creates space where there is none

Bird is gifted as a basketball talent and could shoot you out the gym. Made the most out of his game

Truth to me is purely a scorer, thats what he does