New Team: Curry/Bird or Magic/Lebron

[Matt15]

Which duo would you rather build a new team around in today's league?

[eminence]

The Magic/Lebron squad is likely the way to go, but I’m not sure I could resist a Curry/Bird combo.

[No-more-rings]

Magic and Lebron are likely the 2 best players of the 4. Is the fit bad enough to take the other guys?

[SHAQ32]

Lol, Curry/Bird.

[No-more-rings]

Lol, Curry/Bird.

What’s funny about the comparison?

[dygaction]

Curry/Bird. Magic has too much overlap with LBJ

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

Magic and LeBron both need the ball in their hands.

Curry Bird should have a ball handling small forward and a 3 point shooting off guard.

[SNPA]

Magic and LeBron both need the ball in hands.

This is the ticket here.

LeBron is the overall improved version of Magic (minus passing skill, up everything else).

Curry/Bird are the two best shooters in the game (deep/diversity). Bird has enough nasty, Curry has enough swag…easy combo to build around. Many titles. Imagine upgrading Klay/Dray into Bird? Done deal ya’ll. Wait for the parades.

[Colbinii]

Magic and LeBron both need the ball in their hands.

Curry Bird should have a ball handling small forward and a 3 point shooting off guard.

But neither LeBron nor Magic dominate the ball 50% of the time, so both them needing the ball isn't actually a negative.

No matter who the Curry/Bird acquires as a ball handler, they will pale in comparison to Magic & LeBron.

[SNPA]

Magic and LeBron both need the ball in their hands.

Curry Bird should have a ball handling small forward and a 3 point shooting off guard.

But neither LeBron nor Magic dominate the ball 50% of the time, so both them needing the ball isn't actually a negative.

I’m curious where you are getting that stat.

[Colbinii]

Magic and LeBron both need the ball in their hands.

Curry Bird should have a ball handling small forward and a 3 point shooting off guard.

But neither LeBron nor Magic dominate the ball 50% of the time, so both them needing the ball isn't actually a negative.

I’m curious where you are getting that stat.

Usage Rate, Dribbles and Touches

[70sFan]

Magic with young LeBron would be absolutely insane. People should remember that James didn't always play like he does now, imagine these two in transition.

[FuShengTHEGreat]

Curry and Bird.

I'm not overly sold on Magics shooting ability.

[70sFan]

Curry and Bird.

I'm not overly sold on Magics shooting ability.

I actually think James is the weakest shooter of these 4.

[HeartBreakKid]

James is quite a bit better than either Bird or Curry, and you could make a very reasonable argument that Magic is better than them as well.

I'd go with James and Magic. i think people are having this image that they're both going to run into each other and collide like a loony toons cartoon. They are both versatile players who can play multiple positions at a high level.

While shooting is great - the best shot is in the paint by far, and Magic and James are going to get into the paint at will and get to the line. In contrast, those are relative weaknesses for Bird and Curry - especially the former.

Two ball handlers is not too much either, so no, they wouldn't hurt each other badly. Also, both guys can play in the post at an elite level so it's not like they have nothing to do off ball. In transition they would absolutely dominate - at a much higher level than Bird and Curry's slick passing/shooting combo.

[OhayoKD]

Curry and Bird.

I'm not overly sold on Magics shooting ability.

I actually think James is the weakest shooter of these 4.

How good are you projecting magic to be at 3's here. Considering volume lebron probably was a good shooter from 14-21.

[OhayoKD]

James is quite a bit better than either Bird or Curry, and you could make a very reasonable argument that Magic is better than them as well.

I'd go with James and Magic. i think people are having this image that they're both going to run into each other and collide like a loony toons cartoon. They are both versatile players who can play multiple positions at a high level.

While shooting is great - the best shot is in the paint by far, and Magic and James are going to get into the paint at will and get to the line. In contrast, those are relative weaknesses for Bird and Curry - especially the former.

Two ball handlers is not too much either, so no, they wouldn't hurt each other badly. Also, both guys can play in the post at an elite level so it's not like they have nothing to do off ball. In transition they would absolutely dominate - at a much higher level than Bird and Curry's slick passing/shooting combo.

can magic get into the paint at will?

[HeartBreakKid]

James is quite a bit better than either Bird or Curry, and you could make a very reasonable argument that Magic is better than them as well.

I'd go with James and Magic. i think people are having this image that they're both going to run into each other and collide like a loony toons cartoon. They are both versatile players who can play multiple positions at a high level.

While shooting is great - the best shot is in the paint by far, and Magic and James are going to get into the paint at will and get to the line. In contrast, those are relative weaknesses for Bird and Curry - especially the former.

Two ball handlers is not too much either, so no, they wouldn't hurt each other badly. Also, both guys can play in the post at an elite level so it's not like they have nothing to do off ball. In transition they would absolutely dominate - at a much higher level than Bird and Curry's slick passing/shooting combo.

can magic get into the paint at will?

On a team with Lebron James he probably can - especially if he is being guarded by a bigger fellow on the perimeter. He shot in the mid 50s for his FG% so I reckon he can get close to the rim quite consistently.

[70sFan]

Curry and Bird.

I'm not overly sold on Magics shooting ability.

I actually think James is the weakest shooter of these 4.

How good are you projecting magic to be at 3's here. Considering volume lebron probably was a good shooter from 14-21.

We have seen him starting to shoot threes late in his career and the results were decent. In 1989-91 period, Magic shot 3.0 3PA at 34.3%. It's not great, but he never really tried to focus on this shot. Even in his comeback season (when he played more off-ball and as a floor spacer), he took 2.3 threes per75 and made them at 38% mark.

It's not only about three point shooting though - Magic was excellent midrange shooter basically from 1984 until his retirement. He also became elite FT shooter, posting remarkable 88% in 1986-91 period. We know that James is a worse FT shooter and (likely) worse midrange shooter and we have seen that Magic has the potential to be at least prime LeBron level shooter from three point line.

[70sFan]

James is quite a bit better than either Bird or Curry, and you could make a very reasonable argument that Magic is better than them as well.

I'd go with James and Magic. i think people are having this image that they're both going to run into each other and collide like a loony toons cartoon. They are both versatile players who can play multiple positions at a high level.

While shooting is great - the best shot is in the paint by far, and Magic and James are going to get into the paint at will and get to the line. In contrast, those are relative weaknesses for Bird and Curry - especially the former.

Two ball handlers is not too much either, so no, they wouldn't hurt each other badly. Also, both guys can play in the post at an elite level so it's not like they have nothing to do off ball. In transition they would absolutely dominate - at a much higher level than Bird and Curry's slick passing/shooting combo.

can magic get into the paint at will?

Why not? What would prevent him from doing so?