Which PG from the 1980's would be most effective today?

B-Scott · Post #1 » by **B-Scott** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:55 am

In the 80s you had point guards like Magic, Isiah, Kevin Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Gus Williams, Derek Harper, Norm Nixon to name a few,

Which do you think would still be great in this era. The 80s was my favorite era of basketball, but the point guards back then did not have the same change of direction skills as today. I think thats because the drills are different today which focuses more on crossing over with either hand and changing directions. Back then players changed directions mainly by going through there legs. Especially Isiah Thomas.

Mr Awesome · Post #2 » by **Mr Awesome** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:58 am

Isiah, magic, and Kevin Johnson would do just fine in this era. If not better.

Post #3 » by **Optimism Prime** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:06 am

Stockton?

ambiglight · Post #4 » by **ambiglight** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:17 am

kevin johnson would be on the mvp list...

B-Scott · Post #5 » by **B-Scott** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:58 am

Optimism Prime wrote:Stockton?

I forgot about Stockton. He played a\ key role in the 1988 Jazz taking the Lakers to Game 7.

Post #6 » by **LLcoleJ** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:29 am

KJ came into the league in 88. I wouldnt say he was an 80's pg. Had a great year 2 and on.. I just dont see him as an 80's pg. But a great one though.

RJM · Post #7 » by **RJM** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:47 am

1. Magic Johnson

2. Kevin Johnson

3. Dennis Johnson

4. John Stockton - Had to be here considering the athleticism that abounds in this league right now. He'd still be top ten, but thinking about matching him up with the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Chauncey Billups, Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, Gilbert Arenas, Steve Nash, Mike Bibby, Jose Calderon and Stephon Marbury (damn right I said it), worries me.

Post #8 » by **King Roosk** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:55 am

- I don't consider KJ a guard from the 80s.

- Stockton, though I hate him, would do just fine in today's game. I don't buy the athleticism argument...Steve Nash ring a bell? Stockton had great vision, executed very well, could shoot the ball, and was a hard nosed defender. He would've done just fine.

- Magic and Isiah would've performed just fine as well.

The officiating back in the day wasn't very penetration friendly. If those guys got the calls that we see nowadays, they'd have been amazing (not to say that they weren't already).

Puertorique · Post #9 » by **Puertorique** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:58 am

Stockton was still playing when most of the PG's in todays game are. Kidd, Nash, Bibby etc... I think Stockton would do just fine in todays NBA.

ponder276 · Post #10 » by **ponder276** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:18 am

Magic is obviously still gonna be #1, but I think Dennis Johnson would do really well. Recently, the PGs on championship teams have been not been classic, ball dominant, pass first PGs, but instead have been PGs who can work well without the ball and play defense (Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker, Derek Fisher, Rajon Rondo, etc.). Dennis Johnson was certainly a fantastic defender (9 straight all-defensive 1st and 2nd team selections!), and worked well without the ball in a semi-SG role (actually played SG for a few seasons on the Suns, at the start of the 80s), so I think he'd be very successful today.

Kevin Johnson would be great in any era as well, but as stated above, he was really more of a 90s PG than an 80s PG.

Chubby Chaser · Post #11 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:01 am

Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson

/thread

Post #12 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:20 am

Ya rly, Magic would be the best player in the league.

shawngoat23 · Post #13 » by **shawngoat23** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:28 am

NO-KG-AI wrote:Ya rly, Magic would be the best player in the league.

Point forward · Post #14 » by **Point forward** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:24 am

Magic would practically monopolise the MVP award, and DJ would be a perennial DPOY candidate.

Post #15 » by **tkb** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:11 am

Is this a trick question? Magic Johnson would be an MVP candidate every season if he played today.

Frosty · Post #16 » by **Frosty** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:29 am

B-Scott wrote:The 80s was my favorite era of basketball, but the point guards back then did not have the same change of direction skills as today. I think thats because the drills are different today which focuses more on crossing over with either hand and changing directions. Back then players changed directions mainly by going through there legs. Especially Isiah Thomas.

Watch a youtube of Thomas the guy could do whatever he wants with a ball. If he played today he'd be the same sick ballhandler he'd just be doing whatever the latest move was. (I hate Isiah so it really hurts me to support him)

Magic's game never relied on breaking guys down off the dribble. So crossovers wouldn't mean much to him. Most of his dribbling was back to the basket style in the half court game.

Stockton played against tons of fast PG's in KJ, Thomas and Hardaway. Again his game wasn't about changing directions or breaking guys down he was a true floor general.

All 3 of these guys would still be world class today.

Leslie Forman · Post #17 » by **Leslie Forman** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:27 am

Some people (okay, mostly just John Hollinger) thought Jose Calderon was an All-Star this past season.

Well a season of prime John Stockton was like Jose Calderon playing the best game of his entire career 82 times.

Post #18 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:03 pm

Isiah'd be fine. Stockton would be no different now as then; he played at paces lower than we have now throughout the 90s and against athletic guards and such all his career. Offensively, they wouldn't be able to do anything, look at Deron Williams (not that he's unathletic but if you took away Williams' scoring, you'd see his assist production comes from much the same plan; screen, dip sideways, pass, hammer-dunk... lather, rinse and repeat). The screen and roll still works, ergo Stockton would be fine. Volume-wise, he'd probably be reduced unless he played for Phoenix or Utah, of course, but even then...

Quite obviously, Magic would be kicking people's teeth in. Fat and 36 and out of the game for 5 years and playing the 4 instead of the 1, he still managed likely 15/6/7 in '96 in 30 mpg. His per-36 numbers were 19/7/8 that year, which are awesome given his circumstances.

If he was where he had been in the 80s? 30 pounds lighter, healthier and all that? He'd be as dominant as it gets.

RapsGM · Post #19 » by **RapsGM** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:53 pm

tkb wrote:Is this a trick question? Magic Johnson would be an MVP candidate every season if he played today.

How can some of you guys say statements like these. Its a whole different game nowadays. Players are quicker, smarter, and stronger. Magic would probably still be an all star, but MVP's every year is just ludicrous.

The most consistent comparison to Magic is Lebron. If you guys are telling me you would rather take Magic then Lebron be my guest. Ill take Lebron anyday!

DaDragicShow · Post #20 » by **DaDragicShow** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:30 pm

Kevin Johnson with his speed and his high bball iq would easily average something like 23-25ppg, 8-10 assists, 4-5 rebounds and 1-2 steals.