Compare this to the Bird/Wilkins shootout

Fencer reregistered · Post #1 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:44 am

Bird's left-handed runner was more spectacular than any play made at either end of the floor by any player today (at least if we exclude ones on which blatant traveling was not called ...)

But overall, I think Pierce and James were better than Bird and Wilkins were in that famous Game 7. I don't recall thinking I was seeing anything remarkable during the Bird/Wilkins game until the fourth quarter was well underway. And I was wholly unconvinced by Bird's claim that nobody had ever covered him better than Nique did in that game.

By way of contrast, I think Pierce and LBJ excelled at both ends of the floor. Pierce made some great defensive or hustle plays. James made some great steals and forced TOs. The overall shooting wasn't as amazing; James in particular seems to have run out of gas right at the end, bricking a few shots. But the overall play at both ends was one for the ages.

That said, I wish somebody would post the box score of that game. I might well be proved wrong. This link should have it, but sadly doesn't seem to:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/box ... &year=1988

Sedale Threatt · Post #2 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:49 am

Funny this was brought up...

I was at the bar, watching the game unfold, and I said to the guy next to me, "This is just like Dominique vs. Bird back in '88."

He looked at me and goes, "Dominique vs. who?"

Spurs fan.

Fencer reregistered · Post #3 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:58 am

Sedale Threatt wrote:Funny this was brought up...

I was at the bar, watching the game unfold, and I said to the guy next to me, "This is just like Dominique vs. Bird back in '88."

He looked at me and goes, "Dominique vs. who?"

Spurs fan.

Whoa.

You didn't even say "Bird vs. who?"

Just whoa.

GreenGrizz · Post #4 » by **GreenGrizz** » Mon May 19, 2008 5:24 am

Wow, he knew Dominique without winning a title.

sam_I_am · Post #5 » by **sam_I_am** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:57 pm

This game is definetely up there in terms of great games by 2 great players.

However, the Bird/Nique game is a classic because of the shooting duel in the 4th quarter and that never materialized in this game.

Bird "only" had 34 points to Nique's 47. But they both dropped 20 in the 4th quarter. They both shot nearly perfectly in that quarter. And they both took almost all the team's shots and scored most of the teams' points in that 4th quarter.

The final was 118-116 and was a much much more entertaining game to watch. There were so many highlight film shots by both players too.

And finally, Boston was the San Antonio of its day and Atlanta was a team like the Dallas Mavericks or Phoenix Suns who had been very good for a long time and was making the strongest playoff push it was ever going to make.

I understand the desire to make a comparison but in reality there was no comparison. In terms of drama, the Bird/Nique duel was the greatest mano a mano battle on two veteran accomplished teams of the past 40 years.

This game will be remembered more as one of the greatest battles between two great players carrying there teams. But the drama and the dueling nature just didn't really pan out. I mean, Pierce had 15 points in second half. Great game..... but he didn't drop 20 in the 4th.

CelticsWhat! · Post #6 » by **CelticsWhat!** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:16 pm

sam_I_am wrote:This game is definetely up there in terms of great games by 2 great players.

However, the Bird/Nique game is a classic because of the shooting duel in the 4th quarter and that never materialized in this game.

Bird "only" had 34 points to Nique's 47. But they both dropped 20 in the 4th quarter. They both shot nearly perfectly in that quarter. And they both took almost all the team's shots and scored most of the teams' points in that 4th quarter.

The final was 118-116 and was a much much more entertaining game to watch. There were so many highlight film shots by both players too.

And finally, Boston was the San Antonio of its day and Atlanta was a team like the Dallas Mavericks or Phoenix Suns who had been very good for a long time and was making the strongest playoff push it was ever going to make.

I understand the desire to make a comparison but in reality there was no comparison. In terms of drama, the Bird/Nique duel was the greatest mano a mano battle on two veteran accomplished teams of the past 40 years.

This game will be remembered more as one of the greatest battles between two great players carrying there teams. But the drama and the dueling nature just didn't really pan out. I mean, Pierce had 15 points in second half. Great game..... but he didn't drop 20 in the 4th.

Nique only had 14 in the fourth quarter.

Cyclical · Post #7 » by **Cyclical** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:33 pm

The 4th quarter was the main difference.

Actually PP played a more solid 48 minutes than Bird but Larry's 4th quarter was ridiculous. He made some special shots and the Celts came from behind to overtake the Hawks. His 20 point quarter was something to behold. To add to the drama, the score went back and fourth, unlike last night's game. Also, the Celts came from a 2-3 series deficit.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jxqKLEMTBo4