Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry?

Moderators: cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285, ken6199, Domejandro, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid

Court Magician or Mr. Gravity?

Magic Johnson
153
59%
Stephen Curry
107
41%
 
Total votes: 260

User avatar
CodeBreaker
Head Coach
Posts: 6,212
And1: 5,863
Joined: Jul 21, 2017
 

Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#1 » by CodeBreaker » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:33 pm

Let's say you have no idea who the rest of your team consist of, and you have to pick between 1987 Magic Johnson and 2016 Stephen Curry as your point guard, who would you choose?

Image
Image
Da ThRONe
Veteran
Posts: 2,898
And1: 1,886
Joined: Sep 26, 2016
   

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#2 » by Da ThRONe » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:40 pm

Steph. Shooting is king in the NBA and he's the best shooter the game his seen.
User avatar
Sark
RealGM
Posts: 19,274
And1: 16,046
Joined: Sep 21, 2010
Location: Merry Pills
 

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#3 » by Sark » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:47 pm

Magic, because he makes it easier for the other 4 players.
User avatar
OkcSinceSGA
RealGM
Posts: 31,097
And1: 32,753
Joined: Sep 19, 2015
 

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#4 » by OkcSinceSGA » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:50 pm

Magic. Curry I can see having issues fitting in with particular rosters or players. Magic, like LeBron could play with any other stars or role players.
“This kid reminds me of a 6-6 Chris Paul. He wants to win everything.”

Olin Simplis- SGA’s trainer.
Mob Byers
Rookie
Posts: 1,052
And1: 767
Joined: Apr 22, 2021

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#5 » by Mob Byers » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:51 pm

Both of them as my starting guards
User avatar
WD
RealGM
Posts: 16,937
And1: 3,249
Joined: Oct 04, 2003
Location: Here
     

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#6 » by WD » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:51 pm

Different times, why not compare players during equal times versus a player in the 70-80-90 to players today?
#HEATLifer
User avatar
GusFring
Starter
Posts: 2,162
And1: 2,703
Joined: Sep 08, 2018
 

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#7 » by GusFring » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:54 pm

curry is the perfect pg for todays game
rtiff68
Veteran
Posts: 2,912
And1: 3,754
Joined: May 25, 2019

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#8 » by rtiff68 » Mon Jul 12, 2021 6:56 pm

OKCfanSinceSGA wrote:Magic. Curry I can see having issues fitting in with particular rosters or players. Magic, like LeBron could play with any other stars or role players.


That’s interesting, because I think it’s the exact opposite.

I have Magic ahead of Curry all time because his accomplishments cannot be ignored, but Curry has arguably the most portable superstar game in history. Unlike most superstars, Steph is at his most dangerous off-ball— he’d be a way better hypothetical fit next to Jordan, Kobe, LeBron…really, most players.
JonFromVA
RealGM
Posts: 14,957
And1: 4,949
Joined: Dec 08, 2009
     

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#9 » by JonFromVA » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:18 pm

WD wrote:Different times, why not compare players during equal times versus a player in the 70-80-90 to players today?


Exactly ... Magic might very well end up looking like Ben Simmons in this era or maybe Steph looks like Dell in Magic's, nobody can say, so the discussion will ultimately just spin in circles.

But if the question is the value of play-making .vs. shooting in a top-notch PG ... comparing Paul to Curry for instance wouldn't have any of those issues. They are good enough at other aspects of the game that they are not dragged down relative to this era.
70sFan
RealGM
Posts: 29,599
And1: 24,920
Joined: Aug 11, 2015
 

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#10 » by 70sFan » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:34 pm

Magic in pace and space era, along with heavy emphasis on heliocentric offense, would be unimaginably great. I know that Curry is extremely portable and his shooting opens up space for everybody, but Magic had no weaknesses offensively and his combination of size and passing makes him the ultimate walking missmatch in Doncic mold, but with higher BBIQ.

Both choices are understandable, but I'd take Magic even without taking into account injuries.
User avatar
Harry Garris
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 8,248
And1: 13,970
Joined: Jul 12, 2017
     

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#11 » by Harry Garris » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:40 pm

Steph Curry. I think he is the greatest point guard of all time and I'm not sorry.
Image
Big J
RealGM
Posts: 11,625
And1: 8,747
Joined: May 26, 2020

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#12 » by Big J » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:41 pm

Curry. He unlocks everything.
Big J
RealGM
Posts: 11,625
And1: 8,747
Joined: May 26, 2020

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#13 » by Big J » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:42 pm

Sark wrote:Magic, because he makes it easier for the other 4 players.


Not true. Curry gets his teammates wide open shots just by being on the court with them.
Ugalde
Assistant Coach
Posts: 4,030
And1: 3,265
Joined: Jul 20, 2010
Location: Schenectady, NY
         

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#14 » by Ugalde » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:45 pm

both are amazing and i think curry is underrated for sure but it’s magic. that length is important
politics
to many 3s
D.Brasco
RealGM
Posts: 10,593
And1: 10,342
Joined: Nov 17, 2006

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#15 » by D.Brasco » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:47 pm

70sFan wrote:Magic in pace and space era, along with heavy emphasis on heliocentric offense, would be unimaginably great. I know that Curry is extremely portable and his shooting opens up space for everybody, but Magic had no weaknesses offensively and his combination of size and passing makes him the ultimate walking missmatch in Doncic mold, but with higher BBIQ.

Both choices are understandable, but I'd take Magic even without taking into account injuries.


I'd pick Magic in this comparison but wasn't Magic criticized for his jumpshot for a large portion of his career?
User avatar
bisme37
Forum Mod - Celtics
Forum Mod - Celtics
Posts: 24,249
And1: 70,788
Joined: May 24, 2014
 

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#16 » by bisme37 » Mon Jul 12, 2021 7:47 pm

It feels weird not taking Magic but I'd take Curry for today's game. Magic couldn't shoot.

Edit: I've been corrected and Magic was a much better shooter than I realized by the end of his career. So I'm feeling less confident about my Curry pick now...
User avatar
Galloisdaman
Analyst
Posts: 3,674
And1: 2,171
Joined: Mar 17, 2011

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#17 » by Galloisdaman » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:00 pm

JonFromVA wrote:
WD wrote:Different times, why not compare players during equal times versus a player in the 70-80-90 to players today?


Exactly ... Magic might very well end up looking like Ben Simmons in this era or maybe Steph looks like Dell in Magic's, nobody can say, so the discussion will ultimately just spin in circles.

But if the question is the value of play-making .vs. shooting in a top-notch PG ... comparing Paul to Curry for instance wouldn't have any of those issues. They are good enough at other aspects of the game that they are not dragged down relative to this era.



Magics set shot was not the prettiest but look at his free throw shooting compared to Ben. It is not even close.
My eyes glaze over when reading alternative stat (not advanced stat) narratives that go many paragraphs long. If you can not make your point in 2 paragraphs it may not be a great point. :D
2020
Senior
Posts: 549
And1: 417
Joined: Sep 25, 2018
 

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#18 » by 2020 » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:04 pm

Isn't Curry more of a shooting guard? For example, when you show young kids video of exemplary point guards you show them Chris Paul, Magic, Nash, etc...
User avatar
iamworthy
RealGM
Posts: 20,137
And1: 8,915
Joined: Jul 20, 2007
Location: Ring City!!!
   

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#19 » by iamworthy » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:12 pm

The is pretty easy, the greatest PG ever.
Image
User avatar
GSP
RealGM
Posts: 19,544
And1: 16,018
Joined: Dec 12, 2011
     

Re: Without knowing the rest of the roster, which PG would you pick first: Magic or Curry? 

Post#20 » by GSP » Mon Jul 12, 2021 8:16 pm

Magic and not close. Far better in the playoffs.

Magic's post game with modern spacing would average 15 apg and break all kinds of offensive records. Can you imagine Magic in a 5 out offense? He'd find everyone and he was an automatic scorer in the post best post game ever for a "guard"

Return to The General Board