Let's talk about Dr. J (Julius Erving)

[Sccit]

He's 1-4 in the finals.

Let me see you rework your standards now

He's 1-4 in the finals.

Let me see you rework your standards now

HE HAS 3 TITLES DIPSHIIT .. 2 IN THE ABA

 

[Damnshow]

did Vince surpass him as a dunker?

of course, I mean vince is the greatest nba dunker ever, dr j is the innovator but the way vince dunked the ball still up to this day no one in the nba could repeat that shyt, no gerald green no blake no kobe or j-rich none of that. The way he jumps and then slams with the power could only be matched by dominique. A lotta dunkers sort of glide or lose their power at the very near end of the dunk.

 

[Richard Wright]

BETA MALE FRUITCUPS SNITCHIN FOR THEY KING

 

[mitter]

Seeing posters talk about the top 10 players of all-time made me think about some players I grew up watching, and a player I feel that is a little bit underrated and doesn't get just due because his first 5 years were in the ABA is Julius Erving.

Julius Erving was 3rd favorite player next to Magic and Kareem, and a beast for his time period and personally a top 5 small forward of all time to me. To me Jordan( he is a better player no doubt) is evolution of Erving, David Thompson, and to a lesser extent Marvin Barnes. Erving game was just naturally smooth and eye open appeasing to the casual fan. If I was to make modern comparison for Erving it would be Paul George, with less ball-handling/playmaking and more open and half court attacking the rim( think Jordan in the 80's and Vince Carter 90's/00s dunking on players)

Where do you think rank Julius Erving in regards to small forwards all-time? Where do you think he would rank in today's NBA?





I think he ranks in top 5 currently( Durant will eventually push him out):

1a.Lebron
1b.Bird
3. Baylor
4.Erving
5.Barry/Pippen/Worthy/etc...

Why do you have Bird above Erving?

Bird: 3 championships, 5 Finals appearances, 3 MVPs,

Erving: 3 championships, 6 Finals appearances, 4 MVPs

Head to Head:

The Celtics and 76ers met 3 times in the ECF when Bird and Erving were elite players (1980-82). Each time, the Celtics were favored and had home court advantage. The 76ers took 2 out of the 3 series.

 

[NYC Rebel]

Why do you have Bird above Erving?

Bird: 3 championships, 5 Finals appearances, 3 MVPs,

Erving: 3 championships, 6 Finals appearances, 4 MVPs

Head to Head:

The Celtics and 76ers met 3 times in the ECF when Bird and Erving were elite players (1980-82). Each time, the Celtics were favored and had home court advantage. The 76ers took 2 out of the 3 series.

Forced the Celtics to sign Dennis Johnson because they had no one that could check Bobby Jones

 

[mitter]

Forced the Celtics to sign Dennis Johnson because they had no one that could check Bobby Jones

You mean Andrew Toney?

 

[Imyremeshaw]

Why do you have Bird above Erving?

Bird: 3 championships, 5 Finals appearances, 3 MVPs,

Erving: 3 championships, 6 Finals appearances, 4 MVPs

Head to Head:

The Celtics and 76ers met 3 times in the ECF when Bird and Erving were elite players (1980-82). Each time, the Celtics were favored and had home court advantage. The 76ers took 2 out of the 3 series.

I saw Erving at the tail end of his career, maybe it was the media or my family at the time but Bird was looked at like Bron is today, the golden prodigy and maybe seeing Bird all throughout the 80s plays a part of why I value Bird over Erving. But thats a good question?

 

[NYC Rebel]

You mean Andrew Toney?

Yup. My bad

 

[IllmaticDelta]

DR J > LEBRON


BELIEVE THAT

 

[mitter]

I saw Erving at the tail end of his career, maybe it was the media or my family at the time but Bird was looked at like Bron is today, the golden prodigy and maybe seeing Bird all throughout the 80s plays a part of why I value Bird over Erving. But thats a good question?

The version of Dr. J who most people remember, who was playing while Larry Bird was the league's best player was a version.

Comparing Dr. J and Larry Bird by comparing what they did during the period where their careers overlapped is misleading.

In the four years (1979-83) where Bird and Erving's careers overlapped and Erving was not flabby and sick, here's the record:

Erving 1 MVP vs Bird 0 MVPs
Erving 3 Finals appearances vs Bird 1 Finals appearance
Erving 1 Championship vs Bird 1 Championship
76ers held a 2-1 advantage in the ECF vs. the Celtics

From 1983-87, Bird was at the peak of his powers while Erving was a still-good but declining player in his 13th-16th professional basketball seasons.

As a point of reference, Bird was basically from his 10th season on, and he retired after his 13th season.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

Forced the Celtics to sign Dennis Johnson because they had no one that could check Bobby Jones

Andrew Toney maybe?

 

[IWunD3r]

How the fukk is Larry Bird better than DR.J???

 

[Sccit]

BIRD>DR J>BRON

 

[NYC Rebel]

Dr. J finger roll

 

[Flight]

I think he's underappreciated but not really underrated.

The highlights we could've got if he would've actually got to play a full season with Maravich would've been crazy. It's probably one of the more entertaining what if scenarios in basketball history.