Re: A little more about Kidd vs. Payton

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Magic played C when Kareem was injured, well enough for them to win a
championship despite his absence.  Not too shabby for a guy who plays
mediocre D.

Cecil



----- Original Message -----
From: <GuyClinch@AOL.com>
To: <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 12:17 AM
Subject: A little more about Kidd vs. Payton


> Hello all,
>
>
> >
> >
> > The closest comparison I can think of is early-career Magic and Isiah.
> > Magic
> > hadn't become the scorer he eventually was. He wasn't a good shooter.
But
> > even then, he controlled the game. Isiah was an explosive scorer and
racked
> > up plenty of assists, but he didn't dominate a game the way Magic did.
> > Eventually Isiah improved in that area, but he never matched Magic. Same
> > with Kidd and Payton. GP doesn't control a game the way Kidd does.
> >
>
> Well I would agree "stylewise" Kidd and Magic were similiar, and GP and
> Isiah were also kinda similiar. There is alot of merit to that comparison.
> But its
> a bit of an oversimplification.
>
> Kidd is a poor shooter, and Magic was not. Shooting is a big part of the
> game...
> even if you don't score alot you should try to shoot a high percentage.
Being
> a poor shooter like Kidd and a mediocre defender like Magic is too much
> to overcome and be considered great. GP is much closer to Isiah, then Kidd
is
> to Magic IMHO. Kidd passes and defends like Magic, but shoots like j-will
on
> a bad night. Hehe.
>
> I do think Kidd certainly knows HOW to really play hoops. He has a great
> feel for it, rather like Larry Bird.  He just lacks a soft shooting touch.
>
> Also I think folks sometimes understimate the feel of the "unpure" point
> guard.
> Guys in the "Isiah" mold can score, defend, pass, and dribble
>
> But I think they avoid the flashy high-turnover pass that makes the crowds
> oooh and ahhh. See J- Will. They also dribble the ball more then Kidd.
Most
> good point guards are kinda like GP and Isiah. I do think this style works

> better, and thats why its so common in the modern game.
>
> Note that Seattle has made it well into the playoffs...with Payton. Payton
> defintely is making his team better this year too. It think they get less
> hype because they play out west, and because the west is so much stronger.
>
> More importantly the Suns never did much with Kidd. If Jersey gets bounced
in
> the second round, I think my doubts about Kidd will be validated. What
> Seattle is doing with their supporting cast is arguably more impressive
then
> what Kidd is doing. Seattle has some really weak players while Jersey is
> kinda. NJ has good depth and decent starting talent.
>
> I still think that one of the best players in the NBA deserves the MVP.
> And I don't think GP should win it, point was he is just as worthy as
Kidd..
> and a better player to boot IMHO.
>
> I would favour Kobe, Pierce, AI or Shaq over Kidd. These guys make a huge
> difference too. If Jersey makes the finals though..I will have to admit I
was
> wrong.
> If history repeats itself though I expect either the Celts Philly or the
> Bucks to
> bounce the Nets. The Bucks scare me the most. They really have had our
> number.
>
> Pete