Comments on: Another Attack on Conventional Wisdom? Reviewing the Rookie Season of Larry Bird http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/ More Stories from The Wages of Wins Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:09:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Did Melo Resurrect the Nuggets? « The Wages of Wins Journal http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-39258 Did Melo Resurrect the Nuggets? « The Wages of Wins Journal Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:47:20 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-39258 [...] on September 12th, 2007. A few weeks ago I examined the impact Larry Bird had on the Boston Celtics in 1979.  In 1978-79 the Celtics won 29 games.  The following season the Celtics won 61 games.  Much of [...] [...] on September 12th, 2007. A few weeks ago I examined the impact Larry Bird had on the Boston Celtics in 1979.  In 1978-79 the Celtics won 29 games.  The following season the Celtics won 61 games.  Much of [...]

]]> By: turvey.com.au » 2007 Footy Finals - Week 1 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38677 turvey.com.au » 2007 Footy Finals - Week 1 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:25:51 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38677 [...] all those Boston Celtics fans who’ve recently dusted off their old, sweaty green hats, this in-depth analysis makes for compulsory [...] [...] all those Boston Celtics fans who’ve recently dusted off their old, sweaty green hats, this in-depth analysis makes for compulsory [...]

]]> By: jojo http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38525 jojo Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:52:34 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38525 you are all forgetting one thing...you are comparing all these players..garnette, pistol etc...none of them were clutch..Bird was..so turnovers, fouls...BLAH---Bird was a winner, clutch player. The others were not. KG is not. Hopefully Celtic pride and some paul pierce will change that. you are all forgetting one thing…you are comparing all these players..garnette, pistol etc…none of them were clutch..Bird was..so turnovers, fouls…BLAH—Bird was a winner, clutch player. The others were not. KG is not. Hopefully Celtic pride and some paul pierce will change that.

]]> By: Rich http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38341 Rich Sun, 02 Sep 2007 06:04:38 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38341 I hate to date myself, but...when I was 14 or so our JV basketball coach took us to old "Bear Down" Gym in Tucson to see the Wildcats play the Miners from El Paso. It was 1969. We had heard about this amazing guard from UTEP that nobody could keep up with. He was amazing. The other guys I was with all agreed we had never seen anyone so quick, athletic, and dominant. That was almost 40 years ago and I can still see "Tiny" flying above and around everyone else. Thanks for writing the article and bring back some great memories. I hate to date myself, but…when I was 14 or so our JV basketball coach took us to old “Bear Down” Gym in Tucson to see the Wildcats play the Miners from El Paso. It was 1969. We had heard about this amazing guard from UTEP that nobody could keep up with. He was amazing. The other guys I was with all agreed we had never seen anyone so quick, athletic, and dominant. That was almost 40 years ago and I can still see “Tiny” flying above and around everyone else. Thanks for writing the article and bring back some great memories.

]]> By: bobby http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38234 bobby Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:52:33 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38234 is it a coincidence that the best team ray allen's ever been on (not the 05 sonics that he led to 52 wins and division title but fell in 2nd round in 6 games to spurs while finishing top 10 for mvp and making 2nd team all-nba....... but the 2001 bucks that he took to the conference finals)... is it a coincidence that this was his most productive season for wp48 where he posted .272........ the reason i ask because its also a coincidence that the best team paul pierce was on was the highest wp48 he has ever posted(2002 celtics), and the best team kevin garnett was on was the most productive year he had as well (04 wolves, mvp season) for wp48.......... considering that next season should be the best/most talented/most successful team that all 3 of these unbelievable superstar players have ever been on, is it fair to assume that all 3 will have their most productive year's yet in the upcoming season????? (look out nba, the celtics are gonna kill it!!!) is it a coincidence that the best team ray allen’s ever been on (not the 05 sonics that he led to 52 wins and division title but fell in 2nd round in 6 games to spurs while finishing top 10 for mvp and making 2nd team all-nba……. but the 2001 bucks that he took to the conference finals)… is it a coincidence that this was his most productive season for wp48 where he posted .272…….. the reason i ask because its also a coincidence that the best team paul pierce was on was the highest wp48 he has ever posted(2002 celtics), and the best team kevin garnett was on was the most productive year he had as well (04 wolves, mvp season) for wp48………. considering that next season should be the best/most talented/most successful team that all 3 of these unbelievable superstar players have ever been on, is it fair to assume that all 3 will have their most productive year’s yet in the upcoming season????? (look out nba, the celtics are gonna kill it!!!)

]]> By: George Andrade http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38226 George Andrade Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:21:30 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38226 Use all the math you want, but anything can happen in a season. It will be an exciting season just watching the Celtics actually have a shot at the title. Celtic Pride is Back!!!!!! Use all the math you want, but anything can happen in a season. It will be an exciting season just watching the Celtics actually have a shot at the title. Celtic Pride is Back!!!!!!

]]> By: Neil http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38182 Neil Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:49:03 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38182 I appreciate that part of the working assumption of WofW is that players decide games, but your article notes that "Cowens the coach [was] unable to get much from Cowens the player. . ." This begs feedback on the question of Bill Fitch's role in remaking a team capable of getting good production from players like Archibald, Ford and Carr. I appreciate that part of the working assumption of WofW is that players decide games, but your article notes that “Cowens the coach [was] unable to get much from Cowens the player. . .” This begs feedback on the question of Bill Fitch’s role in remaking a team capable of getting good production from players like Archibald, Ford and Carr.

]]> By: MT http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38170 MT Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:35:32 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38170 I think the previous two posters got it right on Tiny. I lived in Bos that year and it was a real pleasure to get to see Bird every game. Those rosters are a hoot! All those famous guys at the end of their careers! I think the previous two posters got it right on Tiny. I lived in Bos that year and it was a real pleasure to get to see Bird every game.

Those rosters are a hoot! All those famous guys at the end of their careers!

]]> By: Tim http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38149 Tim Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:11:58 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38149 Here's an article discussing Archibald's difficult transition to the Celtics after a serious injury, and then his rejuvenation with Bird: http://www.nba.com/history/players/archibald_bio.html Here’s an article discussing Archibald’s difficult transition to the Celtics after a serious injury, and then his rejuvenation with Bird:

http://www.nba.com/history/players/archibald_bio.html

]]> By: Paulo http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38123 Paulo Fri, 31 Aug 2007 08:22:51 +0000 http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/another-attack-on-conventional-wisdom-reviewing-the-rookie-season-of-larry-bird/#comment-38123 I checked Basketball Reference.com and I saw that in '76-'79 (before his spike in production), he played in a combined 103 games out of a possible 246 (not including playoffs). Obviously, he was injured. A quick look on his "full" (70+ games played) seasons show that he was pretty much as productive in terms of assists and steals. I can only assume that shots were taken away from him when he was in Boston because he somewhat maintained the assists. However, he looked like he was pretty much a brittle player and the '80-81 season was his last decent season. I don't know much about Tiny Archibald except the fact that most he once led the league in scoring and assists in one year. I can only assume that the injuries allowed him to play based on reputation, and not in his ability, and in '79-'80, he was pretty much all healed up, giving a boost in his performance. Your findings may vary. I checked Basketball Reference.com and I saw that in ‘76-’79 (before his spike in production), he played in a combined 103 games out of a possible 246 (not including playoffs). Obviously, he was injured. A quick look on his “full” (70+ games played) seasons show that he was pretty much as productive in terms of assists and steals. I can only assume that shots were taken away from him when he was in Boston because he somewhat maintained the assists.

However, he looked like he was pretty much a brittle player and the ‘80-81 season was his last decent season. I don’t know much about Tiny Archibald except the fact that most he once led the league in scoring and assists in one year. I can only assume that the injuries allowed him to play based on reputation, and not in his ability, and in ‘79-’80, he was pretty much all healed up, giving a boost in his performance. Your findings may vary.

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