Wednesday’s cheeky outing is by JJ Redick. Not the worst guy to debate, his career background is substantial enough to be taken seriously, but a hot take which risks returning the old ones. Is Larry Bird in the Top 5 All-Time 3-Point Shooters? For him, the tall blonde is not there.
short discussion on First Take, one of ESPN’s flagship programs that gives way to not important but important debates all the same. That’s to say ? That is to say that we launch a subject in the middle of the table and shoo, debate, argue or hide your face, but hold your position at all costs. On the agenda, a theme indicated at the bottom of the screen: “Who makes his sport more exciting: Stephen Curry or Patrick Mahomes? ». And coincidentally, the debate got lost along the way. Stephen A.Smith, J.J. Redick et Mike Russo discuss legacy by Larry Bird. All the charm of this kind of show.
Mike Russo : “Larry Bird is one of the best 3-point shooters of all time. He won 3-point shooting contests, he was phenomenal. Bird was a great shooter.
J.J. Redick : “Bird is one of the greatest shooters of all time, but he’s not in the top 5 – let alone the top 3 – best 3-point shooters of all time. Dog, it’s just math. There are attempts, successes and percentage.
We can already imagine the pro-nineties knock over their coffee table on which was a Kid Paddle, three empty Kro bottles and a paper towel roll. There take by JJ Redick is fiery but – in the length of the show – very well supported. He himself is the 18th most prolific 3-point shooter in history with 1,950 converted pellets. For all the little youngsters who hear their ancestors talk regarding Larry Bird as a kind of William Tell who studied at Hogwarts, the tall blonde from the Celtics only wrote down “only” 649 career 3-point shots in 1727 attempts (38% success). A total that doesn’t even make him one of the 250 most prolific All-Time shooters. Even Kyle Kuzma (27) is in front. “Yeah but TrashTalk, the 3-point line came in the middle of Bird’s career too…”. No way ! The NBA was modernized in 1979, and Larry Legend was able to take advantage of this innovation over his thirteen seasons in the Great League. But he – and rightly so – was more relentless at mid-distance, at the post or in the circle attack. Hence JJ Redick’s respectful nuance: “He’s one of the best shooters of all time, but not at 3-pointers”.
A vital debate which is not really, but which is enough to make Dominique Wilkins react : “JJ Redick has absolutely no idea what he’s talking regarding”. Nevertheless, the reasoning of the new consultant is supported and once once more highlights the opposition between the school of numbers and that of the class.
