Michael Cooper Sends Message to Ja Morant & Today’s NBA Stars

[@rice_goat80]

Coop spoke big facts

[@db3467]

Coop is correct basketball players are role models.

[@eppskevin]

Sometimes I see how people will redefine “good” and “evil” when it comes to Kyrie. Kudos to Coop for not taking the bait.

[@AW-xv7dq]

COOOOP!

[@paul_devos]

Larry's game is just so much different than Luka in terms of how he got his shots and his passing. They both have great body control, both were very slow, but with suddenness of movements (change in speed, body bumps, push offs, disengagements). But outside of that, Bird was not pounding the ball like Luka in a HC setting. Luka RARELY ever gets out in the open court fastbreaks and Bird was a BIG part of that when he played, both in leaking out as well as running the fast break as a point man. Mavs in pace since Luka has been on the team is 18th, 18th, 24th, 30th, 29th -- so basically dead last the past 2 years and very slow prior. Celtics were upper 1/3 to middle of pack when Bird played. They definitely didn't run like the West Coast, but still were pushing the break much more than the Mavs today, in particular Doncic's involvement. And there is NO comparison in terms of shooting ability for Luka to Bird, from anywhere. While Luka is a #1 option, so he gets best defense focus on him, his FG%, 3P% are at or just below league average. Bird was arguably the best shooter of his time, and consider all spots on the floor, arguably all-time. Rebounding, Bird, also much better. Bird's vision and passing likely much better in terms of instinct and vision, but Luka thrives a lot more in his ball control, methodical drawing defenders in, then hitting the open man. Part of that is Larry didn't pound the ball much like that and the spacing is so much different today -- even Luka said when playing Euroleagues compared to NBA, you have a TON of time to make a pass and can see defenders have to come from the 3P line, so passing is much, much easier. Jokic also has similar thoughts... "Is it harder? Yeah, just because [in Europe], you need to have really quick thinking. In the NBA, if you go by the guy, you can see the help coming. In Europe, if you go by the guy, the help is already there, so you need to kind of think a play ahead." So hard to compare that particular passing skil.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I think the underlying message is you don’t put yourself in that situation. You stay away from bad situations, bad women, bad financial schemes, bad family. That’s the most important factor in self defence. Carrying a gun is just asking for an escalation if you are a celebrity. I don’t think a lot of people are prepared for the consequences of hurting, injuring or killing somebody. Ja needs help, I think.

[@montimiller2743]

Barkley said that "He's no role model," over 30 years ago and he's still hearing it, but Coop is right when you're in the public eye they're are role models even though today people can get away with a lot more than we used to back in the days!!!

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

Barkley may not like to admit it but he has become a pretty big role model for sports fans and non.

[@truthiscensored]

The problem is we shouldn't look at people on TV/ radio as role model. Your parents should be your role model and righteous people. Shouldn't idolize someone because they play a game and is on TV

[@mdquaglia]

OKC would be extremely foolish to pair SGA with Kyrie. SGA is the better player right now.

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

Kyrie would die w such little media coverage in OKC. Maybe just what he needs to actually pair well w a star like SGA

[@robertcammon5969]

It's not the offense in Dallas. It is the defense. If you are holding people truly accountable, then Luka plays no defense.

[@truthiscensored]

It's amazing that these modern players don't know how to play off the ball. many of these great players get on the same team and want to play the same role (Point guard). Learn to come off picks, screens, give and go, post up or something

[@NBAHistoryCLNS]

I’ve not see an actual pick in the nba since before the bubble

[@rafikz77]

Warriors don’t know how to play off the ball? Spurs? Celtics? What games are you watching?

[@rafikz77]

I usually agree with Coop, but the rings argument isn’t valid. You can’t compare that 80s Celtics team to today’s Mavs roster. There is no way in hell Bird wins a ring with that Mavs team 😂

[@BasketballJones48021]

Rookie Larry Bird basically led Boston to the best record in the NBA and then the Finals Conference… Celtics team that were the 2nd worst team the year before! 29 wins before Larry, 61 wins with him!! And we’re talking about pretty much the same main players as in the previous year… Cornbread, Cowens, Tiny, Chris Ford… No McHale, Parish or anything, for that matter. Funny because til this day, Bird’s impact and value is underrated! He definitely ended up in a historied franchise… but also in a very bad team! Bad play, bad record, bad chemistry, no superstar players, internal problems, attendance at an all time low, so on… Furthermore, McHale was a rookie in 1981 and only REALLY came into his own by 1984, while Parish - as great as he was - never was viewed as ALL of that before playing for the Celtics, and he was already 26 when he joined, with no All-NBA selections, never an All-Star, and I really can’t see him being a Hall of a Famer if he stayed with a team like Golden State.