Bird is quitting on top

[cleaveland]

I think everyone realizes at this point that there are only two types of teams that are allowed to win the NBA championship (barring a miracle): 1. Big market teams 2. Teams with prime superstars

I really think Bird realized that he couldn't go much further with a relatively small market team and so he's getting out on top.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8101542/indiana-pacers-part-ways-larry-bird-introduce-donnie-walsh-new-president

[SlickFazzer]

Always a class act. One of my all-time favorites.

[ttwarrior1]

i heard hibbert wont' be resigned and bird wanted to get more players. Owners said they had no money

[jjgold]

On top????????

They were a mediocre team

I doubt he ever gets a job in a big market

[onlooker]

On top????????

They were a mediocre team

I doubt he ever gets a job in a big market

Probably talking about the Executive of the Year Award.

I guess in the end, the Pacers were just to S-O-F-T.

[cleaveland]

On top????????

They were a mediocre team

I doubt he ever gets a job in a big market

They were the third seed in the East. Being the Pacers they weren't going any higher without drafting a superstar and that's not gonna happen unless they end up in the lottery (and they'll be a playoff team for the foreseeable future), I think that means he went on top. Also, Bird was executive of the year;

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4693684/bird-wins-executive-of-the-year

[Goat Milk]

They just don't have any stars like you said. Granger is a good player, Hibbert and George are solid young pieces, but they don't have a guy that can take over a game. If you don't have a player like that, you can't win a championship in today's game. Maybe 10 years ago, not today.

[cleaveland]

This syllogism proves that Bird is going out on top:

The Pacers can't go any further without a superstar.

The Pacers can't get a superstar.

Therefore, Bird's going out on top (his team can't go any further therefore he's achieved the top).

[seaborneq]

What happened to getting better? If this is the top, the other executives must really suck.

[lakerboy]

On top lmao ok. Pacers were in a final before you know that right? Spurs won 4 titles is that a big market?

[cleaveland]

On top lmao ok. Pacers were in a final before you know that right? Spurs won 4 titles is that a big market?

The Pacers had a superstar then. Now, without a superstar (and with it being impossible for them to get one) they've peaked, Bird goes out on top.

[cleaveland]

What happened to getting better? If this is the top, the other executives must really suck.

Here's my analogy:

If the second round of the playoffs = the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament and the Pacers are like a good mid-major (VCU in the NCAA) while the Heat are top-flight program (Kentucky in the NCAA):

For VCU getting to the sweet 16 is about as good as can be hoped for. For Kentucky getting to sweet 16 is routine and expected every year.

The Pacers will remain mid-major level until they get a superstar thus, Bird, realizing the Pacers can't get a superstar in the forseeable future is going out on top. Dan Gilbert basically said the same thing when he said most of the teams in the NBA are the equivalent to the Globtrotters. The Pacers are the best of the Globtrotter teams and without a superstar they aren't going higher.

[mrmarket]

He retired because he's sick.

[cleaveland]

He retired because he's sick.

Just like Van Gundy retired a few years ago to spend more time with his family. There's SOME truth to it I'm sure but how much...if the Pacers won the title I doubt he would have retired.