NBA Discussion Thread - Page 2223

Bills2083 · 05-13-2011, 08:54 AM

Who would you guys compare Michael Jordan to in today's NBA, or any sport for that matter?
Not in terms of the similarity in the play, but in the way that they just dominated game in and game out?
I never got to watch him play and grasp what I was seeing, so I have a hard time gauging what he meant to the sport.

SeanTaylorRIP · 05-13-2011, 09:12 AM

It's really hard to compare no one in today's game come's close. Jordan was the elite combination of skill, athleticism, but #1 intangibles. No one had the fire he had to win and he was a great team leader. Stars today like Dwight Howard and LeBron James simply don't motivate teams like Jordan did. I suppose to closest to Jordan would be Kobe, Kobe's basically a poor man's version of MJ in every way which is saying something since Kobe is a definite top 15 player of all time and IMO top 10. Jordan constantly evolved his game on both ends of the floor. Lastly Jordan is vastly underrated as a defender. He definitely shoud be on a top 10 defensive list. Where as guys today like Rondo, LeBron, Josh Smith we look at as great defenders because they take chances and get flashy steals and blocks, MJ actually was a true lock down defender. That's an incredibly tough thing to do with the type of work he had to do offensively. Again only Kobe can match that length and quickness on the defensive end. Everything from the media iconic status to the clutch gene, there was no weakness in Jordan.

BamaFalcon59 · 05-13-2011, 10:16 AM

AI says Jordan can't play defense.

Just playin. I never saw Jordan but yeah, sounds like nobody compares. And IMO not due to his skill but his will to win.

And yeah, Kobe sounds the most similar. Ray Lewis. Idk.

Bosanac01 · 05-13-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaFalcon59

AI says Jordan can't play defense.

Just playin. I never saw Jordan but yeah, sounds like nobody compares. And IMO not due to his skill but his will to win.

And yeah, Kobe sounds the most similar. Ray Lewis. Idk.

Jordan is the combination of Kobe, Wade, Lebron, and Pierce. That's for his fierce competitiveness, ability to drive, dunking ability, finishing at the rim, and being clutch as ****.

Halsey · 05-13-2011, 11:36 AM

I think LeBron compares favorably with Jordan. He just had the Cavs instead of Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc helping him in the first however many years of his career.

JRTPlaya21 · 05-13-2011, 12:03 PM

I think LeBron has no business being in the same sentence as Jordan & that's how I will always see it.

iowatreat54 · 05-13-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

I think LeBron compares favorably with Jordan. He just had the Cavs instead of Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc helping him in the first however many years of his career.

Weird, because Jordan didn't have Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc. helping him the first however many years of his career either...

Nandoss · 05-13-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTPlaya21

I think LeBron has no business being in the same sentence as Jordan & that's how I will always see it.

As overrated as I think Jordan is, I still agree completely with this statement. Michael Jordan is in the same level as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and a few others. LeBron still has a long way to go before he reaches them. Kobe is the closest anyone has come ever since Jordan retired but I still think he lacks something, and Shaq could have been one but he never really bothered himself to try to improve.

D-Unit · 05-13-2011, 12:29 PM

Jordan wasn't just good on the court. He transcended the game and made it popular for all... same way Tiger did for golf. Sure there were stars before them, but they changed it.

SickwithIt1010 · 05-13-2011, 02:26 PM

STRIP kind of nailed it, Kobe is the POOR mans version of MJ which most definitely isnt an insult to Kobe. MJ and Kobe's game have followed the same path, coming into the league as high flyers and evolving into the best mid range players in the game at their respected times. Both all defensive team players, but like STRIP said MJ was a true lock down guy where Kobe is asked to be a lock down guy for the last quarter of the game for the most part because he focuses on offense for most of the game.

When it comes to the drive to win I think Kobe is the guy who is closest to him.

With all that being said I agree 100% with STRIP in saying that he is a very poor man's Michael Jordan. Im a Laker fan but in no way Kobe deserves to be in the talk with MJ. MJ is on his own level, and no one has ever came close to that. I said it a couple weeks ago in this forum that I feel the only guy who could have ever been on the same level as MJ would have been Magic had he not gotten aids but that is it.

Halsey · 05-13-2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iowatreat54

Weird, because Jordan didn't have Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc. helping him the first however many years of his career either...

And like LeBron, he was knocked for being a great player who hadn't won a championship. Thanks for restating my point...

SickwithIt1010 · 05-13-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

I think LeBron compares favorably with Jordan. He just had the Cavs instead of Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc helping him in the first however many years of his career.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

And like LeBron, he was knocked for being a great player who hadn't won a championship. Thanks for restating my point...

Im taking your original post as saying MJ had it easy when that wasnt the case, and Lebron had the cavs.

MJ didnt get those guys till later in his career, your first post is making it sound like he had them the whole time.

SeanTaylorRIP · 05-13-2011, 02:38 PM

Jordan's impact right off the bat was unmatched. 28 ppg as a rookie, scored 63 points in a playoff game his 2nd year, averaged 37 ppg his 3rd year. Lets not forget this was also a time in basketball when you were actually allowed to play defense. Now-a-days scorers like Durant, LeBron, and Kobe Score 5-10 points a game simply by taking advantage of the dumb hand checking and ticky tack calls. It's similar to today's NFL in which the rules are skewed towards wideouts. If people remember the old bad boys teams they used to double him even before he got the ball and basically said that they were fine play 3 on 4. They also used to rape him every time he went to the hoop. If today's game if you foul somone hard once you are suspended and fined.

Halsey · 05-13-2011, 02:50 PM

I'm not really interested in a meaningless argument over did I mean this or did I mean that. The point is Jordan won Championships when he had a great coach, another Hall of Fame player, Horace Grant, etc. around him. LeBron gets knocked for not quite being able to carry the worst organization in the NBA to a Championship.

Jordan also spent 3 years in college before entering the NBA.

And it's not LeBron's fault the rules have changed. He looks to me like he'd be fine of defenses were more physical. In fact, that might give him a further advantage.

Nalej · 05-13-2011, 05:01 PM

yea, enough talking.

Jordan > LBJ. Easy.

And by no means is that a diss since you can enter any other player in history instead of LBJ and the statement would stand as fact.

soybean · 05-13-2011, 05:02 PM

In terms of transcending the sport wise, I agree Lebron is up there with ability and play.

However, Jordan was a smart dude. He became an icon and image, and now a brand. He was smart and sly with his words and had the ability to take a jab at you without you knowing it. Lebron is one of the greatest players to ever live but he's also kind of a dolt. He often finds himself in trouble and ends up having to backtrack what he said.

He's also not very bright in post game interviews etc.

I know that may not seem like much but it does tarnish one's image when you're trying to be viewed as more than a basketball player.

SickwithIt1010 · 05-13-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

I'm not really interested in a meaningless argument over did I mean this or did I mean that. The point is Jordan won Championships when he had a great coach, another Hall of Fame player, Horace Grant, etc. around him. LeBron gets knocked for not quite being able to carry the worst organization in the NBA to a Championship.

Jordan also spent 3 years in college before entering the NBA.

And it's not LeBron's fault the rules have changed. He looks to me like he'd be fine of defenses were more physical. In fact, that might give him a further advantage.

Came out after his sophomore year.

If you dont want the meaningless arguments make it more clear. Simple as that.

Halsey · 05-13-2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SickwithIt1010

Came out after his sophomore year.

If you dont want the meaningless arguments make it more clear. Simple as that.

He played 3 years at UNC.

"Note: Jordan declared himself eligible for the NBA draft following his junior season at UNC."

http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0779388.html

Bosanac01 · 05-13-2011, 05:42 PM

Yup it was 3.

/Meaningless argument.

Normal Discussion to follow. (hopefully)

EvilMonkey · 05-13-2011, 06:08 PM

http://www.didthelakersgetswept.com/

Bosanac01 · 05-13-2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilMonkey

http://www.didthelakersgetswept.com/

Best site everrr??

prock · 05-13-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

I'm not really interested in a meaningless argument over did I mean this or did I mean that. The point is Jordan won Championships when he had a great coach, another Hall of Fame player, Horace Grant, etc. around him. LeBron gets knocked for not quite being able to carry the worst organization in the NBA to a Championship.

Jordan also spent 3 years in college before entering the NBA.

And it's not LeBron's fault the rules have changed. He looks to me like he'd be fine of defenses were more physical. In fact, that might give him a further advantage.

It isn't an argument. It is a fact, based on documented evidence what you said.

And the Cavs are not even close to the worst organization in the NBA. The Wolves are much shittier.

And can we please stop using LeBron. And MJ in the same sentence?

Halsey · 05-13-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prock

It isn't an argument. It is a fact.

Whatever, still not interested. Nitpicking the way I said something doesn't change the point. Jordan needed help just like LeBron does.

sbh15 · 05-13-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

I'm not really interested in a meaningless argument over did I mean this or did I mean that. The point is Jordan won Championships when he had a great coach, another Hall of Fame player, Horace Grant, etc. around him. LeBron gets knocked for not quite being able to carry the worst organization in the NBA to a Championship.

Jordan also spent 3 years in college before entering the NBA.

And it's not LeBron's fault the rules have changed. He looks to me like he'd be fine of defenses were more physical. In fact, that might give him a further advantage.

Lebron COULD have been the next Jordan. Obviously their style of play is pretty different, but in terms of ability to dominate, absolutely. The thing that sets Jordan apart was his will to win. Nobody wanted it as badly as him and it showed on the court. I never really got that feeling when watching Lebron and I think it's most evident in the fact that he signed with Miami instead of re-upping with Cleveland. He didn't really want that pressure to put the team on his back when nobody else would, Jordan did.

The LeBron needed help argument is BS. He single-handedly took the NBA's worst franchise to like 66 wins. If he wanted it badly enough, I bet you the Cavs would have won a championship or two before his departure.

prock · 05-13-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halsey

Whatever, still not interested. Nitpicking the way I said something doesn't change the point. Jordan needed help just like LeBron does.

Stop using Jordan. In the same sentence as LeBron. Obviously you can't win being the only talented player. But people need to stop using LeBron's teammates as a cop-out. He won 60+ games with that team. He just disappeared in the playoffs last year when it mattered most. Obviously he was outmatched when he made it to the finals, but if your team is good enough to win 60 games with you, your team obviously doesn't completely suck. He had a lot of good compliments. All he needed was a more reliable second scorer.