MJ: I could beat LeBron 1-on-1 in my prime

[DocVOLiday]

Who cares if Jordan can win 1-on-1 games against anybody? That's a completely different game.

I'd say he cares. But other than that, it's just something for people to talk and get upset about

 

[zjcvols]

Let's see what this list of "Jordan Era perimeter players" looks like without all the guys who were washed up by the time Jordan's string of championships got rolling:



Obviously there were some great big men during that era, but all of them needed to be paired with a great scorer, and they rarely were.

Wouldn't put Stockton on that list, but that's just me.

 

[knucklehead_vol]

Let's see what this list of "Jordan Era perimeter players" looks like without all the guys who were washed up by the time Jordan's string of championships got rolling:



Obviously there were some great big men during that era, but all of them needed to be paired with a great scorer, and they rarely were.

Well can we agree it would have been much tougher in the hand check era for James? Flopping would have got your ass beat...by your own team.

 

[Crew]

LeBron would destroy him. He's got three inches, faster, more athletic, and more importantly 40-50 lbs

....ehhh. Most of those things are true (not buying more athletic), but I really do believe MJ would put LeBron in a mental straitjacket.

 

[zjcvols]

....ehhh. Most of those things are true (not buying more athletic), but I really do believe MJ would put LeBron in a mental straitjacket.

There's nothing MJ can say that the Celtics haven't that can rattle him.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Well can we agree it would have been much tougher in the hand check era for James? Flopping would have got your ass beat...by your own team.

If you'll go back and look at my original post, my point was not to suggest that there's more competition now for LeBron James than there was for Michael Jordan, but that there had been more before Jordan got there. If Bird doesn't exist, then Magic becomes the consensus GOAT during the 80s and Jordan might never have been regarded as better than second place.

As far as "Flopping would have got your ass beat".....this article is required reading for anyone who thinks that flopping in basketball is a recent phenomenon. It's been around forever.

 

[n_huffhines]

I don't these guys were mentioned: Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars, Chris Mullin, Grant Hill, Eddie Jones, Penny Hardaway, Glen Rice, Steve Smith, etc.

There was good perimeter play during Jordan's successful years.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I don't these guys were mentioned: Reggie Miller, Joe Dumars, Chris Mullin, Grant Hill, Eddie Jones, Penny Hardaway, Glen Rice, Steve Smith, etc.

There was good perimeter play during Jordan's successful years.

Come on. Steve Smith? The only business those guys have on a floor with Michael Jordan is if they're rebounding for him while he's practicing jumpers.

 

[knucklehead_vol]

If you'll go back and look at my original post, my point was not to suggest that there's more competition now for LeBron James than there was for Michael Jordan, but that there had been more before Jordan got there. If Bird doesn't exist, then Magic becomes the consensus GOAT during the 80s and Jordan might never have been regarded as better than second place.

As far as "Flopping would have got your ass beat".....this article is required reading for anyone who thinks that flopping in basketball is a recent phenomenon. It's been around forever.

Detroit Bad Boys say hello...

 

[GAVol]

LeBron would destroy him. He's got three inches, faster, more athletic, and more importantly 40-50 lbs

The weight might be an issue, but it's not like Lebron likes to post guys up. And I promise you, Lebron is not faster than Jordan was in his prime.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Detroit Bad Boys say hello...

Bill Laimbeer himself was a notorious flopper.

 

[knucklehead_vol]

Bill Laimbeer himself was a notorious flopper.

Not to the extent of today's players. Also LeBron has had some ridiculous flops. Jordan never did that. Todays players may be better athletes due to technology and such, but the guys in the 80's and 90's were better bball players.

 

[GAVol]

Not to the extent of today's players. Also LeBron has had some ridiculous flops. Jordan never did that. Todays players may be better athletes due to technology and such, but the guys in the 80's and 90's were better bball players.

Give me a break. Laimbeer, Divac, Stockton, Ainge, Rodman etc practically invented the art of the flop.

 

[zjcvols]

The weight might be an issue, but it's not like Lebron likes to post guys up. And I promise you, Lebron is not faster than Jordan was in his prime.

LeBron ran a 4.6 40 as a HS junior. I'd say he's faster just by looking on the basketball court. Look at some of his chasedown blocks.

 

[GAVol]

LeBron ran a 4.6 40 as a HS junior. I'd say he's faster just by looking on the basketball court. Look at some of his chasedown blocks.

When Michael Jordan "retired" in 1993 and went to Spring Training with the Chicago White Sox, he instantly was deemed the fastest player in the organization. He was faster than 4.6.

 

[knucklehead_vol]

Give me a break. Laimbeer, Divac, Stockton, Ainge, Rodman etc practically invented the art of the flop.

You think it is as bad then as it is now or even the numbers had the numbers of today?

Anyway back to the discussion please.

 

[zjcvols]

When Michael Jordan "retired" in 1993 and went to Spring Training with the Chicago White Sox, he instantly was deemed the fastest player in the organization. He was faster than 4.6.

I like your retired quotation marks.

 

[Vercingetorix]

When Michael Jordan "retired" in 1993 and went to Spring Training with the Chicago White Sox, he instantly was deemed the fastest player in the organization. He was faster than 4.6.

Being the fastest guy in a baseball organization is sort of like being the soberest man in Ireland, isn't it?

I haven't watched a Jordan game in a long time, but my guess is that Jordan's first step by the defender was quicker, but James's strides are so long that he covers more ground faster.

 

[GAVol]

You think it is as bad then as it is now or even the numbers had the numbers of today?

Anyway back to the discussion please.

Somewhere in the late 80s as the Celtics aged and Detroit rose up the whole went to tractor pull basketball for a few years. Everybody was throwing it in the post and grinding. I don't think there's ever been more physical basketball played . . . both real and fake.

 

[GAVol]

Being the fastest guy in a baseball organization is sort of like being the soberest man in Ireland, isn't it?

I haven't watched a Jordan game in a long time, but my guess is that Jordan's first step by the defender was quicker, but James's strides are so long that he covers more ground faster.

You're going to make me dig up a link aren't you?

I think I remember that Jordan ran sub 4.5 while at UNC.

 

[GAVol]

And there it is . . .

"Smith says Jordan is the hardest worker he's ever coached. In high school Jordan hustled so, he was nicknamed The Rabbit. Rabbit, run. When he enrolled at Chapel Hill, Jordan ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. This fall he ran a 4.3."

 

[Vercingetorix]

You're going to make me dig up a link aren't you?

I think I remember that Jordan ran sub 4.5 while at UNC.

I don't believe any 40 yard dash until it happens at the NFL combine. At all. Remember when the Gators had five guys on their chalkboard who were 4.2 or faster?

It would be interesting to pull up a bunch of Youtube clips to watch how fast they both get down the floor on the break.

 

[Vercingetorix]

4.3. Hahahaha. Jordan and the Easter Bunny.

 

[GAVol]

4.3. Hahahaha. Jordan and the Easter Bunny.

Dean Smith said it and they named a building after him, so it has to be true.

 

[n_huffhines]

Come on. Steve Smith? The only business those guys have on a floor with Michael Jordan is if they're rebounding for him while he's practicing jumpers.

I didn't realize I was saying Steve Smith was as good as Jordan. I just thought we were talking about good perimeter players. He's like the last guy on a list of 15. Take it easy.