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

#51
#51
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.

I don't know how anybody can say that.
 
#52
#52
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.

This whole thing came up because I said it was a shame that Jordan never really had any peers of his own rank to go up against during the prime of his career. Somehow that transmogrified into a list with Joe Dumars and Steve Smith on it.
 
#54
#54
Retired legends are fortunate in the sense that they get selective memory, contemporaries aren't afforded that. They also get afforded the tall-tell affect.

15-20 years from now LeBron will be 6-10, 290 lbs and could run a 4.2.
 
#56
#56
This whole thing came up because I said it was a shame that Jordan never really had any peers of his own rank to go up against during the prime of his career. Somehow that transmogrified into a list with Joe Dumars and Steve Smith on it.

K, but you don't dictate the conversation and Knucklehead was naming "perimeter players of the Jordan era" and I jumped in. Sorry it doesn't fit within the confines of your desired conversation. He mentioned Granger for the modern era and I'll take Smith over Granger.
 
#57
#57
No doubt in my mind Jordan is the greatest. But he is very egotistical (and that's not me bashing him), but knowing that we should know the person he continues to pile on is the guy he feels is the biggest threat to his legacy.
 
#58
#58
K, but you don't dictate the conversation and Knucklehead was naming "perimeter players of the Jordan era" and I jumped in. Sorry it doesn't fit within the confines of your desired conversation. He mentioned Granger for the modern era and I'll take Smith over Granger.

When you're quoting my posts, it's difficult to tell that you're just adding to the other guy's list. HTH
 
#59
#59
Except I didn't quote your post:

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.
 
#61
#61
I could care less* who would win between MJ and LBJ, all I know is I am quite certain I would/could square up any of you fools in this thread one-on-one anytime, any place.


*Drunken Joe Nameth voice
 
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#62
#62
It certainly helped that he happened to play at a time when he had effectively zero contemporary rivals.

Jordan was the best basketball player I've ever seen. But man, the mythology about him now is silly.

That's up for debate though.

I'm bias but come on... he knocked off Stockton, Malone and Russel.

And here's my bias... Reggie Miller, Rik Smits, Dale Davis... it's not like they were nobodies. Patrick Ewing? A player I'm pretty sure the commissioner rigged the draft for...

Let's not act like MJ played nobody and on top of it, the game was more physical. MJ could score 40 every night today if he wanted to. Or have you not heard Lebron whine about being fouled hard. Um... the league calls even ticky tack touch fouls today. There is a reason The Bad Boys existed and flourished previously. Lebron whines about half assed fouls. Michael Jordan was playing teams that could get away with clotheslining you.
 
#63
#63
It's too bad Jordan never had a worthy rival.

This discredits your opinion entirely.

Go look up the Knicks and Pacers roster.

Ewing and Miller would both have rings if not for the Bulls. And those same Knicks and Pacers would probably beat the Heat today. Wade is washed up, Bosh blows and Lebron is a freak. But Lebron only wins because who is he competing against? My Pacers... their starters were 22, 22, 26, 26 and 32. That was his competition to the finals. then in the finals, the Spurs are what? 30-40 across the board outside of Leonard.

Lebron is facing trash competition.
 
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#64
#64
Who was Jordan's closest peer during that run? Fat Charles Barkley? Karl Malone? Basketball would have been a lot more interesting during that run if there'd been another transcendent player in the league at the time. Hakeem was probably the closest, but he mostly played on otherwise mediocre teams. There weren't any other great teams for the Bulls to go up against during that whole run.

By that logic... who was the closest peer to Shaq and Kobe on the Pistons?

Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace...

It's a team game. Pacers and Spurs just showed that while the washed up Celtics showed that previous season. There is a reason so many teams are taking the Heat to 7. And why the Mavs finished them.
 
#65
#65
LeBron would destroy him. He's got three inches, faster, more athletic, and more importantly 40-50 lbs

What would weight do while guarding MJ 1 on 1?

You realize MJ would just go around him, right?
 
#66
#66
What's there to apologize for? He is playing the best basketball of the last 20 or so years that anyone has seen.

You're an apologist because you just stated he's playing better basketball than Jordan.

Have you forgotten Lebron choking games away in the 4th quarter? Go look at the Mavs series for reference.

When has MJ ever choked on the biggest staged?

The Answer: Not even once, let alone twice.
 
#67
#67
I could care less* who would win between MJ and LBJ, all I know is I am quite certain I would/could square up any of you fools in this thread one-on-one anytime, any place.


*Drunken Joe Nameth voice

I'm like 5'8-5'10 depending on if i'm barefoot or in shoes.

I don't doubt you'd destroy me.

Just make sure you guard the three ball... I'm not athletic so I can shoot. :)
 
#68
#68
What would weight do while guarding MJ 1 on 1?

You realize MJ would just go around him, right?

iM0ZAx7ZydNC3.gif
 
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#70
#70
I'll say it one more time before I'm out.

Lebron on multiple occasions has whined publicly about how hard he's fouled.

Today, I watch fouls being called on point guards for bumping other point guards outside the perimeter while all they're trying to do is run a play.

If Lebron thinks he's being fouled hard today because of the occasional hard foul, he should realize that he'd be hammered everytime he has the ball back in Jordan's era.

They allowed hard fouls back then and more players were inclined to do so. Look how many times players like Durant and Melo go to the line... they're freaking jump shooters.

I honestly believe the Wade and Rose are given too many foul calls when they drive to the basket. But given how many free throws guys like Durant and Melo get, Rose and Wade should be going to the line 10+ times a game.
 
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#71
#71
"I just hate LeBron. I don't know why I type more than that sentence."

-TOP
 
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#75
#75
I think the frequency of hard fouls from the 80s and 90s is exaggerated. Yeah it was more physical because of hand-checking, etc. but if going into the paint was as dangerous as everybody says then all the players would have been hurt all the time.
 
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