The Last Dance - A 10-PART DOCUMENTARY EVENT

#76
#76
You said players were smaller and less athletic. I proved that was wrong. Height peaked in the 80s and 90s. Only a few of the top ten verticals belong to guys in the last 20 years. That was the main part of your argument.

The Majerle thing was you acting like he wasn't a great athlete. He was longer and more athletic than at least half of the All NBA defenders during Lebron's prime. I put a whole list. He was a better defender than most of Lebron's guard competition. Also Lebron is often guarded by Small forwards. They do play different positions. If we take the guards off the Finals teams Lebron faced and matched them up with Lebron then he would have faced no good defenders except Igoudala.

But then again Jason Terry gave Lebron that work in a Finals. I guess you could count him. lmao

I said wings and perimeter players were smaller in the 90's, which is absolutely, 100% true. I actually did prove that league average weight is heavier and the height is the same (1" less as of last year) and our rosters have fewer big centers and PF's skewing the numbers like they did in the 90's. You're trying to say MJ is stronger than Harden...Harden has him by 25 lbs and he's an inch shorter. Go through the all-star perimeter players in the 90's...I only found one that outweighed Harden (Grant Hill, who has him by 3"). Harden is a combo guard and he's fkn heavier than Nique, Pippen, G Rice, etc. It doesn't matter what the reality is, you will say whatever is convenient to your argument.

The athleticism can't be proved one way or another, but your points in that regard have been absurd. The fact that you won't let go of this Majerle thing is crazy. We don't need to go any further.
 
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#77
#77
I said wings and perimeter players were smaller in the 90's, which is absolutely, 100% true. I actually did prove that league average weight is heavier and the height is the same (1" less as of last year) and our rosters have fewer big centers and PF's skewing the numbers like they did in the 90's. You're trying to say MJ is stronger than Harden...Harden has him by 25 lbs and he's an inch shorter. Go through the all-star perimeter players in the 90's...I only found one that outweighed Harden (Grant Hill, who has him by 3"). Harden is a combo guard and he's fkn heavier than Nique, Pippen, G Rice, etc. It doesn't matter what the reality is, you will say whatever is convenient to your argument.

The athleticism can't be proved one way or another, but your points in that regard have been absurd. The fact that you won't let go of this Majerle thing is crazy. We don't need to go any further.
In fairness, harden is chubby
 
#78
#78
I agree that players are larger today, but does anyone actually put stock in listed heights and weights?
 
#82
#82

Yeah, like I said...he's not boxing during the season. He's not a 6 pack guy, and I believe his extra weight around the middle lends to his playing strength.

This is what he looks like during the season. Look at the arms, it's not the same dude in that photo. You can even see the weight difference in his half-covered face.

james-Harden.jpg
 
#83
#83
Yeah, like I said...he's not boxing during the season. He's not a 6 pack guy, and I believe his extra weight around the middle lends to his playing strength.

This is what he looks like during the season. Look at the arms, it's not the same dude in that photo. You can even see the weight difference in his half-covered face.

james-Harden.jpg
I really don’t care man
 
#84
#84
I said wings and perimeter players were smaller in the 90's, which is absolutely, 100% true. I actually did prove that league average weight is heavier and the height is the same (1" less as of last year) and our rosters have fewer big centers and PF's skewing the numbers like they did in the 90's. You're trying to say MJ is stronger than Harden...Harden has him by 25 lbs and he's an inch shorter. Go through the all-star perimeter players in the 90's...I only found one that outweighed Harden (Grant Hill, who has him by 3"). Harden is a combo guard and he's fkn heavier than Nique, Pippen, G Rice, etc. It doesn't matter what the reality is, you will say whatever is convenient to your argument.

The athleticism can't be proved one way or another, but your points in that regard have been absurd. The fact that you won't let go of this Majerle thing is crazy. We don't need to go any further.

You have made valid points re: height distribution. On weight though, it is in decline from the peak (~2010) and on par with the late-90's in terms of averages.

This article is very helpful in explaining your points on height and addresses the weight as well.

67 Years of Height Evolution in the NBA - In-depth Research
 
#85
#85
You have made valid points re: height distribution. On weight though, it is in decline from the peak (~2010) and on par with the late-90's in terms of averages.

This article is very helpful in explaining your points on height and addresses the weight as well.

67 Years of Height Evolution in the NBA - In-depth Research

^ this is awesome. thanks for the resource

"there is a trending decrease in height difference between the positions - centers and point guards have never been closer in terms of height."

1586881362986.png

One thing that surprises me is it seems the average center and PF from 2010-present is actually bigger than in past years, it's just that there are fewer big men weighing down the league (instead of 6-7 bigs, teams are carrying 4-5 probably?).

1586881518986.png
 
#86
#86
I said wings and perimeter players were smaller in the 90's, which is absolutely, 100% true. I actually did prove that league average weight is heavier and the height is the same (1" less as of last year) and our rosters have fewer big centers and PF's skewing the numbers like they did in the 90's. You're trying to say MJ is stronger than Harden...Harden has him by 25 lbs and he's an inch shorter. Go through the all-star perimeter players in the 90's...I only found one that outweighed Harden (Grant Hill, who has him by 3"). Harden is a combo guard and he's fkn heavier than Nique, Pippen, G Rice, etc. It doesn't matter what the reality is, you will say whatever is convenient to your argument.

The athleticism can't be proved one way or another, but your points in that regard have been absurd. The fact that you won't let go of this Majerle thing is crazy. We don't need to go any further.
Dude stop making stuff up. Harden is an inch and maybe two shorter. He is listed at 6'5 and most say he is 6'4. Jordan was a legit 6'6. He also played around 225 during his last three championship years.

His listed weight is 216. He considered his optimal weight at 218. He was in better shape and stronger than Harden with 2 more lbs on him and a much higher body fat percentage. A chubby guy who is two or three pounds heavier is usually much weaker than the guy who weighs less with actual muscles.

Michael Jordan is trying to get back to his playing weight
"Jordan talked about his playing weight in an excellent profile by ESPN's Wright Thompson . . .
Nine days later, sitting in his office and surrounded by basketball, he's down to 248. He'll claim it's about health, or looking good for his 50th birthday party. But in his mind, there's a target: 218, a familiar and dangerous number in Jordan's world.​
That's his playing weight."

I don't know what weight you are using. It must be drafted weight. Then he put on 25 pounds of muscle to beat the Pistons physical d. It is well documented. I really see you don't know any basketball history.

Google Wilkins weight 229. 224 on his wiki. Wrong again
Google Pippen. 225 wrong again
Google grant Hill. 225

Every one you named was heavier and in much better shape. All were stronger, faster, and had more hops.

Wrong just like your whole argument. I already linked the numbers showing that pg and sg height peaked in the 80s and 90s. They weigh a little more than the 90s but not much. They are not more athletic or longer now which is what the argument was.

The All NBA players aren't bigger. Maybe Miami PED Lebron over small forwards from the 80s and 90s weight wise. Not bigger at any other All NBA position.

There have been a lot of undersized All NBA players during the LeBron era. Wade is shorter than MJ just like Harden. CP3 , Isiah Thomas, and Tony Parker are smaller than the All NBA pgs during MJs prime. Malone was a beast. At center too many greats to name.

Size and athleticism has not changed since the 80s. Some player take advantage of today's great training. There were also guys then ahead of the curb that trained hard. They would still dominate today.

There was no era advantage. MJ was just a force of nature.
 
#87
#87
Harden outweighs all of them. Harden's 6' 5" 220 is 100% official, so I don't put any weight on your "most say 6' 4"" BS, and you don't even get the point of my saying that he's shorter AND heavier than those SF's. Even if we decide to trust your wiki weights, they are barely heavier than a combo guard and my point still remains.

Scottie Pippen Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Dominique Wilkins Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

James Harden Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Michael Jordan Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Glen Rice Stats | Basketball-Reference.com
 
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#89
#89
BS and Russillo are reviewing 10 defining MJ games. It was cool hearing them break down Magic vs. MJ in this episode. Apparently MJ had no answers for Magic's post game. I'm too young to remember that finals.



Russillo is in the MJ = GOAT camp, and he had a good comment relevant to the topic we've been discussing here:

"I'm gonna say this every time we go back and watch these games...I'm not saying the defense is overrated, I'm saying the defense is over-stated. It's basic. It's guarding less area but guys actually made layups without broken limbs and just remember that next time you say a guy in today's era couldn't handle the physical nature of their game."
 
#90
#90
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#92
#92
Harden outweighs all of them. Harden's 6' 5" 220 is 100% official, so I don't put any weight on your "most say 6' 4"" BS, and you don't even get the point of my saying that he's shorter AND heavier than those SF's. Even if we decide to trust your wiki weights, they are barely heavier than a combo guard and my point still remains.

Scottie Pippen Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Dominique Wilkins Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

James Harden Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Michael Jordan Stats | Basketball-Reference.com

Glen Rice Stats | Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball reference has mainly rookie weights for older players. Their weight are not official playing weights. NBA.com does have them. Google Nique and 229 is his weight NBA.com has him at 230. Glen rice 227. The same with all the others. Their playing weights are all higher than Harden except Jordan before the last three peat.

NBA.com has the official weights

Michael Jordan
MJ 216
Dominique Wilkins
Nique
230
Scottie Pippen
Pip
228

Jordan was never 195 except for his first year or two. Their are literally famous documentaries and books chronicling how he gained weight and overcame the physical d by adding muscle.

Come on Huff you are better than posting stats you know are bogus.

Harden is fatter, slower and less athletic than all these players. He has the worst athleticism of all the people we are discussing. Obviously his weight isn't a plus anyway. I don't know what you think you are proving about players being better ATHLETES now when Harden is the worst athlete of this group. He also only weighed more than MJ at some points of his career.
 
#93
#93

BTW, the data I'd kill to see is what Jordan shot from 10-16' and 16-22'. I'd guess he's the best mid range shooter ever, but IDK because the basketball-reference data only goes back to 2001
 
#94
#94
Basketball reference has mainly rookie weights for older players. Their weight are not official playing weights. NBA.com does have them. Google Nique and 229 is his weight NBA.com has him at 230. Glen rice 227. The same with all the others. Their playing weights are all higher than Harden except Jordan before the last three peat.

NBA.com has the official weights

Michael Jordan
MJ 216
Dominique Wilkins
Nique
230
Scottie Pippen
Pip
228

Jordan was never 195 except for his first year or two. Their are literally famous documentaries and books chronicling how he gained weight and overcame the physical d by adding muscle.

Come on Huff you are better than posting stats you know are bogus.

Harden is fatter, slower and less athletic than all these players. He has the worst athleticism of all the people we are discussing. Obviously his weight isn't a plus anyway. I don't know what you think you are proving about players being better ATHLETES now when Harden is the worst athlete of this group. He also only weighed more than MJ at some points of his career.

They didn't ever have "official" weights until 2019. Before, it was whatever the team said. Just look at Jordan vs. Magic in that youtube thumbnail. He's 27 there and skinny...nowhere near as big as Harden. Jordan may have been 216 by 1998 but even at his biggest, he's still not as big as Harden.
 
#96
#96
They didn't ever have "official" weights until 2019. Before, it was whatever the team said. Just look at Jordan vs. Magic in that youtube thumbnail. He's 27 there and skinny...nowhere near as big as Harden. Jordan may have been 216 by 1998 but even at his biggest, he's still not as big as Harden.
NBA.com would have the most accurate weights. I trust the NBA to know what numbers should count. They don't even list weights for players without an official one, like Glen Rice.

What are you smoking? MJ, Nique, and Pip had way more muscle and none looked smaller than Harden. You are confusing chubbiness with size.
 
#98
#98
Comparing what? I'm saying he's bigger than those guys. Did you just try to prove my point?
He isn't "bigger" he is fatter. Two completely different things. Those older guys are cut with grown man bodies. Harden looks like a guy at the rec center.

MJ and Pips bicep's are both much bigger. Harden is fatter in the belly and that is about it.
 
#99
#99
NBA.com would have the most accurate weights. I trust the NBA to know what numbers should count. They don't even list weights for players without an official one, like Glen Rice.

What are you smoking? MJ, Nique, and Pip had way more muscle and none looked smaller than Harden. You are confusing chubbiness with size.

Idk if you've ever played hoops, but a little thickness in a good athlete is a nice advantage. He's not so fat that it's slowing him down. I'm 6' 2" with a ripped skinny frame and shoulders like MJ and I know I'm not as strong as I look. You are confusing aesthetics with practical strength.
 
Idk if you've ever played hoops, but a little thickness in a good athlete is a nice advantage. He's not so fat that it's slowing him down. I'm 6' 2" with a ripped skinny frame and shoulders like MJ and I know I'm not as strong as I look. You are confusing aesthetics with practical strength.
Yes. I'm 6'3 and played at a decent level once upon a time. I know a 6'6 ripped dude that is 216-218 is much tougher to handle than a chubby 6'5 guy that is 220. Just like a ripped 6'8 230 guy like Pip or Nique is also a tougher matchup.

If Mike was actually 195 or something you could have an argument. Not once person thinks MJ played the bulk of his career and his prime at anything around 195. I'll take the muscular guy over the three or four pounds.

Also we know for a fact that Harden is an average athlete by NBA standards and the other were all elite with Jordan being the greatest athlete ever. Those other guys are beasts physically. Harden is crafty but not a great athlete. Yes he weighs more than Mike and is shorter. I doubt he is stronger because he is not as in good shape. Mike hit the weights hard. I don't think Harden trains like he did.
 

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