One_and_Done wrote:maradro wrote:One_and_Done wrote:If you gave Einstein the books that explain modern physics, there's no reason to believe he wouldn't still be a genius at physics. You give Cousy video tape and a rule book showing how the league has changed... and he's still out of the league, because his skillset wouldn't let him adapt no matter how he studied the game.
A caveman can't even read, he would have too much to learn to become a genius in physics, and the whole thing is too speculative. We can say the same about Cousy. Maybe there was a 60s YMCA player who could have beaten Jordan , but we'll never know it because he didn't do it. I might as well argue Len Bias would have been the GOAT. It's too speculative.
You have no problem speculating the other way though.. if it's an even comparison they are at least playing on the same rules / sneakers / ball right? So why do you assume this Jones can do step back 3 pointers when he has never used those sneakers, ball, and the court doesn't even have a 3 pt line? If given time to acclimate he could probably still be good, even a star back then.. but straight in a game, with a ball and sneakers he's never used? Good chance he gets injured and can't even finish the game much less be a shooting god.
Your average just graduated astronomer, if teleported to 5000 years back to England they wouldn't be able to design Stonehenge (with all of its astrological alignments, proportions etc) much less build it, unless you sent them with a computer, gps, telescope, and so on.
That's exactly why (reasonable) people don't compare across eras and consider contextual impact
The barriers on Tyus are all easily overcome. Wow, adapting to new shoes. How will he manage. I also generally compare players operating at the highest level, which is a modern setting, not how will these guys play on ashpalt next to a volcano. But here it's irrelevant, as Jones would maybe be considered the GOAT in the 50s & 60s.
A modern scientist could definitely be taught and understand how to build stonehenge if teleported back. They may not have that specific knowledge, but it would easily be within their ability to learn. Cousy can't be teleported to our time and learn to play; he'll just be a water boy.
WTF? Cousy might not make the league as today he'd be undersized and his athletic ability even as the league transitioned into the 60's started to get tested. But he's sure as hell be able to adapt and learn to play the modern game. The game hasn't changed that much for crying out loud.