RGM GOAT Debate Thread (Part 2)

[Jamaaliver]

The Jordanians have the right to play...They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert.

Yeah, I know these threads are always just trolling, I have no real interest in playing along today.

I sincerely apologize...

[DOT]

Could they have beaten the Durant-Steph squad? That would be a tall task. It's worth noting that Kawhi did it, though.

[Jamaaliver]

I do wish we'd seen more playoff series between the greatest of the generations over the past 30 years. That would really help to settle so much of the ALL TIME Best Debates.

We got Prime Lebron vs Young Durant in the NBA Finals. And Steph vs CP3 in the playoffs. And Durant vs Steph in the WC Finals. (Though didn't exactly matchup against each other.)

But we didn't see nearly enough postseason matchups between:
Duncan vs KG
Kobe vs Lebron
Kobe vs Jordan
Duncan vs Jordan
Wade vs Nash

[Jamaaliver]

Could they have beaten the Durant-Steph squad? That would be a tall task.

It's worth noting that Kawhi did it, though.

Noted.

Serious questions:
Did I mis-remember something there?
Are we not counting that Finals loss?

[DOT]

The problem with playing dumb is, the best case scenario is you just come across as dumb.

[Jamaaliver]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

[Iwasawitness]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

Dude, you’re pretending that Kawhi beat a fully healthy Durant Warriors team.

[Jamaaliver]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

Dude, you’re pretending that Kawhi beat a fully healthy Durant Warriors team.

Oh.



We're putting an asterisk next to that title, because Durant went out in Game 5 of a six Game series...

Fair enough.


Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Cavs team without Kyrie and Love fully healthy in 2015?

Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Rockets team without Chris Paul fully healthy?

[ScrantonBulls]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

Dude, you’re pretending that Kawhi beat a fully healthy Durant Warriors team.

Oh.



We're putting an asterisk next to that title, because Durant went out in Game 5 of a six Game series...

Fair enough.


Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Cavs team without Kyrie and Love fully healthy in 2015?

Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Rockets team without Chris Paul fully healthy?

Coming from the guy who doesn't count 94-95 as a loss for MJ because he didn't play an entire year. That's funny and ironic.

Oh and they were in disbelief with you because they thought it was common knowledge that Durant only played like 13 minutes in the series before his Achilles tear. You are thinking of Klay getting injured in game 5

[Jamaaliver]

Oh and they were in disbelief with you because they thought it was common knowledge that Durant only played like 13 minutes in the series before his Achilles tear. You are thinking of Klay getting injured in game 5

Noted.

I honestly didn't remember.
(I've watched like 30+ years of NBA Finals. I remember Bulls-Jazz x2, Lakers - 76ers, Lakers - Pistons '03, Heat-OKC, Steph's first title. The rest are kind of hazy.)

That's on me.

Spoiler:

Kawhi did not defeat the Mega Warriors in 2019.

Noted.

[DOT]

Dudes will seriously be like "I forgot the defining feature of the Finals from 6 years ago, but my memories of Finals series from 30 years ago is crystal clear, trust me bro"

[ScrantonBulls]

Dudes will seriously be like "I forgot the defining feature of the Finals from 6 years ago, but my memories of Finals series from 30 years ago is crystal clear, trust me bro"

I find it funny how he's mocking and questioning other people for putting asterisks on other seasons (which nobody here even did), while he QUITE LITERALLY putting an asterisk on the 94-95 season for MJ... He doesn't want people to use context when looking at past playoff series - unless it benefits MJ.

TL;DR: Jordan isn't the GOAT because he never lost in the Finals. It's because once he learned how to win titles...he never lost a playoff series again.*[/b]

(That 1995 return at season's end was weird. No One really counts 45 Jordan coming back after 2 years away against him. That playoff run was basically his pre-season.)

[bledredwine]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

Honestly, beats me. I think that it's just frustration.

[ScrantonBulls]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

Honestly, beats me. I think that it's just frustration.

Least surprising thing in this thread.

[Jamaaliver]

Dudes will seriously be like "I forgot the defining feature of the Finals from 6 years ago, but my memories of Finals series from 30 years ago is crystal clear, trust me bro"

Or...more likely...

I just didn't watch the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 postseason.




I feel like you guys may be focused too much on a MJ vs Lebron debate.

IMHO, Lebron is closer to the Kobe/Magic/Steph Tier than the MJ/Kareem level of greatness.

ALL great players, though.

[ScrantonBulls]

Dudes will seriously be like "I forgot the defining feature of the Finals from 6 years ago, but my memories of Finals series from 30 years ago is crystal clear, trust me bro"

Or...more likely...

I just didn't watch the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 postseason.




I feel like you guys may be focused too much on a MJ vs Lebron debate.

IMHO, Lebron is closer to the Kobe/Magic/Steph Tier than the MJ/Kareem level of greatness.

ALL great players, though.

Yeah, I know these threads are always just trolling, I have no real interest in playing along today.

You were spot on DOT. Should have listened to your wisdom.

[michaelm]

Dude, you’re pretending that Kawhi beat a fully healthy Durant Warriors team.

Oh.



We're putting an asterisk next to that title, because Durant went out in Game 5 of a six Game series...

Fair enough.


Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Cavs team without Kyrie and Love fully healthy in 2015?

Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Rockets team without Chris Paul fully healthy?

Coming from the guy who doesn't count 94-95 as a loss for MJ because he didn't play an entire year. That's funny and ironic.

Oh and they were in disbelief with you because they thought it was common knowledge that Durant only played like 13 minutes in the series before his Achilles tear. You are thinking of Klay getting injured in game 5

History records that the Raptors won by beating everyone who turned up to play themN, and they could do no more than that. They were an excellent defensive team whom Kawhi took over the top, and deserve the assumption they would have won anyway. GSW also constructed a top heavy roster and injuries are a not unexpected consequence of doing this. I am a GSW fan btw.

If we are playing hypotheticals do I think the Raptors would have beaten the 3017 (EDIT 2017 obviously) GSW team ?. No.

[ScrantonBulls]

Oh.



We're putting an asterisk next to that title, because Durant went out in Game 5 of a six Game series...

Fair enough.


Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Cavs team without Kyrie and Love fully healthy in 2015?

Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Rockets team without Chris Paul fully healthy?

Coming from the guy who doesn't count 94-95 as a loss for MJ because he didn't play an entire year. That's funny and ironic.

Oh and they were in disbelief with you because they thought it was common knowledge that Durant only played like 13 minutes in the series before his Achilles tear. You are thinking of Klay getting injured in game 5

History records that the Raptors won by beating everyone who turned up to play them and could do no more. They were an excellent defensive team whom Kawhi took over the top, and deserve the assumption they would have won anyway. GSW also constructed a top heavy roster for and injuries are a not unexpected consequence of doing this. I am a GSW fan btw.

If we are playing hypotheticals do I think the Raptors would have beaten the 3017 GSW team ?. No.

These are the types of hypotheticals I'm here for. Will teams be using cyborgs by then?

[Jamaaliver]

I appreciate the insight.

I'm curious: what are your thoughts on Steph being left off the list/poll of potential GOATs in this thread?

He's got a pretty solid resume.

Literally led a revolution in the way we play the game.
First consensus MVP IIRC.

History records that the Raptors won by beating everyone who turned up to play them and could do no more. They were an excellent defensive team whom Kawhi took over the top, and deserve the assumption they would have won anyway. GSW also constructed a top heavy roster for and injuries are a not unexpected consequence of doing this. I am a GSW fan btw.

If we are playing hypotheticals do I think the Raptors would have beaten the 3017 GSW team ?. No.

[Iwasawitness]

I am Legitimately Perplexed...

Dude, you’re pretending that Kawhi beat a fully healthy Durant Warriors team.

Oh.



We're putting an asterisk next to that title, because Durant went out in Game 5 of a six Game series...

Fair enough.


Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Cavs team without Kyrie and Love fully healthy in 2015?

Are we doing the same for Steph and the Warriors beating a Rockets team without Chris Paul fully healthy?

Game 5 of a six game series??? Game 5 was the only game he played in that entire series, and it was for 12 minutes. Did you even watch that series??