MJ's Forgotten Advantage over Lebron

[Lin Your Face]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/62024/mjs-forgotten-advantage-over-lebron

"At the start of the 1994-1995 season, in response to fears of a scoring decline, the NBA went from a 3-point line that extended 23 feet, 9 inches to one that was a mere 22 feet all the way around. What had been, is again now, a short “corner 3” stopped hiding in corners, emerging to snugly hug the court for three consecutive seasons. Jordan’s famous “It’s gotta be the shoes!” slogan didn’t actually explain his basketball genius, but a couple of feet really did help MJ's production.

There’s lore of how aging MJ stayed on top by refining his post game, but it's often ignored that his latter career prowess had a lot to do with the 3-point line migrating into Jordan's shooting range. For reasons that may always elude me, some players are super accurate from deep mid-range while weak a step or two further out. Jordan was one of those guys. Basketball’s least efficient shot was ridiculously efficient under Jordan’s command, indelibly so when launched over poor Craig Ehlo and Bryon Russell. "

I thought you guys might find this interesting. Its definitely something that should be taken into account when comparing players.

[Archerbro]

what's there to compare? we haven't had a guy yet that rivals jordan's goat status since he retired.

[shokase]

this is nothing. MJ had skills and could score anywhere on the court. Lebron bulldozes his way through defenders because refs dont have the balls to call fouls on superstar james. I find this thread humerous.

[otwok]

howver prior to the 94-95 season Jordan was already considered as the GOAT by many. How do we explain that?

[fishnc]

This is stupid. He played the entire 97-98 season after they reverted the three point line and still won the title.

[Mujaki]

I'm not sure what the point of this article/post is. I guess Jordan shooting a 22 foot jumpshot for 2 points at mid to high 40% efficiency is better than LeBron being able to shoot a 23+ foot jumpshot at 40% efficiency for 3 points? Oh wait, no, it isn't.

I don't think anyone needs to be reminded that Jordan had an elite mid-range game. It's still a bad shot, regardless of how he hit them at a high clip because it's still not high enough.

[Kobe8Forever]

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/62024/mjs-forgotten-advantage-over-lebron

"At the start of the 1994-1995 season, in response to fears of a scoring decline, the NBA went from a 3-point line that extended 23 feet, 9 inches to one that was a mere 22 feet all the way around. What had been, is again now, a short “corner 3” stopped hiding in corners, emerging to snugly hug the court for three consecutive seasons. Jordan’s famous “It’s gotta be the shoes!” slogan didn’t actually explain his basketball genius, but a couple of feet really did help MJ's production.

There’s lore of how aging MJ stayed on top by refining his post game, but it's often ignored that his latter career prowess had a lot to do with the 3-point line migrating into Jordan's shooting range. For reasons that may always elude me, some players are super accurate from deep mid-range while weak a step or two further out. Jordan was one of those guys. Basketball’s least efficient shot was ridiculously efficient under Jordan’s command, indelibly so when launched over poor Craig Ehlo and Bryon Russell. "

I thought you guys might find this interesting. Its definitely something that should be taken into account when comparing players.

You can take anything into account you want, but in the end, this particular issue is meaningless. Jordan was great regardless of where the 3 point line was. The 3 point line was moved for only 1 or 2 years of his career.

[lorak]

howver prior to the 94-95 season Jordan was already considered as the GOAT by many. How do we explain that?

He was THAT good.

[kakaman]

Didn't they change the 3 point line back? Not sure how it's an advantage anyway...

[Edrees]

With the way they don't let you play defense on players, it's easier to score a three now then it was when the three point line was shorter.

This also means teams were able to pack their defenders closer to the mid range, making it harder to make mid range shots. Less distance to close out on your man. Lebron has space to work with because he's got Ray allen way down on the other wing as a threat to make a 3 pointer. IF ray allen is closer, lebron's help defender can reach him faster, making it harder for lebron to drive it in.

[34_fifty]

this is nothing. MJ had skills and could score anywhere on the court. Lebron bulldozes his way through defenders because refs dont have the balls to call fouls on superstar james. I find this thread humerous.

LOL you can't be serious...

[Mujaki]

With the way they don't let you play defense on players, it's easier to score a three now then it was when the three point line was shorter.

This also means teams were able to pack their defenders closer to the mid range, making it harder to make mid range shots. Less distance to close out on your man. Lebron has space to work with because he's got Ray allen way down on the other wing as a threat to make a 3 pointer. IF ray allen is closer, lebron's help defender can reach him faster, making it harder for lebron to drive it in.

Feel free to use any proof whatsoever to back that claim.

[whitehops]

This also means teams were able to pack their defenders closer to the mid range, making it harder to make mid range shots. Less distance to close out on your man.

is this fact or just theory?

despite the closer three point line players still had the range to shoot from 24 feet. moving your defense in a foot and a half means that shooters had that much more space and defenders have to close out farther, by your theory.

the reality is that teams set their offenses up about the same as they did before.

[Lin Your Face]

The point of the article is that MJ was helped significantly when the 3 point line was moved within his shooting range for a few years. Obviously, he was still really good anyway.

As it mentioned, Lebron shot 52% from 22-24 feet last season so he would've been even better from 3 with the shorter line, while MJ clearly struggled from beyond 22 feet.

Obviously, there are many other factors when comparing the two and other rule changes such as hand checking and zone D. I just thought it would be interesting to post this for the purposes of comparing MJ and Lebron and any other players from today with players from the 90s.

[azuresou1]

With the way they don't let you play defense on players, it's easier to score a three now then it was when the three point line was shorter.

Yeah... that's not true.



You see a jump in 3PT% the years that the 3pt line is shortened, which has yet to be matched, despite players nowadays being far better at shooting 3s and teams gameplanning specifically to get their shooters open looks.

[Nutty Nats Fan]

I thought you guys might find this interesting. Its definitely something that should be taken into account when comparing players.

The more important thing to consider is the hand-check rules and such that make it much easier for offensive players nowadays then when Jordan played. With the way the game is called now, Jordan would be living on the free throw line. Lebron has a huge advantage there.

[NZB2323]

Jordan didn't take a lot of threes, he relied on his low post game in the 2nd three-peat, and it was 93 when he made 6 threes in the first half of a NBA finals.

[Mujaki]

I thought you guys might find this interesting. Its definitely something that should be taken into account when comparing players.

The more important thing to consider is the hand-check rules and such that make it much easier for offensive players nowadays then when Jordan played. With the way the game is called now, Jordan would be living on the free throw line. Lebron has a huge advantage there.

This has been proven wrong so many times on this forum that it's hard to believe that you haven't read any of it.

[Tave]

Jordan was a solid outside shooter, he simply didn't take many 3 pointers. His percentages don't mean much because he didn't attempt enough to provide us with a consistent sample. Tellingly, in the years he averaged 2-3 per game, his percentages were very good, hovering between 35-40%, regardless of where the line was at.

Lebron definitely has more range though. You didn't see Jordan pull up from 6 feet behind the line.

[MvPderozan]

Lebrons jumper dissapears in the finals anyways, so don't matter. DIP.