Did MJ really go against tougher competition?

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Franco
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#521 » by Franco » Fri Oct 6, 2017 5:12 pm

JordansBulls wrote:
Franco wrote:
OdomFan wrote:
And your retort is what? Being just another person bringing up the 73 wins in a season despite it being against completely different competition so it does nothing to prove how well they'd do agianst Utah or any other team outside of their era in a basketball game. However if that's how you want to play it that Jazz team won 64 games in 97 and 62 the following year so it's not like they're far off from this highs scale you want to try and sit the Modern Warriors up on.

I like how you just say Van Exel and co didn't play well as if you never heard of what defense is. That Jazz team played some of the best team ball I've ever seen and they could score just as well as anybody. Had great coaching and great ball movement as an overall team to be able to give anyone you can think of a run for their money and i'll stand by that any day of the week.

Btw that Lakers team won 61 games as well that year and they were running through everyone in those playoffs until they reached Utah so if that sounds like nothing special to you than yeah. You don't have a clue.

Malone and Stockton were able to play at a high level and lead teams to the playoffs for nearly 3 decades and it wouldn't be any different if they were playing now.


The Jazz weren't some pushover team, nobody is saying that they're the Nets of 2017. But is ridiculous to think that they could beat a team that is basically build like the 90's Bulls that beat them twice.

Yeah, the Dubs don't have the same defensive prowess, but their offensive arsenal more than makes up for it. The Jazz's defense would get slaughtered game in and game out, that's no knock agains't them, but there isn't a team in history who would win by trying to outgun the Warriors. Cleveland just put up an ATG ORtg and still got beatdown in 5 games.

Let's say that even if Malone and Stockton played KD and Curry to a standstill (they can't)... who would match Klay's and Green's production? Hornacek? :lol:

JordansBulls wrote:The only time Lebron went against an elite big in there primes was in 2009 against Dwight and he lost and he had HCA in it. I'm not going to hold 2007 losing to Duncan but his play was dreadfull in that one. Lebron also has been down every year of his career in the playoffs in a series at least 3-2 even 5 years in a row with HCA to inferior teams.


Uh... what? During the last 5 years he was down 3-2 (or worse) on these ocasions:

2013 Finals Vs Spurs (won 4-3)

2014 Finals Vs Spurs (lost 1-4)

2015 Finals Vs Warriors (lost 2-4)

2016 Finals Vs Warriors (won 4-3)

2017 Finals Vs Warriors (lost 1-4)

He only had HCA in 2013, and still won that finals.

In every other series he had an inferior cast AND didn't have HCA.


No he was down 5 years in a row with HCA. 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. 3 years in a row lost with HCA. 2012 was down 3-2 to Boston and 2013 down 3-2 to the Spurs. That is what I am talking about. Besides like I said he has been down in a series every year of his career at least 3-2.


And that means... what exactly?

Being down in a series where he averaged 38/8/8 on 59TS% when his 3 next best scorers COMBINED for 43ppg on 50TS% was his fault? :lol:

In 2010 it was his fault that the Celtics won game 5, there's no way around it... but when 37 years-old Shaq is your most productive teammate that says a lot about your team structure.

In 2011 there's no context, he simply choked hard.

In 2012 he played great against the Celtics, no idea how you can fault him for falling to 3-2 with HCA when in game 5 nobody outside of him and Wade scored 10 points and Bosh was injured.

2013... you're kidding right? What difference does it make that he was down 3-2 or 3-0 if he won the series? :lol:
About 2018 Cavs:

euroleague wrote:His team would be considered a super-team in other eras, and that's why commentators like Charles Barkley criticize LBJ for his complaining. He has talent on his team, he just doesn't try during the regular season
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#522 » by kenwood3333 » Fri Oct 6, 2017 5:14 pm

Jordan made his competitions look weak.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#523 » by OdomFan » Fri Oct 6, 2017 7:28 pm

Franco wrote:
OdomFan wrote:
NbaAllDay wrote:
You've essentially said no to any argument presented to you, yet have very little to no substance to back up your claims.

You continue to say that any top team from the 90s would beat the current Warriors teams yet when you are given examples of who would be matching up with each other you (which is a 'real argument') your retort is saying something a long the lines of "a before their prime 90s team were beaten by the Jazz therefore, the Jazz could beat a 70+ win team who added one of the best players in the league onto their roster"
I'm not sure if you realize how silly that sounds.

That Lakers team in 1998 had a 19 year old Kobe who put up 10 ppg....
Very good All stars in Nick Van Excel and Eddie Jones? Who were also horrible in that series.....

You are being completely disingenuous with your arguments.


And your retort is what? Being just another person bringing up the 73 wins in a season despite it being against completely different competition so it does nothing to prove how well they'd do agianst Utah or any other team outside of their era in a basketball game. However if that's how you want to play it that Jazz team won 64 games in 97 and 62 the following year so it's not like they're far off from this highs scale you want to try and sit the Modern Warriors up on.

I like how you just say Van Exel and co didn't play well as if you never heard of what defense is. That Jazz team played some of the best team ball I've ever seen and they could score just as well as anybody. Had great coaching and great ball movement as an overall team to be able to give anyone you can think of a run for their money and i'll stand by that any day of the week.

Btw that Lakers team won 61 games as well that year and they were running through everyone in those playoffs until they reached Utah so if that sounds like nothing special to you than yeah. You don't have a clue.

Malone and Stockton were able to play at a high level and lead teams to the playoffs for nearly 3 decades and it wouldn't be any different if they were playing now.


The Jazz weren't some pushover team, nobody is saying that they're the Nets of 2017. But is ridiculous to think that they could beat a team that is basically build like the 90's Bulls that beat them twice.

Yeah, the Dubs don't have the same defensive prowess, but their offensive arsenal more than makes up for it. The Jazz's defense would get slaughtered game in and game out, that's no knock agains't them, but there isn't a team in history who would win by trying to outgun the Warriors. Cleveland just put up an ATG ORtg and still got beatdown in 5 games.

Let's say that even if Malone and Stockton played KD and Curry to a standstill (they can't)... who would match Klay's and Green's production? Hornacek? :lol:

JordansBulls wrote:The only time Lebron went against an elite big in there primes was in 2009 against Dwight and he lost and he had HCA in it. I'm not going to hold 2007 losing to Duncan but his play was dreadfull in that one. Lebron also has been down every year of his career in the playoffs in a series at least 3-2 even 5 years in a row with HCA to inferior teams.


Uh... what? During the last 5 years he was down 3-2 (or worse) on these ocasions:

2013 Finals Vs Spurs (won 4-3)

2014 Finals Vs Spurs (lost 1-4)

2015 Finals Vs Warriors (lost 2-4)

2016 Finals Vs Warriors (won 4-3)

2017 Finals Vs Warriors (lost 1-4)

He only had HCA in 2013, and still won that finals.

In every other series he had an inferior cast AND didn't have HCA.

Yea you make no sense dude. Just another person overrating these Warriors.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#524 » by Franco » Fri Oct 6, 2017 8:11 pm

OdomFan wrote:
Franco wrote:
OdomFan wrote:
And your retort is what? Being just another person bringing up the 73 wins in a season despite it being against completely different competition so it does nothing to prove how well they'd do agianst Utah or any other team outside of their era in a basketball game. However if that's how you want to play it that Jazz team won 64 games in 97 and 62 the following year so it's not like they're far off from this highs scale you want to try and sit the Modern Warriors up on.

I like how you just say Van Exel and co didn't play well as if you never heard of what defense is. That Jazz team played some of the best team ball I've ever seen and they could score just as well as anybody. Had great coaching and great ball movement as an overall team to be able to give anyone you can think of a run for their money and i'll stand by that any day of the week.

Btw that Lakers team won 61 games as well that year and they were running through everyone in those playoffs until they reached Utah so if that sounds like nothing special to you than yeah. You don't have a clue.

Malone and Stockton were able to play at a high level and lead teams to the playoffs for nearly 3 decades and it wouldn't be any different if they were playing now.


The Jazz weren't some pushover team, nobody is saying that they're the Nets of 2017. But is ridiculous to think that they could beat a team that is basically build like the 90's Bulls that beat them twice.

Yeah, the Dubs don't have the same defensive prowess, but their offensive arsenal more than makes up for it. The Jazz's defense would get slaughtered game in and game out, that's no knock agains't them, but there isn't a team in history who would win by trying to outgun the Warriors. Cleveland just put up an ATG ORtg and still got beatdown in 5 games.

Let's say that even if Malone and Stockton played KD and Curry to a standstill (they can't)... who would match Klay's and Green's production? Hornacek? :lol:

JordansBulls wrote:The only time Lebron went against an elite big in there primes was in 2009 against Dwight and he lost and he had HCA in it. I'm not going to hold 2007 losing to Duncan but his play was dreadfull in that one. Lebron also has been down every year of his career in the playoffs in a series at least 3-2 even 5 years in a row with HCA to inferior teams.


Uh... what? During the last 5 years he was down 3-2 (or worse) on these ocasions:

2013 Finals Vs Spurs (won 4-3)

2014 Finals Vs Spurs (lost 1-4)

2015 Finals Vs Warriors (lost 2-4)

2016 Finals Vs Warriors (won 4-3)

2017 Finals Vs Warriors (lost 1-4)

He only had HCA in 2013, and still won that finals.

In every other series he had an inferior cast AND didn't have HCA.

Yea you make no sense dude. Just another person overrating these Warriors.


Great argument.

Yeah, the Jazz would totally stop Curry, Durant and Thompson :lol:

There isn't a defense in history that would be able to stop then, and few that can even hope to contain it. The Jazz aren't one of those, stop using the nostalgia glasses or make some points instead of just using "overrating!!!" Over and over.
About 2018 Cavs:

euroleague wrote:His team would be considered a super-team in other eras, and that's why commentators like Charles Barkley criticize LBJ for his complaining. He has talent on his team, he just doesn't try during the regular season
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#525 » by OdomFan » Fri Oct 6, 2017 9:08 pm

Wrong again. They were about to lose to the Spurs in game 1 until Kawi got hurt yet some how they can run over every team in NBA history. You don't have a clue.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#526 » by JDRochholz » Mon May 6, 2019 9:54 pm

This thread really brings out the average age of this board.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#527 » by HEAT33 » Mon May 6, 2019 10:10 pm

Surprised haven’t heard a few “Jordan would be this eras DeRozan” lol I
EscapoTHB wrote:I think the 92 dream team would get beat by a lot of the top international teams today.

:lol:
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#528 » by nikster » Mon May 6, 2019 10:27 pm

OdomFan wrote:Wrong again. They were about to lose to the Spurs in game 1 until Kawi got hurt yet some how they can run over every team in NBA history. You don't have a clue.

yeah we have a 3/4 sample of them almost losing a game!
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#529 » by SinceGatlingWasARookie » Mon May 6, 2019 10:41 pm

DingleJerry wrote:And without looking specifically at teams in the playoffs/finals, the overall size and athleticism of the wings has drastically gone up over the last 25 years. Of course MJs athleticism was biggest advantage through the first 3 peat.



Nonsense.
It has gone up marginally.

What has gone up drastically is 3 point shooting skills.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#530 » by Dan Z » Mon May 6, 2019 10:42 pm

mudsak wrote:
Joker wrote:Here are the most lauded players from the 80's onward:
-Magic
-Bird
-Jordan
-Hakeem
-Shaq
-Kobe
-Duncan
-Lebron

The Bulls were too late for the Celtics-Laker era, and ended their reign before the Duncan-Shaq-Kobe era. Hakeem and the Rockets would've been Jordan's scariest opponent, but it never happened. If the Bulls had played the Rockets in the mid-90's or Spurs in the late 90's, that would've been interesting, because the Bulls never got an opponent of that caliber.


Can't help but be a homer on this comment, but... Stockton and Malone belong on your list... Stockton, all time assist leader... Malone, 2nd all time scoring leader (ahead of Jordon himself)... It's not like that team was composed of weak players, and Jordon went through them twice to earn rings. It's not like Jordon just walked his way through easy competitors to get those rings.


Also Barkley was league MVP in 1993 and that Suns team was good. MJ, and the Bulls, beat them in the finals.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#531 » by Tracymcgoaty » Mon May 6, 2019 11:07 pm

This is the same thing when People compare messi to Pelé..talent during peles time was not as good as it is now. Sports evolve talents are easier to find training is way different than it was during the 90s for the better. Players are in way better shape aswell.

Hell Barkley used to joke around saying before games he used to eat 3 big chicken legs at kfc and wash it down with diet coke.

Technology has gotten better and so has the way an athlete should take care of their body. Cryo chambers etc.

It's only normal to Think competition is better now than it was back then.


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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#532 » by nzahir » Mon May 6, 2019 11:56 pm

Compared to Bron? MJ competition was much less tough

MJ never beat a team with 3 all stars in same year. OKC and GSW were easily better than any team he beat. And obliviously MJ never faced a team like 2017-2018 GSW. Lebron was also unlucky in 2015 with huge injuries to Kyrie and Love.

91 Lakers were Magic and Worthy (who got hurt), but no more Kareem or Thompson
92 Blazers were Clyde and a bunch of good players, but no other stars. Not even sure if Clyde was better than Scottie. Weak team imo, easier than any finals team Lebron played
93 Suns were good, Charles, Dan, KJ, Chambers. Defense was weak though. Pushed them to 6 and took a Paxon GW to win G6.
96 Sonics were also very good, but bulls still the faves. Scottie was better than Gary or Kemp imo, got more mvp votes than those two as well.
97-98 Jazz were both very good teams as well. Went to 6 both times, and there was a huge reffing error in one of those years with shot clock violations against Jazz and helped Chi. MJ hit a GW in each series. Kerr hit one in G6 of 1997. So its unfair to say this wasn't a challenge

MJ faced some good teams obviously, but never played a team with more talent than him, unlike Lebron. KD joining GSW probably took 1-2 rings away from Lebron. Then the injuries in 2015. Could have 5-6 rings rn if things were more normal.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#533 » by LakerLegend » Mon May 6, 2019 11:58 pm

LeBron has had a cakewalk to the Finals since he went to Miami, playing tough competition in the earlier rounds wears you down.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#534 » by LKN » Tue May 7, 2019 12:14 am

The question is impossible to answer... and who cares anyways. MJ dominated his peers like no other player in modern NBA history.

His record/resume speaks for itself and requires no excuse making or explanations.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#535 » by red96 » Tue May 7, 2019 12:27 am

dpgcdr wrote:if he stayed 94, 95 they wouldn't have beaten Houston

Doubt it. It's incredibly hard for a team to keep the same level of intensity for that long a period(I've never seen it), and it's a fact that MJ's heart wasnt there, despite his extremely competative nature. And add to the fact that the Rockets got the better of the Bulls during that era, and they "had 0 answer for Hakeem". Jordan's own words. But we'll never know.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#536 » by HEAT33 » Tue May 7, 2019 12:52 am

Yeah his heart wasn’t there because his father was murdered and wanted to fulfill his fathers dream of him playing baseball.

If he didn’t get murdered, it’s hard for me to see he wouldn’t have the competitive nature going up against Houston. I believe Jordan could of won 5 or 6 straight as Grant wouldn’t have left etc
EscapoTHB wrote:I think the 92 dream team would get beat by a lot of the top international teams today.

:lol:
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#537 » by Sark » Tue May 7, 2019 1:03 am

nzahir wrote:Compared to Bron? MJ competition was much less tough

MJ never beat a team with 3 all stars in same year. OKC and GSW were easily better than any team he beat. And obliviously MJ never faced a team like 2017-2018 GSW. Lebron was also unlucky in 2015 with huge injuries to Kyrie and Love.

91 Lakers were Magic and Worthy (who got hurt), but no more Kareem or Thompson
92 Blazers were Clyde and a bunch of good players, but no other stars. Not even sure if Clyde was better than Scottie. Weak team imo, easier than any finals team Lebron played
93 Suns were good, Charles, Dan, KJ, Chambers. Defense was weak though. Pushed them to 6 and took a Paxon GW to win G6.
96 Sonics were also very good, but bulls still the faves. Scottie was better than Gary or Kemp imo, got more mvp votes than those two as well.
97-98 Jazz were both very good teams as well. Went to 6 both times, and there was a huge reffing error in one of those years with shot clock violations against Jazz and helped Chi. MJ hit a GW in each series. Kerr hit one in G6 of 1997. So its unfair to say this wasn't a challenge

MJ faced some good teams obviously, but never played a team with more talent than him, unlike Lebron. KD joining GSW probably took 1-2 rings away from Lebron. Then the injuries in 2015. Could have 5-6 rings rn if things were more normal.



89 Cavs had 3 All Stars in one year. Also 93 Suns would too, but KJ was hurt for too much of the year to make it.

Quite a few other teams had 2x All Stars as well.
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#538 » by HEAT33 » Tue May 7, 2019 1:07 am

Suns had a good team
Barkley
Tom Chambers
Thunder Dan
Ainge
Kurt Rambis
K Johnson
Cebaloss

If MJ retired that year and won, ppl be saying Suns would of beat the Bulls just like what they say with Houston
EscapoTHB wrote:I think the 92 dream team would get beat by a lot of the top international teams today.

:lol:
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#539 » by deneem4 » Tue May 7, 2019 1:23 am

kenwood3333 wrote:Jordan made his competitions look weak.


This
CONPARED TO HIS COMPETITION
He had kyrie skill level with the ball
MVP rose layup package
Westbrook motor and athleticism
Kwahi defense
Kd midrange (even though shorter)

The same way Lebron kd and Greek are game changers
Jordan was for his era..
It wasn’t the competition it was his combination of skill and athleticism
Pay your beals....or its lights out!!!
Bron, Bosh, Wade is like Mike, Hakeem, barkley...3 top 5 picks from same draft
mike, hakeem and Barkley on the same team!!!!
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Re: Did MJ really go against tougher competition? 

Post#540 » by Sark » Tue May 7, 2019 1:28 am

Number of All Stars faced is a really stupid argument anyway. The 2014 Spurs had 1 All Star, and that was the second best team Lebron ever faced. Meanwhile the Heat had 3 All Stars.

How well the team plays is important, not the number of All Stars.

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