Mikal Bridges says LeBron would get 90 a game against 86' Celtics (Burning Bridges ?)

[freethedevil]

Just thought of the proper way to think about those Celtics against any LeBron-led team we've seen.

It would be like the 2014 Spurs against the 2014 Heat.

Except the celtics passing and movement wasn't on par with the spurs. Nor did they have the spurs spacing/shooting.

[freethedevil]

Going by the ''i'd rather take the word of an NBA player than a realgm'er'' logic...Ouf this is where it gets hard...

Anyone who cites opinions over arguments lacks the capacity to think freely. It's really that simple.

[freethedevil]

Then why didn't Lebron go automatic 30 and 10 vs. the Mavs?

Because Lebron hasn't been an identical player throughout his career?

[DavidSterned]

Just thought of the proper way to think about those Celtics against any LeBron-led team we've seen.

It would be like the 2014 Spurs against the 2014 Heat.

Except the celtics passing and movement wasn't on par with the spurs. Nor did they have the spurs spacing/shooting.

2014 Spurs averaged 25.2 APG on 40.6 FG/G, or a percentage of 62.1% of team makes off of assists

1986 Celtics averaged 29.1 APG on 45.3 FG/G, or a percentage of 64.2% of team makes off of assists

Both teams had the highest 3P% in the league in their respective seasons. Boston obviously shot way less of them and would space the floor differently nowadays with the personnel they had.

[kingr]

Kids 40 years from now: "The best player in our era could easily average 90ppg against the 2020 Lakers and Bucks!"

Maybe they would be right... There's no defense lol.

[r0drig0lac]

Are y'all seriously debating the merits of this, someone claiming a player would average 90 a game You think this claim warrants a serious rebuttal?

this, the clown probably thinks he's better than Larry Bird or something

[Pennebaker]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

[Tracymcgoaty]

It's ok to suggest James would've done well or stte. Lebron's great, after all.

But to go to the extreme like that just makes him look disrespectful and under-informed, to put it nicely.

It's disrespectful of Mikal to say that because it disrespects the older generation of players.

But it's completely fine for people to say Michael would average 50ppg in todays NBA on like 70%..That in now way is spitting on players today.

You know i heard a funny thing today on ESPN..I heard Max basically make Harden sound like a scrub when comparing him to mike on offense...They basically spat on Harden on that segment making him sound like a scrub and not one of the best offensive talents this league has ever seen. Ooooh if Harden can average 35ppg then mike is easily averaging over 40!!

[AussieCeltic]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

Why is everyone bringing up his size when 5'10 180lb JJ Barea shut him down on the 8th best defensive rated team from that year.

You don't think the 2nd or 3rd greatest team of all time with the leagues best defense would be able to stop Lebron? I don't doubt he could drop 30 on them but to say 90 or anything close to what MJ did is just crazy

[so_bored]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

You're so blinded it's ridiculous. Lebron, as big as he is, plays a very finesses game. He rarely challenges the opposing centers near the rim, he always wants them cleared out. Whereas MJ will try to dunk on you no matter the size. Lebron doesn't like to bang bodies in the post. He doesn't even really try to fight for rebounds. He would not flourish in the 80's let alone more physical 90's. He has already shown he has trouble against shot blockers ala Hibbert, Tyson Chandler etc. 80's and 90's teams had multiple 7 footers at all times. No way he would shoot 65%+ around the rim like he is today. MJ bulked up because of all the illegal physical beating the Pistons gave him, not because he struggle to get to the rim. What a joke.

[AussieCeltic]

why do people act like LeBron is not a freight train and wont get through McHale just like people walk through turnstile gates?

btw Jordan scored 19pts against them in the next game and I guarantee that wouldn't ever happen to LeBron, he would be an automatic 30 and 10 assists

You guarantee that something that has already happened to young LeBron would never happen to him? 22 year old LeBron was not an automatic 30/10 against any defense in the post-season.

In the 2007 playoffs, the Cavs lost game 1 vs the 41-41 Nets ranked 15th in Ortg, he had 18 points. Heck, after he dropped 48 on the Pistons, he had 20 pts on 3/11 FG. They win the game, but that's because his team was better than what Jordan had in 86 and the opponent was much inferior.

The Celtics were 1st in Drtg in 85-86, they gave up 102.6 pts/100. The 06-07 Pistons were 7th in Drtg and gave up 104.2 pts/100.

Lebron is a great player, but Jordan is a superior individual scorer and certainly was more so when both were younger. LeBron's jumpshooting was very inconsistent and he didn't trust it, that was even true with him part of the way into his prime let alone at 22. Jordan vs Boston that season is more comparable to LeBron vs the Spurs in the finals if we're actually talking about the level of the team and their level of defense.

The Celtics had Parish and Walton in the middle, they would probably put someone like DJ on him, but even McHale would be fine, because against 22 year old LeBron you're playing off him, you know the help will be there and you're making him a shooter. He was not a dynamic scorer at that stage, Jordan was much more so. He would almost certainly have a more difficult time against the Celtics than Jordan at that age with that level of a supporting cast.

None of that is a dig against LeBron, it's simply a reality of comparing both players at that stage in their careers and understanding their skillset.

I guaranteed that it would never happen to LeBron playing against the 86 Celtics

all you need to do is clear everyone out and he will go to work, its not going to look as cute as jordan but its going to look like a guy a generation ahead of everyone else

Clear everyone out? Guys barely shot 3's back then. The paint would be packed, they'd funnel Lebron into guys like Walton/Parish/Mchale.. Lebron would still get buckets because he's a great player but I have doubts he'd be able to get to 40 against this team let alone average 90

[-TheDocOfDenial]

Then why didn't Lebron go automatic 30 and 10 vs. the Mavs?

Because Lebron hasn't been an identical player throughout his career?

So why didn't LeBron go off for 30 and 10 all of last season and make the playoffs?

[TheGOATRises007]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

I sure hope you get paid for some of the tripe you write.

That bolded statement is nonsensical.

[KyRo23]

Then why didn't Lebron go automatic 30 and 10 vs. the Mavs?

Because Lebron hasn't been an identical player throughout his career?

So why didn't LeBron go off for 30 and 10 all of last season and make the playoffs?

Because he was injured lmfao he was averaging almost 26 8 and 11 this season bruh

[fanofthegreats]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

You're so blinded it's ridiculous. Lebron, as big as he is, plays a very finesses game. He rarely challenges the opposing centers near the rim, he always wants them cleared out. Whereas MJ will try to dunk on you no matter the size. Lebron doesn't like to bang bodies in the post. He doesn't even really try to fight for rebounds. He would not flourish in the 80's let alone more physical 90's. He has already shown he has trouble against shot blockers ala Hibbert, Tyson Chandler etc. 80's and 90's teams had multiple 7 footers at all times. No way he would shoot 65%+ around the rim like he is today. MJ bulked up because of all the illegal physical beating the Pistons gave him, not because he struggle to get to the rim. What a joke.

Your totally right. A four time league MVP would not flourish in the 80s.

[Drakeem]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

Why is everyone bringing up his size when 5'10 180lb JJ Barea shut him down on the 8th best defensive rated team from that year.

You don't think the 2nd or 3rd greatest team of all time with the leagues best defense would be able to stop Lebron? I don't doubt he could drop 30 on them but to say 90 or anything close to what MJ did is just crazy

Jesus Christ, it's like people forget about what an exaggeration is when it comes to their favourite player of all time .

I don't think he actually meant he would drop 90 every game, and I really hope you guys are trolling vs taking him seriously with the number he threw out there.

Two, I actually think todays rules hold Bron back more than anything else. This era rewards speed and shooting, and has basically thrown strength to the wayside. Think of hand checking being taken away, lack of post up play, no hard fouls, etc.

Imagine a 6 foot 8, 270 pound dude who runs like a gazzlle not having to worry about collecting a foul just because he's bigger than the other person? Imagine he got to throw the Malone elbows, throw people on the ground like the Pistons did, and be able to shove his knee into everyone every time he went down the lane? It would be insanity.

Jordan had to bulk up to deal with teams like the Pistons and the way they play. If we take Bron and put him in that era, teams would have to bulk up to be able to HACK HIM. Yes, it would lack a certain grace and finesse, but does it matter when the ball goes in the basket at the end of the day?

The 80s and 90s enabled physically stronger people to exert their will more because of how everything was officiated. Imagine Bron never having to worry about a charge and having to step around someone, or being called for a blocking foul when he gets in your way? That dude would be a PROBLEM.

I also think MJ would benefit from certain things in this era, because the NBA today rewards athletic, smaller guards.

[Saint Lazarus]

I know everyone is mostly focused on the Jordan vs Lebron aspect of the comment, but as a Celtics fan, this was just a straight up disrespectful post.

Bridges is basically implying that the 86 Celtics, generally considered to be a top 2 or 3 team of all time, was just a bunch of milk men and plumbers that would get abused by modern players.

[Plutonashfan]

They fail to recognize what Mike would do in this era.
Mikal would not even be allowed to guard MJ, he would be glued to the bench.

Dude wouldn't be allowed to sniff his jock-strap.

[Pennebaker]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

Why is everyone bringing up his size when 5'10 180lb JJ Barea shut him down on the 8th best defensive rated team from that year.

You don't think the 2nd or 3rd greatest team of all time with the leagues best defense would be able to stop Lebron? I don't doubt he could drop 30 on them but to say 90 or anything close to what MJ did is just crazy

Why is everyone acting like Barea shut someone down and that it wasnt just all about LeBron. Dont be silly.

And in basketball size and strength absolutely matters. Just ask MJ, who spent countless hours in the weight room trying to get bigger and stronger.

MJ started out at 190-195 pounds and he kept getting his butt kicked. As he said in The Last Dance he was tired of getting pushed around so he hit the weight room.

By 1996 he was around 220 lbs and harder to push around - harder to stop.

[OdomFan]

Bridges is exaggerating, but I think the larger point he’s making, which is accurate, is that there wasn’t a team in the 80’s that would’ve been able to stop LeBron James, who has all the guard skills and athleticism you could ever want in a massive 6’9 260 pound body that could dominate from every spot on the floor.

That type of mutant, sci-fi, superhero player only existed in imaginations in the 1980s.

Relative to LeBron, Jordan was small and frail. In 1986 MJ was 6'5 195 pounds. MJ even looks tiny in his highlights from 1986.

Teams could beat MJ by being physical with him and it worked famously.

It forced MJ to hit the weight room to get strong and little bit more like Bron (tho no amount of weightlifting could turn MJ into LBJ).

Next (at the behest of Phil Jackson) MJ would go on to further change his game to become more of a team player... ala LeBron James.

Only after MJ did those things (become more like Bron) did he start to become a winning player.

You're so blinded it's ridiculous. Lebron, as big as he is, plays a very finesses game. He rarely challenges the opposing centers near the rim, he always wants them cleared out. Whereas MJ will try to dunk on you no matter the size. Lebron doesn't like to bang bodies in the post. He doesn't even really try to fight for rebounds. He would not flourish in the 80's let alone more physical 90's. He has already shown he has trouble against shot blockers ala Hibbert, Tyson Chandler etc. 80's and 90's teams had multiple 7 footers at all times. No way he would shoot 65%+ around the rim like he is today. MJ bulked up because of all the illegal physical beating the Pistons gave him, not because he struggle to get to the rim. What a joke.

Your totally right. A four time league MVP would not flourish in the 80s.

He won four mvps in a different era. Nobody is saying He wouldn't be good, but he'd definitely be challenged more in the 80s and 90s than ever. Especially everytime he tries to drive in for a dunk.