DCasey91 wrote:migya wrote:The4thHorseman wrote:In what world do we consider a 16yr player still in his prime, regardless of the sport??
You don't think MJ walking away from the game "in his prime" didn't help him mentally and physically when he decided to return 22mos. later? He said himself he was gassed even before the 93 Finals was over. Him walking away in his prime is definitely a blemish as is after 1998. Strange that a player who was MVP and FMVP would walk away again after only 3 consecutive seasons, but we both know that Phil and Scottie were leaving and MJ had no chance to defende the Bulls title in 99'
Three or four months off every year is alot of time off. Jordan was rusty and out of shape when he returned in 95.He performed cost to his usual level in the playoffs. After 98 he was at retirement age.
Lebron taking games off in this load management farce is having a less load every year.
See another thing that I want to point out here very very clearly.
Was he rusty in 95? I don’t hold it against MJ but I do hold it against his fans not accepting the once again double standard.
Was there a huge difference between MJ 95-96? No there isn’t check the stats if you must.
MJ lost in 95’ (Poster mentioned Grant not being that great well Magic had Grant... Bull didn’t have Rodman, then Rodman went ham in 96 of course, Grant injured on the Magic in 96).
So here it is:
MJ 95 - It’s a testament to his greatness to be even to play at this absurd level
But he lost?
No he was rusty and getting back into shape. Okay what about 96 then? Ah yes more match fit.
But in 95 he was putting up MVP numbers? Doesn’t matter was rusty doesn’t count.
You can’t have a civilized discussion between the two because both sides can’t admit flawed logic lol.
Flip the scenario to Lebron. The narrative would be a lot worse
Which player is more heavily scrutinized? Pretty clear to me. Micro hammered at every opportunity
Now let’s go back pre 91
So fans want to admit the media’s certain L word tag to Mj as it was to LBJ?
Now look at the media today. Those things in the past would be brought up so much more in any of these discussions but they barely do.
It’s called narrative.
Lebron is literally the last player to talk about longevity. He is going to trounce everybody on quality bar Kareem and is certainly right there already.
He already has a case now per value at the greatest ever accrued. And he hasn’t even started the Duncan/Garnett/Kareem/Wilt backend transition. He was the best player in the 2020 finals ffs.
MJ burned the candles at both ends. You have about 11.5 seasons to work off from as his body of work.
At some point in time you can rightfully question MJ’s longevity.... it’s 11.5 seasons!
Is it just me or is there fallacies in both paragraphs.
Jordan played 7 seasons with a championship level roster. Out of those 7 years he won the title 6 times. The one year he didn't win was a year with some significant extenuating circumstances.
Thats not "narrative". That's actually what happened. Don't you think that little tidbit is important to note? Its not that anyone denies that MJ lost in 95 we just make sure to note the context. Its not that it doesn't count its just how much. I would argue not much considering he only played a handful of games that season.
You bring up longevity and point out MJ only played 11 prime seasons. Well longevity works both ways. The longer Lebron plays without matching Jordan's achievements the worse it begins to look for Lebron. It begins to highlight and strengthen Jordan's argument for peak over longevity. Lebron may end up playing twice as long with half the championships. If Lebron puts in 20 yrs vs Jordan's 11 and only bests him in all star selections, all nba teams, and accumulative stats but has less everything else then who really had more career value? 6 titles in 11yrs or 3 titles in 20yrs?
