Will Bron END UP the GOAT?
- Thread starter 829305
- Start date
No doubt. Probably a close game if Lebron didn't even play. Maybe Cavs by a point?
Lebron was missing his best player. And if you chose your top 5 players between both teams after Lebron, could easily see picking all Celtics.
The Pierce, Garnett, Rondo, Allen team was not great?
Ray in Miami was essentially what Korver is this year for Cleveland. Nearly identical numbers, yet people act like he was the man in Miami. Too funny.
I would love to see Kobe, LeBron, and anyone else take almost 2 years off from professional basket and come back and lead a ok but not great team to the NBA Finals. Bulls were 32-31 and the 9th seed when Jordan returned. Not a good team. When Jordan returned they went 13-4 the 17 games after Jordan returned and got the 5th seed.
I grew up a Bulls fan, watching Jordan. I'm not a Lebron fan nor a Lebron hater. With that said I still got to rank Jordan ahead of Lebron but there is no denying that Lebron has at least made it debatable and he isn't even done yet.
Now with that said, if you switch teams and each other played in each other's era. How many championships do you think Jordan has and how many do you think Lebron has?
Now with that said, if you switch teams and each other played in each other's era. How many championships do you think Jordan has and how many do you think Lebron has?
32-31? What do you suspect these Cavs would be if Lebron were out? I doubt they win 32 for the season.
The guy had played 10 seasons. You really think he can't get ready in 18 games? In his second NBA season, he also played only 18 games. Difference was instead of coming back from PLAYING baseball, he came back from a broken foot.
He was so out of sorts he scored 112 points in his first 2 playoff games against the Celtics.
Come on.
I think this era thing is overblown. Each would figure it out and be dominant in the other era. and I'm old enough to have seen MJs entire career.
This no handchecking rule some think we have now that would help MJ is nonsense. Sure, they made a "rule" and just like the no flopping rule or no arguing with refs it lasted a few months and went away.
I don't think MJ would be as dominant in this era. I think he'd be in the same tier of the group of guys like Westbrook, Durant, Harden, Curry, Davis. I think Lebron would still clearly be the best.
Guys are faster and more athletic now thanks to better resources and more available knowledge in general.
That a player from 20 years ago would still manage to be in the top 10 in the current NBA still says a lot about him though.
Guys are faster and more athletic now thanks to better resources and more available knowledge in general.
That a player from 20 years ago would still manage to be in the top 10 in the current NBA still says a lot about him though.
Come on man. That 32-31 team showed that Jordan didn't just join some great team and fail to make the Finals that year. Wasn't in any way comparing that to LeBron or the Cavs so don't go that route. I was comparing conditioning and rust. Not the teams they were on.
Also yes they would struggle to get back to their full ability in 18 games after almost 2 years off. Many players at the time even said that wasn't the same Michael Jordan in 1995 and he wasn't truly back until 1996. Baseball isn't anywhere close to the same conditioning as basketball.
Also Jordan coming back from the foot injury was 4 months off, practicing when cleared and at the age of 23. Jordan when he returned from retirement was after 21 months off and at the age of 32 coming from a sport with completely different conditioning. That is a huge difference. Jordan when he came from retirement had some huge games but also had some struggles because his timing and conditioning was off.
LeBron is the most physically talented player the NBA has every seen but he's still human. It would take more than 20 games for LeBron to get back into game conditioning, timing, and comfort level with teammates after almost 2 years off.
Guys are more athletic now, but MJ's athleticism was off the charts.
I’ll see your 5 games and raise you, LeBron and Scottie and Rodman and Kukoc and company dispatch this Boston team in 4 games.
So some of the greatest players of all time would be a shell of themselves in today's game?
I respectfully disagree with that line of thinking.
Tyson, Payton, Jordan, Montana, Nolan Ryan. etc.
I respectfully disagree with that line of thinking.
Tyson, Payton, Jordan, Montana, Nolan Ryan. etc.
LeBron on Iggy
Harper (great defender) on Curry
Pippen (league’s best defender) on KD
Rodman on Draymond (how much fun would this be?)
Kukoc on Klay
Bron’s Bulls take it in 6.
Harper (great defender) on Curry
Pippen (league’s best defender) on KD
Rodman on Draymond (how much fun would this be?)
Kukoc on Klay
Bron’s Bulls take it in 6.
But Harper, Pippen, Rodman, and Kukoc wouldn't be near the role players in today's game. They'd be lucky to be as good as Lebrons role players.
Jordon wouldn't be as good in today's game, but his role players would.
That was the season that he came out of retirement and he only played in 17 games that season.
That's interesting. I think people get it in their minds that MJ was the greatest ever forever and don't consider any other possibility. I guess both could be true.
But Harper, Pippen, Rodman, and Kukoc wouldn't be near the role players in today's game. They'd be lucky to be as good as Lebrons role players.
Jordon wouldn't be as good in today's game, but his role players would.
Your post is total BS. No one today could check Jordan and he was also a lock down defender. Defenses back in the day were more physical. If Jordan played today he’d average 40 a game.
A little surprised as you don't strike me as one of those irrational posters who pays no attention to an opposing viewpoint.
Yes, they were 32-31.. You really think THIS Cavs team could play around .500 without Lebron? How about win 55 as the Bulls did the previous season without him? You claim not to be comparing, but I'm showing you the difference and it's a flawed argument by you.
How many games do you think they play in training camp to get ready? 10? And they usually skip half or more. Are you thinking MJ was not playing basketball at all during his "retirement" to stay in shape?
Jordan, when he played full seasons, also had some huge games and some where he wasn't his best (though some MJ lovers don't think those games exist...not saying you are one).
Yeah. with his Bulls' team. when MJ played teams who had more talent he usually
lost.
18 and comical so many think this is not enough time to get in shape......but 9-10 games in preseason where he barely plays can do it.
And he was playing baseball. So, the legs were rested, buuuut he couldn’t get into basketball shape? The excuses are laughable. MJ crowd just wants to pretend that season didn’t exist. We get it.
I think much more the latter, but you are right.
It's weird so many cannot appreciate what Lebron has done without a "yeah but MJ...." reply
I’m guilty of this on the Bron side, but I’ve been living in MJ Land my entire life, so I’m defensive/scarred.
sure it is. Never mind players are probably bigger, faster and stronger. If not, they certainly have not gone down in these areas.
Are you one of the "but there is no handchecking" guys?
Newsflash - there is handchecking allowed in the NBA. Because they once said it was outlawed does not mean that lasted long. Or do you believe there is still a no flopping rule or no arguing with referee rule?
Ironic as you continually ignore the opposing viewpoint and miss what others are trying to state.
His point is Jordan came back to a deeply flawed team on little rest. Bringing up the Cavs is non-sensical. But even so, it would be reasonable that this team could be .500 in the East without Lebron.
He needed more time than just a few games to get ready. He had been all-in on baseball. If you understand Jordan, he doesn't half-ass anything and practices as hard as he plays. He was notorious for taking ungodly amounts of batting practice. Getting 400-500 swings a day or until his hands bled. He tried to make up for years of not seeing pitching in a season. Everything he had been doing was for baseball, flipping the switch back to basketball wasn't so easy.
This Cavs team would be 20-52 at best without Bron, similar to every team he’s left. They wouldn’t crash the ECF like the MJ-less Bulls did. We know that.
Believe what you wanna but no one today couldn’t guard Jordan. Like I said before defense in today’s game is less physical back when Jordan played. If you disagree with that then you were to young to see him play in his prime or you’re not as knowledgeable as you think you are.
Similar threads
