Jordan wouldn't complain of being on the bench while the dream team started. He knew he played in the expanded NBA when teams were weakened. Give the other players the honor they justly deserve for playing when there were 6 to 8 super players on every team.
any person not naming Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the starting center doesn't know shit about the NBA
Titles don't mean anything when we're talking about players. Basketball is a team sport and he can't do it by himself. You think Jordan in his prime could do it on the current Cav's team? No way.
Lebron is always guarded the opposing team's best player and often attracts two or more defenders on him every play. Michael Jordan didn't get doubled or triple teamed as much as Lebron does. Also do you think that the defenders have also gotten better, bigger, and stronger over the past 10 or 20 years. Hell yes they have. Another thing about Jordan was that he has anther great player on the team, Scottie Pippen. Pippen is one of the greatest players to play the game and does Lebron have any? No.
Even though Lebron is listed as a forward he can transistion to a guard position easily. Lebron is more versitile. Compare Lebron to any forward or guard out there and there stats may be fairly close. But, think about how Lebron has to do so much more to make up for the lack of quality teamates he has on his side. Also think about how the NBA has evolved into a bigger and stronger league. Just because he no titles doesn't mean he isn't one the greatest player to play the game.
Also my five would be.
Guard - Johnson
Guard - Jordan
Forward - Lebron
Forward - Duncan
Center- Kareem
Also my five would be.
Guard - Johnson
Guard - Jordan
Forward - Lebron
Forward - Duncan
Center- Kareem
Also my five would be.
Guard - Johnson
Guard - Jordan
Forward - Lebron
Forward - Duncan
Center- Kareem
chili peppers wrote:
Titles don't mean anything when we're talking about players.
Yes, it means everything. Stats mean nothing without championships. It's how greata are measured against also rans.
It's what separates Shaq and Akeem from the Patrick Ewings of the world.
You are the product of ESPN propaganda and a complete idiot.
Jordan went through worse his first few years than James could imagine.
You need to learn something about the games history before you talk out of your ass. Now go play with your video games bonehead.
Also my five would be.
Guard - Johnson
Guard - Jordan
Forward - Lebron
Forward - Duncan
Center- Kareem
jordan was a career 51 percent shooter before his little stop with the wizards (which i don't really count). he was one of the most efficient scorers ever.
First of all, sorry about posting my top 5 many times.
And second. So does that mean that James Posey is a better player than Lebron since the Celtics won the title. Hell no. Basketball is a team sport.
Michael Jordan wouldn't have any titles if he didn't have a great player (Pippen) to support him.
Yes, Jordan was one of the most efficient scorers of all times. But, Lebron could have done the exact same thing if he was playing for the Bulls then.
3 Lakes, 2 Celts:
Kobe/Magic/Kareem
Havlicek/Bird
anyone that doesn't pick jordan is probably some hs kid who never got the chance to see him play. there is NO ONE in the nba now that can compare to him. bryant may a similar talent level, but he doesn't come close to utilizing it the way jordan did. jordan went seasons without having a game under 20 points. before his stop with the wizards, he was only held under double digits once. he was all nba defensive first time all but three or four seasons in his career. did you see how the celtics stopped kobe during the finals? the pistons of the late 80's were a MUCH better team defensively than this years celtics and they are said to have contained jordan... but jordan was still scoring over 30 points per game against them. jordan and his bulls would have swept this years celtics, with jordan averaging 35-40 per game. and don't give me this, "He had Pippen," talk. I liked Pippen, but let's be real... if it weren't for being on the same team as Jordan, nobody would even know who Pippen was at this point. He would have long been forgotten... probably would have been a couple time all-star but nothing beyond that.
Magic
Jordan
Kobe
Duncan
Kareem?
Question mark next to kareem because he only played hard on one end of the court. Russell could fill that spot, a case could even be made for Shaq during his prime...
Guard MJ
Guard Dr. J
Center Moses Malone
Forward Larry Bird
Forward Elvin Hayes
chili peppers wrote:
Titles don't mean anything when we're talking about players. Basketball is a team sport and he can't do it by himself. You think Jordan in his prime could do it on the current Cav's team? No way.
Lebron is always guarded the opposing team's best player and often attracts two or more defenders on him every play. Michael Jordan didn't get doubled or triple teamed as much as Lebron does. Also do you think that the defenders have also gotten better, bigger, and stronger over the past 10 or 20 years. Hell yes they have. Another thing about Jordan was that he has anther great player on the team, Scottie Pippen. Pippen is one of the greatest players to play the game and does Lebron have any? No.
Even though Lebron is listed as a forward he can transistion to a guard position easily. Lebron is more versitile. Compare Lebron to any forward or guard out there and there stats may be fairly close. But, think about how Lebron has to do so much more to make up for the lack of quality teamates he has on his side. Also think about how the NBA has evolved into a bigger and stronger league. Just because he no titles doesn't mean he isn't one the greatest player to play the game.
OK, Lebron has done some things with a crappy team...so did Jordan before the titles. Lebron's teammates might suck on the offensive side, but they are a great defensive team, and that's not just him. When a good defensive team like this year's Celtics goes against Lebron or Kobe in a 7 game series for that matter they can limit either guy to less than 30 and sub 40% shooting aside from one or two games. I didn't see that happening as much with MJ. Granted, the D is better in general, but 10 teams? were over 100ppg this season or so. We'll see how good Lebron is in 2010-2012. I already think he's better all around than Kobe, but that's just me. Still, I had Kobe on my team because of his ability to close out games and give instant offense. Last second shot, I want Bird, Kobe or Jordan taking it. IF the officials are swallowing their whistles I don't want Lebron driving it against a team with good help D.
Anyone who doesn't pick Kobe is some middle school dye-statter who's never watched the real NBA play and don't realize that Kobe is the greatest player who has ever played professional basketball. Look how Kobe has brought back the Lakers and almost won this year.
Here is the definitive list. Let all debate cease.
PG--John Stockton. This one's a close call, but Stockton was the consummate floor general (all-time assists leader by far), a great defender (all-time steals leader as well I believe), and an extremely high percentage shooter on top of everything else.
SG--Michael Jordan. Best scorer ever, and not just because he took a lot of shots (very high shooting percentage as pointed out by others, and decent from 3-point range too), and a great defender.
SF--Larry Bird. LeBron is close, but Bird was, statistically, a better rebounder, defender, and shooter.
PF--I agree with everyone else that this is historically the weakest position, but the best option is without a doubt Tim Duncan. Extremely efficient, great in all facets of the game.
C--Shaq. I know there have been a lot of great centers, but people forget how unstoppable he was in his prime; there has never been player with his combination of size, strength, and explosiveness. Wilt was the greatest of his time, but he dominated against a league in which no one else had his physical tools, and I can't help but think Shaq would have been better than him had they played at the same time, if only because Shaq was/is so much bigger and stronger (320+ lbs. vs. 275 lbs.). And Wilt couldn't shoot free throws either.
Pippen is on the list of 50 greatest players. Was named to 10 All defensive team honors, 8 All defensive teams, and 3 all star teams. One of 4 players to have his jersey retired for the Chicago Bulls. Does that sound like a chump to be? No way, thats an all-timer.
Okay then, how did he perform without Jordan at his side? His first year without Jordan he earned the All Star MVP award, led the league in steals, and had his best season stat-wise while leading the bulls in scoring and assists. His 49.1% field goal shooting and 32% from the 3 point line was career bests for him. He also finished 3rd in MVP honors that year. More importantly the Bulls finished the year with 55 wins, which is ONLY 2 less than with Jordan. The next season, Jordan would return for the final 17 games of the season. Even though Jordan returned to the team, Pippen would lead the bulls in every major statistical category: assists, rebounds, points, steals, and blocks; Pippen is one of only five players in NBA history to accomplish this feat.
Other stats to consider. Holds NBA records for Assists by a forward, Steals by a forward, Three point field goals made during a single NBA Finals game, playoff steals during career, and One of three players in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a single season.
chili peppers wrote:
Pippen is on the list of 50 greatest players. Was named to 10 All defensive team honors, 8 All defensive teams, and 3 all star teams. One of 4 players to have his jersey retired for the Chicago Bulls. Does that sound like a chump to be? No way, thats an all-timer.
Okay then, how did he perform without Jordan at his side? His first year without Jordan he earned the All Star MVP award, led the league in steals, and had his best season stat-wise while leading the bulls in scoring and assists. His 49.1% field goal shooting and 32% from the 3 point line was career bests for him. He also finished 3rd in MVP honors that year. More importantly the Bulls finished the year with 55 wins, which is ONLY 2 less than with Jordan. The next season, Jordan would return for the final 17 games of the season. Even though Jordan returned to the team, Pippen would lead the bulls in every major statistical category: assists, rebounds, points, steals, and blocks; Pippen is one of only five players in NBA history to accomplish this feat.
Other stats to consider. Holds NBA records for Assists by a forward, Steals by a forward, Three point field goals made during a single NBA Finals game, playoff steals during career, and One of three players in NBA history to record 200 steals and 100 blocks in a single season.
What is the point of this post other than to demonstrate your cut and paste skills from Wikipedia? Is this somehow supposed to prove that Jordan is not the greatest player of all time?