1996 Bulls vs 2017 Warriors

[HFCS]

And this is why LeBron is better. He almost beat the Warriors with Mathew Delladedova as his second best player. He dragged the 07 Cavs to the finals with... Larry Hughs? or Drew Gooden? as his second best player.

Don't give me that ******** about him being undefeated in the finals. At least LeBron made it there regularly in a much tougher division. The East back in Jordan's era was a teddy bear.

Deadeye’s arguments about warriors vs bulls makes some sense.

What you are saying is pure and utter nonsense. I could start talking unicorns and Bigfoot and we’d be on a similar wavelength. For starters the ECF was much harder than the Finals in the vast majority of MJ’s seasons including early years when he didn’t make it to ECF. Like you are exact opposite of reality in that. It was Kobe/Shaq/Spurs/Nash/Dirk era where the west became loaded.

 

[HFCS]

I’m not sure I agree that this is what makes Jordan the GOAT. If he is the GOAT, it’s because he was able to be the best scorer in the league and one of the best defenders in the league for so many years…and averaged 30 points per game and made 50% of his shots…as a guard. He was also absolutely tenacious.

But what makes a player the GOAT is hard to nail down. LeBron has been a top 5 player in the NBA for a long time. His consistency and longevity are super impressive.

LeBron had a Finals where he played like total dog $*** compared to his own regular season. MJ had nothing like that. That’s enough. The bar is that ridiculously high.

 

[HFCS]

The Bulls bigs would have gotten cooked in the modern NBA. That being said Jordan would have been even better than he was in the 90s. Impossible to keep out of the paint and you know he would have worked in his 3 ball until it was unstoppable.

For their era it was an intentional strategy. 18 big somewhat unskilled fouls so a guy like Malone couldn’t just elbow and knee you to death.

Agree w MJ and his three ball, it was the era where whomever dominated at the rim won. Hakeem also would be an insane shooter in today’s game, beautiful stroke on his shot. In terms of “what ifs” the ultimate one may be what if Hakeem started playing at 9 instead of at 18. He barely knew the sport when he arrived at Houston, yet became best defender of all time and a top 40 offensive player.

 

[CycloneSpinning]

LeBron had a Finals where he played like total dog $*** compared to his own regular season. MJ had nothing like that. That’s enough. The bar is that ridiculously high.

Fair enough. MJ had multiple seasons that have never been replicated. In my opinion he probably is the greatest ever. Had he not taken the break to play baseball (in his prime), it might be undeniable. LeBron, like Kareem, has been great for a really long time…and that has allowed him to accumulate some amazing career stats.

It also might be easier to accumulate offensive stats in this era…

 

[BryceC]

Had a conversation with a guy who was on the #1 team in Iowa in 1989. Said if they played teams now, they’d get killed. Said also if the teams now were brought back to ‘89, they’d also get killed.

This was Iowa high school sports we’re talking about but his point was just that it’s a different game now.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Anybody who was able to watch Jordan and Lebron (as adult viewers) should know that Jordan was better. Not even close really. It's just dumb to argue otherwise. LOL.....

You guys couldn't see **** on your small little 240p TVs. That's why it looked so impressive.

What did you really see watching him play? (Pre title runs)

I'll remind you: Ball hog. Solo artist. Selfish. Talented, but not a winner.

When the Bulls had a team where Jordan was "the" guy, they couldn't make it out of the first round. Pippen and Phil Jackson changed it.

 

[VeloClone]

Probably, but he would also have to deal with multiple help defenders that he didn't with the old illegal defense rules. The Bulls starting lineup would be unplayable in today's NBA, there would be no spacing at all on offense with Longley, Harper and Rodman out there.

Pfft. The Bulls had a PF in Dickey Simpkins and a C in Bill Wennington who were both perfect from the arc on the season! They would just play them more.

 

[AllInForISU]

You guys couldn't see **** on your small little 240p TVs. That's why it looked so impressive.

What did you really see watching him play? (Pre title runs)

I'll remind you: Ball hog. Solo artist. Selfish. Talented, but not a winner.

When the Bulls had a team where Jordan was "the" guy, they couldn't make it out of the first round. Pippen and Phil Jackson changed it.

Didn’t LeBron have to surround himself with at least 2 future hall of fame players (not including himself) to win his first couple championships?

Pretty sure he then forced the Cavs to trade Wiggins for Love to make another “Big 3”? And while not shoo-ins I’d guess those 2 will be seriously considered at least for HOF nods.

Then didn’t he miss the playoffs when he was by himself essentially that first year on the Lakers? But I will say, when they added 2 future HOF players that next offseason, they won another championship, but even with HOF caliber teammates, hasn’t been close since.

Seems like when LeBron doesn’t have good players helping him out, he’s not winning championships either.

 

[IASTATE07]

The bubble championship has a big ol asterisk.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

The bubble championship has a big ol asterisk.

An asterisk as the hardest NBA championship ever? Yea agreed

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Didn’t LeBron have to surround himself with at least 2 future hall of fame players (not including himself) to win his first couple championships?

Pretty sure he then forced the Cavs to trade Wiggins for Love to make another “Big 3”? And while not shoo-ins I’d guess those 2 will be seriously considered at least for HOF nods.

Then didn’t he miss the playoffs when he was by himself essentially that first year on the Lakers? But I will say, when they added 2 future HOF players that next offseason, they won another championship, but even with HOF caliber teammates, hasn’t been close since.

Seems like when LeBron doesn’t have good players helping him out, he’s not winning championships either.

Oh no he wanted to play with friends that are good and have a blast in Miami balling out.

 

[IASTATE07]

An asterisk as the hardest NBA championship ever? Yea agreed

I have never known you to have a sense of humor, but that was pretty good.

 

[AllInForISU]

Oh no he wanted to play with friends that are good and have a blast in Miami balling out.

Just goes to show Scottie Pippen argument for Jordan goes right out the window when you consider the help LeBron had to get.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Just goes to show Scottie Pippen argument for Jordan goes right out the window when you consider the help LeBron had to get.

Lebron made it to the finals with Larry Hughs as his #2. He almost beat the 72-9 warriors with Matthew Delladedova as his #2.

Jordan couldn't even get out of the first round without help.

 

[Gonzo]

Just goes to show Scottie Pippen argument for Jordan goes right out the window when you consider the help LeBron had to get.

It's pointless, they'll never get it. Lol.