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Laimbeer: No question I'd take Bron over Jordan
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Last: 9 yr ago by Iowaggie
quote:quote:
There's no question I would take LeBron James. He can do more. Michael Jordan could score and make big shots and look spectacular at times with wild flying dunks, but LeBron can get you 18 rebounds, get you 15 assists or score 50 if he wants to. The triple threat that he poses is just phenomenal, and the size, he just physically dominates. It's impressive.quote:
Look at what LeBron has in the Finals right now. Could anybody else in the world have led this team of role players to the Finals right now? I don't think so. Jordan could not have led this team to the Finals. LeBron came into the league knowing how to play basketball and involve his teammates. Jordan had to learn that, and they had to assemble some great teammates around him in order for him to win.
quote:In the East? Yeah, I think you could remove Bron and place lots of stars in their prime and get there.
Could anybody else in the world have led this team of role players to the Finals right now? I don't think so.
First, with the longer break between the Conference and NBA Finals, I'm expecting more of this discussion.
Second, I would have dismissed this discussion a few years ago, but now...
Second, I would have dismissed this discussion a few years ago, but now...
I think the Cavs still get to the Finals if you replace Lebron with prime Jordan, but it's probably a lot tougher. Some of that is just positional... Jordan and Irving give you two scoring guards while Lebron and Irving give you a scoring guard and a forward. Of course, once you get away from talking about pure talent to position/fit, you have to acknowledge that Lebron is more of a power point coach forward. He can win the matchup at any position but center (which is why the acquisition of Mozgov was more important than it may appear on the surface) and adjust the team's strategy on the fly.
I don't think replacing Lebron with Jordan would net you 5 finals and 2+ rings in the last five years.
I don't think replacing Lebron with Jordan would net you 5 finals and 2+ rings in the last five years.
Agree with a lot of that.
I think if I had a team pretty much built, and just needed my superstar, I take Jordan.
If I have an empty slate and need to build a team, I take Lebron.
If that makes any kind of sense.
I think if I had a team pretty much built, and just needed my superstar, I take Jordan.
If I have an empty slate and need to build a team, I take Lebron.
If that makes any kind of sense.
quote:
I think the Cavs still get to the Finals if you replace Lebron with prime Jordan, but it's probably a lot tougher. Some of that is just positional... Jordan and Irving give you two scoring guards while Lebron and Irving give you a scoring guard and a forward. Of course, once you get away from talking about pure talent to position/fit, you have to acknowledge that Lebron is more of a power point coach forward. He can win the matchup at any position but center (which is why the acquisition of Mozgov was more important than it may appear on the surface) and adjust the team's strategy on the fly.
I don't think replacing Lebron with Jordan would net you 5 finals and 2+ rings in the last five years.
I think you could replace 2015 Bron with 2003 Duncan or 2000 Shaq or 1995 Hakeem or a number of other players and you make the Finals this year in the East facing the LeBron's competition.
I think I get what you're going for, but I tend to think that if you're in a situation where PF/C is already a strength, you go with Jordan. If guard is a strength or your talent level is pretty even 1-5, I go with Lebron because he erases mismatches generated by talent level variance by position on other teams.
But we're talking about the two most talented players ever, so if the rest of your team is decent you're going to win titles with either of them.
But we're talking about the two most talented players ever, so if the rest of your team is decent you're going to win titles with either of them.
You can replace dang near any player on any team with the players you mentioned and make the Finals in the East today.
quote:
You can replace dang near any player on any team with the players you mentioned and make the Finals in the East today.
Kind of my point. Laimbeer's criteria is dumb.
quote:My thought exactly. I'm not going to brush aside Bill's comments immediately (though I do think I disagree with him), but using this year's Eastern Conference Playoffs as an example doesn't prove anything to mequote:In the East? Yeah, I think you could remove Bron and place lots of stars in their prime and get there.
Could anybody else in the world have led this team of role players to the Finals right now? I don't think so.
I think it's true, opinions are like *******s, everyone has one. I'm not disagreeing with Bill. But Jordan had to get through the Celtics and the Pistons, hell even the Knicks teams in early 90's would have been tough for Lebron. Like the poster said above, if you have an inside presence already especially solid guys on the board already Jordan is the pick. But Lebron is possibly the most physically gifted player we've ever had. Having said that I'd still take the guy who as always wanted the ball in his hands in crunch time.
I think LeBron would be easier to build a Championship team around than Jordan because he is so versatile, but it is also hard to quantify Jordan's drive and instinct.
Jordan won 6 and had just as easy of an eastern conference in the 90s
Jordan would look like westbrook with crap lineup that the cavs have
Jordan still number one bc he is the greatest scorer but lebron does way more with less
Jordan would look like westbrook with crap lineup that the cavs have
Jordan still number one bc he is the greatest scorer but lebron does way more with less
The east sucks, westbrook probably actually could take that team to the finals.
quote:He did have an easy path in the east outside of NY and Indy but those Sonics and Jazz teams never even won it all and Bron bron would have had a hell of time beating those guys.
Jordan won 6 and had just as easy of an eastern conference in the 90s
Jordan would look like westbrook with crap lineup that the cavs have
Jordan still number one bc he is the greatest scorer but lebron does way more with less
The spurs and rockets where right there each year as well
The west has been 8 deep since 1990
Dallas was the worst franchise in all of sports during this era
The west has been 8 deep since 1990
Dallas was the worst franchise in all of sports during this era
Good discussion to insert this quote:
In 1984, Coach Bobby Knight was coming off a gold-medal Olympic run with Michael Jordan. Knight
was friends with then Portland Trailblazer GM, Stu Inman, and called to sell him on Jordan as their first pick in the upcoming NBA draft. With Clyde Drexler already on the team, Inman had other plans.
Inman:
We need a center.
Bobby Knight:
Then draft Jordan, and play him at center.
In 1984, Coach Bobby Knight was coming off a gold-medal Olympic run with Michael Jordan. Knight
was friends with then Portland Trailblazer GM, Stu Inman, and called to sell him on Jordan as their first pick in the upcoming NBA draft. With Clyde Drexler already on the team, Inman had other plans.
Inman:
We need a center.
Bobby Knight:
Then draft Jordan, and play him at center.
That Bobby knight seems like a nice guy
James is phenomenal. Skills, size, all around skills are unmatched (finally got the post game down).
What separates them to me is James is a nice guy and Jordan is a cut throat winner.
Give me the winner and we will figure the rest out.
What separates them to me is James is a nice guy and Jordan is a cut throat winner.
Give me the winner and we will figure the rest out.
Laimbeer isn't exactly an objective, unbiased party for this topic. The Pistons hated Jordan and the Bulls, especially after Jordan and company dismantled their little mini-dynasty. Yeah no way he's bitter at all.
That's probably right, but I'm not sure there are a whole lot of people that are free from bias when discussing such things.
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