Correct. But, in no way does is that a blemish when comparing him to Bird.
I can't see Bird leading Enis Whatley, Rod Higgins and Dave Corzine to the NBA championship either. That's exactly what I'm trying to get at here.
No, he was not a team player (at first), but he couldn't (nor could have Bird) taken these squads anywhere either. By default Jordan got lucky- in that it didn't really matter that he wasn't a team player, initially.
In fact, it can be hypothesized that if they (Bird and MJ) switched rosters when Jordan first came into the league, the Celts might not have even hiccuped. Put Bird on those early Bulls teams when they truly needed scoring and they might have lost even more.
lets see....
DJ and john paxton: both about equal in talent. DJ was a better dribbler, paxton a better shooter.
Parrish vs. Cartwright: both had ugly ass shooting styles, parrish was a bit better, but not a whole lot.
mchale vs. oakley: mchale, no doubt, one of the best low post players of all time. oakley, a monster rebounder, great defender, he never had to score because MJ was there. they both contributed equally well to their teams, in different ways.
pippen vs. ainge: pippen was left open all the time because MJ drew his defender off. all he had to do was hit the open shot. ainge was pretty much the same. when they doubled larry or mchale, they kicked it out to danny ainge for an open uncontested three.
you put bird on those early bulls treams, the players would have done just as good, they would have won just as many championships. you put MJ on those celtics teams, MJ would have 3 to 4 rings. think about this. lets say bird and the celtics heyday was during the bulls, and vice versa. MJ was constantly running into Magic and the lakers in the playoffs. MJ never would have won 6 titles. bird, playing against the suns, jazz, supersonics and blazers? he would have won 6 easily. different time, you forget, bird had a few years on MJ. and the difference in competitive level, even in just those few years, was staggering.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
You have to be kidding me. How can you say Bird would have won 6 championships with the Bulls and Jordan would have only had 3 to 4 with the Celtics? First of all, the fit of each wouldn't work very well considering Bird and Jordan played different positions and styles. As for the Pippen thing you mentioned, don't forget this was Pippen in his first years of his career. Not the 90s Pippen.
__________________
Greg Oden: The future of the Blazers. The future of the NBA.
did you totally miss the part about bird running into magic and the lakers every year? it seems that you and all others here are dodging that question.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
No, I didn't argue that because I agree that the Lakers were good and would have given Jordan problems. I still do not think Larry is as good as Jordan and almost everybody else in the free world is of the same opinion.
__________________
Greg Oden: The future of the Blazers. The future of the NBA.
the lakers were more than just good. if that team was around when MJ was winning titles left and right, he would have won maybe 3.
so lets say that bird and MJ, both in their heyday, both in their prime, were to guard each other in a game. lets say they are both on fire. lets say, for arguments sake, that their respective teams are relying on them to do the bulk of the scoring. you dont think bird would be able to match MJ point for point?
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
Im sorry but that surely isnt your description of Pippens game. Pippen was one of the most complete players on both ends to ever play. He ran the triangle, defended to most dangerous player most of the time (front court or back court) and still managed to be a consistent force on the glass to. He was the ultimate triple threat player and made much more of an impact on his team than Ainge, who even though he was a good shooter was a one trick pony.
__________________
"The Capitol of this rugged slang is WU-TANG, Witty Unpridictable Talent And Natural Game". GZA
Its to close to call, Jordan would probally outscore Bird, but Bird's overall numbers would probaly be better, that could give his team the edge, but than again, Jordans scoring could open up more for his teammates giving his the team the edge. It's a paradox.
are you serious? pippen was only good when he jordan to fall back on. did you see when he left the bulls to the blazers and rockets? he did squat. pippen was, in my opinion, one of the most overrated players in league history. the only reason he did so good in chicago was because the D was focused on jordan.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
agreed. bird would would have better numbers, but MJ would probably score more points.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
Thats because Pippen was past his prime when he was on the Rockets, and Blazers, when Jordan left the Bulls to play baseball, Pippen was still an All Star, was able to be among the tops in the leauge in scoring, and assists, and he accomplished this without Jordan.
past his prime? hardly. post these stats you speak of.
__________________
All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I **** like you wanna ****, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.
KMC Community Forums
Feb 16th, 2007 10:24 PM
