Jordan and Malone debunk the myth that 80s / 90s players were inferior to today's

[AussieSteve]

Both played head to head against the best the 2000s had to offer (MJ vs Kobe, TMac and Malone vs TD, KG and Dirk) and held their own.

At age 38 & 39, Jordan and Malone averaged 20+ ppg against all these guys at their peaks. Do we not agree they would have averaged 30+ if they were 10-15 years younger?

[3ball]

MJ was at 26/5/5 before he got hurt so he would only needs 4-5 point improvement

But a lot of young fans don't realize how much a guy declines by 38 years old.. he would've still been capable of 35+ if he was 24

[egokiller]

If MJ entered this league at say the same time as Curry, in this shit soft era of a bullshit rule set, MJ is dropping 45 points a game easy shooting 3's at a 36-38% clip but probably not taking anywhere near the amount as Curry is. His shot % on the mid range would be insane with these weak no hand checking rules.

His rings are worth 9 rings in this shit soft era of ball.

[SpaceJam2]

Does he have to shoot 3s or is he just dunking on 6'2 guards?

[sdot_thadon]

If MJ entered this league at say the same time as Curry, in this shit soft era of a bullshit rule set, MJ is dropping 45 points a game easy shooting 3's at a 36-38% clip but probably not taking anywhere near the amount as Curry is. His shot % on the mid range would be insane with these weak no hand checking rules.

His rings are worth 9 rings in this shit soft era of ball.

Yeah I'm sure he'd average 3s at a clip he only touched once in a 15 years career

[plowking]

Of course they'd average 30+ if they were 15 years younger. They did it then, they'd more than likely do it now.

For as much as people want to pretend it was a completely different game, it wasn't. Malone's best scoring seasons coincidentally were when the league pace was highest throughout his career, and also nearly identical to the current pace of the game. Same with Jordan.
The league pace was higher when Jordan put up 37ppg than it is now with Harden putting up his historic numbers. People just don't want to admit Harden is simply very very good at scoring.

[plowking]

If MJ entered this league at say the same time as Curry, in this shit soft era of a bullshit rule set, MJ is dropping 45 points a game easy shooting 3's at a 36-38% clip but probably not taking anywhere near the amount as Curry is. His shot % on the mid range would be insane with these weak no hand checking rules.

His rings are worth 9 rings in this shit soft era of ball.

So you automatically bump any player that played prior up in 3 point percentage?

And allow them to keep all the same attributes?

Not how it works.

If you settle for more 3's, you lose a certain part of your game.
If you settle for driving more, you lose a certain part.
If you live in the midrange, you lose a certain aspect.

Look at Barkley when he fell in love with the 3.
Look at Wade as he has gotten older and developed more of a longer shot.
Look at Griffin as he has developed a 3.

[SpaceJam2]

Of course they'd average 30+ if they were 15 years younger. They did it then, they'd more than likely do it now.

For as much as people want to pretend it was a completely different game, it wasn't. Malone's best scoring seasons coincidentally were when the league pace was highest throughout his career, and also nearly identical to the current pace of the game. Same with Jordan.
The league pace was higher when Jordan put up 37ppg than it is now with Harden putting up his historic numbers. People just don't want to admit Harden is simply very very good at scoring.

[egokiller]

So you automatically bump any player that played prior up in 3 point percentage?

And allow them to keep all the same attributes?

Not how it works.

If you settle for more 3's, you lose a certain part of your game.
If you settle for driving more, you lose a certain part.
If you live in the midrange, you lose a certain aspect.

Look at Barkley when he fell in love with the 3.
Look at Wade as he has gotten older and developed more of a longer shot.
Look at Griffin as he has developed a 3.

With all the advancements in training not only does he have a 3, but his other attributes are even more enhanced. All this means is that what he did back then is even more impressive when looking at it by today's standards.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Yup.

Especially Jordan because of the rules. At 34, Lebron just came off one of his best seasons statistically. He wasn't close to his best though. Point is that players are eating REAL good right now.

Freedom of movement, pace and the 3PT uproar has made the regular-season almost unwatchable.

Maybe the playoffs will be better.

[egokiller]

Yup.

Especially Jordan because of the rules. At 34, Lebron just came off one of his best seasons statistically. He wasn't close to his best though. Point is that players are eating REAL good right now.

Freedom of movement, pace and the 3PT uproar has made the regular-season almost unwatchable.

Maybe the playoffs will be better.

What's sad are the fucc bois watching it thinking they are having the time of their lives in NBA entertainment.

They have no idea how much better it used to be. Oh well.

Ignorance is bliss.

[Mr.GOAT2408]

So you automatically bump any player that played prior up in 3 point percentage?

And allow them to keep all the same attributes?

Not how it works.

If you settle for more 3's, you lose a certain part of your game.
If you settle for driving more, you lose a certain part.
If you live in the midrange, you lose a certain aspect.

Look at Barkley when he fell in love with the 3.
Look at Wade as he has gotten older and developed more of a longer shot.
Look at Griffin as he has developed a 3.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post (I feel I'm agreeing and disagreeing lol) but all Jordan would literally change is a lesser emphasis on the midrange shot with a simple step or 2 back, everything else would still be roughly the same. The old school game simply can't be compared to the new school in a vaccuum. We're not going to penalize the Ruths and Cobbs of the world because they didn't see the curveballs, sliders, changeups or even 90+ fastballs in their day... Ditto Cy Young and Walter Johnson, although we can definitely knock them for not facing other colors to some extent. No reason to penalize MJ either

Jordan was a very good 3 point shooter in his prime and was usually even better in the playoffs. He's not going to shoot like Curry but 36%+ is definitely reasonable. Hell, his early 90s forms (1990 and 1993 specifically) could probably average 40 ppg today if he shot 10+ 3s and used that insane 1st step to blow by defenders and not see so many stiffs packing the paint like in his day.

Ultimately stats are situational, Jordan could have easily averaged more in the 90s if needed and often did in the playoffs, realistically he would propably average 28-30 ppg in today's game if the team was winning (I mean, KD and maybe Curry could average 35+ but why would they?) but on a bad team or one lacking in shot creators? 40 ppg easy

[sdot_thadon]

Jordan was a very good 3 point shooter in his prime and was usually even better in the playoffs. He's not going to shoot like Curry but 36%+ is definitely reasonable. Hell, his early 90s forms (1990 and 1993 specifically) could probably average 40 ppg today if he shot 10+ 3s and used that insane 1st step to blow by defenders and not see so many stiffs packing the paint like in his day.

36%+ is reasonable? How so if he only shot that well once in 15 years? And a shot nobody even played him for, meaning the few 3s he did take weren't going to have anywhere near the same pressure as a Curry would now? Not reasonable. Mj's range was shorter than the 3 point line.

[Phoenix]

Just two seasons ago Westbrook put up a 31ppg triple double season with a sub 35% 3ball, mostly off drives and midrange pullups. We're saying MJ, a much better shooter in a variety of situations(catch and shoot, off the triple threat, coming off screens), 2 inches taller, stronger, jumps higher and one of the elite alltime slashers/finishers in the history of the game...... in THIS era with spacing,shitty defensive rules and lack of shotblockers....... isn't going to make a joke of the modern game with or without an elite 3point shot? Prime Kobe would as well. So would Wade 2005-2012.

[SpaceJam2]