NBA FINALS: LeBron faced 5 teams in the top 50 greatest teams, MJ only 1

[sportjames23]

Imagine believing the Bulls could actually stand a chance against the 2017 Warriors

Jordan fans getting more delusional by the hour

Tell us how the Warriors would stop MJ. Or how they'd win playing against real defensive beasts like MJ, Pip, Rodman and Harper. Today's teams lack the defensive presence that teams in the 90s had. But you know that already, troll.

[Mr Feeny]

And Magic's Lakers.

Probably but it depends on which version. They're the team I'm least confident in making a definitive statement about. Magic would excoriate Steph if Steph were to match up on him but Klay might be able to atleast stick to him and slow him down given that he's strong for a 2 guard and magic doesn't have a very quick first step.

The bigger matchup issue is Kareem, in my opinion. If it's one of the early Lakers teams (anything from 1980-1985), there's a really big chance the Lakers win. Every trip down the court is a freebie for a 7'2 guy with a skyhook vs a 6'7 centre who can't jump.

[Manny98]

Tell us how the Warriors would stop MJ. Or how they'd win playing against real defensive beasts like MJ, Pip, Rodman and Harper. Today's teams lack the defensive presence that teams in the 90s had. But you know that already, troll.

Tell us how the Bulls could match the offensive firepower of KD,Curry and Klay at the same time

The Warriors can put Iggy on MJ, who on the Bulls is going to stop KD lol foh

Warriors in 5 max

[Mr Feeny]

Tell us how the Bulls could match the offensive firepower of KD,Curry and Klay at the same time

The Warriors can put Iggy on MJ, who on the Bulls is going to stop KD lol foh

Warriors in 5 max

Lol at Iggy stopping Jordan

[Manny98]

Lol at Iggy stopping Jordan

Didn't Payton lock up MJ in 96?

Let's not act like Igoudala is not one of the greatest perimeter defenders of all time

Then you've got Klay,Draymond and KD to help out when needed

[Mr Feeny]

Didn't Payton lock up MJ in 96?

Let's not act like Igoudala is not one of the greatest perimeter defenders of all time

Then you've got Klay,Draymond and KD to help out when needed

Payton was 10 times the perimeter defender that Iggy iis. You wouldn't know that because you weren't alive then. Or Green. Or Klay.

[ImKobe]

Tell us how the Warriors would stop MJ. Or how they'd win playing against real defensive beasts like MJ, Pip, Rodman and Harper. Today's teams lack the defensive presence that teams in the 90s had. But you know that already, troll.

Warriors can't stop Harden, Kawhi, Kyrie or Lebron but somehow they'll lock down MJ, who's more athletic, has bigger hands and is more skilled than anyone they've ever had to guard.

These guys are delusional.

[Manny98]

Still waiting for someone to enlighten me on how the Bulls can match the Warriors firepower

[TheMan]

Still waiting for someone to enlighten me on how the Bulls can match the Warriors firepower

They don't have match the Warriors firepower, there's a part of basketball called "defense", don't know if you're familiar with it since it's no longer allowed in today's cupcake era...

You remember (of course you don't) the 2004 Finals? Well the Lakers were heavy favorites to win the title, noobs like you were saying that the Lakers firepower would just overwhelm every team, Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, Gary Payton and according to you HOF worthy Horace Grant were just too much offense, but a team from Detroit that were really really good on defense ran roughshod over them in the Finals...true story, look it up.

Who's gonna cover KD? Well, there was a player named Scottie Pippen, might have heard off him, he was really good on defense, they also could put MJ on KD and even Dennis Rodman for shits and giggles. Those Bulls had 4 legit perimeter defenders, MJ, Harper, Pippen and Rodman. I think they could handle pipsqueak Curry, Klay and KD. Oh the Warriors will still score no doubt but like Vince Carter said, the Warriors probably win in today's no defense allowed era BUT if they play under 90s rules where you are allowed to put a hand on the offensive player (the way it has always been until the league decided that casuals love watching 136-129 games) the Bulls would easily win. And Vince Carter is a guy you should listen to, he has played (and still playing) under both eras and he's on record saying it's much easier to score today than it was when he entered the league. Ray Allen says the same thing, also Paul Pierce, Kobe, KG, Tim Duncan and others who played in both eras.

If they play under today's rules? Who's gonna stop MJ from scoring at will when you can't put a hand on him? PJax, Larry Brown, Hubie Brown, Metta W Peace, Ray Allen etc have all said that he would average anywhere from 40-50 pts today if he chose too...

Bulls would win in both scenarios. Less confident under today's rules TBH because Harper wouldn't be allowed to physically impose his will on Curry but under 90s rules? Hahaha, Bulls would sweep. Harper on Curry, MJ on Klay, Pippen on KD and Rodman on Green...I like our matchups...plus Kukoc > anyone coming off the Warriors bench IMO. Iggy is good tough player and a hell of a defender but Kukoc provides versatility on offense, Bulls already have enough legit D from the starters...

[Manny98]

No defense is going to contain Curry and KD... none especially in todays league

Who cares if MJ would average 40 their still going to get destroyed. Look what LeBron did against the Warriors, a 33 point triple double + Kyrie averaged 28 and they still lost in 5

Warriors are the GOAT team simple as that

[NBAGOAT]

They don't have match the Warriors firepower, there's a part of basketball called "defense", don't know if you're familiar with it since it's no longer allowed in today's cupcake era...

You remember (of course you don't) the 2004 Finals? Well the Lakers were heavy favorites to win the title, noobs like you were saying that the Lakers firepower would just overwhelm every team, Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, Gary Payton and according to you HOF worthy Horace Grant were just too much offense, but a team from Detroit that were really really good on defense ran roughshod over them in the Finals...true story, look it up.

Who's gonna cover KD? Well, there was a player named Scottie Pippen, might have heard off him, he was really good on defense, they also could put MJ on KD and even Dennis Rodman for shits and giggles. Those Bulls had 4 legit perimeter defenders, MJ, Harper, Pippen and Rodman. I think they could handle pipsqueak Curry, Klay and KD. Oh the Warriors will still score no doubt but like Vince Carter said, the Warriors probably win in today's no defense allowed era BUT if they play under 90s rules where you are allowed to put a hand on the offensive player (the way it has always been until the league decided that casuals love watching 136-129 games) the Bulls would easily win. And Vince Carter is a guy you should listen to, he has played (and still playing) under both eras and he's on record saying it's much easier to score today than it was when he entered the league. Ray Allen says the same thing, also Paul Pierce, Kobe, KG, Tim Duncan and others who played in both eras.

If they play under today's rules? Who's gonna stop MJ from scoring at will when you can't put a hand on him? PJax, Larry Brown, Hubie Brown, Metta W Peace, Ray Allen etc have all said that he would average anywhere from 40-50 pts today if he chose too...

Bulls would win in both scenarios. Less confident under today's rules TBH because Harper wouldn't be allowed to physically impose his will on Curry but under 90s rules? Hahaha, Bulls would sweep. Harper on Curry, MJ on Klay, Pippen on KD and Rodman on Green...I like our matchups...plus Kukoc > anyone coming off the Warriors bench IMO. Iggy is good tough player and a hell of a defender but Kukoc provides versatility on offense, Bulls already have enough legit D from the starters...

doubling offball is a big deal and technically not allowed as stringer said. Every team in the league does it sometimes to curry because they fear him shooting it. Not being able to double him means it doesnt matter who you put on him, he has something to counteract more guys grabbing him and could arguably get open easier.

On the flip side tbf, guarding mj is hard for the warriors under old rules. I could definitely see them wanting to throw 1.5 guys at mj even when he doesnt have the ball and completely sag off harper and rodman but they cant do that in 96.

[TheMan]

No defense is going to contain Curry and KD... none especially in todays league

Who cares if MJ would average 40 their still going to get destroyed. Look what LeBron did against the Warriors, a 33 point triple double + Kyrie averaged 28 and they still lost in 5

Warriors are the GOAT team simple as that

The Cavs were shit defensively, thats why LeBron scoring 33 along with Kyrie's 28 didn't matter much because they couldn't get stops even if their life depended on it. The Bulls are a GOAT defensive team along with having the GOAT scorer. The Warriors would have the edge playing by today's soft rules but if they play by the 90s rules where the bigger Harper could get in Curry's grill (like Dellavedova did in 2015) you go a long way in making the Warriors offense less effective...

The saying goes, defense wins titles

[zeerghit]

Payton was 10 times the perimeter defender that Iggy iis. You wouldn't know that because you weren't alive then. Or Green. Or Klay.

really??

[LostCause]

"As we all know, anything short of a championship is failure in the eyes of the Heat. If OKC were to win the series, heads would probably start rolling in Miami.

Well all the experts think this may very well happen.

Sports books have the Thunder as the odds on favorites to win it all and so do many NBA writers.

NBA writers from ESPN, SI.com and CBSSports.com overwhelmingly picked the Thunder to beat the Heat.

Of the 26 writers who made predictions for the three major sites, 18 picked OKC to win over Miami with 10 of them saying it'll happen in six games.

None of this really matters. Odds makers and "experts" are wrong all the time. But for them to be overwhelmingly in favor of the Thunder is quite telling.

https://www.businessinsider.com/thun...-finals-2012-6

Your links say they were young yes, but many had them as odds on favorites that Finals.

You're moving the goalposts now. I provided ample evidence of a ton of different analysts favoring Miami and citing the fact they've been there before and it was their time whereas it wasn't for OKC or similar sentiments. Your claim was that people weren't saying this at the time. I showed that clearly a LOT of people were.

Before that postseason, I highly doubt there were more saying he was rusty after he came back than those who were saying it was like he never left the game.

Only after the Bulls were ousted, is when the excuses came rolling in.

Use your head

MJs play in 95 is significantly worse than it was the last year he played and the years after 95. Specifically his efficiency was terribly off, scoring was way down and his FG% was even worse than it was even during the Wizards years. This is even WORSE if you count from his Knicks 55pt game to the end of the season. What people were saying isn't relevant to what the facts show

Explain why that would be the case if he obviously wasn't rusty? Monstars took his talent that year then gave it back? There's only one answer to this

[k0kakw0rld]

3Ball get in here