MJ vs Russell vs Kareem

[lakersrule]

Anyone remember Ralph Sampson grabbing a quarter off the top of the backboard?

No. I do remember that prick hitting a prayer of a buzzer beater to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs in 1986

 

[piss-tons]

And Hakeem successfully blocked a Kareem sky hook during that series. Man where have all the good big men went...

 

[Black Adam]

My uncle told me the same thing. Wilt was able to block the "SKY HOOK". He also said Wilt was probably one of the strongest men ever.

when he blocked it he push Kareem's arm BACKWARD(Kareem was trying to dunk at the time). PLEASE believe that...

 

[lakersrule]

Wilt was able to block that shot and abused Kareem early in his career. Not saying Wilt is better, but just mentioning this so people would realize that Wilt would still be a beast against better competition.

Wilt was one of the best athletes the NBA has ever seen. Strong, fast, agile, and a big vertical. He would dominate any era of basketball. I do seem to recall Wilt saying something to the effect that Kareem was the toughest player he ever had to guard.

 

[shitsho]

No. I do remember that prick hitting a prayer of a buzzer beater to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs in 1986

That shot bounced off his head. That had zero skill involved.

 

[HammerDown]

No. I do remember that prick hitting a prayer of a buzzer beater to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs in 1986

That was a week-night and I remember Cooper hitting the floor and covering his eyes. I laid in bed and cried like a baby that night and never fell asleep. Went to school the next day and suffered abuse at the hands of all my Lakers-hating buddies. I knew right then that the pain of that loss would propel Magic to win it the next year. According to all reports, Magic went into seclusion in Hawaii (okay, well you know he had "companionship") all summer and came back preaching Championship from the first practice.

 

[Jims_Doors]

That shot bounced off his head. That had zero skill involved.

Wrong moment Montsho. He's talking about this


Ralph Sampson Shocks the Lakers with the Game Winner

 

[HammerDown]

I actually think you can make a better argument for Magic over Michael than anyone else. Magic was a better shooter ( 52% to 50%), a better 3 point shooter ( 35% to 33%), a better FT shooter ( 85% to 83%), a better rebounder ( 7.2 RPG to 6.2), a better assist man ( 11.2 to 5.3). Michael scored more ( 30.1 to 19.5), stole it more ( 2.3 Steals per game to 1.9), and had more blocks ( .83 BPG to .5 BPG). Magic actually pretty much domainates Michael statistically and I think we can all agree that Magic played in the better era for NBA basketball and for ALL the talk about MJ walking away for 2 years in his prime you have to remeber Magic was forced out of the game at 32 years old. Who knows what happens with the Lakers if Magic doesnt leave and plays 4-6 more years. He could have easily won another title or 2. Both guys were all NBA first team 10 times, both were all stars almost every year of their careers. Michael won 1 more title and was a slightly better defender but the gap on their D isnt as big as some would have you believe. Plus Magic was BY FAR the more versatile player.

Thank you. So to summarize things, Magic's numbers (except for PPG) dominate Jordan's. Magic was the better basketball player. <---- (See the period at the end of that statement?)

 

[Jims_Doors]

Notice nobody is guarding Houston's in bounds passer?

Most say that the Grant Hill to Laettner late game winner in 1992 is what caused coaches to start guarding in bounds passers....7yrs later.

 

[shitsho]

Wrong moment Montsho. He's talking about this


Ralph Sampson Shocks the Lakers with the Game Winner

Thats the one I'm talking about. I always thought it bounced off his head. I was a Magic homer then so that may explain it.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Sorry but, to say Magic was the better shooter can't be serious. Magic had the higher FG% because most of his shots were closer to the basket. Jordan would torch you anywhere on the floor. Magic mainly relied on his post-up game to get his.

Eye test, not numbers, showed me that Johnson was no where near the better shooter or player.

 

[lakersrule]

Notice nobody is guarding Houston's in bounds passer?

Most say that the Grant Hill to Laettner late game winner in 1992 is what caused coaches to start guarding in bounds passers....7yrs later.

Worthy was just standing around the free throw line wondering what to do. A defender on the in bounds passer may have made the difference. Doesn't seem right that in was only in early 1990s when coaches started putting a defender on the in bounds passer.

 

[lakersrule]

Sorry but, to say Magic was the better shooter can't be serious. Magic had the higher FG% because most of his shots were closer to the basket. Jordan would torch you anywhere on the floor. Magic mainly relied on his post-up game to get his.

Eye test, not numbers, showed me that Johnson was no where near the better shooter.

I don't think that is exactly true. Jordan, especially pre-1st retirement, got a lot of his shots close to the basket. He was ferocious at getting to the rim. He played a lot from the mid-post later in his career, so it's not like he was simply a perimeter jump shooting player. In fact, Jordan was a horrible from long range early on (Magic too). I agree that Jordan was the better shooter, but I don't think the gap is as big as you want it to be.

 

[shitsho]

Sorry but, to say Magic was the better shooter can't be serious. Magic had the higher FG% because most of his shots were closer to the basket. Jordan would torch you anywhere on the floor. Magic mainly relied on his post-up game to get his.

Eye test, not numbers, showed me that Johnson was no where near the better shooter or player.

He probably was a better shooter. Defenses most likely played him for the pass making it a little easier for him to score. Everyone knew Jordan was going to shoot. Defenses keyed in on him hoping he would pass it. Can you imagine Jordan let loose on the NBA with todays rules?

 

[HammerDown]

FT and FG % heavily in Magic's favor and would be even more if he had dunked as much as Jordan. Magic led the freakin league in FT % and nearing the end he became a very proficient 3PT shooter. Anyone remember the '92 All-Star game? He literally couldn't miss.

Funny how the numbers prove Magic was a better shooter but no one even dares compare the two in terms of Assists or making the other four players on the court better. Jordan isn't even in the same conversation on that one.

Magic Johnson > Michael Jordan

 

[piss-tons]

I'm going to have to say Bill Russel is better than both. He could influence the game without the ball something Magic or Jordan could never do. He was by far the best defensive player, best outlet passer, and best leader this game has ever seen. Russell was able to get more out of his teammates than any other player, hence the 11 rings. If you gotta pick 1 player to build your team around, its Bill Russell.

 

[rmilia1]

Basketball moreso than any other sport inspires these head to head comparisons because you can legit make an argument for ALOT of guys because in basketball there are so many different aspects that, depending on what you as a fan, value more you can compare 2 different guys and have very differing opinions on who was better.

 

[Jims_Doors]

FT and FG % heavily in Magic's favor and would be even more if he had dunked as much as Jordan. Magic led the freakin league in FT % and nearing the end he became a very proficient 3PT shooter. Anyone remember the '92 All-Star game? He literally couldn't miss.

Johnson avg. 13.2fga per game for his career, to MJ's 22.7. Johnson didn't avg. one 3pa in a season until 10yrs into his career. Johnson's % would be much lower if he took the jumpers and faced the D that MJ did. Coaches didn't worry about keeping Johnson off the score sheet as they did MJ. And they certainly didn't worry about Johnson on defense.

He lead the league in Free throw % for 1 season... BFD. You're really going to compare un-contested free throws to say who was the better shooter?

Funny how the numbers prove Magic was a better shooter but no one even dares compare the two in terms of Assists or making the other four players on the court better. Jordan isn't even in the same conversation on that one.

Wait....a PG avg. more assists than a SG?? Stop the presses!!! Must have been nice to be drafted onto a team that already had a HOF center and then have future HOF'er James Worthy a few years later.

I'd be more impressed if Earvin played with avg. players for a while and led them to the playoffs or close to the Finals. But he didn't want that challenge.

Magic Johnson > Michael Jordan

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[rmilia1]

Johnson avg. 13.2fga per game for his career, to MJ's 22.7. Johnson didn't avg. one 3pa in a season until 10yrs into his career. Johnson's % would be much lower if he took the jumpers and faced the D that MJ did. Coaches didn't worry about keeping Johnson off the score sheet as they did MJ. And they certainly didn't worry about Johnson on defense.

He lead the league in Free throw % for 1 season... BFD. You're really going to compare un-contested free throws to say who was the better shooter?




Wait....a PG avg. more assists than a SG?? Stop the presses!!! Must have been nice to be drafted onto a team that already had a HOF center and then have future HOF'er James Worthy a few years later.

I'd be more impressed if Earvin played with avg. players for a while and led them to the playoffs or close to the Finals. But he didn't want that challenge.




Thanks for the laugh.

???? What??? EVERY SINGLE SHOOTING metric has Magic as the better shooter. ALL of them. Every last one. The whole enchilada. The entire thing. Repeat!!! Fg%, 3 pt FG%, FT %. ALL OF THEM. Thats not cherry picking. Its literally taking the entire cherry tree and having it say the same thing. Come on man, lets be real.

 

[HammerDown]

He lead the league in Free throw % for 1 season... BFD.

And with that statement you just lost all credibility. But thanks for stopping by.