The NBA Realist
@nbarealist23
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The NBA Historian For The Moderately Intelligent Fan. Not affiliated with the NBA.
Joined July 2010
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After Steve Nash left, Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavs to 7 straight seasons of at least 50 wins.
He did so without having a single All-NBA teammate, and only 3 All-Star teammates (Josh Howard in 07, Kidd in 08 & 2010)
In 2011, he finally won a ring.
Dirk Nowitzki's stretch from…
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@TheDunkCentral
@TheVolumeSports
"Guys didn't face those rules before" because guys back then PLAYED THE GAME instead of Load Managing.
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The 2014 Spurs wouldn't just go on to win "four more"; they'd go on to destroy the Miami Heat by an average of 14 points per game and 70 points total - the LARGEST point differential in NBA History.
Those 2014 Spurs were one of the rare teams in NBA History to win a ring…
"We got four more to win. We'll do it this time."
The coldest thing Tim Duncan has ever said
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February 17, 2013: In an interview prior to the 2013 All-Star game, the "Mentor” -Michael Jordan - offered his blueprint for defending Lebron James:
“I study him. When LeBron goes right, he usually drives; when he goes left, he usually shoots a jumper. It has to do with his…
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The best part about a totally slow, fat, and unathletic white guy in Nikola Jokic becoming the NBA’s Best Player, is that there’s been a full market correction on the Legacy of another totally slow and unathletic white guy in Larry Bird.
The Casuals, who clearly never watched…
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@TheDunkCentral
What does he mean "back to being"?
He was never an elite two-way player to begin with.
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@HoopMixOnly
Actually, this may be the easiest NBA question I've seen.
Answer: Kevin Durant
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"I'll be be remembered as the biggest bust in NBA History... I don't think I was that bad when I was on the court. I felt like it could have just got better if I had more time on there."
- Greg Oden
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Ya gotta believe me kids... this was really once a debate.
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This one is mind-blowing folks:
After Steve Nash left the Mavs, Dirk Nowitzki led his team on 7-year run (2005 to 2011) and accomplished the following:
- 1 Ring
- 2 Finals Appearances
- Averaged 57 Wins per season
- Won 50+ games every season; 60+ games twice
- Beat the Spurs…
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@LegionHoops
- Win 3 more Rings
- Win 3 more FMVPs
- Win 2 more DPOY
- Win 11 more Scoring Titles
- Lead the league in Advanced Metrics for 3-4 more seasons
-have 3-4 more "91 MJ" seasons just to catch up in Per-Game stats.
- Make the next 8 consecutive game winning/game tying shots…
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Is there any other Sport where the Player with more Rings, MVPs, and Finals/Championship MVPs is being questioned as the GOAT for a guy with less Rings, MVPs and Finals/Championship MVPS?
Has it happened anywhere else? Or are we just all the victim of Media Propaganda and…
Stan Van Gundy: “If you want to tell me that Michael Jordan was a better basketball player than LeBron James, that’s fine. You can make a case for that. What you can’t make a case for is that Michael Jordan had a better career than LeBron James. You can’t make a case for that."
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Ya gotta believe me kids... once upon a time, this was really a debate.
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@Demetrius86
@NBAMemes
Here are the MJ vs. LeBron stats. I use them all time.
The issue is that Bronstans want to only focus on the Orange and pretend as though the Blue doesn't exist.
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Adam Silver just eviscerated the "ScOrInG iS hIgHeR ToDaY bEcAuSe pLaYeRs ArE MoRe SkiLlEd" Committee.
The are all gone. Done.
Good Riddance.
Adam Silver believes the NBA became too ‘physical’ in the 90s
(Via
@shobasketball
/ h/t
@RTNBA
)
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In 1995, the Rockets won 4 straight playoff rounds as an underdog, and became the NBA champs.
60-win Jazz (-270) Malone/Stockton
59-win Suns (-270) Barkley/KJ
62-win Spurs (- 330) Robinson/Rodman
57-win Magic (-120) Shaq/Penny
The toughest playoff run in NBA History.
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Michael Jordan won 6 Rings despite never having more than 1 All-Star teammate in any Championship Run.
6 Rings, 1 All-Star teammate.
Mark my words...this will NEVER happen again.
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This one is mind blowing folks:
1979 Celtics: 29 wins (-4.7 Net Rating)
Top 5 Minutes Played: Archibald, Maxwell, Cowens, Ford, Judkins
1980 Celtics: 61 wins (+7.5 Net Rating)
Top 5 Minutes Played: Archibald, Maxwell, Cowens, Ford, Bird
With the same core roster, Rookie Larry…
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Ya gotta believe kids... there was a time in the late 2000s when Deron Williams was the best Point Guard in the NBA.
Yes, he was even better than CP3.
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@TheDunkCentral
@ClutchPoints
You think the NBA's work culture is bad?
Try watching a Regular Season Game with no defense, flopping, and load management.
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Shaq & Kobe's Playoff Clutch Stats during their 3-peat (2000-2002)
Kobe:
- 102 points
- 59.5% TS
- 65 FGA
- 47 FTA
Shaq:
- 84 points
- 53.1% TS
- 54 FGA
- 57 FTA
Kobe Bryant was the Primary Closer for that Dynasty, and a "1B" - not a
#2
Happy Birthday Bean!
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@ESPNNBA
KG can do more on both offense and defense.
Dirk is more clutch.
It’s close, but I gotta go with the Big Ticket.
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@LegionHoops
No, because the Heat never should have been up 3-0 to begin with. They have no business winning this series.
I have no interest in rewarding the Celtics with a historical mention, just for doing something they should have been doing from the beginning.
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The Spurs never could quite figure out Prime Kobe Bryant. In 5 playoff series from 2001-2008, Kobe averaged 29/6/5 on 48% FG.
In all 5 series, the Spurs were a Top 3 defense.
In 4 of the 5 series, Kobe was guarded by an NBA All-Defense Team member.
Kobe Bryant dropped 39 PTS to close out the WCF series against the Spurs! (2008)
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@TheDunkCentral
@NBABeyondCourt
If they're "tryna eat", then go get a job.
Those rings were gifted by their child with the intent that they would maintain some semblance of sentimentality and keep them. Not to hock at a local pawn shop.
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I never want to hear about the supposed "Bigger/Stronger/Faster" era EVER again.
A slow, fat, Eastern European is running laps around today's Superstars while chugging pints of Rakija and dancing the night away to Ceca.
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MJ before Phil Jackson 85-89 (4 full seasons):
- MVP
- DPOY
- ROY
- 4x All-NBA
- 2x All-Defense
- Runner up MVP in 87
-Best Advanced stats in NBA History.
- Top 3 greatest floor raising playoff runs in 1989
33/6/6 on 51% FG with 2.8 stls and 1.2 blks.
MJ was already the…
@nbarealist23
Stat padding Michael Jordan did jack shit before Phil Jackson became HC and implemented the triangle offense.
That happens and suddenly Pippen & Grant go from being role players to top 15-20 players while Jordan’s turnover rate drops significantly.
System player
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This is why I laugh at the notion that today's players are "more skilled". How can one be more skilled when they lack basic fundamentals? This is a HOF coach speaking btw, not some jabroni.
Yes, skills around ball handling, distance shooting, and perimeter rotations have become…
Coach Pop talking after the game said, “There is more fundamental teaching done now than I had to when we were a championship caliber team. These guys are neophytes.”
Yet these Gen Z fans tell me daily this generation of NBA players are the most advanced and most skilled 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
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He's 100% right.
Kobe's True Shooting efficiency was 1.9% higher than league average for his career. That's the same as Hakeem, and higher than KG and D. Wade.
It also means that he was ABOVE AVERAGE in efficiency, not below. In fact, during his prime from 2000-2013, Kobe…
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@TheNBACentral
@WindhorstESPN
People have been saying this for the past 8 years, and every single time, he figures out a way to extend his longevity.
I'm not counting him out.
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"I hate it. I dislike it. I was just at Michael Jordan's 60th birthday party. He pulled me to the side, and we talked about [Load Management] for 30 straight minutes. We played every game. We want to play every single game. We couldn't wait to get out there on the court."
-…
ESPN Sources: The NBA's Competition Committee has recommended stricter guidelines on resting players for national television games and multiple stars together in the same games. The league's Board of Governors expected to vote Wednesday to pass the measures.
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In March 2008, Kobe Bryant pushed back on the notion that LeBron James was the rightful front-runner for MVP.
Jack McCallum writes:
"Asked what his MVP ballot would look like, Bryant says, 'I'm not even thinking about that.' But when somebody mentions that the Cleveland…
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@TheDunkCentral
Easy. Duncan:
- Bus Driver for 4 Rings
- Excelled on BOTH Sides of the Ball
- More FMVPs
- More All-NBA
- More All-Defense
- More All-Stars
- 03 Floor Raising Season
- 19 Consecutive Seasons never winning fewer than 50 games (99 and 12 normalized)
It's not that close.
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Being the GOAT means accomplishing MORE in less time.
Not LESS in more time.
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Can someone help me understand the "1-9 Without Pippen" argument?
- MJ played only 2 full seasons prior Pippen's arrival
- His best teammate was Charles Oakley. No Top 15 GOAT inherited a worse supporting cast during their first 2 seasons.
- He faced elite playoff…
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@TheNBACentral
This isn't even a discussion. Both guys on the right are elite defensive AND offensively.
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Happy 61st Birthday to Michael Jordan - the GOAT of GOATs.
No player in NBA History demonstrated a greater combination of Individual Dominance + Team Success than MJ did. Amongst retired legends:
- 2nd All-time in MVPS
- 1st All-Time in FMVPs
- 1st All-Time in PPG
- 1st…
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In 1987, Kevin McHale broke his right foot.
He successfully "Load Managed" his way to playing 77 of 82 regular season games, and 21 of 23 playoff games... on a broken foot. That's 93% of his games.
Till this day, he is still unable to walk correctly.
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In 1996, the Chicago Bulls won 72 games.
Their record vs. Expansion teams was 5-1 (.833% win percentage).
Had expansion never occurred, the Bulls instead would have played 6 extra games against the Hawks, Celtics, Cavs, Pistons, Bucks and Nets.
Their record vs those teams?…
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Here you go
@getnickwright
:
Here's the 1-year and 5-year Peak Stat comparison between MJ and LeBron, for the seasons that you suggested (Regular Season and Playoffs):
- 91 MJ vs. 2013 LeBron (1-Year Peak)
- 88-92 MJ vs. 2012-2016 LeBron (5-year Peak)
In addition to having…
"What is Jordan's peak? 1 yr? Then LeBron's peak was higher. 2 yrs? It's a debate. 3 yrs? That goes to Jordan. 4 yrs? It tilts back to LeBron. 5 yrs? Find me a better 5-yr peak than LeBron from 2012-16."
—
@getnickwright
tries to have the most honest LeBron-MJ GOAT debate ever:
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@TheDunkCentral
@BradyHawk305
@5ReasonsSports
Accurate.
Wade is the GREATEST Heat Player of All-Time.
LeBron is the BEST Heat Player of All-Time.
This isn't tremendously complicated.
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Here's what I think:
1.) A Patriot who sacrificed the first part of his career so that he could serve his Country.
2.) The 2nd most physically gifted Center in NBA History, behind only Wilt Chamberlain
3.) A great floor raiser who generally took his teams as far as they could…
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The Last Dance had NOTHING to do with last night's unfortunate incident.
Twitter kids are unaware that Bulls fans have been mercilessly booing Jerry Krause since the early 90s, with everything reaching it's apex after the 98 breakup.
Twitter kids are also unaware that…
Simply no reason to do this at all but Jerry Krause was not just a good GM he was a great one. This is one of the many reasons I have such a negative stance towards The Last Dance.
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@TheDunkCentral
@KyleNeubeck
James Harden has also been 'unserious' about staying in shape, playing team basketball, and being clutch....so it works out nicely.
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The 4 Players that are tied for the most 1st Team All-Defense selections in NBA History (9 total):
Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant
Gary Payton
Kevin Garnett
Exclusive Company.
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@TheNBACentral
Other way around. The Blazers have failed Damian Lillard.
Not a single All-Star teammate since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015. That's 8 straight seasons.
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Larry Bird in only 3 seasons as head coach of the Pacers from 1998-2000, and with no prior coaching experience:
- Won 58 games as a rookie head coach after inheriting a 39-win team
- Averaged 56 wins over 3 seasons (normalized)
- Reached the NBA Finals in 2000 and pushed…
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Don't let Zion Williamson's Thot distract you from the fact that Michael Jordan's 11 Full-Season Stretch with the Bulls remains transcendently unmatched:
6 Rings
5 MVPs
6 FMVPs
9x First Team All-NBA and All-D in same season
32/6/5/2.5 stls - 51%FG - 84% FT
29.1 PER
10.2 BPM…
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@LegionHoops
Demar Derozan.
He'll put up good stats, and you'll have some nice regular season success, but in no way is he a Big Game Player.
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@KDTrey5
You mean it didn’t count toward All-Nba, which is proper and accurate.
Play instead of resting, give the fans their money’s worth, and load manage less.
Your predecessors figured it out. So should you.
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Kobe Bryant's 2001 Playoff Performance is grossly underrated.
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He would be the best player in the League.
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There was a point in Michael Jordan's career, where hitting game winners became a non-event. It was just expected. Nothing to see here.
He wasn't surprised, and neither were we.
The Greatest Clutch Performer to ever play Team Sports.
@Jumpman23
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Ya gotta believe me kids... once upon a time, Jermaine O'Neal was a Top 5-7 player in the NBA.
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In 1988, Michael Jordan won the MVP against the deepest talent pool the NBA would ever see.
MJ beat out 6 of the 25 Greatest Players of All Time, including 3 of the Top 10 - Magic, Bird, Hakeem, Barkley, Malone, Isiah. The list also included 11 total HOFers.
All were in their…
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You gotta believe me kids...This was really once a legit debate.
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@LegionHoops
@RickRubin
Phil was a great coach.
But Phil didn't make his Player's Careers. His Player's made HIS Career.
Make no mistake.
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Michael Jordan in the Playoffs:
- Undefeated with Home Court Advantage
- Undefeated as a Higher Seed
- Undefeated as a Pre-Season Vegas Favorite
- Undefeated as a Playoff Vegas Favorite
- 28-1 (96.6%) as a Series Favorite
- 21-1 (95.5%) when having the same or more number of…
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Dwyane Wade does not get enough respect on this app.
2006-2012 Wade became one of the 20 Best basketball players we’ve seen. Instead, Casuals now tout him as some perennially “washed” has-been based exclusively on his 2014 NBA Finals performance.
Bull$hit, I was there. Time…
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@LegionHoops
@7PMinBrooklyn
He forced his way out. The organization can and should do whatever they want.
He certainly did.
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@LegionHoops
@wenzellortiz
@sidelinesources
Stephen Jackson forgot he was a role player in this league.
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My favorite Kobe Bryant Game: Game 1, 2008 WCF - Lakers vs. Spurs.
Why? Because sometimes your respect for a player grows exponentially if rooting against them.
The Lakers were down 20 and Kobe scored 25 points in the 2nd half. More importantly, he exhibited total control over…
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@TheNBACentral
@DieHardCBfans
BREAKING: NBA announces that both Scottie Pippen and Mark Jackson have had their Voting privileges revoked for all basketball-related matters.
They’ve both been disqualified.
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@LegionHoops
@LeagueAlerts
Kobe is actually 100% right.
This is a low percentage, unadvisable shot for 99% of the league, but not him. Kobe routinely made fadeaway shots while being doubled.
More importantly, his shot gravity made it easier for his teammates to collect an offensive rebounds on misses.
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@IsiahThomas
@DetroitPistons
Both stories can be true Isiah. Stop being so insecure.
MJ is living rent free in your head.
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@TheNBACentral
Skip is 1000% correct
Outside of 2016, no one ever even entertained the thought that Steph was better than LeBron until last season. These are facts.
LeBron’s real rival was during his prime against Kobe. Lebron won 2 MVPs, but majority of GMs chose Kobe over LeBron.
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Who did MJ have to be compared to?
First Dr. J because of their shared athleticism, and then Magic Johnson, who in 1987, was the best player in the NBA.
But how is this even relevant to the GOAT discussion?
LeBron's challenge isn't simply that he is being "compared" to a…
Rich Paul: "I just think LeBron's antlers is in platinum and Michael Jordan's may be in gold. Why? Because he had to be compared to Mike. Who did Mike have to be compared to?"
(Via
@GilsArenaShow
)
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Steph Curry:
- None of the Big Schools wanted him. Had to prove himself at Davidson
- Still not considered a Top 5 Lottery Pick. He was projected to land somewhere between 7-20 in the Draft
- Considered too skinny to last in the NBA. Many questions whether he would remain as a…
Steph Curry documentary about him being a “ underdog “ story is just another example of how he’s THE if not one of the most protected superstars in the history of the NBA, golden child of the league and media. Grew up rich as fuck, got a GM who gave him everything possible😭😭😭
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@TheDunkCentral
This is actually accurate. From 2001-2004, many fans considered T-Mac and Kobe to be in the same tier.
Both players made 4 All-NBA teams.
T-Mac routinely carried crappy teams to the playoffs while Kobe had yet to separate himself from Shaq's shadow.
Kobe was however the more…
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I followed Kobe Bryant's entire career. I've watched nearly every single regular season game, and every playoff game. And I'm telling you that no Top-75 player in NBA History extracted more from their natural talent than he did.
In a world of half-ass effort, this dude left…
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Kevin Love's 2014 Season right before joining the Cavs Superteam:
- 26/13/4 on 59.1% TS (38% 3PT)
- All-NBA
- All-Star
- 4th in PPG
- 3rd in RPG
- 3rd in PER
- 2nd BPM
- 3rd in VORP
- 3rd in Win Shares
- 4th in Triple Doubles
By any objective measure, Love had one of the…
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The "Generational Divide" can be summed up this way:
Those that have experienced BOTH the MJ Era and the LeBron Era will undoubtedly choose MJ.
Those that have only experienced ONLY the LeBron era will choose LeBron, and then work feverishly to create bizarre myths and…
i take the lebron v mj argument tooo seriously. it’s a generational divide that i cling to.
imagine if mj could pass and rebound
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In 2015, Hakeem Olajuwon talked about the enormous impact that his mentor, Moses Malone, had on his career:
“I would never have accomplished what I did if I did not play against Moses at Fonde. I knew the rules. I knew the basics of the game and what you were supposed to do.…
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Eric Spoelstra being recognized as the NBA’s best coach has been the worst kept secret.
Go look at his resume post-Heatles. He’s maximized on every team he’s had, and in some instances even overachieved.
Spo is not only the best coach today, but easily a top 10 GOAT Coach.…
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Ben Wallace winning 4 DPOYs in 5 seasons doesn't get talked about enough.
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April-June 2001:
The Shaq/Kobe Lakers unleash the Greatest Playoff run in NBA History.
Not only would the 2001 Lakers go 15-1 with a historical best 13.8 Net rating, but they did it by beating four 50-win teams.
Moreover, they didn’t just beat those teams, they eviscerated…
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@TheNBACentral
@GilsArenaShow
@NBCSWarriors
Yeah? Really Gil?
Why not do a Poole for Giannis trade while you’re at it?
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I understand if Kenyon Martin is frustrated, but to say that George Karl didn't make an impact is absolutely false.
Karl took over a 17-22 Nuggets team mid-season in 2005. They went 32-8 the rest of the way.
Over the next 7 seasons the Nuggets improved nearly every single…
Kenyon Martin keeps it 💯 about George Karl and his disrespect towards Melo and the Nuggets locker room.
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Laker fans are acting like earning the 7-seed is some sort of miracle just because their 2 best players missed games.
Steph/Wiggins- 71 games missed (6-seed)
Kawhi/PG- 56 games missed (5-seed)
CP3/Booker- 55 games missed (4-seed)
LeBron/AD- 53 games missed (7-seed)
STOP!
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If you told me that Kobe Bryant was the Greatest Laker of all time, I would offer no opposition.
If you told me that Magic Johnson was the Greatest Laker of all time, I would offer no opposition.
This is a slight on neither, but instead a compliment to both. That's how close…
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@SportsCenter
MJ in LeBron's era, easily.
MJ would have feasted off modern day rules changes that make it easier for perimeter players to score.
He would have thrived n Pace & Space, and wouldn't have to deal with clogged paints, limited spacing, and constant Hand checks.
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I can guarantee you of one thing... there isn't a crowd in NBA History that would have DARED chant "Who's your daddy" to a Michael Jordan-led team.
The Nuggets fans at Ball Arena are chanting "Who's your daddy" vs. the Lakers 😅
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Michael Jordan is the only player in NBA history with both 9 All-NBA 1st team + 9 All-Defense 1st team selections during the same season.
MJ played BOTH ends, and with an intensity never seen before, or after.
Happy 2-23-23 day everyone!
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It was real. MJ was feared more than any player in NBA history.
"Jordan's opponents learned to leave him alone by the mid-nineties, leading to a phenomenon unlike anything else we've witnessed before or ever since. Michael Jordan became basketball's version of Sleeping Tiger".…
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