If you want to say Lebron is better defender thats a valid opinion. I just disagree. To act like Jordan isn't an all time great defender is just nonsense. I know you hate him but it's just a silly sentiment.

I never said the Pistons team would sniff the Eastern Conference Finals in the 90s. That's a non issue to me. I've already said the East was weaker in the 2000s than in the 90s but that the East was weak back then too. Go look at the playoffs back then and tell me what GREAT teams there were back then in the East. You act like the East in the 90s is like how the West is now and that's so not true. Pacers, Knicks and the Magic for a couple of years. Other than that the East was hot garbage and keep in mind the Pacers and Knicks played every year in the playoffs so the Bulls only had to face th winner. By all means, please refresh my memory of the great Eastern Conference teams of the 90s. It was top heavy like it is now.

 

I also don't understand how completion has anything to do with the discussion. If competition means so much then Magic Johnson is the GOAT and it isn't even close.

 

Magic is the best Laker of all time .

 

There is a good case for Magic to be the GOAT. It's not a crazy statement. I just don't agree with it.

 

Jordan is still the greatest to me. But my door is open for Lebron based on how his career ends. I just think at this point it's silly Statement.

 

Sports media hypes these silly in the moment topics. It would have more validity after he wins the title this year.

I never said the Pistons team would sniff the Eastern Conference Finals in the 90s. That's a non issue to me. I've already said the East was weaker in the 2000s than in the 90s but that the East was weak back then too. Go look at the playoffs back then and tell me what GREAT teams there were back then in the East. You act like the East in the 90s is like how the West is now and that's so not true. Pacers, Knicks and the Magic for a couple of years. Other than that the East was hot garbage and keep in mind the Pacers and Knicks played every year in the playoffs so the Bulls only had to face th winner. By all means, please refresh my memory of the great Eastern Conference teams of the 90s. It was top heavy like it is now.

 

I also don't understand how completion has anything to do with the discussion. If competition means so much then Magic Johnson is the GOAT and it isn't even close.

 

All 3 teams you listed right there are better than any team Lebron has had to face in the east. The heat with Hardaway and Zo were a solid to good team. Pistons were good early 90s . Cavs had good teams with Price and Daughtery . Hawks had good teams. I remember the Hornets with Zo and LJ but I think they were mostly hype. Again off the top.of my head so don't shoot for me not coming up with more teams no research.

It's two in the morning I'm not doing research. Dominique , Steve Smith , Mitch Richmond , Jason Kidd , John Starks , Glenn Rice or Dell Curry , kevin Johnson, Magic , Dennis Johnson , ..... a few off the top of my head

 

He never guarded Dominique.

 

Steve Smith? Really?

 

Glenn Rice?

 

John Starks? Really? And he dunked on Michael and Scottie. Great defense, MJ.

 

Dell Curry? Really?

 

Dennis Johnson? You want to throw Danny Ainge on there also for good measure?

 

He never guarded Magic that much. Pollen would guard Magic. MJ was on Byron Scott. Pippen would guard Kidd too.

 

 

 

So Mitch Richmond, maybe Kevin Johnson when switching screens, that's about it to add to your other list of 5. I remember MJ being an above average defender but Pippen always drew the tougher assignments. Especially the bigger PGs. Meanwhile, Lebron is defending the 1-4 positions in pretty much every game he plays in.

 

We saw what happened when MJ tried to guard a PG named Iverson. Who else in MJ's career was similar to Iverson that he had to guard?

All 3 teams you listed right there are better than any team Lebron has had to face in the east. The heat with Hardaway and Zo were a solid to good team. Pistons were good early 90s . Cavs had good teams with Price and Daughtery . Hawks had good teams. I remember the Hornets with Zo and LJ but I think they were mostly hype. Again off the top.of my head so don't shoot for me not coming up with more teams no research.

 

And none of those teams are winning the East this year either.

If you want to say Lebron is better defender thats a valid opinion. I just disagree. To act like Jordan isn't an all time great defender is just nonsense. I know you hate him but it's just a silly sentiment.

 

When did I say he wasn't a great all time defender???? I'm saying I can't consider him a better defender than Lebron because Lebron can defend more positions than MJ could.

 

I do think MJ's defensive reputation benefits from the time he was in the league and the lack of quality 2 guards in the league at the time. When you have time to back and look at some of the folks he was up against. Rex Chapman says hello.

He never guarded Dominique.

 

Steve Smith? Really?

 

Glenn Rice?

 

John Starks? Really? And he dunked on Michael and Scottie. Great defense, MJ.

 

Dell Curry? Really?

 

Dennis Johnson? You want to throw Danny Ainge on there also for good measure?

 

He never guarded Magic that much. Pollen would guard Magic. MJ was on Byron Scott. Pippen would guard Kidd too.

 

 

 

So Mitch Richmond, maybe Kevin Johnson when switching screens, that's about it to add to your other list of 5. I remember MJ being an above average defender but Pippen always drew the tougher assignments. Especially the bigger PGs. Meanwhile, Lebron is defending the 1-4 positions in pretty much every game he plays in.

 

We saw what happened when MJ tried to guard a PG named Iverson. Who else in MJ's career was similar to Iverson that he had to guard?

 

Your lack of respect for some of these players is astounding. And you are incorrect on who MJ guarded he guarded elite PGS through his career.

 

Your making arguments on single plays? Is this real life lol.

 

I love how to make your point you act like good NBA players aren't good NBA players.

 

And stop this LeBron guards 1-4 stuff. He just didn't do much of that this year. Shumpert and JR are guarding best perimeter players.

 

Lebron used to do that a lot and that's why I called him more versatile but he does not or has never guarded the permiter better than MJ. Period.

When did I say he wasn't a great all time defender???? I'm saying I can't consider him a better defender than Lebron because Lebron can defend more positions than MJ could.

 

I do think MJ's defensive reputation benefits from the time he was in the league and the lack of quality 2 guards in the league at the time. When you have time to back and look at some of the folks he was up against. Rex Chapman says hello.

 

There aren't many "great" two guards in the history of the NBA . That's why what Kobe and Jordan did was so special.

 

How many truely great 2 guards have there been in the last 10 years Kobe Wade and now the last couple years Harden. Historically it's not a deep positIon.

 

That's why Jordan guarded the best guard. He had to because he was playing with Paxson on first 3 peat then Ron Harper who was playing on a bad knee for 2nd 3.

When did I say he wasn't a great all time defender???? I'm saying I can't consider him a better defender than Lebron because Lebron can defend more positions than MJ could.

 

I do think MJ's defensive reputation benefits from the time he was in the league and the lack of quality 2 guards in the league at the time. When you have time to back and look at some of the folks he was up against. Rex Chapman says hello.

 

Your argument is he didn't guard anyone . So why not just rank more players over him from this era. He didn't guard anyone.

Your lack of respect for some of these players is astounding. And you are incorrect on who MJ guarded he guarded elite PGS through his career.

 

Your making arguments on single plays? Is this real life lol.

 

I love how to make your point you act like good NBA players aren't good NBA players.

 

And stop this LeBron guards 1-4 stuff. He just didn't do much of that this year. Shumpert and JR are guarding best perimeter players.

 

Lebron used to do that a lot and that's why I called him more versatile but he does not or has never guarded the permiter better than MJ. Period.

 

Steve Smith, Dell Curry and Glen Rice aren't Hall of Famers. They could shoot and that was it. They aren't testing anyone's defense when they have the ball. Dennis Johnson wasn't a scorer. Ever in his NBA career. John Starks isn't a Hall of Famer. You're giving me guys that MJ should stop. None of those guys tested him. How hard is it to guard a shooter not named Reggie Miller who made you chase him all over the gym?

 

I want the facts that MJ shut down Gary Payton. He never did.

 

I want to hear MJ shut down Drexler. He never did.

 

I want to hear MJ shut down Worthy or Magic. He never did.

 

Hell, show me he shut down Penny. He never did.

 

Don't give me non scoring PGs and spot up shooters as people MJ had to guard. His hardest opponent was Reggie Miller because Reggie made him work. Overall guys these days can't shoot like they could back then so you have to be able to keep them from getting to the rim since that is how they score. MJ couldn't guard a player like KD in his days and he probably would have a hard time keeping up with Russ. Lebron has to guard guys like that all of the time. MJ ain't guarding Melo. MJ ain't guarding Dirk and he never had to guard guys like that. Lebron does.

What do you mean he never did this just isn't true ? It's a flat false statement . Your making blanket statements that aren't true. Jordan's reputation was for shutting down the other teams best guard. He earned his defensive honors.

 

Also on defense Lebron is in his 12 th year I believe 5 1st team all Defense and 1 second team .

 

Jordan played 13 seasons I believe including the Wizards years and had 9 1st team all nba defense.

 

Jordan averaged more steals and he and Lebron have an identical number on block shots . Lebron does have an edge on rebounding at 7.1 to 6.2. But shouldn't a forward out rebound a guard ? It wasn't like Jordan wasn't an elite rebounding guard.

 

Also again I'll repeat Title games to date Jordan 6-0 , Lebron 2-3 before this next one is played out.

 

To repeat what you said earlier the cream rises to the top

Another point you are now making is if they aren't a Hall of Famer they can't be considered a tough guard ? There are plenty of tough players to guard in every era who don't make the Hall. Again how many Hall of fame two guards did Kobe have to guard.

 

I can continue to throw out names of good nba players but you will continue to discredit them.

What do you mean he never did this just isn't true ? It's a flat false statement . Your making blanket statements that aren't true. Jordan's reputation was for shutting down the other teams best guard. He earned his defensive honors.

 

Also on defense Lebron is in his 12 th year I believe 5 1st team all Defense and 1 second team .

 

Jordan played 13 seasons I believe including the Wizards years and had 9 1st team all nba defense.

 

Jordan averaged more steals and he and Lebron have an identical number on block shots . Lebron does have an edge on rebounding at 7.1 to 6.2. But shouldn't a forward out rebound a guard ? It wasn't like Jordan wasn't an elite rebounding guard.

 

Also again I'll repeat Title games to date Jordan 6-0 , Lebron 2-3 before this next one is played out.

 

To repeat what you said earlier the cream rises to the top

 

Please, MJ never did any wrong ever on the court. Reggie Miller could score 40 points on MJ and folks would still make up some excuse as to why it happened. Rex Chapman even lit up MJ for 28 points one night.

 

Yes, MJ earned his reputation for shutting down the other team's best guard. My argument is that guards/forwards nowadays are a lot harder to guard than they were in MJ's days.

 

I don't think Lebron has ever gotten the credit he deserves for his defense. Year in and year out his team's always are at the top of the best defenses in the league. That's not a coincidence.

Double post.

Edited May 28, 201511 yr by PurplePride92

Another point you are now making is if they aren't a Hall of Famer they can't be considered a tough guard ? There are plenty of tough players to guard in every era who don't make the Hall. Again how many Hall of fame two guards did Kobe have to guard.

 

I can continue to throw out names of good nba players but you will continue to discredit them.

 

What does Kobe have to do with this discussion? :lol2:

 

You said MJ had to guard good players and you gave me about 2-4 guys out of 10 that may have presented a challenge to him. My point is that there weren't good enough players to challenge him on a consistent basis whereas Lebron is guarding folks like KD and Carmelo Anthony. Who has it more rough? MJ guarding Joe Dumars or Lebron guarding KD?