Nice work on those numbers 5wide. Looking at those,"the King" appears to be a little over rated. The two surprises for me were Pippen's numbers are better than I would have expected and LeBron's are worse. Maybe we should be comparing Wade to Jordan instead of LeBron?

 

With regards to finals performance it seems more applicable at least. I was most surprised by Lebron's poor (by his standards) numbers. Pippen's numbers weren't that surprising to me. People forget just how good he was, IMO. He was overshadowed by Jordan, understandably, but a great player in his own right. There were times when more than a few people suggested that he may have been the second best player in the league during the Bulls great run. I suspect he benefitted from the team success in that regard, because I don't believe he was the second best player, but it's merely evidence of how respected his game was. There are those who won't give him credit regardless, but he was a great basketball player. He could do it all and was a perfect sidekick to Jordan and a nice fit for how that Bulls team was constructed. It's unfair and an unknown to say he wouldn't have been that good without Jordan. JMO

 

I think Jordan's FT attempts surprised me a little. I expected them to be higher to be honest. There were only 3 times in those first 3 finals that he attempted 10 or more FT's in a game. I haven't looked, but I'd bet his FT attempts were higher in the last three wins.

It is a moot point though. The poll should be Kobe/Shaq versus MJ/Pippen. That is the real debate.

 

 

Is the 1991 Finals assist stat for MJ right? 11.4 assists? Really? You sure it isn't 1.4? 11.4? Wow? Stunned.

 

I know. Crazy isn't it? To find out that Michael Jordan could do it all rather than just score, which is the myth that some people like to put forth.

Why no love for Kareem/Magic as I posted above? They have 6 and 5 rings respectively.

 

Partly because they weren't so much a duo than a great team. They also had Wilkes, Worthy, Scott and other players that helped them to their rings. Also because I think Kobe/Shaq would beat those two in a 7 game series. Plus Kobe/Shaq and MJ/Pippen threepeated. That has to count extra.

Jordan and Pippen is hands down for me now; the new duo has to accomplish a lot for me to change my mind.

The question asks who the best duo was. That's an easy answer for me. Jordan and Pippen.

 

If I rated the 4, I'd probably rate it MJ, LBJ, Wade, then Pippen. But, as a duo, Jordan and Pippen are better. I think they complement each other better, and I think they're better overall.

 

As always, we are premature to begin these debates. There's no doubt that James and Wade could potentially end up in the best duo ever debate, but they've yet to finish their first season together, so I think it's a bit premature.

 

As of now, there are several tandems that would rate ahead of them, IMO. MJ/Pippen, Kobe/Shaq, Magic/Kareem...

 

I feel the same way. I believe that the duos of Kobe/Shaq and Magic/Kareem were equal and don't believe that one was really better than the other.

I feel the same way. I believe that the duos of Kobe/Shaq and Magic/Kareem were equal and don't believe that one was really better than the other.

 

Even though they were surrounded by other HOF players throughout all of their rings won together? Even though for one of the rings Magic replaced Kareem in the starting lineup? How come Bird isn't mentioned with a partner in this duo game?

 

When you look at who Kobe and Shaq had to win with....best player...Robert Horry......and who Magic and Kareem had I can't proclaim Magic and Kareem as good as a duo. Magic and Kareem's teams were better and more talented.

Even though they were surrounded by other HOF players throughout all of their rings won together? Even though for one of the rings Magic replaced Kareem in the starting lineup? How come Bird isn't mentioned with a partner in this duo game?

 

When you look at who Kobe and Shaq had to win with....best player...Robert Horry......and who Magic and Kareem had I can't proclaim Magic and Kareem as good as a duo. Magic and Kareem's teams were better and more talented.

 

I think you could certainly throw Bird and McHale in there.

I think you could certainly throw Bird and McHale in there.

 

Or Bird/Parish and Magic/Worthy. Which is my point. Magic and Bird had more talent around them than MJ/Pippen and Kobe/Shaq did. The Lakers and Bulls success relied upon their dynamo duos. With Bird and Magic's teams they didn't have to rely on just 2 people. They had very strong starting fives and above average benches. Those 80's Lakers/Celtics teams were unbelievable. The Bad Boys as well.

Or Bird/Parish and Magic/Worthy. Which is my point. Magic and Bird had more talent around them than MJ/Pippen and Kobe/Shaq did. The Lakers and Bulls success relied upon their dynamo duos. With Bird and Magic's teams they didn't have to rely on just 2 people. They had very strong starting fives and above average benches. Those 80's Lakers/Celtics teams were unbelievable. The Bad Boys as well.

 

Still, I think you can take the two best players and call them a duo. You can judge them however you wish. It's impossible to come up with a black-and-white criteria for something like this.

Or Bird/Parish and Magic/Worthy. Which is my point. Magic and Bird had more talent around them than MJ/Pippen and Kobe/Shaq did. The Lakers and Bulls success relied upon their dynamo duos. With Bird and Magic's teams they didn't have to rely on just 2 people. They had very strong starting fives and above average benches. Those 80's Lakers/Celtics teams were unbelievable. The Bad Boys as well.

 

Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, B.J. Armstrong, Horace Grant ... they played with MJ/Pippen, right?

 

Ron Harper, Horace Grant (yes, he played with both ), Mitch Richmond, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher ... played with Kobe/Shaq, right?

 

I think just about any team that wins the championship has excellent role players that complement the stars. And maybe that is what will be the downfall for the Heat. Do their role players measure up to the Mavs and/or the teams above?

Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, B.J. Armstrong, Horace Grant ... they played with MJ/Pippen, right?

 

Ron Harper, Horace Grant (yes, he played with both ), Mitch Richmond, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher ... played with Kobe/Shaq, right?

 

I think just about any team that wins the championship has excellent role players that complement the stars. And maybe that is what will be the downfall for the Heat. Do their role players measure up to the Mavs and/or the teams above?

 

In relation to that, most of these teams had some time together to develop roles and chemistry. Miami was just thrown together almost from scratch, so I expect even their role players will get better as they get more comfortable and have their roles defined better with another year or two together.

In relation to that, most of these teams had some time together to develop roles and chemistry. Miami was just thrown together almost from scratch, so I expect even their role players will get better as they get more comfortable and have their roles defined better with another year or two together.

 

I wonder about that. With the new agreement and expected lower salary caps, are these three contracts going to tie the hands of the Heat and keep them from getting the role players they need?