I don't get how u could say scottie wasn't better. He could gaurd more positions and he always D'ed up the better offensive player. There is a reason they put scottie on mark jackson in the playoffs when mark was lighting stuff up. but you could make a serious case that both of them were the best defenders ever at their position..... u could even say the 72-10 had 3 of the best defenders at their position ever.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting babybulls:</div><div class="quote_post"> but you could make a serious case that both of them were the best defenders ever at their position..... u could even say the 72-10 had 3 of the best defenders at their position ever.</div> Maybe from a career perspective. But was Jordan really playing at an all-time defensive level after his comeback from baseball? He was very good, but maybe not THAT good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">Naw, no bias against Jordan....but let's be honest. A young 310 lbs. Shaq with amazing quickness and brute strength coulda beat Michael's ass.</div> Amazing quickness?
I would say Michael Jordan is one of the best perimeter defenders ever just because it's hard to come up with elite defenders who weren't big men off the top of my head, especially before the mid-80s. As people have said, part of his effectiveness came from the fact that he was Michael Jordan and it seemed like there was nothing you could do to stop him on either end of the court. The reason he became such a great defender, though, is because he put forth an amazing amount of effort and he knew the game of basketball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting babybulls:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get how u could say scottie wasn't better. He could gaurd more positions and he always D'ed up the better offensive player. There is a reason they put scottie on mark jackson in the playoffs when mark was lighting stuff up. but you could make a serious case that both of them were the best defenders ever at their position..... u could even say the 72-10 had 3 of the best defenders at their position ever.</div> Jordan could guard the 1-3, Scottie could also guard the 1-3. Neither could truly guard 4's, so let's not act like they were being put on opposing PF's regularly, but Pippen's weakness was his post defense anyways. Pippen was a better defender than Jordan when he was older, but younger Jordan was every big as good a defender as Pippen was. There's a reason Jordan won a DPOY.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">Naw, no bias against Jordan....but let's be honest. A young 310 lbs. Shaq with amazing quickness and brute strength coulda beat Michael's ass.</div> Ain't no way possible a shaq could be a young jordan. Now a young jordan had amazing quickness.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Amazing quickness?</div> Shaq's quickness when he was younger was unrivaled by other centers even 40-50lbs lighter than him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ain't no way possible a shaq could be a young jordan. Now a young jordan had amazing quickness.</div> In a game of one-on-one i can't even believe this is debateable. The young Shaq was the greatest force he league had ever seen. No one is saying he is better, but in a game of one-on-one a young Shaq would win. Besides, this thread is about Jordan's defense. Post that other stuff in the Shaq vs. Jordan one-on-one thread or whatever it was.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">Naw, no bias against Jordan....but let's be honest. A young 310 lbs. Shaq with amazing quickness and brute strength coulda beat Michael's ass.</div> Big men suck 1 on 1. It is biased. Shaq would have a chance against the 96-98 Jordan. Against the young Jordan I would bet my life on MJ. Plus Kobe probably whooped Shaq's ass in 1 on 1 in practice in LA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hustler:</div><div class="quote_post">Jordan's defence was so amazing....even Iverson crossed him out.</div> No way, doesn't Iverson have one of the worst handles in the NBA how could he cross out Jordan?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Big men suck 1 on 1. It is biased.</div>how is it biased? I remember Kareem Abdul-Jabaar beating Dr.J simply because of the of the size difference. A young Jordan was a great one-on-one player, but.......ahh forget it. Get the hell out of my thread. Please
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NBA MAN:</div><div class="quote_post">No way, doesn't Iverson have one of the worst handles in the NBA how could he cross out Jordan?</div> are you serious? or are u just kidding
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In a game of one-on-one i can't even believe this is debateable. The young Shaq was the greatest force he league had ever seen. No one is saying he is better, but in a game of one-on-one a young Shaq would win. Besides, this thread is about Jordan's defense. Post that other stuff in the Shaq vs. Jordan one-on-one thread or whatever it was.</div> Actually it is debatable. In one on one, you start outside the three point line, you don't get the ball passed to you in the post. So Shaq would have to make all his moves from a good distance from the basket which he isn't used to. Jordan should at least be able to steal the ball a few times. Also Jordan would have a HUGE quickness and speed advantage and could take him off the dribble all day, and if Shaq stepped back he could shoot the jumper all day. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jordan's defence was so amazing....even Iverson crossed him out.</div> That was older Jordan for one thing, so his quickness and reaction time wouldn't be the same as younger one. Also the crossover was a carry, and Jordan still recovered and challenged the shot. Lastly, everyone get's crossed up, it doesn't make you a bad defender. A lot of the older players though were not used to the new school more carrying crossover when guys first started doing it, that ended quickly though. Now if you're saying one on one but with them having a guy to get them the ball in the spots they want, then Shaq easily wins because if he got it down low he'll make about 80% of those shots. He'll miss once in a while because he'll try and do a hook shot or turnaround jumpshot, and those aren't 100%. Whoever got the ball first would normally have the advantage. Since you shoot for ball, Jordan would get it first. He can dribble and dribble all day till he found a good shot since Shaq really can't guard him either. So the winning would change depending on who doesn't miss, or whatever.
I'll take MJ's defense over Pippen's anyday.....Jordan was quicker and was a better shot blocker....and to answer your question, yes MJ was one of the greatest perimeter defenders to ever play the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't get it..doesn't that mean he was better? I thought he was one of the most physically gifted guards ever?</div> He was NOT ONLY gifted physically, he had the ABILITY to take you out of your game MENTALLY. Get it now?
i think Jordan was the greatest player ever (yes i am a big jordan fan)... you know how you see those video games and they rank him 98 99 or whatever its true... but if you recall in 91 they put Pippen on Magic to win the finals.. Truely i think Pippen was a bit better defensively because he was bigger/longer. But i think Larry bird was the greatest defender of all time! what do you guys think
why am i crazy even Jordan admits that Bird was the toughest because he played mind games with him.... also Joe dumars always was a thorn on JOrdans side
