I Disagree, some positions are weaker PF/C comes to mind but the competition at Guard/wings is much much better then 15-20 years ago. You threw out Vanilla Gorillas list but it seems like a disagreement due to a generational gap then due to actual talent gap. You see it all the time at the Bars, the NBA was better in whoevers generation is talking at the moment then anything to due with actual Talent. The game has changed as well as how its reffed and coached but the Talent is always there.
It's tough to put any of today's guards ahead of the likes of Jordan, Magic, Stockton and Drexler - all established, all-time greats - but the depth at PG right now is ridiculous. Make a mental top-ten list and most of them would have ranked similarly high throughout the 80's and 90's. SG is pretty weak right now, but I think that's largely because the position has been bastardized as more and more emphasis is placed on scoring, primary ball handlers.
I live in both generations. I saw the players then, I see the players now. I saw the influx of weaker players over time. The last two CBA deals put the emphasis on lower caliber talent playing for cheapest contracts possible. I don't think you're giving credit to the guards who played back then, either. Aside from Pippen and Jordan, you had KJ and Ray Allen and Glenn Rice and Ainge and Stockton and Tim Hardaway and Gary Payton, etc. I also think it might be a better comparison between Karl Malone and LeBron. Or how about all-star Joakim Noah is the next coming of Brian Grant?
Kobe is Kobe because of Jordan. He copied Jordan. He wouldn't have been Kobe without Jordan to lead the way. Also- what amazing SGs were Jordan beating in the playoffs? John Starks? Hornacek? Byron Scott? Majerle? Drexler is the only HOFer he faced in the playoffs. Reggie Miller once in ECF too but he wasn't known for his D.
Alan Houston, Jerry Stackhouse, Reggie Miller, Ricky Pierce, Steve Smith, Jeff Hornacek, Drexler, Jalen Rose, Isaiah Rider, Jim Jackson, Hersey Hawkins, Eddie Jones, Michael Finley, Mitch Richmond, Latrell Sprewell. Those are the prominent SGs from the 1st year of the 2nd threepeat. Quite a few of those guys would be elite players today. Jackson, Richmond, Miller, Houston, Finley, Drexler, Smith, Rider...
Le Bron may be the best player in the league, but Durant has been a far better candidate for Most Valuable player the last 2 years. Miami is a title contender with or without Le Bron. OKC is a cellar-dweller without Durant.
You're missing the point. Jordan didn't face Houston, Stackhouse, Smith, Rider, Jones, Finley, Richmond, or Sprewell in the playoffs. Also, Rose wasn't a SG. Jordan faced the guys I mentioned in the playoffs.
Bullshit. Wade was injured most of last year, and is gimping (AGAIN!) in the playoffs this year. Take Durant away, you have a decent team. Westbrook, Martin, Sefolosha, Ibaka, Perkins, Collison, Jackson, etc. Certainly not a cellar dweller. Westbrook hasnt even missed a game until now. Take Lebron away and the Heat have to play completely different. Can't start or play Battier at the 4. Cant play a Wade/Chalmers/Allen or Battier without Lebron. Wade in and out of the lineup because of his knee (which would take even more of a beating if he was the GUY). LeBron is the best and most valuable player.
Why does it matter if he faced those guys in the playoffs? The league had lots of outstanding SGs at the time. And Rose was a SG who wanted to be a PG. In fact, he's listed at SF, though he played SG for the Bulls (for example). http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/roseja01.html
The playoffs are all that matters. People like Stackhouse and Sprewell don't matter when talking about who stood in the way or Jordan getting what he wanted. Championships.
Also, Denny. Read your post. I asked who Jordan was facing in the playoffs and then you promptly made a list of players who didn't face him in the playoffs for the most part.
