The more things change, the more they stay the same. Throughout Jordan's career, there was constant bitching about how he got all the calls...or non-calls when he played defense. There were people convinced he traveled on every drive and basically caused referees to redefine what "traveling" was.
I realize favoritism has occurred over the years, Jordan was one example of that, but I would argue that the favoritism is on a much wider scale now.
idk, i've seen lebron on many occasions put his head down with no intention of really scoring, he barely flips the ball at the hoop, and he gets bailed out all the time. I can't remember ever seeing jordan do that. He wanted to score every single time, and the defense had to foul him otherwise he would score. Lebron just goes in there and knows if he has no where to go, he'll more than likely get to the line. Look at pietrus' defense on him in the playoffs for proof. He guarding him beautifully many times only to have the refs blow their whistle. And then kobe in the finals, with every jumper he takes his hand/arm are getting slapped and pushed, nothing at all (which is the way i like it, but if lebron gets that shit, why doesn't kobe?)
I would love to see that too. Know what I think would happen? LeBron would steamroll over them and they would have their tailbone slammed into the court. LeBron has a PF body with a guards speed and handle. Laimbeer and Oakley never had to deal with someone like that.
There's a lot more "touch" fouls nowadays. I blame the international game becoming more prominent over here. "Flopping" is much more evident with today's players now than back when Jordan played. Jordan averaged over 10 fta per game in two different seasons during his career and had two other seasons with over 9 fta per game. In comparison, both Wade and Lebron have matched that in their young career.
Jordan's Bulls were swept by the Celtics two years in a row. LeBron has never lost a first round playoff series. Ever.
What I meant was that Jordan never lead his team to the finals only to be embarrassingly swept. I'm sure Lebron's early teams would have easily been swept by Bird's Celtics too. Nice strawman though, way to ignore other parts of my argument like how Jordan's teams never lost when they were heavily favored in a series. *cough Orlando *cough. And I never remember Jordan having that pathetic of a fourth quarter in a elimination playoff game.
