Mark Jackson Comment?

[GreatLakeState]

The difference in size and athleticism from the '80s is minimal. James
Worthy would still be the quickest 6-9 post player in the league, for
example.

Then you throw in the superior fundamentals because all the players went
to college, and the modern player really suffers.

 

[Guest]

Wow GreatLakeState, I used to think you knew basketball well. Guess I was wrong.

"The difference in size and athleticism from the '80s is minimal."

This is pure and utter delusion.

Some of the comments here are 80s nostalgia crap of the highest order.

 

[GreatLakeState]

OK, name a quicker 6-9 forward than James Worthy?

A faster point guard than Kenny "The Jet" Smith?

A more physically dominant 2G than Michael Jordan?

And that's just UNC alumni!

 

[GreatLakeState]

Here are the top 20 scorers of the 1980s. Wow, how would Kareem ever
score against a super athlete like Kendrick Perkins? Could Moses Malone
offense board over a stick like Gasol? Would Dominique Wilkins be
explosive enough to get to the hole against Tayshaun Prince? Would Larry
Bird be able to shoot over Mike Dunleavy?

Alex English
Moses Malone
Larry Bird
Adrian Dantley
Dominique Wilkins
Mark Aguirre
Tom Chambers
Kevin McHale
Reggie Theus
Isiah Thomas
Magic Johnson
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Robert Parish
Kiki Vandeweghe
Michael Jordan
Terry Cummings
Bernard King
Ro Blackman
Jack Sikma
Eddie Johnson
Edited by: GreatLakeState

 

[GreatLakeState]

Top 20 scorers of this decade, thru last year

Kobe Bryant
Allen Iverson
Dirk Nowitzki
Tracy McGrayd'
Paul Pierce
Kevin Garnett
Vince Carter
Tim Duncan
Ray Allen
Antawn Jamison
Shawn Marion
Shaquille O'Neal
Elton Brand
Stephon Marbury
Richard Hamilton
Jason Terry
Gilbert Arenas
Antoine Walker
Rashard Lewis
Mike Bibby

 

[GreatLakeState]

Top 20 from the 90s

Karl Malone
Mitch Richmond (eh, wasn't he mentioned as an overrated black flameout
in anoher thread?)
David Robinson
Reggie Miller
Glen Rice
Patrick Ewing
Michael Jordan
Hakeem Olajuwon
Shawuille o'Neal
Socttie Pippen
Gary Payton
Shawn Kemp
Charles Barkley
Cliff Robinson
Tim Hardaway
Jeff Honracek
Detlef Schrempf
Hersey Hawkins
Alonzo Mourning
John Stockton

 

[Kaptain]

I'm not so sure about that Kaptain. McHale was a great player, but so is Garnett. McHale was helped a lot by Birds brilliant passing, just as Garnett was finally aided to win a championship by quality teammates this year. Garnett to me is a slightly taller, slightly more athletic version of McHale. McHale was "slightly" tougher than Garnett and has a slight edge as a passer. However, McHale was no Lambeer or Ben Wallace as far as toughness and was even illegitimately given the "soft" label by some. Either way whoever came off the bench between the two would be the best "sixth man" in NBA history.

I think a lot of you guys are underrating Kevin Garnett, which makes our site look unreasonably pro-white. Garnett will be inducted to the Hall of Fame one day. You couldn't expect Garnett to win a championship in Minnesota without any quality help. He had some good play from Wally early in his career and later from Sam Cassell, but there was no quality depth on the team and Wally and Cassell are pretty good players, but not "great".

I'm not underestimating him. McHale was just all around better. He was better defender (3-time all defensive team) and much better at offensive. All this despite never being the focus of the team like Garnett has been his entire career. As far as Garnett being more athletic - I'm sure he is, but who cares. I could beat McHale and Garnett in several sports but that doesn't make me a better basketball player. Mchale was better basketball player and that is definetly not an "unreasonable" opinion. It's probably a mainstream opinion in fact.



Mchale's career

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

I'm not so sure about that Kaptain. McHale was a great player, but so is Garnett. McHale was helped a lot by Birds brilliant passing, just as Garnett was finally aided to win a championship by quality teammates this year. Garnett to me is a slightly taller, slightly more athletic version of McHale. McHale was "slightly" tougher than Garnett and has a slight edge as a passer. However, McHale was no Lambeer or Ben Wallace as far as toughness and was even illegitimately given the "soft" label by some. Either way whoever came off the bench between the two would be the best "sixth man" in NBA history.

I think a lot of you guys are underrating Kevin Garnett, which makes our site look unreasonably pro-white. Garnett will be inducted to the Hall of Fame one day. You couldn't expect Garnett to win a championship in Minnesota without any quality help. He had some good play from Wally early in his career and later from Sam Cassell, but there was no quality depth on the team and Wally and Cassell are pretty good players, but not "great".

I'm not underestimating him. McHale was just all around better. He was better defender (3-time all defensive team) and much better at offensive. All this despite never being the focus of the team like Garnett has been his entire career. As far as Garnett being more athletic - I'm sure he is, but who cares. I could beat McHale and Garnett in several sports but that doesn't make me a better basketball player. Mchale was better basketball player and that is definetly not an "unreasonable" opinion. It's probably a mainstream opinion in fact.



Mchale's career

McHale is one of the greatest of ALL TIME.

Garnett's big claim to fame is being one of the greatest of his own [really watered down and less-talented] time.

Fact!

 

[guest301]

Even most Black NBA fans who are as tribal as you can get will tell you that Bird is far better than Pierce. Why is it even being discussed? Oh I forgot, Mark Jackson.

 

[whiteafflete15]

yeah except mark jakson never said pierce was better. that would be foolish... and its really difficult to compare teams from different eras. you have to remember that the game is played completely different today. in the 80's the refs let the guys play; there lot more pushing and shoving that went uncalled. the players also followed the rules; there were no crazy traveling and palming violations that went ignored, which happens so often today. players in the 80's wisely refrained from shooting the 3-point shot frequently, but more of today's players can shoot out to that range and with more consistency. a lot of the "who would win" question would rely on the officiating... as for "mchale vs garnett", Garnett is a better jump-shooter and has a slight edge in rebounding, while McHale is far FAR superior in the post. Defensively it's hard to say because the game is officiated today in a more soft manner. They look pretty even to me there though if I had to guess. Both guys are great players.