08-06-2010, 10:36 AM
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#24
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Rookie
OVR: 8
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Nebraska
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Re: Wilt Chamberlain better than Jordan?
Back then there were not as many skilled basketball players as there are today. Basketball was a relatively young sport, and the best players then were head and shoulders above their peers. To get an idea of the talent gap, think about the Original Dream team versus the world.
In many respects, it was like having several professional athletes playing league ball at a local YMCA. The pros will be able to do virtually anything they want to do. Even then, a few of the regular guys will be able to put up some numbers. But they will need more shots to get these numbers, which will drive down the overall shot percentages. If the major stars of that era had their shooting percentages taken out of the equation, I am sure the league FG percentages would be much worse than they already are.
The pace of game can be attributed to an emphasis on passing and fast breaking vs. less sophisticated defenses and offenses. There was not as much dribbling then, as there is now. There were not many strong ball handlers. The defenders were allowed to be more physical, but with defensive schemes being less team oriented, it was easier for a physically superior player to absorb the initial contact and make a play.
In essence, it is like playing that older, slower guy at the YMCA. You can get past him at will. His only defense is to wrap you up or hack you.
Wilt was a physical marvel for the time. He was also one of the only players that was really into working out. He was the most dominant individual of his era. Taller, stronger, faster than everyone else at his position, it was like a man playing with boys.
Jordan's peers played at a higher level than Wilt's. Jordan faced a bevy of players that were closer to him in athletic ability, basketball savvy, and competitive nature than Wilt ever did. The problem for them, is that Jordan was the only person that was able to package everything into a 6'6 frame.
Putting them into each other's era would most likely see Jordan's numbers sky rocket, as there would be even less people to keep up with him physically. Wilt would still be good, but he would have to get used to having to combat taller, faster, and stronger centers.
Since Wilt was already a strong user of weight training and the exercise science of the time, the workouts of today would only marginally increase his physical prowness.
Jordan, on the other hand would be one of the only ppl in the NBA using weights as part of his basketball regimen.
As it stands, Micheal Jordan was able to do more with his ability than Wilt, and was tested more by his peers. His mental ability allowed him to rise above all challengers.
Wilt was the most dominant player of his time, but he was unable to find a way to consistently use his superior gifts to help his team win.
While Wilt had more of a clear cut advantage over his peers, teamwise he did much less over his career. As such, he has to be considered a bit of an underachiever.
No one expected Micheal Jordan to be as great as he was. He willed himself to greatness. His will to win drove him to overachieve.
In the end, the difference is competitive nature. Jordan wanted it more than Wilt. He made winning his obsession. This, and only this is the reason why I feel safe saying that MJ was the greater player.
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