"I Could Score 100."

[stlstudios189]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

no freaking way. teams would force the ball away.

[jfsolo]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

100 is really tough. Not impossible, but highly improbable though. I do think that he could average 45+ per game for a couple of seasons, and would have a handful of 70 points games.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

And again, he's still 31 points short. That's a whole lot of points.

And again, Jordan scored those points without a deliberate push to score more. He was simply hot, was playing Cleveland, and the game went to overtime and the Bulls won by a small margin. So it's safe to say all of those 69 points were necessary for victory.

As I mentioned earlier, for Kobe's 81 game, he has 72-74 points with the Lakers up by 13 and two minutes left. He then took just about every shot down the stretch, hoisting a few threes and forced his way into the paint to draw fouls, and the rest of the Lakers didn't even bother looking for their own shot at that point. Again, his effort was obviously a historic one, but in reality if one looks at the game, the Lakers were in full command with a double digit lead in the 4th quarter, at which point the game descended into the 'how many can Kobe get?' circus. The Lakers basically had the game in hand by the time Kobe hit 70. But, this is a guy that seems as if he needs to go on incredible scoring sprees in an effort to out-Jordan Jordan as a scorer, when in actuality Jordan was so much more. I'm pretty sure Kobe's always had Jordan's 69 in the back of his head.

Anyways, getting back to the main point, if David Robinson and David Thompson can score over 70, I don't see why Jordan couldn't. The point about Jordan's 69 being 31 points shy, he took 37 shots, and made 62% of them. What if he took the same number of shots that Kobe took to get his 81? As much as the point is being made that Kobe scored 81 in 4 quarters, and Jordan scored 69 in overtime, the fact is that Kobe actually took a hell of a lot more shots than Jordan did in considerably less time.

[threes_co]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

There is no way a SG could possibly score 100 points in today's NBA. Teams would simply force the ball out of his hands.

[st0rmb11]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

2. As much as you guys want to believe that the 80s and 90s defenses were so much better, the point totals now are far less.
.

have you considered that maybe the offenses today are just worse? the overall caliber of players today isn't what it was in the 80s and 90s. athletically, yes they're superior. but fundamentally, they aren't near the same players. athleticism only gets you so far, but at some point you have to be able to shoot and play the game.

The point about Jordan's 69 being 31 points shy, he took 37 shots, and made 62% of them. What if he took the same number of shots that Kobe took to get his 81? As much as the point is being made that Kobe scored 81 in 4 quarters, and Jordan scored 69 in overtime, the fact is that Kobe actually took a hell of a lot more shots than Jordan did in considerably less time.

actually, I did the math earlier, and if Jordan had taken the same number of shots as Kobe (which was 46, so not really "a hell of a lot more"), he would have actually made around the same number of shots as well. so that's really not a good comparison.

but I still maintain, that if Jordan WANTED to put up the number of shots necessary, he could get off enough shots to score 100. in his prime, no one is keeping Jordan from getting a shot up.

[Cebby]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

100 is really tough. Not impossible, but highly improbable though. I do think that he could average 45+ per game for a couple of seasons, and would have a handful of 70 points games.

Why?

If that was the case then you would have seen players increasing their PPG from the 90s into the 2000s and from the early 2000s to now. That hasn't happened.

Anyways, getting back to the main point, if David Robinson and David Thompson can score over 70, I don't see why Jordan couldn't. The point about Jordan's 69 being 31 points shy, he took 37 shots, and made 62% of them. What if he took the same number of shots that Kobe took to get his 81? As much as the point is being made that Kobe scored 81 in 4 quarters, and Jordan scored 69 in overtime, the fact is that Kobe actually took a hell of a lot more shots than Jordan did in considerably less time.

Kobe only took 46 shots.

Even if Jordan took 9 more shots that were 3 pointers and made all of them he'd still be short of 100.

In his 69 point game he also played 50 minutes which allowed him to space out his shots. Getting the extra 20 or so shots to get to 100 would be quite difficult to just sneak in.

If Jordan was capable of doing all these things, why didn't he? There's a reason that nobody has ever come close aside from the 1962 season where anyone capable of throwing a ball was dropping 20.

have you considered that maybe the offenses today are just worse? the overall caliber of players today isn't what it was in the 80s and 90s. athletically, yes they're superior. but fundamentally, they aren't near the same players. athleticism only gets you so far, but at some point you have to be able to shoot and play the game.

No, I haven't considered that because it doesn't really make sense. Players today are better shooters than they were before because players grew up practicing the 3 pointer. The free throw % and 3 point % from 2010 and 1991 were .355/.759 and .320/.765, and I'd think that the free throw % is skewed down today because of the Hack-a-Shaq. I use those because they're basically not affected by defense.

The biggest difference is teams just take a lot fewer shots. For the season the average was down 450 per team.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

He would definitely get to the FT line at a Wade like rate, which would certainly boost his scoring average. But 45+? That seems a bit much. I would think he would have a disgusting amount of 40 point games though just based off the FT's.

Also, I'm assuming we're talking late 90's MJ not athletic prime MJ?

I don't know if 100 is ever possible again, people are kind of making it seem like a for sure thing. And sure MJ saw zone defenses, big whoop. Sure as hell doesn't mean he could score 100.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

actually, I did the math earlier, and if Jordan had taken the same number of shots as Kobe (which was 46, so not really "a hell of a lot more"), he would have actually made around the same number of shots as well. so that's really not a good comparison.

I went on a bit of a tangent there, but I wasn't really making that point to say Jordan would score 100, moreso that he has the capability to score more than the 69. I'm seeing a few posts here speak as though 69 was some magical line that Jordan couldn't cross or something.

Kobe only took 46 shots.

Even if Jordan took 9 more shots that were 3 pointers and made all of them he'd still be short of 100.

In his 69 point game he also played 50 minutes which allowed him to space out his shots. Getting the extra 20 or so shots to get to 100 would be quite difficult to just sneak in.

If Jordan was capable of doing all these things, why didn't he? There's a reason that nobody has ever come close aside from the 1962 season where anyone capable of throwing a ball was dropping 20.

Again, as I stated above, I was talking moreso about Jordan getting more than 69 points if he really set his mind to it. I don't think Jordan would actually hit 100, and frankly I''m amazed Kobe got 81. Not so much from an ability standpoint, but where was the Raptors' pride that day? Sheesh....

I have to laugh though at Kobe 'only' took 46 shots. That's a hell of a lot of shots,man.

[st0rmb11]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

He would definitely get to the FT line at a Wade like rate, which would certainly boost his scoring average. But 45+? That seems a bit much. I would think he would have a disgusting amount of 40 point games though just based off the FT's.

Also, I'm assuming we're talking late 90's MJ not athletic prime MJ?

I don't know if 100 is ever possible again, people are kind of making it seem like a for sure thing. And sure MJ saw zone defenses, big whoop. Sure as hell doesn't mean he could score 100.

I thought we were talking prime Jordan (1989-1993). When he was doing everything a basketball player could possibly, as well as being the most athletic player in the league.

Late 90s Jordan could do everything, but wasn't near the athlete, and wasn't as unstoppable at getting to the basket.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

True but his post game was simply disgusting in the late 90's and his mid range shot was nearly automatic. His awareness was obviously at an all-time high as well so he was very efficient.

But yeah not sure which MJ we're talkin here.

I guess it doesn't really matter either way. Either way he would have been right up there for scoring titles every year with today's league but scoring 100 just seems like a bit of a stretch.

I'm in the boat of thinking you can top out at the high 80's.. I'm not even sure scoring over 90 is possible. Kobe had a lot of plays in that Toronto game that could have topped him out at 89 if you go back and look at the game.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

I'm thinking the 2nd three-peat Jordan may have actually had a better shot. Mainly because his outside shooting from 18 feet and in was so dynamic, plus his post game. The fadeaway was unstoppable, could shot it over either shoulder with equal efficiency. Prime Jordan( first three-peat Jordan) had developed a very good jumpshot but was still a slasher more than a shooter. If we're using the argument that it's harder to slash nowadays( though Wade has made a career off it, but whatever), then the better shooting Jordan would probably be the more likely one to score 80-90 points, IF he pushed himself, IF he was playing a weaker defensive team, and IF his teammates deliberately looked for him. A lot of things have to come into play at once for that kind of performance.

[TMagic]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Main point is, this has nothing to do with Jordan homerism. It's pretty clear to me that if less talented scorers than Jordan can have a '15 minutes in the sun' moment and go off for 70+, then I find it hard to believe that Jordan didn't possess the ability to push for at least 80-90. Lost in the hoopla about Jordan's 69 point game is that he also contributed 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals. You really think if he solely concentrated his efforts on scoring, that he couldn't have at least eclipsed what Kobe did? Not to discount Kobe's game, it was one HELL of a performance, but to use that as some kind of dangling carrot to suggest Jordan couldn't do it is crazy.

I don't doubt that he can reach somewhere around Kobe's mark.

But, we're talking about 100 points.

The closest thing we have to that is Kobe's 81.

In that game...

Kobe hit 61% of his shots
Kobe hit 7 three pointers...scoring 21 on threes alone
Kobe hit 18 free throws
Kobe shot the ball 46 times

All of this in 42 minutes.

Kobe had to take a shot basically every minute he was in the game. He scored 1.9 points per minute, he scored 1.76 points per shot.

To score 100, he would have had to play 52 minutes or shot the ball 10 more times

To get to 100, he would have had to score 19 points in 6 minutes.

The most points ever scored in a quarter by Jordan was 30. So lets just guess and say that the best scoring ever in 6 minutes was 15 by Jordan. Ever...in his entire career. So scoring 19 in six minutes isn't very likely for Kobe, or anybody for that matter at the end of a game where a player has already put up 81. Kobe has put up 30 in a quarter too. So even if he matched his best ever (estimated) 6 minute scoring effort, played an additional six minutes, and scored 15 in those six minutes, he would have only scored 96, still short of 100.

With everything going right, firing on all cylinders, against the one of the worst defenses, having his best game ever, for one of the greatest players of all time, Kobe was STILL 19 points short. 19! That's what some of the best scorers in today are averaging over an entire game, and to hit 100 he would have had to do that in 6 minutes. lol

It's not like we're talking about a slouch. We're talking about Kobe Bryant, in his prime. One of, if not the most polished offensive basketball player the game has ever seen. With everything going his way, again, he was still 19 points short.

Jordan may be able to score more than that. Don't doubt that. But, that's not what we're arguing. We're arguing whether Jordan can score 100, and I just don't see that happening for ANY player in today's NBA.

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Cebby, so passionate towards convicing people there's no way in hell Jordan would score 100 points.

It sounds more like you wouldn't want the man to score 100 points LOL.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

I don't doubt that he can reach somewhere around Kobe's mark.

But, we're talking about 100 points.

The closest thing we have to that is Kobe's 81.

In that game...

Kobe hit 61% of his shots
Kobe hit 7 three pointers...scoring 21 on threes alone
Kobe hit 18 free throws
Kobe shot the ball 46 times

All of this in 42 minutes.

Kobe had to take a shot basically every minute he was in the game. He scored 1.9 points per minute, he scored 1.76 points per shot.

To score 100, he would have had to play 52 minutes or shot the ball 10 more times in

To get to 100, he would have had to score 19 points in 6 minutes.

The most points ever scored in a quarter by Jordan was 30. So lets just guess and say that the best scoring ever in 6 minutes was 15 by Jordan. Ever...in his entire career. So scoring 19 in six minutes isn't very likely for Kobe, or anybody for that matter at the end of a game where a player has already put up 81. Kobe has put up 30 in a quarter too. So even if he matched his best ever (estimated) 6 minute scoring effort, played an additional six minutes, and scored 15 in those six minutes, he would have only scored 96, still short of 100.

With everything going right, firing on all cylinders, against the one of the worst defenses, having his best game ever, for one of the greatest players of all time, Kobe was STILL 19 points short. 19! That's what some of the best scorers in today are averaging over an entire game, and to hit 100 he would have had to do that in 6 minutes. lol

It's not like we're talking about a slouch. We're talking about Kobe Bryant, in his prime. One of, if not the most polished offensive basketball player the game has ever seen. With everything going his way, again, he was still 19 points short.

Jordan may be able to score more than that. Don't doubt that. But, that's not what we're arguing. We're arguing whether Jordan can score 100, and I just don't see that happening for ANY player in today's NBA.

Actually, I think I've been having my own little argument with regards to Jordan's ability to score more than 69, at least as much as Kobe did, moreso than arguing that he can score 100. I don't recall even saying he could score 100, I think I've said a few times already, including the post that you're quoting, that I think 80-90 is possible, but alot of things would have to go right for that.He'd have to be incredibly hot, playing the 2010 Nets, and have his team defer to him all night. I don't think I've made much of an argument for him scoring 100.

Oh yeah, just for kicks, here's Jordan scoring 19 points in 6 minutes against Vancouver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShNfeFxij28
No reason to post this, other than for a trip down memory lane.

[Cebby]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Cebby, so passionate towards convicing people there's no way in hell Jordan would score 100 points.

It sounds more like you wouldn't want the man to score 100 points LOL.

I'd love to see someone get 100, but you never will unless there's a drastic change in the NBA.

The only game where someone has scored more than 81 occurred in 1962 and frankly statistics from 1962 should be treated as if they never happened.

Saying that someone could score 25% more points than Kobe did in that game in the slowest and lowest scoring NBA ever is just wrong. And as I've said previously, a player like Kobe or Kevin Durant who can go on crazy hot streaks is a much better choice for super high scoring games than Jordan because they can shoot the 3. That's how Jamal Crawford has the same number of 50 point games as Shaq.

People just get so blinded by Jordan that they think he was so much better then everyone which isn't reality. He's the GOAT, but he's not the GOAT by any sizable margin.