"I Could Score 100."

[RonnieG]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

I read the whole article....and Jordan just didn't think his answer all the way through or said something to get a rise. We were talking about this very thing on the Charlotte boards, when Jordan said contradictory statements in the past. It's not that big of a deal really though.

But most teams in the NBA today are good defensive teams....the Cavs (w/Lebron), Bobcats, Bucks, Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, Rockets, Jazz, Magic, Blazers, Hawks, Heat, etc. who unless MJ got really hot, scoring 100 against is absolutely out of the question. It's just not logical.

Well, thats kind of killed by the fact that many actually either agree with him or wont deny that he could possibly do it.

[RonnieG]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

I remember talking about this with someone not long ago....about how Jordan is the only person that we've ever seen WILL something to happen. Like, just to prove a point, he would go out and knock down 6 or 7 threes..just because someone said he couldn't. I think if enough people said "he can't get that many points", MJ would go out and drop 50 in a half just to prove that if he really wanted to, he could do it.

like, people say "Jordan is no where near the 3 point shooter that Kobe is, and Kobe only got to 81." That's just the kind of thing that would make Jordan go out and knocked down 7 or 8 in a game, just to show he could if he wanted to.

I know what you mean.

Its not about shooting as much as its about scoring. And Jordan was the better scorer. He was a better athlete than Kobe and was more skilled at finishing in the lane. Kobe has a lower FG % because he has to settle for longer shots since he cant get to the basket like Jordan.

[st0rmb11]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

I know what you mean.

Its not about shooting as much as its about scoring. And Jordan was the better scorer. He was a better athlete than Kobe and was more skilled at finishing in the lane. Kobe has a lower FG % because he has to settle for longer shots since he cant get to the basket like Jordan.

Before I say what I'm about to say, let me first say this...I'm a DIE hard Jordan fan and will never say someone is at his level (not Kobe, LeBron...for the record, I think Wade is the closest active player to being like Jordan).

but that being said, I will admit - Kobe Bryant is a more skilled scorer than Jordan. he can score in more ways than Jordan could. the ways Jordan could score, he could do those things better than Kobe (getting to the basket, mid-range shots, post game). But Kobe can score in more ways.

[RonnieG]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Before I say what I'm about to say, let me first say this...I'm a DIE hard Jordan fan and will never say someone is at his level (not Kobe, LeBron...for the record, I think Wade is the closest active player to being like Jordan).

but that being said, I will admit - Kobe Bryant is a more skilled scorer than Jordan. he can score in more ways than Jordan could. the ways Jordan could score, he could do those things better than Kobe (getting to the basket, mid-range shots, post game). But Kobe can score in more ways.

Sorry but this seems kind of like a nothing statement. Jordan attacked the basket because he could and he was better at it than Kobe. And he has the better FG% by far to prove it. And this was in a tougher defensive era, mind you. So, if "scoring in more ways" means he doesnt score in the paint as much, then yes, but the better way to say that would be that Kobe has to resort to other ways because he cant get the higher percentage shots as easily as Jordan.

[Scottdau]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

I believe! I think he could. I think Kobe and LBJ are great players, but there is only one Jordan. And no one will come close to what he can do. Unless maybe some baby being born some day will be better, but I doubt it.

[Scottdau]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Plus think about all the good teams he beat to win rings. They have some great centers during his time and he still took his team to the finals. He would not loss and he made sure they never did.

[yungflo]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

MJ just wants everyone to go get that 2k11 and simulate him against the raptors lol.

Young MJ could do it more easily then when he dropped 69 on Clev...because he wasn't surrounded by the amount of talent in his early years.

They wouldn't mind giving mj the ball.

I just laugh when critics say MJ couldn't have done it..like this is a science..John hollinger wrote a whole article on why mj couldn't do it.

He's wasting his time.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

It would have to be the right combo of him firing on all cylinders and playing a weak team at the same time. But I wouldn't say it's impossible. I hear two reasons primarily given why he wouldn't, and I disagree with both:

1) The zone argument. Few teams employ it effectively, and for the most part zone isn't used to any great degree. Would he score 100 on the 08 Celtics? No, but throw the Timberwolves or Nets in front of him. Kobe didn't exactly score 81 on a defensive juggernaut. Plus, if you look at some older youtube videos, you can see that there was a certain amount of zone-style defense used by certain teams( don't know how they got away with it, mind you). Particularly the Pistons and Knicks back then. It's not like Jordan was completely unfamiliar with zone play. If anything, he would have played against it in college. It's guys like Kobe and Lebron who I would think have trouble adapting to zones, as neither attended college and would have never faced zones at a high level. I recall even Tracey McGrady some years ago complaining about the zone, before the injuries. And let's consider, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade both score 30 a game with jumpshots inferior to Jordan, and both are considered topflight perimeter players today. Jordan's slashing ability in his prime is also better than Kobe and Wade, the latter for the most part IS a slasher.

2) 3point shooting. NO, Jordan did not shoot the 3 as well as Kobe does. Having said that, Jordan overall shoots a higher percentage than Kobe, so instead of shooting lower percentage 3's all game as Kobe has the tendency to do, Jordan would opt for higher percentage shots inside 18 feet, which he was DEADLY at, and slash and draw fouls. For his 69 point game, he shot 62% with 37 shots taken. Think about that. How often have you seen Kobe shoot that volume, with that level of efficiency? Kobe took 46 shots when he hit for 81. Give Jordan 46 shots or more on the day he went for 69. What kind of results are we talking here? Nothing less than what Kobe accomplished at the least. Jordan also shot 21-23 free throws that day. A few more free throws, a few more shots at the percentage he was hitting on that career night, and what are we talking? 85+ points perhaps? Now suppose his teammates fed him the ball as Wilt's did for that 100 point game. Why is it so inconceivable to think he couldn't at least hit 90?

[airjoca]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Jordan in his prime would only need someone to tell him he could not do it. As soon as someone challenged Jordan in any way he always responded big time.

And I'm tired of arguments about the 80's and 90's being a myth, that it wasn't as good as we remember them. I regularly watch entire games from that era. It was THAT good, the players were THAT good, and defence and offence was THAT good. It's not nostalgia, it is reality.

[madmax17]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

If Bryant scored 81 MJ is certainly a better scorer by 19 points than Kobe.

[Cebby]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

If Bryant scored 81 MJ is certainly a better scorer by 19 points than Kobe.

So Jordan is a 31+* better point scorer than...Jordan?

*his 69 points were in overtime.

I don't know what it is with Kobe and Jordan. When Kobe is on his game he is unstoppable and as good as any player ever and it's not really arguable. When he can be on for the better part of a game he can score ridiculous numbers. Jordan is better than Kobe overall, but Jordan is not better than Kobe when Kobe goes into unstoppable mode.

[Jukeman]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

Michael Jordan says he could score 100 points in a game in today's NBA.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Jordan-I-could-have-scored-100-points-in-toda;_ylt=AsrEUev9E9hi9MJYhDY8_cY5nYcB?urn=nba-277020

Interested in seeing if anyone agrees (I think if he and his team set out for him to do it, he could)

(Puts in NBA2k11 and scores 100 pts with MJ against the Raptors)

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

So Jordan is a 31+* better point scorer than...Jordan?

*his 69 points were in overtime.

I don't know what it is with Kobe and Jordan. When Kobe is on his game he is unstoppable and as good as any player ever and it's not really arguable. When he can be on for the better part of a game he can score ridiculous numbers. Jordan is better than Kobe overall, but Jordan is not better than Kobe when Kobe goes into unstoppable mode.

So, what you're saying is, Jordan in regular mode isn't better than when Kobe is very hot..... In that case, when Jordan is in unstoppable mode, and Kobe is in unstoppable mode, who's better? Are you saying Kobe's unstoppable-ness is better than Jordan's unstoppable-ness?

[TMagic]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

FWIW:

"The rules are completely different now. I've always been able to shoot the ball, but the rules have changed since he (Jordan) played in terms of playing a zone defense. You have to be a jump shooter now because there's no way you can get to the basket -- particularly myself because they just stack guys up. I wish we had the rules they had back in the day where you could isolate guys and you could go to the basket anytime. But now you have to be able to shoot.''

So basically you have two of the games greatest, saying that they have to face tougher defenses in their time.

Who do you believe?


I don't think Jordan can score 100 points in a game.

[dragonyeuw]

Re: "I Could Score 100."

"The rules are completely different now. I've always been able to shoot the ball, but the rules have changed since he (Jordan) played in terms of playing a zone defense. You have to be a jump shooter now because there's no way you can get to the basket -- particularly myself because they just stack guys up. I wish we had the rules they had back in the day where you could isolate guys and you could go to the basket anytime. But now you have to be able to shoot.''

The thing about the handchecking during Jordan's day, a player could essentially place his forearm right in your hip, and you'd have one hell of a time getting free for your jumpshot, and especially getting to the basket, as he could ride you all the way in untill defenders converged in the paint. Then you have to consider the league had more true 7 foot centers waiting for you at the rim. I don't see how today's rules in any way limit a prime Michael Jordan. Even if you limit his drives, and you have to think he'd still be a great slasher today if guys like Wade and Lebron can get to the basket, his midrange game is so deadly that he can still do major damage from outside, and with the ticky tack fouls, he'd be on the free throw line 15 times a night. Let's think about this for a minute: Wade and Lebron are 27-30 ppg guys, without a truly deadly outside game( though both have improved in recent years). Jordan in his prime, combined a deadly midrange game( ala Kobe), with the slashing ability of Wade and the finishing ability of Lebron. If anything, Jordan's game is IDEAL for today's NBA, not hindered by it.

What seems to get overlooked often is that Jordan in 2002, which would be basically under the current rules and against most of today's major stars, was averaging 25 points per game( before an injury disrupted his season), and 20ppg the following season, at 40 years old, after 3 years away from the game, tendinitis in both knees and a surgically repaired shooting hand. Taking that into consideration, why would a prime Michael Jordan, at the apex of his abilities, not be as dominant now as in his prime?