The "Next Jordan"

[Dice]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I mentioned this in another thread that I like Faried. NOW, he's not Bill Russell. Russell was a very intellectual player who understood the game and used more of his knowledge than his ability. Faried right now is playing off of raw talent and ability. You give Faried Bill Russell's mental makeup and intangibles and you possibly have one of the best big men in the league right now.

The mental aspect of the game goes a long way. Russell had to be one of the smartest and mentally toughest players in the history of the game. He didn't have Wilt or Hakeem raw ability. Nor did he have Shaq strength or size. Nor did he have Kareem's footwork. BUT he's still regarded as one of the best centers of all time and one of the most accomplished and decorated players of all time.

Going back to Faried, I think he could be the final piece to a team trying to build a championship team and needing a guy that can do the dirty work in the paint.

[cdg0219]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Does this thread indicate the general mood of basketball fans? That being, "The NBA will never be as good as it was in the 80's/90's so the sport is dieing?" or some variation of that idea?

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Do you talk sports with people the way you that you post in these forums?

Just something I have always been curious about. Lol

I know I do, lol.

[daveberg]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Does this thread indicate the general mood of basketball fans? That being, "The NBA will never be as good as it was in the 80's/90's so the sport is dieing?" or some variation of that idea?

That is most definitely my opinion.

[AlexBrady]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Does this thread indicate the general mood of basketball fans? That being, "The NBA will never be as good as it was in the 80's/90's so the sport is dieing?" or some variation of that idea?

The NBA certainly is not dying. These are the greatest athletes in the world and many of them have a red hot competitive spirit. NBA action is a human chess match with fascinating adjustments and counter adjustments. Its always fun when a ballgame goes down to the wire and you see how the various players react under pressure.

All that being said, NBA action isn't as glorious as it used to be. Blatant palming and traveling violations go uncalled and defenders can't hand-check or bump cutters. The NBA bigwigs know that high scoring=high TV ratings=high advertising revenues.

The media is also at fault for highlighting the flabby, shallow aspects of the game. Dunk shots, tricky dribbles, and one on one play. What about screening, cutting, contain defense, boxing out?

These young kids that come into the game don't get the necessary four years of college experience. Time for their games to mature and for them to fully realize their strengths and limitations. You'll see alot of kids now that have giant holes in their games (usually not having a clue about off ball play).

[1Rose]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Right now, the 80s/Early-Mid 90s is still the height of the NBA, BUT, right now, the quality of the league is definitely on the incline from the early-mid 2000s, which was atrocious IMO.

[dukefan12]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I honestly, don't think a lot of the Pro's in the early 80's could play with teams now.

[daveberg]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I honestly, don't think a lot of the Pro's in the early 80's could play with teams now.

Couldn't disagree more. Most of the players back then actually KNEW how to play basketball, and were well versed in the fundamentals of the game instead of the flash required to fuel the media by the players of today. It was about hard work and heart back then, a lot of which a large portion of today's "Stars" don't have.


Again, just my personal opinion.

[st0rmb11]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I honestly, don't think a lot of the Pro's in the early 80's could play with teams now.

there is so much wrong with that statement.

The players of the mid/late 80s through the 90s were just as athletic as players today, but also had actual skills to go along with that athleticism. There is a reason why the standouts of recent years are standouts (LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Ginobili, Nowitzki, Gasol, Carmelo, Durant, Wade, etc.) They have fundamental ball skills to go along with their supreme athleticism.

[PhantomPain]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Don't kill me on this comment as I rarely watch the NBA and certainly not during Bill Russell's time, but I keep hearing commentators compare Anthony Davis to Russell. However, I think it had more to do with the great percentage of his blocks being retained for possession. Davis doesn't foul a lot and I think Kentucky gets possession about 60-65% of his blocks.

Not saying Davis is the next Russell at all, just commenting on the comparisons I keep hearing. Actually, Davis has a chance to be the next Davis, so to speak, because the kid is a freak of nature and has a very high ceiling. Will be interesting to see how good he is in 5 years from now.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

there is so much wrong with that statement.

The players of the mid/late 80s through the 90s were just as athletic as players today, but also had actual skills to go along with that athleticism. There is a reason why the standouts of recent years are standouts (LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Ginobili, Nowitzki, Gasol, Carmelo, Durant, Wade, etc.) They have fundamental ball skills to go along with their supreme athleticism.

This. I hate when people bring out that opinion as if everything that happens NOW is just automatically better than back then. I refuse to believe that the entire Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats teams can be in the NBA, but you're telling me that a Drazen Petrovic or Worthy or someone couldn't be in the league right now with the likes of the Nick Youngs, Jordan Crawfords and JJ Hicksons of the world.

[1Rose]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I would venture to say that if you put together an all star team from the late 80s/early 90s, and an all star team of players today, that the 80s/90s squad would mop up today players. Players back then were just way more well rounded.

[st0rmb11]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I would venture to say that if you put together an all star team from the late 80s/early 90s, and an all star team of players today, that the 80s/90s squad would mop up today players. Players back then were just way more well rounded.

I would go as far as to say that it would be much harder to narrow it down to a team of 12 from the mid/late 80s through the mid 90s. I think picking a team of players from 1999 (end of the Jordan) through now would be much easier.

The biggest problem I think a team of the 80s/90s would have would be stopping Shaq. But, I don't know, maybe Ewing, Robinson, or Olajuwon could handle him. And who, now, would handle Olajuwon? He would have his way with Shaq and Dwight.

But, I don't want to get off topic, as I feel like there was a thread about this a good while back.


On topic - there will never be another Jordan. Someone will have the same set of skills. Someone will have the same athleticism. Not many people will have both. and, no one will ever possess that level of commitment, desire, and hunger...there have only been 2 or 3 guys in the history of basketball with that "MUST WIN" mentality (Russell, Jordan, Bird).

[AlexBrady]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

Don't kill me on this comment as I rarely watch the NBA and certainly not during Bill Russell's time, but I keep hearing commentators compare Anthony Davis to Russell. However, I think it had more to do with the great percentage of his blocks being retained for possession. Davis doesn't foul a lot and I think Kentucky gets possession about 60-65% of his blocks.

Not saying Davis is the next Russell at all, just commenting on the comparisons I keep hearing. Actually, Davis has a chance to be the next Davis, so to speak, because the kid is a freak of nature and has a very high ceiling. Will be interesting to see how good he is in 5 years from now.

I haven't seen much of young Davis. Can he rebound in traffic? Can he set and hold screens? Is he an accurate and snappy ball reverser? Boxing out, show and recoveries, getting low and wide defending the post? Russell was aces in all those categories.

I do know that the kid is thin, real thin. So you wonder how he will fare against the hatchet men in the NBA. Does he have a tensil kind of strength? That may be the difference between a Marcus Camby or a Russell type career.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJaFNsa-Bqs

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The "Next Jordan"

I would go as far as to say that it would be much harder to narrow it down to a team of 12 from the mid/late 80s through the mid 90s. I think picking a team of players from 1999 (end of the Jordan) through now would be much easier.

The biggest problem I think a team of the 80s/90s would have would be stopping Shaq. But, I don't know, maybe Ewing, Robinson, or Olajuwon could handle him. And who, now, would handle Olajuwon? He would have his way with Shaq and Dwight.

But, I don't want to get off topic, as I feel like there was a thread about this a good while back.


On topic - there will never be another Jordan. Someone will have the same set of skills. Someone will have the same athleticism. Not many people will have both. and, no one will ever possess that level of commitment, desire, and hunger...there have only been 2 or 3 guys in the history of basketball with that "MUST WIN" mentality (Russell, Jordan, Bird).

One thing people never bring up, I've noticed is Hakeem already handled Shaq. Shaq came into the league in 92 and he crossed Dream's path a few times in his time in the league including in the NBA Finals. A knock that I've seen people lay on Jordan is him being dominant at a time where the league was watered down and he didn't win until Bird and Magic were out the door. Well Shaq didn't really didn't become the dominant force we know until the true bigmen of the game were gone. When Shaq was winning Chips, Robinson and Mutombo were really the only legit big men in the game. I'm trying to think of the other centers in the league that could truly challenge him at the time and those are the only two I can think of. Whatever Shaq would've been able to dish out against those stars, he'd be giving right back up against Dream on the other end.