Top recruits say they would beat MJ one-on-one in his prime

[Andrew]

Handily, even.

Three of the eight players polled actually predicted they would defeat Jordan, though the comments by Duke-bound Matt Jones have enough false bravado to them that it appears he's kidding. There's no such obvious nuance to the quotes attributed to Kentucky-bound recruits Dakari Johnson and Andrew Harrison.

Said Johnson: "I’m taking him to the post every time. He’d stop me a couple of times, but I’d just keep going back down there. I’d just contest his jump shots and pray that he’d miss. I think in the end, I’d get him though. I’m too big down there."

Said Harrison: "I think he’d get a couple buckets here and there, but then I’d start to lock him down and give him buckets. Yeah, I think I’d get him."

The question is, could they beat Jordan Crawford?

[bowdown]

We're living in a generation where if you dont say delusional shit like that then you have no swag. And there is no way these kids arent having swag. Sad state of affairs.

[shadowgrin]

It's not surprising. It's the natural progression of history where as it gets older it's slowly being forgotten and the most recent ones are given more weight. Like how we don't have an idea of how a beast of a physical specimen Wilt Chamberlain was and how those in the far off future will eventually forget how a freak of nature LeBron is.

[Dan's Brain]

I’d just contest his jump shots and pray that he’d miss.

That oughta do it.

[NovU]

To be fair, Original Dream Team suffered a loss against a college kids iirc.

But what makes these kids think PRIME MJ will rely on jump shots? There was a reason for his real name, AIR Jordumb.

[Erchamion]

They do not even have trash talking skills, let alone basketball IQ.

[AreaOfEffect]

Even Carmelo admitted he can't defeat prime jordan one-on-one.

[Andrew]

To be fair, Original Dream Team suffered a loss against a college kids iirc.

They did, leading to a little trash talk. Then the Dream Team got serious and the college squad didn't score another point.

[NovU]

They did, leading to a little trash talk. Then the Dream Team got serious and the college squad didn't score another point.

Interesting. I thought the Dream team didn't get a chance to redeem themselves(on that same day) even though they wanted to turn up the gear in next one.

[Andrew]

I can't remember all the details off the top of my head, but I do recall that they avenged the loss in the next scrimmage.

[NovU]

That's cool.

It's also funny that young college team included Pistons All Time Greatest player in Chris Webber and Vancouver Grizzlies great Bobby Hurley. One of their high moments in their career.

[Jeffx]

Andrew, you nailed it about today's generation having NO clue of history. I hear it all the time, especially when it comes to the greatness of Wilt. Some young punk threw a hissy fit because I had Oscar Robertson & Jerry West in my top 10 over Duncan & Kobe. Dude had no clue how truly great The Big O & Mr. Clutch were - they're NBA immortals.

But with many young cats, the attitude is, "if I didn't see it, it's irrevelant". There are Knick fans who think this current group is on the level of the 90s teams. That's why I stopped going to fan sites.

[_Steve_]

People tend to label every bum within his 15 mins of fame a superstar nowadays. As some here already pointed out, some folks doesn't care about history and the true all time greatest.
But I don't know what's worse thinking that you can stop prime MJ by just contesting his shots (ask Craig Ehlo how simple that was or every guy he dunked on) or forgetting how hard it was to score against him...
I'd say non of the recruits would stand a chance.

[Andrew]

From Bill Simmons' Book of Basketball:

Craig Hodges told Michael Wilbon about a 1990 incident in which Pippen made the mistake of challenging Jordan in practice, when Michael "proceeded, literally, to score on Scottie at will. It was incredible. I mean, Scottie Pippen even then was one of the best players in the league and Michael just rained points on him. Scottie had to step back and say, 'Slow up, man.'"

[werewolf914]

I guess these 2 have lost their chances becoming the #1 pick by Bobcats

[Andrew]

Either that, or they'll be drafted with an eye towards MJ challenging them in practice.

[NovU]

Andrew, you nailed it about today's generation having NO clue of history. I hear it all the time, especially when it comes to the greatness of Wilt. Some young punk threw a hissy fit because I had Oscar Robertson & Jerry West in my top 10 over Duncan & Kobe. Dude had no clue how truly great The Big O & Mr. Clutch were - they're NBA immortals.

But with many young cats, the attitude is, "if I didn't see it, it's irrevelant". There are Knick fans who think this current group is on the level of the 90s teams. That's why I stopped going to fan sites.

That's why we need more of wise fellas like you to raise voice more often, to educate spoiled young brats. No jokes.

Now that if sauru was around more often... I miss that kid.

[benji]

Jerry West and Oscar Robertson have how many rings? Meanwhile Kobe has one, two, three, four, five and counting... Exactly.

How many expansion teams were added during Jordan's "reign" and who had a luxury tax, max salary, fair draft, actual defense and the league organized against him? Exactly.

And who's first all time for active players in scoring? Exactly.

Who quit the sport rather than fight through hard times for a second three-peat like a real man? Exactly.

Just because it happened when you were younger and you're nostalgic for your simple childhood doesn't deny the facts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_tradition

[Jeffx]

Basketball is a team game - one man can't do it all. Not Oscar's fault he played on bad teams most of his career. It's not just about rings, but how you played the game. Robertson & West did it as well as anyone, in an NBA which was more physical and less watered down than today's league. They belong right up there with Wilt, Jordan, Russell, Kareem, Magic, Bird, etc. as NBA immortals. So does Kobe - he's the closest I've seen to Jordan. He's got that same drive/assassin mentality/will to win that MJ had. No crime in being #11 on my greatest of all time list. Exactly.

[NIB]

Face Michael Jordan............... ???

Who can?

The Bad Boys ERA? They play Jordan Rules thoughness type all 48 minutes, Jordan isn't a basketball team, although they played him like that...
Ans.. NO! Trilogy Motown Swept!

Bird? McHale? Parish? The Boston Celtics best frontline evar?????
Ans.. 60 POINTS!

Magic? Lakers Showtime????
Ans.. Bulls 1991 World Champions...

A guy that can reach the glass with power, strenghts and class... Drexler can pass, shoot and Jamm, maybe like Lebron, not that diferent fellas...
Ans.. Shrug.

A MVP on a run of their lifes, the Suns and Sir Charles try to put a destiny end on Jordan's primacy...
Ans.. Threepeat.

Hakeem, Ewing, Shaq???
Ans.. 72 Wins the World's winniest franchise in NBA history!

Two years of a mature Jazz team, counting with legends... Dangerous names, maybe some forgot, but John Stockton passes Magic Johnson as the Assists Alltime Leader, a cerebral team that counts with multiple MVP's and the 2nd greatest scorer on NBA history: Kobe Bryant???
No, Karl Malone.
And a team lead by Reggie Miller that can kill any other team's heart. A seven historic game series against Indiana...
Ans.. Last Dance.

Jordan retires the second time, being even greater then the first... Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson just merged on the League, but they got their chances against an aging MJ, that won the MVP prize at 36 years old.

Jordan said he's not the greatest, cause he couldn't play against, Elgin, West, Wilt, Russell, Oscar... That's a fine thought, that's a frase that remarked his greatness.

Imagining scored 100 points without a three point line?
Some said that "Pistol" Pete Maravich should scored more then 100 if there were a three point line at his time. I believe... This is true!

And a rookie came saying that he can beat MJ.........
_______________________________________________________

I got agree, nothing is impossible... But coincidently wachting TROY at my hommie, i heard these words:
- "If you stay, you gotta have chids, a beautiful wife and the childs of your childs will remember your name, but after them, your name will be forgotten... BUT, if you go to Troy, they'll write stories about your name, and you will NEVER BEEN FORGOTTEN."

As Aquilles, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, won't too, period.
End of discussion.