****Official 2017 NBA Playoffs Thread****

[KC_Connection]

The real season begins.

Round 1:

EAST:

#8 Bulls @ #1 Celtics
#7 Pacers @ #2 Cavs
#6 Bucks @ #3 Raptors
#5 Hawks @ #4 Wizards

WEST:
#8 Blazers @ #1 Warriors
#7 Grizzlies @ #2 Spurs
#6 Thunder @ #3 Rockets
#5 Jazz @ #4 Clippers

[AssEaterChief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That '98 Jazz team was not that good. In fact, neither was the '97 Jazz team either.

The West was weak at that point. It was before Shaq and Kobe established themselves, before Duncan matured, after Robinson, Hakeem, and Barkley's primes.

The best team the Bulls played in the Finals was the '93 Suns.

Honestly I would argue it was the Payton Kemp Schrempf Sonics but the whole west was relatively weak when Jordan won his 6 titles.

The best team(s) he could have faced would have been those Houston Rockets from the mid 90s. Unfortunately we'll never see how that would have played out.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

That '98 Jazz team was not that good. In fact, neither was the '97 Jazz team either.

The West was weak at that point. It was before Shaq and Kobe established themselves, before Duncan matured, after Robinson, Hakeem, and Barkley's primes.

The best team the Bulls played in the Finals was the '93 Suns.

I'd agree with you, although Stockton and Malone were quite a force.

It's funny, the Lakers almost always get overlooked here. And they were in no way as good as the 80's teams... but Magic and Worthy were only 29-30ish years old when they played the Bulls. They were still in their prime years.

[ohiobronco2]

I think it's fairly obvious that when all is said and done LeBron will be considered the best of all time. His blemishes are the decision and his loss in the finals to the mavericks. What is not up for debate is who is the better person. If Michael played today, many may think of him like they do Pete Rose. As much as I admire him as a player, there are countless stories of him acting like a douche bag.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by ohiobronco2

Jordan never beat a team as good as the Warrior team LeBron beat last year.

Golden State would not have existed in Jordan's era. They played nasty defense then and the refs let them.
Teams would have knocked Curry on his ass rather than let him shoot. Green would have been brutalized if he went for someone's nuts.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by tk13

I'd agree with you, although Stockton and Malone were quite a force.

It's funny, the Lakers almost always get overlooked here. And they were in no way as good as the 80's teams... but Magic and Worthy were only 29-30ish years old when they played the Bulls. They were still in their prime years.

Magic was 31. Next season was when he came out with HIV. I think the Lakers were the 3rd seed that year.

[ohiobronco2]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Golden State would not have existed in Jordan's era. They played nasty defense then am's the refs let them.
Teams would have knocked Curry on his ass rather than let him shoot. Green would have been brutalized if he went for someone's nuts.

I'm not gonna lie, I would have loved to see what Charles Oakley would do to Green. 😂

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by ohiobronco2

I'm not gonna lie, I would have loved to see what Charles Oakley would do to Green. 😂

Yep. Or Lambier, etc.
It was a different game.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by AssEaterChief

Honestly I would argue it was the Payton Kemp Schrempf Sonics but the whole west was relatively weak when Jordan won his 6 titles.

The best team(s) he could have faced would have been those Houston Rockets from the mid 90s. Unfortunately we'll never see how that would have played out.

1993 Barkley was better than any other prime player Jordan faced at that time. Better than the Finals versions of Magic, Malone, Kemp, Payton,or Drexler.

Those Rockets teams were good, but after Olajuwon, the next best player was an aging Drexler, who was added halfway through the '94-'95 season and still a nice player, but declining at that point. Aside from that, that team was mostly filled with role players. Mario Elie, green versions of Sam Cassell and Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, Otis Thorpe, et. al.

I'd say the prime version of Hakeem would have presented a different challenge for those Bulls teams because he would have been the only true low post force they faced (Malone lived in large part off of the mid-range game from the pick and roll and illegal screens). However, that second Rockets title team wasn't that good (finishing as a fifth seed), and if not for Nick Anderson's implosion at the FT line in Game 1 of the Finals, Orlando might have won that series.

Still, the '93 Suns had Barkley's best year, Kevin Johnson (although Pippen annihilated him in the Finals), Tom Chambers towards the end (who was still an effective role player), Dan Majerle, who was then the one of the best shooters in the league, and still useful versions of Danny Ainge, with Richard Dumas before drugs destroyed him and Cedric Ceballos.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Yep. Or Lambier, etc.
It was a different game.

Bill Lambeer would get his ass whipped by Draymond Green. He was a cheap shot artist, not a legit tough guy.

[Red Dawg]

Originally Posted by ohiobronco2

I think it's fairly obvious that when all is said and done LeBron will be considered the best of all time. His blemishes are the decision and his loss in the finals to the mavericks. What is not up for debate is who is the better person. If Michael played today, many may think of him like they do Pete Rose. As much as I admire him as a player, there are countless stories of him acting like a douche bag.

He's a known asshole. His HOF speech he was an asshole. Nobody likes a person that's not humble at all. He's just a dick and shit franchise owner as well.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Bill Lambeer would get his ass whipped by Draymond Green. He was a cheap shot artist, not a legit tough guy.

Yep.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by ohiobronco2

I think it's fairly obvious that when all is said and done LeBron will be considered the best of all time. His blemishes are the decision and his loss in the finals to the mavericks. What is not up for debate is who is the better person. If Michael played today, many may think of him like they do Pete Rose. As much as I admire him as a player, there are countless stories of him acting like a douche bag.

I am a fan of the Cavs. I think Lebron will retire as the clear #2.

There isn't a player in any sport who has ever come close to MJ. That's even recognizing Lebron's greatness.

Jordan had outstanding talent. But there is no player in the history of the universe who cared about winning the way MJ did. That makes him the GOAT. Without flinching.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Jordan also played when they played defense and there were more than 2 good teams.

No shit. Can you imagine Lebron taking on The Bad Boys or Rileys Knicks? He wouldn't survive the series.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Bill Lambeer would get his ass whipped by Draymond Green. He was a cheap shot artist, not a legit tough guy.

Hah, no. Green is pure D ignorant and would get knocked around.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

No shit. Can you imagine Lebron taking on The Bad Boys or Rileys Knicks? He wouldn't survive the series.

The player who is built like Karl Malone couldn't handle play.