Would MJ Win 6 Rings In Todays NBA?

[Sguy2130]

I don't see them winning six. I would say 4-5. MJ was great no doubt, but he got away w/ traveling and fouls constantly went in his favor. The guy would just fall down w/o being touched and it'd be automatic and1.

The league still gives the superstar treatment, but nobody has gotten MJ treatment (Wade came close in Championship year though).

The rules have changed so much w/ the restricted area/taking charges, fouls, violations, etc. It's really hard to project.

 

[brooktown]

Jordan's Bulls would have been favored to win a 7 game series against any team that made the finals in the past 10 years. I'd say 7 or 8 rings in "today's NBA"

 

[James]

I dont get it, while the game has changed as far the roles of players, the average scores for games being played 15 years ago and the games of today are pretty much the same, this whole emphasis on "strength" makes players more dominant and powerful, but nobody is out there grabbing 20 rebounds a game, the game evolves as do the players playing it, you cant compare different eras and try to pull hypotheticals out of your ass.

 

[Richfield Kid]

You can't just ask this question without framing a hypothetical context and expect any kind of consensus or even get a meaningful answer.

If MJ played in this era, then his influence is subtracted from today's players, making them much much worse. LeBron might be in the NFL right now if it wasn't for MJ. Kobe would still be a great SG, but he has completely copied MJs moves. What would he be without a childhood watching MJ? Reggie Miller?

If you want to keep his influence, then you have to add some ability to his already GOAT abilities. Imagine if MJ grew up watching an MJ-style player: he would be Kobe+Wade x 3. Ridiculous. He might have won 2 extra rings being so much better at a younger age.

 

[ButterMPancakes]

You can't just ask this question without framing a hypothetical context and expect any kind of consensus or even get a meaningful answer.

If MJ played in this era, then his influence is subtracted from today's players, making them much much worse. LeBron might be in the NFL right now if it wasn't for MJ. Kobe would still be a great SG, but he has completely copied MJs moves. What would he be without a childhood watching MJ? Reggie Miller?

If you want to keep his influence, then you have to add some ability to his already GOAT abilities. Imagine if MJ grew up watching an MJ-style player: he would be Kobe+Wade x 3. Ridiculous. He might have won 2 extra rings being so much better at a younger age.

We'd probably see teams emphasizing a lot more in teamwork and cohesiveness on both offense and defense and less teams having players bail them out... it'd probably be a lot more similar to the 80's.

 

[comote]

As a cavs fan who used to hate MJ, as many of us are. I have to say he would dominate the current NBA much like he did then. While it is true that the players are in general better athletes today than they used to be. The players are not nearly as skilled now as they used to be. Almost every team back then had a player that would be considered a superstar nowadays.

It wasn't just Jordan; Pippen, Stockton,Malone, Miller, Barkley, Dominique, Bird, Magic, Drexler, Kevin Johnson,Isiah Thomas, Mullin, Hardaway, Mourning, Ewing, Robinson,Olajuwan, you could also consider Shaq to be part of that era. Anyone who thinks that the big men of todays game are anywhere close to the big men of those days is dreaming.

All other arguments aside, for those that can remember, don't you remember what it felt like to root against Jordan in the fourth quarter. After a while it became clear that no lead was safe. Jordan wanted to win more than anyone else on the court ever has and had the ability to make it happen.

All this coming from somebody who refused to be a fan of Jordan.

edit: Mark Price would school Cris Paul or any other point guard in todays game.

 

[MDLT]

I would say he'd win either 3 or 4. Yeah, the league is more watered down and the rules would favor him. But I think that is offset by the athleticism, but moreso by the actual contenders he went up against.

Every team's success in the NBA (or any other sports league) is not only a result of their own talent and composition, but of those of other teams. I personally think Jordan's Bulls were lucky their main contenders were the Knicks, Pacers, and Jazz of the 90s.

For instance, had he happened to face a team like Shaq and Kobe's Lakers or LeBron's Cavs or Duncan's Spurs, I highly doubt he wins 6 of 6. Likewise, would Jordan have won as many had he played during the prime of Magic and Bird? Highly unlikely. Instead, his resume probably would probably more closely resemble that of Magic and Bird. There just wasn't another megastar in his prime when Jordan played.

Now, I'm not saying Jordan doesn't win multiple titles, but that its not as dominant as a career had he played in other era's. In short, Jordan didn't just dominate that era, but the (weakness of that) era also helped propel him towards dominance. It works both ways.

 

[rabman_gold]

Staples of the Bulls:
Cartwright/Luc
Grant/Rodman/Scott
Pippen/Kukoc
Jordan
BJ/Harper/Paxson/Kerr
---------------------------------
Staples of the 2000s:
Lakers:
Shaq
AC Green/Grant/Walker/Horry
Glen/Rick Fox
Kobe/Rider/George/Richmond
Fisher/Harper/Shaw/Hunter

Spurs:
Robinson/Oberto/Rasho
Duncan/Rose/Horry/Bonner
Bowen/Elliott
Ginobili/Finley/Ellie/Stephen/Smith/Barry
Parker/Avery

Pistons:
Rasheed/Okur/Campbell
Ben/Williamson
Prince
Hamilton/James
Billups/Atkins/Hunter

Heat:
Shaq/Alonzo
Haslem
Walker/Posey
Wade/Anderson/Kapono
Jason/Payton

Celtics:
Perkins/PJ
Garnett/Leon/Davis
Pierce/Posey
Allen/Tony
Rondo/House

Lakers:
Bynum/Gasol
Odom
Trevor/Artest/Walton
Kobe/Vujacic
Fisher/Farmar/Brown

Magic:
Dwight/Gortat
Rashard/Anderson/Bass
Hedo/Barnes/Pietrus
Vince/Lee/JJ
Nelson/Alston/Jason

Cavaliers:
Shaq/Z
Antawn/Andy
LeBron/Moon
Parker/West
Mo/Gibson

To beat the Bulls, you need a big man capable of holding his ground against Cartwright in old age and the size to deal with Longley. The power forward is troublesome due to the abilities of Grant and Rodman. The biggest threat is obviously the perimeter dominance of Jordan/Pippen. The point guard was the weakness, but clearly capable. No real weakness.

The old Lakers could probably hold their ground with Shaq and Kobe.

The Spurs still had a mix of decent players at the big/swingman positions. But they had strength at point guard with Parker.

The Pistons didn't have a takeover star but a team of defenders. That's not enough has Le-Iso proved in 2007.

The Heat have a nice balance, but Wade is a tiny bit smaller. Shaq is older. But the team wouldn't do as well as the other teams.

The Celtics are rather old gunners. They can takeover, but it would be a deadly perimeter battle.

The Lakers could hold their ground, but lack a little on the swingman side. Their frontcourt is dominant, as long as they play tough.

The Magic are good with big men, but are somewhat scattered with their other positions. Rashard is good, but it's either Vince or Hedo. I'd take my chances with Carter, but they still lack another go to option in swingman form. Pippen or Jordan could have their way like the Lakers did against the Magic in 2009.

And us? Don't know if it's enough compared to the others. Need more time to look. But they lack a little in the perimeter because Delonte is too small while LeBron can only take Jordan or Pippen. A real nightmare.

So the old Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, Magic and Cavs are the best bets. Magic, Celtics, and Cavs are less likely since weaknesses pull them apart.