Proof that competition in the 90's was harder than the 2000s

[D2Procon]

Lets put this bullshit away. Its always when people compare Jordan to Kobe they always bring up the lame excuse that Jordan played in a era easier than what Kobe is in.

First of all people forget that Jordan played in the 2000 era at the age of 39 and was still able to average 23 ppg. If an old geyser can drop 23 a game including a couple of 50 point games then you know the league was easier than it was in the 90s. A prime Jordan could have easily scored 40 a game in this weak ass league.

[fevertrees]

With the officiating the way it is now Jordan would get 15-20 freebies a game...40 is very likely for him to average!

[JoeTait75]

The East was garbage for about the last seven seasons of MJ's run in Chicago.

[D2Procon]

The East was garbage for about the last seven seasons of MJ's run in Chicago.

So did Kobe and Shaq in their first 3 peat. All they had as a rival was primarily Tim Duncan.

[Bob Lanier]

The East was garbage for about the last seven seasons of MJ's run in Chicago.
If by "East" you mean "Cleveland," sure.

[JoeTait75]

If by "East" you mean "Cleveland," sure.

Seeing as Cleveland was the second-best team in the East during Chicago's second title season and the third best during their third, you kind of prove my point. Portland would have run rings around the Cavaliers in the '92 Finals.

[Giuseppe]

OT:::Joe, its always a distinct pleasure seeing that photo. Living proof that it took place on earth.

[baseline bum]

The East was garbage for about the last seven seasons of MJ's run in Chicago.

The 98 Pacers were pretty solid.

[mogrovejo]

Tougher for scoring guards on both conferences. Hand-checking + lower pace.

[Bob Lanier]

Seeing as Cleveland was the second-best team in the East during Chicago's second title season and the third best during their third, you kind of prove my point.
I prove the point that Cleveland fell off, yes. Indiana, Miami, Charlotte, New York, Orlando for a time did not. The West at the time... Utah, Houston, Seattle... not much else.

[JoeTait75]

I prove the point that Cleveland fell off, yes. Indiana, Miami, Charlotte, New York, Orlando for a time did not. The West at the time... Utah, Houston, Seattle... not much else.

Those three West teams were all better than any of those East teams. New York had its shot in the Finals and lost. Orlando has its shot and got swept. Miami was mentally weak, Utah would have been deep in their kitchen. Charlotte wouldn't have been a factor in the West, just like they weren't in the East.

Indiana might have been the exception. But they couldn't take advantage of MJ's absence and then were blocked in that great ECF in '98.

6-2 Finals record for the East between 1991 and '98. 6-0 for the Bulls, 0-2 for teams other than the Bulls. And the East fell off a cliff after that team got broken up.

No one replaced the Bad Boys as a championship-level squad to challenge Chicago. The rest of the East was counterfeit.

[MiamiHeat]

In the 90's, the East was the better conference.

and yes, the 90's was better basketball.

[Bob Lanier]

Those three West teams were all better than any of those East teams. New York had its shot in the Finals and lost. Orlando has its shot and got swept. Miami was mentally weak, Utah would have been deep in their kitchen. Charlotte wouldn't have been a factor in the West, just like they weren't in the East.
Utah was mentally weak by virtue of being led by Karl Malone, and it showed when they reached the Finals. Seattle was coached by the other mentally weak Karl, George, and had an undersized front line. Houston never managed to get it all together except in the transcendent period of Olajuwon's career. I'll grant you that the Knicks had some mediocre teams, but on the average I'd place them above any of the competition in the '90s except the Bulls.

[MiamiHeat]

and LOL at the 90's Heat being labeled as "mentally weak"

Alonzo Mourning and the Road Warriors, mentally weak?

The Heat routinely had the best road records in the entire league, and they were a HARD NOSED DEFENSIVE team, coached by Pat Riley.

There was no fucking way you could play for Pat Riley and be "mentally weak"

The Heat were also one of those 10 teams to hand the Bulls a loss in the 72-10 season.

get the fuck outta here

[namlook]

With the officiating the way it is now Jordan would get 15-20 freebies a game...40 is very likely for him to average!

Last night Derek Fisher said that if Kobe didn't play in the triangle and was in an offense than ran pick and rolls all night he would put up 45 a game.

[scanry]

Last night Derek Fisher said that if Kobe didn't play in the triangle and was in an offense than ran pick and rolls all night he would put up 45 a game.

So would Jordan!! :rolleyes

Phil mastered the triangle around Jordan in his first two three-peats....

[Spursfan092120]

It's a lot easier for guards nowadays, because of the hand check rule. They could move and throw Jordan around all they wanted, and you can't do that anymore.