Hubie Brown: Why Michael Jordan Would Dominate Today

[hitmanyr2k]

I didin't watch his era, I saw his finals games on Hardwood Classics. Maybe you think he started getting ref help because the league did soften up after the "Jordan Rules" , but it had to be. IMO it wasn't Jordan's fault, the Celtics and Knicks got away with murder. The Pistons softened the league up, just like OKC will be the reason the league will toughen up soon.

Yeah, it wasn't just the Pistons. Jordan was a relentless slasher to the rim in his early days and sometimes teams just had to send him a message that it wasn't going to be so easy in the paint lol. This foul was before flagrants were handed out. That was nothing more than a hard playoff foul back then. Today that's probably a 3-5 game suspension The players these days really don't know how good they have it.

[baseline bum]

What does "Man down" even mean?

It's from boxing. If your hands are down your ass gets knocked out.

[Red Hawk #21]

Player #1 got an uncontested jumper because Player #2 had his arms down. If he makes the shot, he "owned" the defender

The guy keeps handling us genius quotes
"Kobe will be Jordan's equal"
"Lebron is already better than Bird"
"I have the best shooting duo of all time"
"What makes Duncan a good teammate and Kobe a bad one?"
"Manu shouldn't of gotten so close to Wade, it would've avoided a flop"

This one got me so pissed off the other night. You had that fool Mark Jackson actually criticizing Ginobili for playing defense in Game 2 of the freaking NBA finals. And then JVG was there co-signing as well. I remember one of them saying some like "You can't put yourself in that position" those guys are real idiots...

[Ignignokt]

Jordan is shilling hard these days.

[dbreiden83080]

So you were, what, 9 during the 91 finals? You thinking you could break down games at 9. You're too young to even comment on what generation was good, because youve seen 2. The late 90s until now. , you probably think the coolest thing ever was Jason Williams and Webber on the Kings. And1 Ohhhh baby.

Hubie is correct in his analysis of defense. The hand check and getting to the rim would crush players like lebron and durant who dont like contact.

Oh please STFU I was 13 right in the middle of the Knicks/Bulls living and dying with each game.. I read all the media back then and Jordan was coddled.. I am not saying he was not the GOAT what I am saying is all this talk about the 90's being so bad ass compared to today is mostly just old men yelling at the young kids to get off their lawn. The Knicks could be physical with the likes of BJ Armstrong but if MJ was taking it to the hole with 1 min to play any contact and he gets to the line. Magic Johnson even famously joked during a Dream Team photo shoot

"You can't get too close to Michael it's a foul" as he and Bird had a good laugh..

[dbreiden83080]

Hubie is correct in his analysis of defense. The hand check and getting to the rim would crush players like lebron and durant who dont like contact.

2 things on this

1) Like Jordan and other stars of that era they would get more calls than most
2) All great players adjust to the rules of their era.. Jordan dominates in any era, as does Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq etc.. The idea that Lebron would never be able to deal with contact at 6'8 260 is hilarious. He gets mugged and still gets the and 1 in todays game pal..

[Aztecfan03]

Maybe "hand down, man down" means if your hand is down it is like your team is playing 4 on 5?

[Malik Hairston]

I tried to watch a game from the 90s the other day..I had to stop after the 1st quarter, it was unbearable, tbh..

Disgusting basketball, all ISO offense, no skill involved, too many goons, no strategy and coaching..hideous ball..

[Johnny RIngo]

He gave money to people all the time, spent time with sick kids after games without the media knowing... You're silly if you think Jordan would be affected by little virgins criticizing him on twitter. The guy had no heart... He benefited from playing in a pre-internet era? Imagine him in today's era where players can't handcheck and touch you on defense. He benefited?

I didn't say Jordan's game on the court would be affected. Like I said, he's the GOAT. I was talking about his reputation off the court. My uncle still thinks MJ's real life persona is like the crap you saw in Space Jam. Anytime I bring up the gambling problem or how much of an asshole he was to his teammates or fans, he doesn't believe any of it. Still worships him like he's a god.

[midnightpulp]

Jordan would be even more unstoppable offensively today in the right offense. The only penetrator on his level in NBA history is Lebron. And as good as a finisher James is, Jordan is slightly better. He has more of an arsenal of shots around the basket off the drive than James.

Jordan would be a terror in the new "space and pace" NBA, especially when you consider how marginalized shot blockers have become.

It'd be him and James battling it out for the MVP every year.

[tholdren]

2 things on this

1) Like Jordan and other stars of that era they would get more calls than most
2) All great players adjust to the rules of their era.. Jordan dominates in any era, as does Lebron, Duncan, Kobe, Shaq etc.. The idea that Lebron would never be able to deal with contact at 6'8 260 is hilarious. He gets mugged and still gets the and 1 in todays game pal..

Lebron has trouble dealing with contact now, he doesnt get mugged as much as he should. Additionally there are no mean defenders in the league. Who is the best? Ibaka... who was dunked on by corey joseph.

The point is none of today's players would be able to do it. They barrel through the lane trying to get minimal contact and get to the line. he would fail then cry, per usual

[Malik Hairston]

Dad Killer wouldn't have been able to handle the pressure of today's media, tbh..he played in an era where they sheltered him and allowed him to punch teammates, abuse them, etc, while being a huge piece of off the court..

If you don't believe that he left basketball because of his gambling/being complicit in the murder of his father, then you have to believe the reports that he was tired of the pressure/expectations and needed to leave for a while..he wouldn't have been able to handle today's era of media scrutinize and TMZ..

[SpurPadre]

Dad Killer wouldn't have been able to handle the pressure of today's media, tbh..he played in an era where they sheltered him and allowed him to punch teammates, abuse them, etc, while being a huge piece of off the court..

If you don't believe that he left basketball because of his gambling/being complicit in the murder of his father, then you have to believe the reports that he was tired of the pressure/expectations and needed to leave for a while..he wouldn't have been able to handle today's era of media scrutinize and TMZ..

Are you kidding? MJ used to feed off of anger. If he saw TMZ and other websites writing about him, he would use that and score 50-60 the next game.

[Malik Hairston]

90s basketball was just so ty, though..

Watching that on YouTube is the equivalent of watching Brady Bunch or Mash or an old-ass show that is antiquated and unappealing..or like watching comedians from the 70s, it doesn't age well, at all..

[Malik Hairston]

Dad Killer responding to fabricated stories about players "fueling" him isn't the same as ESPN reporting that Jordan punched his teammates and abused them, while TMZ Sports and Deadspin report that he's partying and gambling all night while ting on fans that try to talk to him..

His HOF speech was one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of sports IMO..

[TheGreatYacht]

90s basketball was just so ty, though..

Watching that on YouTube is the equivalent of watching Brady Bunch or Mash or an old-ass show that is antiquated and unappealing..or like watching comedians from the 70s, it doesn't age well, at all..

What's wrong with you? You enjoy watching teams shoot 50 free throws a game in today's game? C'mon I thought you'd appreciate fundamentals being a Spurs fan

[RD2191]

Dad Killer responding to fabricated stories about players "fueling" him isn't the same as ESPN reporting that Jordan punched his teammates and abused them, while TMZ Sports and Deadspin report that he's partying and gambling all night while ting on fans that try to talk to him..

His HOF speech was one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of sports IMO..

was just pathetic , tbh. Never seen such an insecure person.

[benstanfield]

Listening to Hubie commentate these Finals would be a beautiful thing.

Instead we get argumentative guy and the re pastor.

[Tuddy]

I tried to watch a game from the 90s the other day..I had to stop after the 1st quarter, it was unbearable, tbh..

Disgusting basketball, all ISO offense, no skill involved, too many goons, no strategy and coaching..hideous ball..

Sounds like pretty much the whole Eastern conference now minus the goons.

[Nbadan]

Jordan would be even more unstoppable offensively today in the right offense. The only penetrator on his level in NBA history is Lebron. And as good as a finisher James is, Jordan is slightly better. He has more of an arsenal of shots around the basket off the drive than James.

Jordan would be a terror in the new "space and pace" NBA, especially when you consider how marginalized shot blockers have become.

It'd be him and James battling it out for the MVP every year.

No doubt...Jordan would dominate every much today as he did in his era....and James? He would dominate right along side him....great players are great in any era..

[dbreiden83080]

Lebron has trouble dealing with contact now, he doesnt get mugged as much as he should. Additionally there are no mean defenders in the league. Who is the best? Ibaka... who was dunked on by corey joseph.

The point is none of today's players would be able to do it. They barrel through the lane trying to get minimal contact and get to the line. he would fail then cry, per usual

For every Charles Oakley out there in the 90's there were the Charles Smith's and Chris Dudley's of the NBA soft as ice cream. Superstars getting superstar calls did not originate in 2010..

[tholdren]

For every Charles Oakley out there in the 90's there were the Charles Smith's and Chris Dudley's of the NBA soft as ice cream. Superstars getting superstar calls did not originate in 2010..

you can SUPERSTAR call a hand-check if it's allowed. Lebron's mental ability would be shot before he even drove. Similarly KD couldnt get separation. Too slow, to weak. John starks could Defend him with a hand check.

And what does charles oakley have to do with defending the perimeter?

[dbreiden83080]

you can SUPERSTAR call a hand-check if it's allowed. Lebron's mental ability would be shot before he even drove. Similarly KD couldnt get separation. Too slow, to weak. John starks could Defend him with a hand check.

And what does charles oakley have to do with defending the perimeter?

I am talking tough defenders versus soft ones.. And I already told you that great players adjust to the era they play in.. If Ali could make 25 mil every time he fought in the 70's he never would have fought 4 and 5 times in one year.. It is all about the era you compete in..

[polandprzem]

Try to think of James in a iso plays in an era where there was no zone D

[UZER]

I saw all of it.. I was living in NY watching the refs blow the whistle in the 4th quarter every time he drove the ball.. In the media back then it was no secret he was being coddled..

I think Jordan was the GOAT, but damn after his first ring, you literally couldn't touch the guy while try to play D in the fourth qtr.

Try to think of James in a iso plays in an era where there was no zone D

There was no zone D, but there was also no 3 seconds on the defender, and big men stayed down low. So there would be a big man waiting to meet him at the rim 9-10 times that included a hard foul 5-10 times.