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Nope...
Probably came up before, but hey, I wasn't around.
Bowen, as superb a perimeter defender, is not as strong down low, and Jordan's got that crazy turnaround. Another thing is that Jordan got so much respect from the refs, Bowen would probably be fouled out in 18 minutes, but....
Bowen can adapt, and play defense with his feet. He will also push Jordan out of the low blocks and make him shoot at other spots.
Personally, I think Bowen will slow Jordan down, but can't shut him down like he did to Ray Allen, McGrady, and sometimes Kobe.
Nope...
MJ would've worked him.
Ah the supermyth of Superman Jordan. Great player (but not greatest that is reserved for either Wilt or Russell) but was marketed so. Oscar, Kareem, Magic, Bird and Wilt his equal along with many more. Bird asked if Jordan best ever he saw - his reply - one of two.
The truth. Would have given him trouble but not stop him. Kobe when he was on, especially end of games, was as tough as Jordan in my opinion and McGrady due to his height may be harder for Bowen than either one.
Artest beat up an older Jordan a few times in some summer games if you recall by the way.
A great offensive player will always beat a great defensive player.
That being said, MJ's stats would have been worse.
No.
I have a buddy in Brazil, he's from Philly, named Myron Brown. He played professionally in Italy for many years. He was drafted by the T-Wolves and stayed on for a couple of years but they were pathetic back then and it didn't work out.
My point is that not only did Myron tell me, but others have jibed me since I'm such a diehard Spurs fan, about how Myron lit up Bowen a couple of times when Bowen played in France. Myron likes Bowen and admires what he did to get in the NBA, Jordan is an altogether other class of player. Nobody could stop Jordan if Jordan didn't want to be stopped.
In fairness to Myron, he actually asked me not to run this because Bowen would probably find out and be like "Myron Brown? Who the is Myron Brown?"
But was Bowen then the equivalent of Bowen now? Besides, the games were played very differently overseas,and the defenses that were allowed are also different.
Bowen shuts down Allen, Carter, McGrady, and Kobe, and that to me, is VERY impressive.
Actually, Jordan would've taken it as a challenge to utterly destroy Bowen on both ends of the court.
Jordan was the greatest, AND he got lots of whistles. Bruce would foul out in 5 minutes with his physical style of play.
Always ticked me off, because Jordan didn't need the help. I wish they would have called it straight and let Jordan just do his thing without all the extra calls. When the '92 Dream Team was lining up for pictures one time, Barkley said "you can't stand too close to Michael or it's a foul," and Jordan got peeved. But it was true.
lol.
Bowen would be a pest to Jordan, but Jordan would destroy him.
Of course nobody could stop Jordan, but some could slow him down. He would still get his points, but it would take more shots. I think Bowen could definitely be in that class.
By the way, I don't know why people keep talking about "Bowen's physical style of play." Bowen, to me, is not a physical player. Artest is a physical player. The Knicks back in the day were physical players. Bowen has never even been one to pick up a lot of fouls against anybody.
Bowen wouldve done a better job then those self proclaim jordan stoppers aka gerald wilkens, russell. As long bowen doesnt buy jordans pumpfakes and force him to shoot instead of drivin.
Bowen would of annoyed him at times, maybe held him to a bad shooting game or 2 in regular season, but Jordan was just to good and strong down low for Bowen. Very few guards in the history of the NBA were as good as Jordan in the post. He often said that the stronger guards were the ones he had trouble against such as Mitch Richmond etc.
I recall Sean Elliot doing quite well on MJ, Jordan never really dominated the Spurs in an amazing way like Cleveland or New York or most the league though.
No one could defend Jordan.
Look at his career average points per game.
I don't know how to post that info like some of the others here, but if you look it up it's just incredible.
Dr Jim...Sheesh...MJ would have scored "50" at will against Bowen...
Bowen would not have been able to keep up w/ Jordan in his prime for a second. Jordan was too quick and too strong for Bowen.
agree with M121...Sean Elliott did as good a job as anyone guarding MJ plus made him work on the defensive end...Bowen would have irritated him but he wouldn't have shut him down...
Superstars can never be shutdown, they can only be contained. Bowen, being the #1 perimeter defender, would contain Jordan on some nights, but not stop him.
I would like to see Artest on Jordan. That would be interesting.
no he could not.
ummm...only problem is Jordan was a great offensive AND defensive player. He prolly woulda taken Bowen on as a challenge and creamed him. It may work for one game, but back in Jordan's prime, when his game was on, nothing and no one could stop him in a series of 7---hence the 6 rings
Some nights Jordan would have won, some nights Bowen would have.
I can tell you one thing for sure: MJ would have never whined lay Ray, Vince, or Carmelo, he would have raised his game, and it would have been fun to watch.
I dunno about all this "Bowen couldn't handle Jordan" talk. Jeff Malone always defended Jordan very well. So, while he might not shutdown Jordan like he did the Matrix, Bowen would definitely have not allowed Jordan to beat the Spurs. Pip and others would have to have good games.
BTW, the one player that really destroyed Jordan was Magic. In the 1991 Finals, Magic just posted Jordan at will in Game 1, and took the Lakers to a victory. But then we all know what happened, Phil Jackson switched Pippen on Magic, and the Lakers won 4 straight. To me, Pippen should have won at least one Finals MVp in those six years (especially 91), but given it was Jordan's first ring, there was just no way those media types would have voted for anybody else.
Uh oh, the inevitable question: Could these Spurs beat the Jordan Bulls in the finals?
I'm gonna go with no. But I wound't bet on it.
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