If MJ was in him prime in the NBA today

[VCFAN]

How do you think Michael Jordans stats would be like if he was in his prime going into this next season. What I would personally say are:

PPG: 31
RPG: 5.5
APG: 6.0
SPG: 2.95
BPG: 0.70
FG%: 45
3P%: 25%

Some of you might think this might be kinda low but the game has changed a lot from the late 80;s early 90;s. First of all, games are much lower scoring now than they were in the 80's and early 90's. So his 37 points per game one season would not be nearly as high now. This is due to the big crack down on defense. Along with the increased defense his FG% and 3PT% would be lower. Along with this many of the clutch shots he has made in his career probably would not have been made. He may have not been able to get some of the shots he hit in the 80's off. I know there were good defenders in the 80's and 90's but In today's game Michael jordan would oftenly be paired up against the best defenders like Artest, Prince, Kobe, Christie. I'm also sure he would probably be double teamed alot like players such as Carter and McGrady.

What do u guys think?

[Full Surface]

There is no one who can guard MJ and lock him down perfectly.

He can easily smoke these young guys today.

[Ben-le-ouf]

It depends of which Bulls are around him..

If Jordan & the '92 Bulls were going into this next season, then I think Jordan would get less points and less assists.
I don't agree with the FG%. I think Jordan would have adapted to the defense, shot less and still got around FG 50%.
Jordan was a good defender in 92, but I think he would put more effort now and be a better defender.

[air gordon]

on most nights, opposing teams put their best defender on jordan and double teamed him

[Jackal]

So? He's had 3-4 defenders on him, he's smoked them all.

Jordan might have an off night here and there, don't focus on that. The nights when he's hot, he'll be really hot.

When Jordan is normal, no one can stop him. If he's on fire, it's all over.

Pff, he knew which shot to take and when to take it, he don't throw up random shit hoping for it to fall.

Hint hint?

[Matthew]

PPG: 31
RPG: 5.5
APG: 6.0
SPG: 2.95
BPG: 0.70
FG%: 45
3P%: 25%

Jordan in his prime shot ALOT better than 45%... if he was to "only" average 31 ppg, that means he would have better teamates, which means more assists and a higher % and also a ring. Who are you to say the defense was better now than it was then? Look at the original bad boys, boston, new york.. these teams were all defenseive powerhouses. who is there today? detroit and indiana..

[ATTENTIONWHORE]

He would still kick major ass no matter what team he would play against...

[MAKAVELI THE DON]

since the competetion in the east isn't up to par like during mj's era; he would dominate a dit more on a whole.

[Andrew]

I don't know why people assume the defense was so weak during the 80s and 90s. The league was much deeper at centre, there were plenty of good perimeter defenders and there were teams that played tough, physical defense. I would say that it's more a difference in the offense today.

I would suggest he'd average around 32-33 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 6.0 apg, around 3 spg and no less than 0.6 bpg. I don't think it's unrealistic to suggest he'd shoot above 50% from the field and around 84% from the free throw line. As far as three pointers go, I'll suggest around 33%.

[VCFAN]

how do you explain the lower scoring games. The defense has to be better in general.

[Jay-Peso]

how do you explain the lower scoring games. The defense has to be better in general.

Poor shot selection.

A lot of players are just throwing up shots for the sake of it. I was watching a Detroit game this year and there were like 6 airballs in a matter of 5 minutes.

[Andrew]

how do you explain the lower scoring games. The defense has to be better in general.

A different kind of offense - more teams playing slow, grind it out half-court offense rather than up-tempo offense. Less talented offensive players, more athletic players with poor jumpshots.

[Jackal]

Less talented offensive players, more athletic players with poor jumpshots.

I couldn't agree more. I mean, take a look at the new kids. LeBron James, he's great but his shooting is horrendous. (From what we're used to seeing, it sucks.) He manages to get to the whole, thus he's able to get his points.

Look at Dwyane Wade, he's a driver/slasher. He's more likely to go inside get bumped or something either make the bucket and/or go to the charity stripe.

Another example is Tony Parker. He's got the touch, don't take me wrong...but it's pretty obvious he'd rather drive than shoot an open shot.

Now, don't get me wrong...going to the basket = a higher field-goal percentage. I fully agree with this, but what's the point in hesitating on a wide open shot? I've seen it happen too many times.
What's the point of pulling off circus shots if you are able to pass it out?

Drive, by all means drive, but balance it out.

Compared to the 90's, teams aren't that interested in shooting anymore, it's too much glitz and glamour with the young ones these days.

[Mick]

Agreed Jackal. Today's players seem to either drive and go for the dunk or tough inside shot or jack up three's all night. There aren't really any more mid-range shooters. Jordan was virtually unstoppable on the post-midrange because his spin-fadeaway shot was so successful. His mid range shooting was very consistant and despite his highlights many of his points came from these shots.

[matmat8]

Rip Hamilton is a good mid-range shooter.

Anyway I agree with what Jackal said but what has also changed is defense. Zone defense. That makes a huge difference. That can explain the lower scores as the players can't drive as much and go 1 on 1 and have to take open shots, that they miss.

MJ has always outplayed his opponent and i think he would still do it nowadays.

You can say they can't shoot...etc...etc but i think they need to be more intelligent. It helps, even to play basketball.

[Wormy10]

Agreed Jackal. Today's players seem to either drive and go for the dunk or tough inside shot or jack up three's all night. There aren't really any more mid-range shooters. Jordan was virtually unstoppable on the post-midrange because his spin-fadeaway shot was so successful. His mid range shooting was very consistant and despite his highlights many of his points came from these shots.

I couldnt agree more with ya

[Matt]

the thing about zone defence is that no one player fully commits. It's just 2 guys standing around that player, Jordan could smoke a zone anyday ro just pass it out

[fgrep15]

Also why does everyone always talk about zone this zone that like every single team in the NBA plays zone for 48 minutes a game

Dallas the team that utilizes the zone the most is one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

[havasufalls]

Also why does everyone always talk about zone this zone that like every single team in the NBA plays zone for 48 minutes a game

Dallas the team that utilizes the zone the most is one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

But the wolves also use the zone alot and they were one of the best defensive teams in the league.

And yes Jordan would be destroying the competition, as usually, no matter wat year it is

[FanOfAll]

Also why does everyone always talk about zone this zone that like every single team in the NBA plays zone for 48 minutes a game

Dallas the team that utilizes the zone the most is one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

Exactly. Hardly any teams use it, and when they do, it's for short stints. These are NBA players, if you use a zone for too long (like the T-Wolves two years ago), teams will figure out how to bust it without being a good long ball or ball movement team.

I don't know why people assume the defense was so weak during the 80s and 90s. The league was much deeper at centre, there were plenty of good perimeter defenders and there were teams that played tough, physical defense. I would say that it's more a difference in the offense today.

I don't consider defense better now, but there is more emphasis on team defense now, except players just don't buy into it.

MJ would be dominating, easily. 32 ppg, 6 apg, 6 boards, 2.5 spg...

[MVP]

MJ would be very difficult to contain. He would find a way to score on anybody.

[putodelagoa]

Nowaday's defense is waaaaaay overrated...

I mean, this grind it out, slow it down trend started with the 94 Knicks who maybe not coincidentally didn't have a player able to hit an outside/ middle range shot other than the very, very streacky Starks...
They had a bunch of thug like gritty players, though, and a REAL post presence in Ewing, wich would put them ahead of most current teams that play within the same stile...

Then came Mike Fratello to show us how to make a playoff team out of those gruesome Cavaliers that won 42 games with a bunch of nobodies, by outhustling everybody else.

So much for the game's fluidity and beauty. Spectacle is to win games.

Anyway...

If I recall correctly, Jordan was playing last year, at age 41, way over the hill and hearth bound, and he was still the focus of the Wizards offense, and able to go berzerk some times by litting you up for 40 points... He wound up putting some meanless averages of 16,5,5... at 41!

This in the so called "defensive era".

I don't want to imagine the damage he would do with 31...



Could it be that this Topic's argument is just another veilled way to make you see how "Jordanesque" are the performances of nowadays Jordan wannabees ?

[Pointgod5]

There is no way to stop that guy.
Jordan stats would be 30 ppg,5 rpg,and 6 apg.

[GloveGuy]

He wound up putting some meanless averages of 16,5,5... at 41!

Actually, in his first year with Washington, he averaged 22, 5, and 5. His stats would have been better had he not been injured. I remember before the All-Star break he was averaging around 24-26 points and was a possible MVP candidate.

With the Wizards, MJ would often show those streaks of brilliance, many times in the fourth quarter. During his prime, those streaks of brilliance weren't just streaks, and they weren't just during the fourth quarter.

He was dominant then, and I have no doubt he would be dominant, if not more dominant, if he were playing now.

Also, I'd put money on any team he was on to win the championship.

[Fresh8]

Man- I remeber 01-02 cause I followed MJ's comeback.

Jordan started off slow and we thought it was a mistake to come back. But man were we wrong! By mid season MJ had the Wizards hovering around .500 but unfortunately Kwame Brown was doing jack all for the Wizards and if he did- the team would have been heaps better.

But Jordan was awesome for the team untill he got injured and sat out the rest of the season. The Wizards went bad without him and... they missed the playoffs!

The next season was close to the same...I think. I can't remember but Wizards looked like they could make the playoffs until he had a minor (?) injury and Wizards played bad...couldnt make the playoffs and let the youngsters play the remainder of the seaosn...

Correct me if I'm wrong.

By the way...if MJ was in his prime and Kobe was playing in the same NBA today...MJ with Chicago- Here's my predicted head- to- head comparison

KOBE: 30 ppg MIKE: 35 ppg
KOBE: 6.4 rpg MIKE: 7 rpg
KOBE: 5.5 apg MIKE: 6 apg
KOBE: 2.0 spg MIKE: 2.4 spg
KOBE: .450 FG MIKE: .525 FG
KOBE: .333 3PT MIKE: .350 3PT
KOBE: .850 FT MIKE: .860 FT

LAKERS: 46-36 (Gets to second round)
Bulls: 52-30 (Eastern Conferecne Finals...possibly NBA Finals)

If they both played this season...