I'm not "blaming" jordan. I have no doubt in my mind that if Mike wasn't around in 97 or 98, the Jazz would have been champions, so I give him a pass when it comes to the championship arguement. Nobody looks any less on payton for losing to jordan, or barkley, or kemp, or stockton, or ewing.
But why are we blaming Jordan for him not having a ring? You can also blame Hakeem, Clyde Drexler, Barkley, Shawn Kemp and the other teams that knocked the Jazz off in the Playoffs when they didn't even make it out of the West. Jordan was just responsible for two of those many years.
Barkley was never on a playoff team that beat Malone's Jazz. He was close in 98, in the first round, but thats it.
You know what? I think they're both well on their way to acheiving just that, we may all have our favorite out of the two (I'm a Timothy man ALL the way!) but you've got to love their chances
If Duncan keeps up his numbers the next 5 or 6 years, i dont think I'll have a choice, I'll have to rank him ahead of malone. KG to me has to be a little bit more consistant in the playoffs. He had a nice run last year but losing in the first round just doesnt cut it.
Know what's funny? Why doesn't Sir Charles' name ever come up that much when talking about GOAT at the PF position? To me, he's right up there with the Mailman.
I'd be interested to see if someone can make a legitimate argument for him

. To me, Malone did what Barkley did and exceeded it, and did it for a longer period of time. Plus on the defensive side of the ball malone was better.