who could shutdown . . .

ok guys.. here's one of those questions people love debating and arguing over.. but who do you think would be one guy out of the following people would have the best chance at shutting down or bother MJ at his prime?

i think this is one of his best years stastically:
88-89 CHI 81 81 40.2 .538 .276 .850 1.80 6.20 8.00 8.0 2.89 .80 3.58 3.00 32.5

or some could argue this one..
90-91 CHI 82 82 37.0 .539 .312 .851 1.40 4.60 6.00 5.5 2.72 1.01 2.46 2.80 31.5

or even this one

86-87 CHI 82 82 40.0 .482 .182 .857 2.00 3.20 5.20 4.6 2.88 1.52 3.32 2.90 37.1

but anyways on to the defenders:

**note this players are in their prime as well**

1. Scottie Pippen - MJ's long time running mate - nasty defender, freakishly long wingspan.
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'94-95 - Steals Per Game (SPG) - 2.94, Blocks Per Game (BPG) - 1.13

2. Ron Artest - 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
2nd half of '01-02 - SPG - 2.78, BPG - .85

3. Bruce Bowen - Spurs #1 Defender
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'97-98 SPG - 1.43, BPG - .48

4. Kobe Bryant - Dubbed MJ's heir apparent
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'02-03 - SPG - 2.21, BPG - .82

5. Gary Payton - 1996 Defensive Player of the Year
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'95-96 - SPG - 2.85, BPG - .23

6. Jason Kidd - Numerous All-NBA Defensive Team Selection
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'98-99 - SPG - 2.28, BPG - .38

7. Eddie Jones - Jordan named him one of the better defenders around in the latter stages of his career
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
2nd half of '98-99 - SPG - 3.00, BPG - 1.13

8. Tayshaun Prince - I'm pretty sure a lot of people saw the job he did on KB8 in the Finals.
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
His stats don't say much

9. Dennis Rodman - Awesome defender, numerous NBA All Defensive Team selection.
His stats don't say much either

10. Doug Christie - NBA All Defensive Team Selection several times
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'01-02 - SPG - 2.26, BPG - .56

11. Kevin Garnett - NBA All Defensive Team Selection several times also. Freakishly long arms.
Best Year Statistically (Defense)
'03-04 - SPG - 1.46, BPG - 2.17

. . ok that's my list, some honourable mention though:

Paul Pierce
Xavier McDaniel
John Starks
Charles Oakley
Craig Ehlo (im tired, whatever)

Tayshaun Pince isn't that good a defender, he can easily be beat off the dribble, he isn't near quick enough to keep infront of his defenders, but can defend the jumpshot well because of his long arms. If he didn't have the luxury of 2 shot blockers in the post he's be killed, Vince Carter destroyed Tayshaun off the dribble in the games before the Pistons got Sheed, shooting 45.9% against him, when they got Sheed, Carter didn't drive and launched up jump shots, shooting 28.6%. The fact that Rasheed and Ben are behind Tayshaun helps him a lot, except for against those who have no fear, but to put Tayshaun there is an insult to:

Michael Cooper, Andrei Kirilenko, Shawn Marion, James Posey, Richard Jefferson, Desmond Mason, Trenton Hassell, Mickael Pietrus, Joe Johnson, Rubeun Patterson, and even Shandon Andreson, who are better defenders than him.

Jerry Sloan, as many NBA experts, like Jerry Krause, have said.

Go with the 32, 8 and 8 year. Only the 37 PPG year even remotely compares.

I'd have to say "None of the Above." The Pistons had to send 2 and 3 guys at a time at Jordan to slow him down, so no one defender could do the job. A great offensive player will beat a great defensive player.

And Prince shouldn't be on the list. What shut Kobe down was the combination of chasing Rip or Chauncey around, having Prince's long arms on his jump shots and the two Wallace's on his drives. Defense is really more of a team effort than anything else.

Dennis Rodman.

Take Artest off that list. He's good because he is physically intimidating. MJ wouldn't fall for that bullcrap and Artest is too slow and too dumb to guard him.

Nobody...as it was said above defense is more a team effort and especially against MJ...but that's just my opinion.

Who could shut down MJ?

Pff, nobody.

The ones that would come close to "shutting him down" (read around 20 something points) would be his own team-mates.

Rodman & Pippen.

Actually, I think Artest is intimidating to Jordan...Artest DID break a couple of MJ's ribs in MJ's summer pickup games. After that, I want to say Jordan wanted Artest for his Jordan line....

Actually, I think Artest is intimidating to Jordan...Artest DID break a couple of MJ's ribs in MJ's summer pickup games. After that, I want to say Jordan wanted Artest for his Jordan line....

But we're talking about MJ in his prime here. That was a 39 year old MJ who didn't have the physical tools he had when he was younger. MJ in his prime would have been too quick and too smart for Artest.

i was wondering where people are getting this misconception of artest being slow?

is it because of his bulky physique?

he didn't win DPOY solely overpowering the people he had to guard.

artest probably is one of the leagues best when it comes to moving laterally

please strike trenton hassel off that list. all of a sudden he's a great defender because he's surrounded with real nba talent??

i'd have to nominate tmac in his last year in toronto, back when he was still focused on playing defense, which lead to comparisons to a young scottie pippen

Take Artest off that list. He's good because he is physically intimidating. MJ wouldn't fall for that bullcrap and Artest is too slow and too dumb to guard him.

that's nice to know..that the best defensive player is too dumb and too slow..and because he's only "physically intimidating" ...wonder how dumb and slow must other (good) defensive players be..

scottie pippen, dennis rodman. how about dennis johnson, alvin robertson?

Wow, and I'm the only one that has mentioned Michael Cooper over guys like Tayshaun Prince, how in the world did Tayshaun get put in the list, thats just embarassing to basketball.

Also Crawford, Trenton Hassell isn't in there, what are you talking about?

Prince definitely doesn't belong in there.

I'd say the only guy in that list is Pippen. He knows MJ's game as well as anyone on that list and he's a better defender IMO than anyone on that list. I can see Rodman and KG (because of size and athleticism) giving MJ some problems as well.

Also Crawford, Trenton Hassell isn't in there, what are you talking about?

he was on your list. maybe i misunderstood it. guess your list is defenders better then prince

i'd put cooper into the list to 'stop' jordan. i just wanted to throw a new name out there

so..
coop
young rodman
KG
younger tmac
pip
dumars
artest
maybe sid moncrief

imo would give jordan a run for his money

I think KG could stop him. He has long arms ( x teh jumpers) he's quick for his size, and he can block shots.

Pippen
Rodman
Garnett

Those are the only players that even come close.

MJ at his prime was truly unstoppable.

put Trenton Hassell on him, he'll show him who's boss

In his prime no one could really shut MJ down, at least consistently. The players already mentioned have the tools to slow him down and hold him to performances that are below what was expected of him, but MJ was one of those players who could nearly always score when he needed to.

I think Scottie Pippen would do the best defensive job on MJ, not only due to his own great defensive abilities coupled with his height and long reach, but also because he's so familiar with the way MJ plays.

how about dennis johnson, alvin robertson?

I think Alvin Robertson would be able to bother him, but given what MJ did to DJ and the Celtics in 1986, I don't think DJ could be called one of the most effective Jordan "stoppers".

Joe Dumars

and what about Clyde Drexler?

Joe Dumars

and what about Clyde Drexler?

Jordan can't be shutdown completely. Shutdown is a strong word to use against a person of Jordan's skill. There is not one player that can do it. Jordan had his way with both Dumars and Drexler.

I think MJ already answered this question. He can score at will no matter who is guarding him. He's just that good. Nobody can slow him down. You need an entire team of great team defenders... Kind of like the Pistons.