Thread Tools

Display Modes

ThaRegul8r · 10-17-2007, 08:35 PM

You're the GM of a team. Your team will be facing a prime Michael Jordan in one month. Your job is to put together a backcourt that you feel will best be able to deal with Jordan as best as humanly possible. You have a time machine and can pick from any guard ever to set foot on an NBA court. Whomever you pick will have complete access to all the modern amenities and with the time machine you can take as much time as is necessary for them to take advantage of all the advancements that have been made since their playing days so that they will be completely up to speed and on the same footing as all the contemporary players who had things that weren't available to them during the time they played(done in consideration of the people who invariably say modern players are better athletes to equalize for modern technology). With that in mind, who do you select?

Take into account not only the starting guards, but also whomever you're going to have coming off the bench. You have a 12-man roster, so however many spots you're going to devote to guards.

BadBaronRudigor · 10-20-2007, 07:06 PM

Kobe for the size, defense and to make Michael work hard; Sid Moncrief for the best wing defense of all time and a great offense in addition; Walt Frazier or Gary Payton backed by Jerry West for the agressive defense to force the ball with enough offense to prevent doubleteams; and Scottie Pippen to take away Michael's sidekick and for yet another prime two way player.

Why not Magic or Oscar (the two greatest guards not named Jordan to ever play)? With Kobe, Moncrief, and Pippen on the wings, you don't need the ball dominators that made them so great and neither were great defenders. Why not Frazier AND Payton rather than West since I value the disruptive defense so highly? They are similar players with Frazier being the better shooter and overall defender, Payton being the more aggressive on the ball defender and attacker but West gives better shooting off the bench, similar playmaking, and isn't that far behind on defense though he isn't the disruptive influence of my prime point; he gives a different look and pure outside shooting that Frazier and Payton don't.

Can't think of anyone else I would even consider in this context since I want super aggressive defense, efficient offense, and good passing (probably in that order) as my criteria.

Najee · 11-11-2007, 05:42 AM

On a typical 12-man team, you're going to have five backcourt players and two small forwards. If you are going to face Michael Jordan in his prime, you're going to need tall point guards who can distract him, aggressive shooting guards who can get in his face and small forwards who can help out on defense while driving the lane on offense.

POINT GUARDS: Micheal Ray Richardson, Clyde Frazier, Gary Payton.

Sugar Ray was an outstanding defender, one of the few who actually gave Jordan fits. Richardson's size (6-foot-6) allows him to see eye-to-eye with Jordan and his long arms and quick hands allow him to guard Jordan straight-up. Frazier gets the nod over Jason Kidd because he provides similar skills while being an overall better offensive player. The Glove will be able to help out and occasionally play Jordan man-up while hoping his infamous trash-talking will get on his nerves. Also, Payton can post up guards on offense, and may force Jordan to come over to help.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Alvin Robertson, Michael Cooper.

Dog Robertson was another guard who gave Jordan fits. Very strong and hyper aggressive, Robertson was strong enough that Jordan couldn't post him despite being only 6-3. He also hounded Jordan in the passing lanes. Cooper was another brilliant defender, also with the requisite size to look eye-to-eye with Jordan and the long arms to give him resistance in the passing lanes.

SMALL FORWARDS: John Havlicek, Dennis Rodman.

A top-flight defender with good feet, swift hands and his incomparable endurance, Hondo also would make Jordan work on the offensive end. Havlicek was known for his unflappable discipline, so he wouldn't get frustrated when Jordan gets hot. In his Detroit days, Rodman could guard players of virtually any size and playing style, so he would be an excellent choice to complement the man facing up with MJ. The Worm also could be an antagonist who can match up with Jordan face-to-face.

Jordan23Forever · 11-11-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Najee

On a typical 12-man team, you're going to have five backcourt players and two small forwards. If you are going to face Michael Jordan in his prime, you're going to need tall point guards who can distract him, aggressive shooting guards who can get in his face and small forwards who can help out on defense while driving the lane on offense.

POINT GUARDS: Micheal Ray Richardson, Clyde Frazier, Gary Payton.

Sugar Ray was an outstanding defender, one of the few who actually gave Jordan fits. Richardson's size (6-foot-6) allows him to see eye-to-eye with Jordan and his long arms and quick hands allow him to guard Jordan straight-up. Frazier gets the nod over Jason Kidd because he provides similar skills while being an overall better offensive player. The Glove will be able to help out and occasionally play Jordan man-up while hoping his infamous trash-talking will get on his nerves. Also, Payton can post up guards on offense, and may force Jordan to come over to help.

SHOOTING GUARDS: Alvin Robertson, Michael Cooper.

Dog Robertson was another guard who gave Jordan fits. Very strong and hyper aggressive, Robertson was strong enough that Jordan couldn't post him despite being only 6-3. He also hounded Jordan in the passing lanes. Cooper was another brilliant defender, also with the requisite size to look eye-to-eye with Jordan and the long arms to give him resistance in the passing lanes.

SMALL FORWARDS: John Havlicek, Dennis Rodman.

A top-flight defender with good feet, swift hands and his incomparable endurance, Hondo also would make Jordan work on the offensive end. Havlicek was known for his unflappable discipline, so he wouldn't get frustrated when Jordan gets hot. In his Detroit days, Rodman could guard players of virtually any size and playing style, so he would be an excellent choice to complement the man facing up with MJ. The Worm also could be an antagonist who can match up with Jordan face-to-face.

Don't get me wrong, the team you've constructed stands as good a chance as any of containing Jordan. But I have to chuckle when people say things like "gave so-and-so fits." I realize it probably wasn't your intention to act like any of these guys ever did the job on Jordan (at least for any significant period of time; I'm sure Jordan had poor or subpar games against all of his contemporaries that you listed).

For instance, Jordan averaged 38 pts/8 reb/7 ast/3+ stl/1+ blk/53% FG vs. Robertson (and Pressey, another great defender) in the 1990 playoffs. Robertson was 1st team defense that season and 27-28 years old. He also lit up the Bucks for 40-50+ several times in the late 80's/early 90's. So I don't think "gave him fits" is the proper way to describe the situation.

Richardson, too, never "gave Jordan fits." Jordan stated in an interview once towards the end of his rookie year that Richardson was one of the players who played him the toughest defensively, but there's a difference between that and what actually happened on the court. Besides, Richardson only played against a(n incredibly raw) rookie Jordan, not prime Jordan ('89-'93). But even as a raw rookie, Jordan had games of 34/8/8, 27/7/7, 37/14/5, 31/8/9, and 29 pts/9 ast against Richardson.

Ditto Rodman, who used to switch off with Joe Dumars against Jordan in '87 and '88. In 12 meetings vs. Detroit over those two seasons, Jordan averaged 39.8 ppg, including games of 36/10/10, 47 pts, 49 pts, 59 pts, and 61 pts. This is why Detroit devised "The Jordan Rules" going into the '88 playoffs and beyond, because even with two of the premier defenders in the league tag-teaming him, Jordan couldn't be contained.

I guess what I'm saying is: success is relative when talking about defending Jordan.

Najee · 11-11-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan23Forever

Don't get me wrong, the team you've constructed stands as good a chance as any of containing Jordan. But I have to chuckle when people say things like "gave so-and-so fits." I realize it probably wasn't your intention to act like any of these guys ever did the job on Jordan (at least for any significant period of time; I'm sure Jordan had poor or subpar games against all of his contemporaries that you listed).

You know what I hate? Nit-picky people who want to act like they're the smartest person in the room because they can look up stats on the Internet. I didn't say any of those players shut down Michael Jordan, but Alvin Robertson (particularly in San Antonio), Micheal Ray Richardson and Dennis Rodman at times did "give MJ fits" in their matchups. Namely, he tended to work a little harder to get his production on these guys vs. what he did against the average NBA defender.

Not only that, I hate people who come into such hypothetical threads and don't add anything to the table. I'm sure you have a list of players, per the request of the thread creator.

Jordan23Forever · 11-12-2007, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Najee

You know what I hate? Nit-picky people who want to act like they're the smartest person in the room because they can look up stats on the Internet. I didn't say any of those players shut down Michael Jordan, but Alvin Robertson (particularly in San Antonio), Micheal Ray Richardson and Dennis Rodman at times did "give MJ fits" in their matchups. Namely, he tended to work a little harder to get his production on these guys vs. what he did against the average NBA defender.

Not only that, I hate people who come into such hypothetical threads and don't add anything to the table. I'm sure you have a list of players, per the request of the thread creator.

Someone has a bug up their derriere.

Najee · 11-12-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan23Forever

Someone has a bug up their derriere.

This is coming from someone with a Michael Jordan diva complex. How about you actually do something relevant to the thread, like follow the topic.

thug_immortal8 · 11-16-2007, 09:16 PM

In the end you're trying to win the game, so I'm fine with Jordan getting his, because all those games you mentioned were in series he lost. So yea I agree with Najee, maybe not entirely since there's so many different ways you can try to play Jordan but you can't really be wrong in this situation since it is hypothetical and impossible to know the truth about.

Thread Tools Display Modes

Thread Tools

Display Modes