Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

He lobbied hard against the change in '02 and literally admitted that he would've put up far worse numbers if zone defense was legal.

Yeh, I won't argue that, but MJ was absolutley abused anytime he went below the free throw line. I do believe it is truly a generational bias on who the GOAT is. It is just human nature to believe your own generation was better at pretty much everything and there is nothing at all wrong with that. Everyone's late teens to late 30's seem to be the "best of times". There are quite a few others that should be mentioned in the GOAT discussion but never are because they played too far back in time.

Just now, we_gotta_believe said:

I never criticized him from having a great coach. I'm saying having a great coach was a benefit Jordan had that LeBron didn't as a rebuttal to your argument that LeBron "needed" a support system that Jordan didn't need. I'm calling you out for cherry picking but apparently it's going over your head.

Lebron has had a "great" coach. I'd argue Spoelstra is a great coach. He does have 3 titles after all. Also, bringing up Phil is so funny because he got those first 6 championships with MJ. It wasn't like he won anything prior to him.

and my argument was Lebron needed a support system of great players. I never once brought up coaching.

edit.

1 minute ago, MF POON said:

Lebron has had a "great" coach. I'd argue Spoelstra is a great coach. He does have 3 titles after all. Also, bringing up Phil is so funny because he got those first 6 championships with MJ. It wasn't like he won anything prior to him.

and my argument was Lebron needed a support system of great players. I never once brought up coaching.

edit.

First, lol on Spoelstra compared to Phil. He only won two rings that I recall, in '12 and '13 with the Heat. Jackson won 11, please don't mention them in the same discussion again if you want to be taken seriously.

And my argument is that the support system should absolutely include the coach, hence why I said you're cherry picking because you're conveniently ignoring that Jackson was a factor in the Bulls success.

8 minutes ago, Joe Ball said:

Yeh, I won't argue that, but MJ was absolutley abused anytime he went below the free throw line. I do believe it is truly a generational bias on who the GOAT is. It is just human nature to believe your own generation was better at pretty much everything and there is nothing at all wrong with that. Everyone's late teens to late 30's seem to be the "best of times". There are quite a few others that should be mentioned in the GOAT discussion but never are because they played too far back in time.

Jordan was my generation. I grew up watching him, Magic, Isaiah, Barkley, Malone, and the tail end of Bird. And to be clear I didn't say LeBron is the GOAT as it stands now. I said if he were to lead the Sixers to his 5th ring with his 4th team that it would end the debate.

What I was referring to earlier on Jordan's own admission regarding zone defense...

It was the topic du jour at last month’s All-Star Game, and Jordan was making an impassioned plea before the competition committee that had gathered to consider rules changes to enliven the NBA game. Jordan spoke passionately. If teams were able to play zone defenses, he said, he never would have had the career he did.

https://web.archive.org/web/20260217103033/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/04/01/if-zone-defenses-come-in-stars-may-go-out/

13 minutes ago, Joe Ball said:

There are quite a few others that should be mentioned in the GOAT discussion but never are because they played too far back in time.

I never watched him play but Oscar Robertson is a name that keeps coming up when I've had these conversations over the years. Wish I could've seen him myself instead of just clips.

Jordan was greater in his era than LeBron was in his. That is the comparison. Compensating for eras is subjective and non-conclusive.

All the baseball and football players whose careers were diminished by artificial turf. Rules changes. Night baseball. Adding referees to the game. Advances in sports medicine.

Imagine if Mantle had access to today's knee repair procedures.

6 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

First, lol on Spoelstra compared to Phil. He only won two rings that I recall, in '12 and '13 with the Heat. Jackson won 11, please don't mention them in the same discussion again if you want to be taken seriously.

And my argument is that the support system should absolutely include the coach, hence why I said you're cherry picking because you're conveniently ignoring that Jackson was a factor in the Bulls success.

Yeh Spoelstra was overrated, way overrated. Phil made an incredible impact when the Bulls started winning year after year no doubt.

If we were picking 5 players each to play a game, just like you would do as kids playing a pickup game...who gets picked 1st?

Kobe

MJ

Shaq

Dr J

Bird

Kareem

LeBron

Magic

Russell

Chamberlain

Duncan

Wonder what’s going through Morey’s head right now

2 minutes ago, Joe Ball said:

Yeh Spoelstra was overrated, way overrated. Phil made an incredible impact when the Bulls started winning year after year no doubt.

If we were picking 5 players each to play a game, just like you would do as kids playing a pickup game...who gets picked 1st?

Kobe

MJ

Shaq

Dr J

Bird

Kareem

LeBron

Magic

Russell

Chamberlain

Duncan

That's a different question. This is like a fantasy draft. Magic is the most unique player on that list. I'd take him first. I'd be happy with any of two of the big men and any two of the other five.

8 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Imagine if Mantle had access to today's knee repair procedures.

Imagine if he didn't play hungover every day 🤣...dude was amazing, but a good point about the knees.

1 minute ago, Texas Eagle said:

Wonder what’s going through Morey’s head right now

Great point. Going to look like a peanut if the Sixers pull this off. #NoInterviews.

7 minutes ago, Joe Ball said:

Yeh Spoelstra was overrated, way overrated. Phil made an incredible impact when the Bulls started winning year after year no doubt.

If we were picking 5 players each to play a game, just like you would do as kids playing a pickup game...who gets picked 1st?

Kobe

MJ

Shaq

Dr J

Bird

Kareem

LeBron

Magic

Russell

Chamberlain

Duncan

Depends on the rules, so pre '02, it's easily Jordan without a doubt. Even in today's era, I'd still probably pick him, but I do wonder how effective he would've been in recent decades without the iso game being as much of an emphasis as it was for their triangle offense back then.

Just now, Connecticut Eagle said:

That's a different question. This is like a fantasy draft. Magic is the most unique player on that list. I'd take him first. I'd be happy with any of two of the big men and any two of the other five.

Maybe a different question but one that needs to be asked when considering the GOAT title. Who is the better leader? Who is more clutch? Who makes the team around them better? It's a fun debate to have and the fact that it's even a discussion a week before camps kickoff is cool for PHI fans, especially here on the Eagles board!

My last comment on this because...damnit it's football season. 76ers have had a great offseason thus far and after seeing some good moves made over the years that haven't worked out for them I hope this one does work out for them and you guys as fans.

Cowboys continue hitting the Eagles fountain for their coaches.

5 minutes ago, Joe Ball said:

Maybe a different question but one that needs to be asked when considering the GOAT title. Who is the better leader? Who is more clutch? Who makes the team around them better? It's a fun debate to have and the fact that it's even a discussion a week before camps kickoff is cool for PHI fans, especially here on the Eagles board!

My last comment on this because...damnit it's football season. 76ers have had a great offseason thus far and after seeing some good moves made over the years that haven't worked out for them I hope this one does work out for them and you guys as fans.

Jordan is definitely more clutch. He's Mr. Clutch. Probably the most clutch player of any sport ever. But if LeBron wins another ring with a different team, I think you'd have to twist yourself into knots to avoid admitting he makes the team around him better than Jordan did.

17 minutes ago, we_gotta_believe said:

First, lol on Spoelstra compared to Phil. He only won two rings that I recall, in '12 and '13 with the Heat. Jackson won 11, please don't mention them in the same discussion again if you want to be taken seriously.

And my argument is that the support system should absolutely include the coach, hence why I said you're cherry picking because you're conveniently ignoring that Jackson was a factor in the Bulls success.

Spoelstra is a great head coach. Phil is a legend. When I said great, I was implying he's simply a very good coach, not that he's on the level of Phil. Steve Kerr, Popovich, and Riley are great coaches but they're a tier above Spoelstra.

Yeah, your argument included coach, not mine, because I think it's a foolish argument to make. Sure, Phil was a factor, but just about every winning NBA coach has had elite NBA players on their roster. Spoelstra had Wade and Shaq for his first, then had Wade/Bosh/Lebron for his next 2. Riley had Majic/Kareem/Worthy. Poppovich had Duncan/Parker/Robinson/Kawhi, etc.. Phil also had Kobe and Shaq. So sure, the coach matters, but what would they be without star players? Again, I think you're just using it just to downplay how vital MJ was to those championships, cos you could easily make the argument Phil doesn't win in Chicago without MJ.

4 minutes ago, MF POON said:

Spoelstra had Wade and Shaq for his first, then had Wade/Bosh/Lebron for his next 2.

Huh?

5 minutes ago, MF POON said:

cos you could easily make the argument Phil doesn't win in Chicago without MJ.

Yeah no sheet. Just like Spoelstra doesnt without Lebron.

2 hours ago, devpool said:

Excited for sixers fans. I haven't been into basketball since the kawhi game ender (I was never a die hard basketball fan so that game just killed all my hope lol) but happy for all of you in here who are. I don't intend to hop back on the bandwagon but will be rooting from afar

Surprised you lasted that long, Today's Basketball blows. Haven't been into it or able to watch it since the early 2000's.

Howie is not gonna let the Sixers steal his spotlight, Justin Jefferson trade incoming.

7 minutes ago, DeathByEagle said:

The Rooney Rule is a joke because it should have never even existed in the first place.

Just like racism should have never existed.

31 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

Cowboys continue hitting the Eagles fountain for their coaches.

Dak will finally have someone that can explain the work it takes to be a winner like Jalen.

1 hour ago, LeanMeanGM said:

@Joe Ball Big Cowboys news

McNabb and Romo can have a podcast/show together.

Quarterbacks riding in cars getting drunk.

I just said in the 6ers thread- I was happy enough when the 76ers just signed Dean Wade and I thought that was about as good as we could do this offseason. Look where are are now!