vs.
Alonzo Mourning
Best Defensive Player since '85: Jordan vs. Mourning
Moderator: Gregg Popabitch
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Gregg Popabitch
- Posts: 9859
- Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:22 pm
Best Defensive Player since '85: Jordan vs. Mourning
Michael Jordan
vs.
Alonzo Mourning
vs.
Alonzo Mourning
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jazzmatazz23
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:21 pm
lol he sonned opposing guards on the regular. by every measure (eye-test/statistical/advanced metrics-statistical/anecdotal) possible, MJ was the best not only on offense but also on defense at his position.Cash Rulz wrote:Was Jordan a shut down guard? I know he had excellent help defense, but I'm don't remember him being a shut down guard.
i can't do the eye-test for you.
i can do the statistical - only player ever to have over 200 steals AND over 100 blocks in a season...and he did it twice (and had 236 or more steals and 125 or more blocks those two years so it's not like he barely did it...so the fact nobody has ever come close to doing even the bare minimum should be quite telling).
i can do the advanced metrics - he has 64.1 career defensive win shares...or a full 16.1 more than alonzo mourning...in 2 fewer seasons!
and i can't read/listen to the anecdotal evidence for you but i'm sure you've heard/read enough of "MJ was the best player period" by hall-of-famers/hall-of-fame coaches/etc.
Nets 2022
@reason
jordan is sweet on d, and one of the best defensive guards. he could turn it on, but there were many a night where he just disappeared, or he was guarding the weakling, etc. stopping scoring wasnt necessarily jordans #1 job. and the fact that he could go 45-48 minutes at will for a long time is a double edged sword for how he is going to be judged. and thus my vote.
maybe its big man bias, but i remember zos presence on d being palpable for a long stretch of his career. mourning was getting 2-3 blks/game even when he wasnt healthy and was playing 20-30 minutes.
jordan is sweet on d, and one of the best defensive guards. he could turn it on, but there were many a night where he just disappeared, or he was guarding the weakling, etc. stopping scoring wasnt necessarily jordans #1 job. and the fact that he could go 45-48 minutes at will for a long time is a double edged sword for how he is going to be judged. and thus my vote.
maybe its big man bias, but i remember zos presence on d being palpable for a long stretch of his career. mourning was getting 2-3 blks/game even when he wasnt healthy and was playing 20-30 minutes.