I'll be happy just to see the officiating even remotely as good as it was in 1998...if that "no call" is still a big debate...wait till they see the crap we're about to witness in this NBA final...it will make the entire sports world forget about that no call without even a problem....and yes, Russell slipped and MJ deserved that jumper...there was not a foul there, any slight push he gave him crossing over in no way hindered Russell's ability to defend the shot, he slipped so he was late to the party.
I'll be happy just to see the officiating even remotely as good as it was in 1998...if that "no call" is still a big debate...wait till they see the crap we're about to witness in this NBA final...it will make the entire sports world forget about that no call without even a problem....and yes, Russell slipped and MJ deserved that jumper...there was not a foul there, any slight push he gave him crossing over in no way hindered Russell's ability to defend the shot, he slipped so he was late to the party.
There is no way that you can compare the athletes of that time to now. Guys now are faster, jump higher, and have more technology in front of them to gain advantages in the game. So I don't know about the competition. Pippen is a hall of fame player and you know it. He made it to the finals even after his Jordan days. You saying you knew who was going to come out of the West this year? You gotta be kidding me. A team with almost 50 wins didn't even make the playoffs and seeds 1 through 6 were seperated by just a few games. No way can you say that its been that close in the past few years.
Jordan didn't have to ask to be sent off, he was almost gone after a few years. He just couldn't win and the Bulls went out and got him pieces to be fit around him. It just so happened that Jordan got the perfect role players around him. He always had 2 shooters, one great rebounder, and Pippen who would shut down the other teams best player. Left Jordan to get all the hype and glory, which was well deserved. Jordan never had to say for the Bulls to go out and get people, because they always did it on their own.
There is no way that you can compare the athletes of that time to now. Guys now are faster, jump higher, and have more technology in front of them to gain advantages in the game. So I don't know about the competition. Pippen is a hall of fame player and you know it. He made it to the finals even after his Jordan days. You saying you knew who was going to come out of the West this year? You gotta be kidding me. A team with almost 50 wins didn't even make the playoffs and seeds 1 through 6 were seperated by just a few games. No way can you say that its been that close in the past few years.
Jordan didn't have to ask to be sent off, he was almost gone after a few years. He just couldn't win and the Bulls went out and got him pieces to be fit around him. It just so happened that Jordan got the perfect role players around him. He always had 2 shooters, one great rebounder, and Pippen who would shut down the other teams best player. Left Jordan to get all the hype and glory, which was well deserved. Jordan never had to say for the Bulls to go out and get people, because they always did it on their own.
Jordan All-Defensive Team
1987 1st Team, 1988 1st, 1989 1st, 1990 1st, 1991 1st, 1992 1st, NOTE: Retired 1993 to almost the end of1994-1995 season, 1995 1st, 1996 1st, 1997 1st Retired before one last nostalgic go-round
Kobe All-Defensive Team
1999 1st, 2000 2nd team, 2001 2nd team, 2002 1st, 2003 1st, 2006 1st, 2007 1st, 2008 1st
Let's also look at some of the defensive peers Kobe is associated with for example:
2005-2006
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
Ben Wallace, Detroit
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah
Ron Artest, Indiana
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Jason Kidd,
1997-1998
Scottie Pippen, Chicago TREMENDOUS D
Karl Malone, Utah LEGEND
Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta DEFENSIVE LEGEND
Gary Payton, Seattle ALL TIME DEFENSIVE GREAT AT THAT POSITION
Michael Jordan
Need more be said????
Jordan All-Defensive Team
1987 1st Team, 1988 1st, 1989 1st, 1990 1st, 1991 1st, 1992 1st, NOTE: Retired 1993 to almost the end of1994-1995 season, 1995 1st, 1996 1st, 1997 1st Retired before one last nostalgic go-round
Kobe All-Defensive Team
1999 1st, 2000 2nd team, 2001 2nd team, 2002 1st, 2003 1st, 2006 1st, 2007 1st, 2008 1st
Let's also look at some of the defensive peers Kobe is associated with for example:
2005-2006
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
Ben Wallace, Detroit
Andrei Kirilenko, Utah
Ron Artest, Indiana
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Jason Kidd,
1997-1998
Scottie Pippen, Chicago TREMENDOUS D
Karl Malone, Utah LEGEND
Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta DEFENSIVE LEGEND
Gary Payton, Seattle ALL TIME DEFENSIVE GREAT AT THAT POSITION
Michael Jordan
Need more be said????
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