Rasheed: “MJ wasn’t that good of a defender”

[HabitualChiller]

I personally don't even know where MJ can be shown to be a great defender outside of his DPOY season because he always was attached to the opposing teams tertiary scoring option once Pippen came into his prime.

And if it wasn't Pippen, it was Ron Harper or BJ Armstrong or someone like that.

 

[Trojan 24]

I understand Rasheed's point. Putting MJ in 10 1st team all defensive teams was ludicrous

Similar to Kobe being put on All defensive teams. It was more of a marketing thing with the NBA

P Jax said Kobe was the best single possession perimeter defender in the league

 

[HabitualChiller]

Especially in this era. Coaches would love if their stars played like MJ on d.

No the fukk they wouldn't.

nikkas would be gambling for steals and fukking around leaving shooters open all game and shyt

 

[inndaskKy]

Arguably the best defensive 2-guard ever. Sheed don't know what he's talkin about.

I dunno, I mean James Harden had 4 blocks last night compared to Holmgren and Wemby's 5. Maybe we need to have that conversation now.

 

[Luke Cage]

No the fukk they wouldn't.

nikkas would be gambling for steals and fukking around leaving shooters open all game and shyt

Thats how iverson played D, not jordan.

 

[UpNext]

He gambled a lot and wasn't Bruce Bowen on man to man but he was still above average on man to man defense and great off the ball. Played the passing lanes very well, was great at switching, excellent help defender him and Scottie both could just pressure the shyt out teams with their off ball movement/chemistry and he could give you rim protection from the perimeter with his explosiveness.


I don't understand this take. Few had the physical tools to do what Mike could off the ball.

 

[RennisDeynolds]

These washed up oldheads come on the internet and talk greasy. I prefer when they used to get drunk and talk crazy in their basement or a bar



Sheed super dusty, breh always look like he just knocked off a warehouse shift in the clips

 

[Shadow King]

This was discussed by an unbiased source already.

I want to see all of you discredit Sheed now especially since y'all swear he was a monster himself.

 

[Shadow King]

He gambled a lot and wasn't Bruce Bowen on man to man but he was still above average on man to man defense and great off the ball. Played the passing lanes very well, was great at switching and could give you rim protection from the perimeter with his explosiveness.


I don't understand this take. Few had the physical tools to do what Mike could off the ball.

The problem is Mike has that Bruce Bowen reputation though. Everything you said is correct but that's not the common narrative.

 

[UpNext]

The problem is Mike has that Bruce Bowen reputation though. Everything you said is correct but that's not the common narrative.

I agree he wasn't Bruce Bowen in pure man to man defense, but when it came to off ball, switching, help on the double, closeouts, etc he was more impactful than Bruce was because he had that 48 inch vert, elite footwork and elite lane agility.


I think his defense is underrated because of the focus on one on one man defense, if anything. You still gotta help and play defense when the ball isn't in front of you.

 

[Shadow King]

I agree he wasn't Bruce Bowen in pure man to man defense, but when it came to off ball, switching, help on the double, closeouts, etc he was more impactful than Bruce was because he had that 48 inch very and elite lane agility.

So physical gifts allowing him to take gambles others couldn't. Especially unique in the 80s and even 90s.

You agree he's not Bruce Bowen. Many do not.

 

[UpNext]

So physical gifts allowing him to take gambles others couldn't. Especially unique in the 80s and even 90s.

You agree he's not Bruce Bowen. Many do not.

Yeah physical gifts are important. You can't punish him for having them and knowing how to effectively use them. How many guards you seen average 1.5 blocks in a season? Just the one with the 48 and 4.3 running speed with world class balance.

 

[Shadow King]

Yeah physical gifts are important. You can't punish him for having them and knowing how to effectively use them

In a discussion across eras? You kinda can...

 

[UpNext]

In a discussion across eras? You kinda can...

Mike's physical tools are unique in this era and would work more in his favor since this era favors the ability to switch and help off your man while his iso ball era was more man to man (which I'll agree wasn't his strength) oriented.


Having a guard that can protect the rim has more value in today's game where your bigs are pulled to the perimeter than his era.

 

[Luke Cage]

Just for comparison this is how modern nba all stars play d