Why do people automatically assume that the Heat are a soft team? LeBron and Wade are no pushovers. Bosh might get destroyed in the post but you could counter that by putting a heavy hitter like the Birdman or Haslem next to him.
Since when are Birdman (6'10/230) and Haslem (6'8/230 lbs) heavy hitters? The Heat aren't really a soft team, but they're a small team, and when you consider the physicality allowed in the 90's, that puts them at a disadvantage. They simply don't have the personnel to compete against front lines like Shaq/Grant or Ewing/Oakley. Why do you think that the Heat would beat any of the teams I mentioned? Keep in mind that even if Lebron can get to the basket, it would be protected by Shaq/Ewing/Olajuwon or a front line of Duckworth/Kersey/Buck Williams.
I'm curious why there are no great centers anymore. I know about rule changes. But its been almost 20 years since hakeems's prime and really only Shaw was great after that its all injuries or players like Howard that hurt you on the offensive end. I winder what hakkem would average today in his prime.
I don't want to get too much into it but I had a theory a while back that Jordan was supremely great since he was a 2 guard playing at a high level in a center ruled era. My theory pretty much concluded that the same effect would happen if a truly dominant offensive center played in today's era, where as a guard today would have much more problems.
I say they stand no chance v. the great teams of the 90s... handchecking would make it so much harder for the Heat.
Idk... Hard to compare! Not many teams have won 66 games, plus I think the league is overall deeper than it was then. But still, it's really hard to compare. I agree with the idea that they would struggle against teams with dominant big men. But then again who would have been able to guard Lebron? Theres nobody that could've then and nobody can now. I will say, I think this Miami team is the best team since those early 2000 laker teams.
In all honesty, it would take a truly great team, like the Bulls, Rockets, or Supersonics to beat a team, like the Heat. I know people do not like Miami all that much or do not fancy LeBron James, while often clinging to the belief that today's game is watered down. Most teams in the 90s with or without a great center would be thoroughly overmatched against Miami for a few reasons. You are only talking about a handful of teams that had great centers or front lines. The best team of the 90s had no great center to speak of it, I would even use the word mediocre. Outside of Chicago, Utah, Seattle, and Phoenix all seemed to have great regular season and playoff success without a good to great center on their rosters. Houston and San Antonio fought tooth and nails against those teams, and did not always come out on the top. There's alot strategies and matchup-selections involved. As much as Houston, New York, and San Antonio offer at center, they dropped off a bit in the back-court. They'd be quite overmatched against a team, like the Heat, OKC, Kobe's Lakers, and a few other teams. Center is really the only Achilles heel, that the Heat may have, while their bench is very much comparable to a 90s team. Decent, but not overwhelming or starting lineup for a bad NBA team. I'm sorry to say, but as good as some of those teams with great centers were, they did not shut down the entire offensive game plan of other teams (could make it more difficult), but at the end of the day, if the other side has superior players and team play that team will win. I used to think centers were the end to be all to a team being better, which isn't necessarily the case when the other team simply has superior talent. Houston should know better than anyone, having Yao, Olajuwon, and Moses. Houston has been eliminated by teams over the years who weren't exactly imposing at center. LeBron, himself, with or without handchecking would be a nightmare to guard for anyone. You honestly cannot compare the defenders who had success against MJ, against how well they'd do against LeBron who is practically a power forward with point guard skills and shooting guard scoring ability. Wade maybe the more accurate comparison. People keep forgetting that their were no players, like LeBron before this decade. Except maybe Magic, who didn't possess that other worldly athleticism. There's only few teams that would have success against him, and it would be mild. Also, you have to consider that Miami would have the same rules at their disposal as well. So it works both ways. You have to remember the players are little smaller and not quite as lengthy and fast as players, today. MJ was kind of the exception, and look at how far ahead he was of his peer shooting guards physically. Some are also forgetting that the Heat also have two other superstars, not all-stars, but players who are or have been elite players at their positions. Miami has 3 "elite" scorers on their teams, the only other teams, since the early 90s that had such dynamic were only handful. When I used the word elite scorers, I mean at least 23 ppg or more, regularly and would be most teams top scorer. All three players are also versatile on offense and can play top notch defense. It hurts, but there were no teams, like that in 90s. If your third best and kind of forgotten player is Chris Bosh, your team is pretty awesome. I have to go back to 80s to find a team that has a comparable 3rd best player. Outside of Olajuwon, Houston would be a bit overmatched against Miami, same for New York. Starks, Harper, Rivers, and Smith against LeBron, Wade, Miller, and Chalmers. The only way that works out is if it the physical fouls and calls go mostly against Miami.
Ring or no ring, one is enough imo. When this team was constructed, it was ring or bust, and they got it. At no point in the history of sports, have 3 in their prime All-Star players agree to play together. 2 potential HOF'rs. This is why i hated this team coming together. We all knew it would be easy for them to reach the finals, especially in the East. And look at it now. 3 straight finals appearances. And I may be counting chickens if LeBron suffers an injury, but still. It just comes as no surprise to me, since this is what we all expected. Just a sheer dominance of the league.
Haha this a joke right? :grin: Becuz Jordan WAS playin in 95, and what you said above is exactly wat happened
IT doesn't even matter if the player is good or not. Getting the ball to post players is a lot harder now because defense is so much more of a team concept. Like, when the Knicks tried to get the ball to Melo in their first round series against the Heat last year. Lebron was able to deny deny deny. If you allow this Heat team with their defensive concepts to play in the 90s with hand checking... It's gonna be very rough for opposing guards and teams as well.
It would be very tough for this Heat team to go against any of the great 90's teams because back then teams where more disaplined and played much better in the halfcourt. When Miami can't run they suffer. And the great teams form the 90's won't let Miami run. Another aspect of the 90's teams is the great size they had in the post. That would make life much more difficult for the Heat as well.
No, it's not. Aside from Yao, when have you EVER seen a good post player denied the ball? Last year, Lebron was an elite defender. If you're using him to prove your argument, then it's not a good argument.
The league is definitely not deeper now than it was in the 90s. A lot of the good 90s teams were constructed before the league expanded. Before 88 there were only 23 teams which means every team got to pick 7 picks higher than they do right now. The Rockets would/could have ended up with players like Monroe/Kemba/Drummond instead of Patterson/Morris/Lamb.
Carmelo Anthony. Roy Hibbert. Al Jefferson. All were denied the ball in the post. Doubles against good post players are much stronger now. We're using the Heat against a 90s team, that's why I'm using Lebron. The Heat have the speed to front, double hte post and then recover. Defenses are way more advanced now. If you give the Heat hand checking, they will be monsters on defense. Every pick and roll will be trapped hard.
Pippen is the greatest defensive wing of all-time. Don't underestimate what he could do to hinder Lebron. Remember the fits the Artest/Batter duo used to give a younger, Cleveland Lebron? Pippen might be able to do much of the same. It'd be tough though. Y'all ever read X-Men? Yeah, didn't think so... there is a villain called Shadow King - he'd get into your head, meet you in the "Astral Plane" and destroy your mind. Weak minded individuals stood no chance. In this matchup Rodman would play the role of the Shadow King. Chris Bosh has no chance. He's never seen a player like Rodman. 14 and 6.5 on 41% from the field - that'd be Bosh's line. Jordan vs Wade. Ughf. Wade would get torched. Question his manhood and ability to play the game. Might retire after the game. Depending on which Bulls team their facing, for me its the 96 Bulls, the impact of a long, sharp-shooting Kukoc and the underrated Brian Williams/Bison Dele would be too much. If they just started Dele I think he'd outperform Bosh in the series offensively. Bulls in 5 or 6. Heat would be in a state of perpetual shock, need at least 2-3 games to catch their breath. These players have never encountered anything like the 90's Bulls. Heat could win in a re-match though, if the rules are modern day. Retro rules - no chance. Bulls are too gritty. You cant teach toughness in a short window, it's something you grow up with.
lebron with handchecking would shut down pippen. lebron is already a beast defender without handchecking, with it he would be just as good as pippen
