MJ is the only all-time great that led team in scoring for every series of career

[oarabbus]

It's the NBA's own data.. But don't be surprised that most of Curry's 3-pointers are wide open - today's drive-and-kick offenses require 3-4 players standing behind the line on every play (spacing), so the defense is stretched out and can't make timely rotations most of the time.. Curry's 3-pointers are actually less open than the rest of the league - over 80% of the league's 3-pointers are "open" or "very open", compared to Curry's aforementioned 70%.

Ultimately, today's teams use offensive schemes that maximize 3-point looks, so players shoot 3-pointers easier than ever before - specifically, driving and kicking for 3-pointers wasn't common or the staple of ANY team's offense until about 10 years ago.. Guys like Reggie Miller and Larry Bird had to run off screens for more of their 3-point looks - they didn't get to stand there and wait for kickouts as often as today's player.

But the MAIN takeaway from this data is that 2-pointers are more CONTESTED, so eras that shot more 2-pointers produced better players - this is why Shaq was 10th in MVP voting in 1996, compared to Kyle Lowry in 2016 - can you say "watered down"??

Yes, we can certainly say "watered down". The 90s was incredibly watered down. We live in a new era with advanced offensive and defensive schemes, and a much, much larger global talent pool. 3ball with more gems, couldn't have explained it better myself how the 90s were a weaker, inferior era

[CuterThanRubio]

Here's some jumpshots that Curry can't make:











[COLOR="Red"]Ultimately, 2-pointers are more CONTESTED, so eras that shot more 2-pointers produced better players - this is why Shaq was 10th in MVP voting in 1996, compared to Kyle Lowry in 2016 - can you say "watered down"??[/COLOR]

Here are 402 jumpshots that Jordan can't make

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvN-EYgYSZI

Ultimately, 3-pointers are more EFFICIENT, so eras that shot more 2-pointers would stand no chance against teams today, because they would be outgunned with no response other than contested 2s, good luck with that!

[livingby3's]

3ball do u get taxed when insidehoops pay u?

[ninephive]

Makes Terry Cummings outscoring him in the playoffs even more impressive, IMO.

[raprap]

Curry >

[plowking]

Yeah we know. Even when he was shooting in the high 30% range, he was intent to take the most shots on the team.

[3ball]

eras that shot more 2-pointers would be outgunned by today's 3-pointers with no response other than contested 2s, good luck with that!

So today's game needs an extra point on their shots to be competitive with previous eras..

Like I said - today's era is a joke

Ultimately, 3-pointers are more EFFICIENT

Curry's 3-point efficiency is offset by lower midrange efficiency and far higher turnovers, which cause his efficiency per possession to be lower than Jordan's.

Jordan's superior efficiency is remarkable considering he carried a bigger load: Jordan produced a higher proportion of his team's points and assists with less turnovers, while also carrying a larger load on defense.

Ultimately, Jordan achieved the highest honor (winning championship and FMVP), while carrying a bigger load on both ends and having higher efficiency per possession - that covers ALL the bases.

[3ball]

Yeah we know. Even when he was shooting in the high 30% range, he was intent to take the most shots on the team.

[COLOR="Red"]Efficiency at high volume - players with 25+ FGA and 45% FG [/COLOR]


Regular Season:

Michael Jordan: 1987, 1993
Rick Barry:[COLOR="White"]......[/COLOR] 1967, 1975
Bob McAdoo:[COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR] 1975
George Gervin:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 1982
Kobe Bryant:[COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR] 2006
Elgin Baylor:[COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR] 1963
Tiny Archibald:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 1973
Dominique:[COLOR="White"]......[/COLOR] 1988


Playoffs (10 game min):

*Michael Jordan:[COLOR="White"].....[/COLOR] 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998
Elgin Baylor:[COLOR="White"]..........[/COLOR] 1960, 1961, 1968
Bob McAdoo:[COLOR="White"]..........[/COLOR] 1974, 1975
George Gervin:[COLOR="White"].......[/COLOR] 1975, 1982
Jerry West:[COLOR="White"]............[/COLOR] 1966
Rick Barry:[COLOR="White"]............[/COLOR] 1977
Hakeem Olajuwon:[COLOR="White"]..[/COLOR] 1995
Kobe Bryant:[COLOR="White"]..........[/COLOR] 2007
Dominique:[COLOR="White"]............[/COLOR] 1988
Allen Iverson:[COLOR="White"].........[/COLOR] 2005
Kareem Jabbar:[COLOR="White"]......[/COLOR] 1975


* Averaged 25.1 FGA and 48.7 FG% for his playoff career


Notice that Lebron isn't on the list because his efficiency is poor at the additional midrange and isolations required of high volume shooting - this is statistical fact.. In the 2015 Finals, Lebron's high volume could only control pace, while his poor efficiency prevented him from being devastating.. Otoh, teams couldn't afford high volume from Jordan, since it was accompanied by high efficiency too.

But the REAL holy grail of basketball skill is far greater than controlling pace with high volume like Lebron, or adding good efficiency to the high volume like MJ.. The real holy grail is good efficiency at high volume [COLOR="Navy"]while winning championships[/COLOR] because the efficient high volume must be achieved within the team concept.. Only 2 players have reached this holy grail of basketball skill (25 shot attempts on 45% during a championship playoff run): MJ did it 4 times (1992, 1993, 1997, and 1998) and Hakeem once (1995).. Ultimately, their elite midrange efficiency allowed them to shoot well at high volume.

Now lets look at Lebron - wouldn't it be nice for Lebron to score 20% more on better efficiency????... Isn't that what any fan would want of their favorite player??.. Well that's what Jordan DID (see the stats below).

If Kobe or Lebron could shoot a higher volume at the same efficiency - they would... But they can't - only Jordan is capable of maintaining the same efficiency at very high volume:


Per 100 Possessions in Playoffs:

JORDAN:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 43.3 pts.. 2.2 oreb.. 6.1 dreb.. 7.4 ast.. 4.0 tov.. 2.7 stl.. 1.1 blk.. [COLOR="green"]32.5 fga.. 48.7 fg.. 56.8 ts.. 118 ORtg[/COLOR]
LEBRON:[COLOR="White"].[/COLOR] 36.3 pts.. 2.0 oreb.. 9.4 dreb.. 8.7 ast.. 4.5 tov.. 2.3 stl.. 1.1 blk.. [COLOR="Navy"]26.8 fga.. 47.3 fg.. 56.5 ts.. 114 ORtg[/COLOR]
KOBE:[COLOR="White"].....[/COLOR] 34.7 pts.. 1.4 oreb.. 5.5 dreb.. 6.4 ast.. 4.0 tov.. 1.9 stl.. 0.9 blk.. [COLOR="Navy"]27.7 fga.. 44.8 fg.. 54.1 ts.. 110 ORtg[/COLOR]
WADE:[COLOR="White"]....[/COLOR] 32.4 pts.. 1.9 oreb.. 5.6 dreb.. 7.1 ast.. 4.8 tov.. 2.2 stl.. 1.4 blk.. [COLOR="Navy"]24.9 fga.. 47.7 fg.. 55.2 ts.. 108 ORtg[/COLOR]


Considering the #2 thru #4 guys are between 32 and 36 points, you'd think the #1 guy would be at 37 or 38... But MJ is at 43.3 points, which far above the pack and in another tier - MJ simply did more (higher volume) while still maintaining equal or better efficiency.

[Im Still Ballin]

Yep

RULE ENFORCED SPACING

Illegal Defense

[3ball]

RULE ENFORCED SPACING

Illegal Defense

The strictest rule-enforced spacing EVER occurs in today's paint - defenders must remain within armslength to remain in the paint - that's the strictest defense possible outside of having defenders stand shoulder-to-shoulder.. What a joke... ... that's why today's paint is wide open on every play - defenders aren't allowed to wait in there like previous eras.. Take this L

Also, Curry has teammates spacing the floor for him while Jordan didn't - teams only attempted 5 threes per game when Jordan won his first ring in 1991, compared to 25 attempts for today's teams.. Accordingly, his stats would explode in today's spaced-out game.

Just look at Lebron and Westbrook - Jordan has same or better athleticism, but they can't shoot, while he had goat midrange efficiency, much better than Curry's.

Essentially, MJ had Lebron/Westbrook's athleticism combined with Curry's goat shooting ability..

[LilEddyCurry]

Curry > Jordan

[3ball]

Curry > Jordan

Jordan's 1991 was on another level:

Per 100 Possessions

[COLOR="DarkRed"]JORDAN 1991 RS: 42.7 pts.. 8.1 reb..[COLOR="White"]4[/COLOR] 7.5 ast.. 3.3 tov.. 3.7 stl.. 1.4 blk.. 60.4 ts.. 125 ORtg.. 31.6 PER.. 0.321 WS/48[/COLOR]
[COLOR="Navy"]CURRY [COLOR="White"]4[/COLOR] 2016 RS: 42.5 pts.. 7.7 reb..[COLOR="White"]4[/COLOR] 9.4 ast.. 4.7 tov.. 3.0 stl.. 0.3 blk.. 66.9 ts.. 125 ORtg.. 31.5 PER.. 0.318 WS/48[/COLOR]
[COLOR="Red"]JORDAN 1991 PO: 41.8 pts.. 8.5 reb.. 11.2 ast.. 3.4 tov.. 3.2 stl.. 1.8 blk.. 60.0 ts.. 127 ORtg.. 32.0 PER.. 0.333 WS/48[/COLOR]

Jordan had higher points-per-possessions (ORtg) and Player Efficiency Rating, even though Curry's efficiency was boosted by carrying a smaller load: Jordan produced a higher proportion of his team's points and assists with less turnovers, while also carrying a larger load on defense.

Ultimately, Jordan achieved the highest honor (winning championship and FMVP), while carrying a bigger load on both ends with higher efficiency per possession - that covers all the bases.

Curry > Jordan

Curry has teammates spreading the floor for him and Jordan didn't - teams only attempted 5 threes per game when Jordan won his first ring in 1991, compared to 25 attempts per game for today's teams.. Accordingly, his stats would explode in today's spaced-out game.

Just look at Lebron and Westbrook - Jordan has same or better athleticism, but they can't shoot, while he had goat midrange efficiency, much better than Curry's.

Essentially, MJ had Lebron/Westbrook's athleticism combined with Curry's goat shooting ability..

[OldSchoolBBall]

Yeah we know. Even when he was shooting in the high 30% range, he was intent to take the most shots on the team.

There is only ONE playoff series in Jordan's career where he shot below 40% FG and his second option (Pippen) and his team excluding himself were more efficient than he was. One series (1993 vs. NY). Every other series where MJ shot poorly, he was still equally or more efficient than Pippen and the rest of the Bulls minus Jordan, despite seeing way more defensive attention than them.

One series. Try again.

[G0ATbe]

Weak ass era. Prime Kobe would be doing the same things Jordan did back then, with a far less stacked team.

[Dr Hawk]

3ball