Would Kareem had won all those chips in place of MJ?

[iamgine]

If you replace MJ with Kareem, do you think he'll win less or more championships? Lets say everything was the same except replace Bulls' C with the same caliber SG for that season.

[Mr Feeny]

Given that Kareem needed Magic to carry him to multiple rings and had a 4 point game 7 performance in one of those title rings, I'd say not a chance.

Jordan and Lebron are simply better.

[SATAN]

Imagine Jordan trying to hurt Kareem's fingers and punching him in the face

Jordan would have left the league sooner if Bruce Lee's friend Kareem played for Chicago.

[Roundball_Rock]

They would win more. KAJ would not retire multiple times and was durable. Remember, KAJ was a MVP and all-NBA caliber player as late as his 17th season. So if the Bulls draft KAJ in 1985 they get dominant play through 2002 and then get an 18th legitimate all-star season in 2003. KAJ also was easier to build around. It would not take 4 years to get above .500 with Kareem or six years to get more than 50 wins.

With MJ you get 0/0/0 in 94', 99', 00', 01' and a combined 34 games in 86' and 95'.

[Mr Feeny]

Cute. But nah. Given that Kareem only has 2 as lead dog and that was with better number 2 options than Pippen, he would have zero wings in that situation.

Jordan had 6.
Lebron already has 3 with worse situations than what Kareem had.

Imagine lebron getting carried to rings.

[HoopsNY]

Cute. But nah. Given that Kareem only has 2 as lead dog and that was with better number 2 options than Pippen, he would have zero wings in that situation.

Jordan had 6.
Lebron already has 3 with worse situations than what Kareem had.

Imagine lebron getting carried to rings.

Both you and Roundball are right. I think you have a solid point that anyone can see that Kareem would have needed a great assist man and GOAT level players to win. But Roundball makes a good point in that Kareem was durable and could play longer than MJ. It's tough but I don't think he wins 6 - especially with Hakeem, Shaq, and Duncan in the league.

[OrlandoMagicGuy]

He'd win less championships,there's only 1 Michael Jordan.

[DoctorP]

no. Centers are shitty closers by design.

[Roundball_Rock]

no. Centers are shitty closers by design.

Kareem, with the most unstoppable shot in NBA history, couldn't close? Who did the Bucks and Lakers always turn to when they needed a basket?

[DoctorP]

Kareem, with the most unstoppable shot in NBA history, couldn't close? Who did the Bucks and Lakers always turn to when they needed a basket?

I didn't say he couldn't close but the Center position is not optimal because defenses can clog the paint. Shaq was a terrible closer even though he was completely dominant.

A midrange game is optimal to open up the inside using spacing.

[Roundball_Rock]

We are talking KAJ, though, the GOAT. Kareem could shoot free throws so he wasn't a liability late in games like Shaq and Wilt were at times so his teams could turn to him. Kareem's sky hook was accurate from around 16 feet away so he didn't have the short range many other centers did.

The Celtics (with 4 HOF players) doubled and tripled him every time he touched the ball in a Game 7 and he still posted 26/13. You couldn't stop prime Kareem.

[DoctorP]

We are talking KAJ, though, the GOAT. Kareem could shoot free throws so he wasn't a liability late in games like Shaq and Wilt were at times. Kareem's sky hook was accurate from around 16 feet away so he didn't have the short range many other centers did.

This is true but who would close the Laker games, was it KAJ or Magic?

Defenses can cheat on post ups.

[RogueBorg]

Centers, for the most part, cannot dribble to an open space to get their shot. They need a wing player to get them the ball where they'll take that shot. If you think about Kahwi in last year's playoff versus Philly where he caught, dribbled to the corner and shot the game winner. Centers can't do that.

[tpols]

No chance.

[Roundball_Rock]

How many championships have been won with teams whose best player was a center? How many by teams whose best player was a shooting guard? This isn't even close.

The focus has been on offense but the other side of the court is on defense a dominant center is going to have more impact on the game than a dominant shooting guard.

Offensively, a guard has to get close to the basket to get a high percentage shot. A center is already there. Mid-range is an option for a guard but those aren't great percentage shots. People also assume MJ had the ball parachuted into his hands. He had to get the ball passed to him too.

This is true but who would close the Laker games, was it KAJ or Magic?

For a basket it would be KAJ until he got really old. Kareem's sky hook is the easiest 2 points in history.