George Mason vs K State

[VromanFan]

Yea... take twice as many shots as anybody else on the floor. Give me the ball and let me do whatever I can... I will pass it out if I can't handle 1 on 5 this time.

And kids grew up watching how a 1 man show was what the NBA and all their fans/sponsors wanted. And so today, we have a lot of 'all about me' individual players wanting to take on 5 to do whatever they can to win the game.

But really... we all know it it was MJ's shorts.

Well MJ was different in that MJ was the best there ever was....or at the very least the very best of his generation....he had the ability to single-handedly win games by taking them over....if younger players try to emulate this they will fail unless they are as good as Jordan (don't hold your breath).

But lets not forget that Jordan didn't win any titles until a credible supporting cast was built around him. Although blasted at the time the Oakley for Cartwright trade was huge in establishing an inside presence and of course the maturation of Pippen and Grant. MJ did not win those titles as a one man show....it was a good (not outstanding) team surrounding him.

And I haven't seen Mayo play yet but if he defense is as bad as described you can end the Jordan allusion right there....MJ was a fantastic defensive player...

[Lakeview Brave]

Yea... take twice as many shots as anybody else on the floor. Give me the ball and let me do whatever I can... I will pass it out if I can't handle 1 on 5 this time.

And kids grew up watching how a 1 man show was what the NBA and all their fans/sponsors wanted. And so today, we have a lot of 'all about me' individual players wanting to take on 5 to do whatever they can to win the game.

But really... we all know it it was MJ's shorts.

The And1 games on ESPN are a much bigger part of the problem then the greatest player in NBA history. If these me first players worked as hard as MJ and played D like him they would be great but they only want to score like him and thats why they come up short.

[VromanFan]

The And1 games on ESPN are a much bigger part of the problem then the greatest player in NBA history. If these me first players worked as hard as MJ and played D like him they would be great but they only want to score like him and thats why they come up short.

Also don't forget all the terrible coaching out there at the high school and AAU levels that don't preach defense and fundamentals....skills that Jordan certainly possessed in addition to his amazing offensive abilities.

[MacabreMob]

You Jordan-ites give me a big 'ole belly laugh.



Thanks.

[Lakeview Brave]

Regardless of what you think of him as a person, you cant really argue how good of a basketball player he was.

[BradleyBrave]

Is the 'And 1' and 'Me First' generation a product of growing up watching MJ for the Bulls in the NBA?

No. Like Lakeview and several others said, MJ did whatever it took to win. Perhaps early on in his NBA career he looked like a me-first player, but in his college days he was a 'system' player at UNC (MJ has said as much in interviews, and has always talked highly of the Dean Smith 'system', which was designed for no one to average more than 15 ppg or so). As MJ matured in the NBA and the Bulls acquired more capable role players, MJ began trusting them and relying on them. Case in point - Jordan deferring to John Paxson in Game 5 in '91, John Paxson taking the game winning shot in '93 (Jordan was decoy), and Steve Kerr winning a game in the Finals in '97 (Jordan dished from a double-team).

Also, as others have said, Michael Jordan was as fundamentally sound as anyone in the league. He was a tireless worker in practice (did you hear that Allen Iverson?) and the offseason, and continued to develop his game from the second he came to UNC until he retired from the Wizards. He couldn't shoot outside of 15 feet when he was drafted, and was a very good 3-point shooter by the time he retired. His defensive desire and ability remain unmatched today. Jordan was an all-league defensive player
nearly every year of his career, and even won a Defensive POY award. The 'And 1' generation doesn't know what defense means.

If anyone from the Jordan era would be to blame for the degredation of team basketball and the elevation of the 'And 1' style, I think it would be Nike and the NBA. Nike made 'Air' Jordan and glorified dunking above all other aspects of the game. The NBA has their rules designed to highlight the player and not the team, and markets individual stars rather than teams. IMO Allen Iverson would be the poster child of this generation, not Michael Jordan.

[Beninator]

Is the 'And 1' and 'Me First' generation a product of growing up watching MJ for the Bulls in the NBA?

Mob, I see where you are coming from as I have never been a Jordan fan either... I mean we are talking about a guy (Jordan) who lifted weights separately from his teammates because he (Jordan) was afraid someone could lift more weight than him.

[jasonpeoria911]

As far as the me first attitude, I believe it stems from a majority of these ball hogs come from rough neighborhoods where they are accustomed to playing street ball. Not to mention that most of them kids want to make it big as it's there only chance to make it out of the hood. As for the NBA, you have to play good to make the money, if your stats are just "average" by playing real team ball, then you won't be getting the huge dollar contracts. It's all a business now.

Jason

[SFP]

Dominique Wilkins was the first, me first, player!

Jordan always played solid D and no one worked out harder then him during the off season. His stats are pretty **************** solid and he always made all D team. Any player that works that hard should be taking the shots especially if he makes them or goes to the line and then makes them. I'm not a Bulls fan but Jordan was special.

In the NBA, right now, it's the team concept that is winning. Look at San Antonio! Don't tell me the Bulls didn't play a team concept game. The triangle is a team concept.

[tornado]

What gives...anyone know...?
Kansas State barely beats UCF 73-71, and Bill Walker did not play!
Beasley as usual had 30 points

[SFP]

What gives...anyone know...?
Kansas State barely beats UCF 73-71, and Bill Walker did not play!
Beasley as usual had 30 points

How many rebounds? Could he be the next Carmelo? KSU's problem is that they have no outside shooters.

[amckillip]

Yea... take twice as many shots as anybody else on the floor. Give me the ball and let me do whatever I can... I will pass it out if I can't handle 1 on 5 this time.

And kids grew up watching how a 1 man show was what the NBA and all their fans/sponsors wanted. And so today, we have a lot of 'all about me' individual players wanting to take on 5 to do whatever they can to win the game.

But really... we all know it it was MJ's shorts.

You have got to be kidding me, MJ was just me first? He won, no excuses, no questions, when he was on the court he was gonna win. I suppose you could not like that, but give the man credit. He led his team to victory, what more can you ask?