Old School Vs New School
But you do need more than one good player to win a title. Look at the Celtics of the past and present. They both had a big 3. The Bird era saw Bird, McHale, and Parrish. The current Celtics have Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. The Lakers had Cooper, Kareem, and Magic...today we have Kobe, Pau, and Odom (yes I am ranking Odom better than Bynum on the Laker scale.)
But as far as a matchup of Old vs New, Old would win hands down IMO because of the statement you said that the older players ha a better grip on the Fundamentals of basketball. The basics of basketball, or any sport for that matter is the basics of winning a game.
Its Seems like Old school players use to stick to their roles......For example a point guard would always pass, like create for their teammates........these days it seems like everyone is a scorer, people for got the art of passing.....thats why we never really seem no great passes...man we see more dunks and crosses then passes, i think when players like nash and kidd retire .....the art of creative passing will be gone.....
I'll break it down matchup for match up.
Center- O'Neal vs Chamberlain
I'll say that its Chamberlain that gets the advantage here. Not because of his gaudy stats or anything like that. Chamberlain has more so of a grip of a fundamental post game than Shaq does. Shaq relies a little bit more on power, but so did Wilt. Shaq isn't going to push around Chamberlain, but on the flipside, neither will Wilt push around Shaq. And I think that Shaq is more powerful than Wilt.
Advantage- Old School
Power Forward. Duncan vs Bird.
Ok, I think that the New School gets this one. Bird was a good defender, but never a great one. (He was never quick enough to guard elusive forwards, why do you think they put Cedrick Maxwell on the star player at times?) Duncan would destroy Bird in the post, and Bird would kill Duncan on the perimeter. Simple as that. Bird is the better all around player, but this is a match up were talking and he would have to guard Duncan.
Advantage- New School
Small Forward Erving vs James
I'll give this one to the New school as well. I think that James, is way too powerful for Julius Erving. I think that would constantly take him to the hole. Not saying that he is completely dominant, but Erving is too small for James. But I will say this, Erving is the more crafty of the two as a scorer.
Advantage- New School
Shooting Guard Jordan vs Bryant.
Its a toss up, but I'll say Jordan because I don't think anyone in pro sports, let alone basketball, had the killer instinct that Jordan had. Jordan was out, every night to prove that he was the best player of all time. Kobe is compared to Jordan because he does the same thing. But I don't think that anyone was ever as intense as Michael Jordan, on both sides of the ball. Jordan is the more physical of the two as well.
Advantage- Old School
Point Guard- Wade vs Magic
OK, Magic is not going to be able to defend against Dwayne Wade, he isn't fast enough. But Johnson in his prime is a much better point guard. Than anyone in today's era. He is a more complete player than most PG's were anyway. He played all 5 positions. So out of sheer versatility, Magic gets my vote.
Advantage- Old School.
Old School 3, New School 2.
Seriously, do you want A.I. on your team? I mean he's killed enough teams and you would try to put him on a team with Kobe and Shaq who are going to demand the ball?
The old school team would destroy the new school team. I'm assuming that we are looking at this as everyone in their prime, including Shaq. The old school team has way more skill and are led by possibly the greatest big man ever in Wilt and the greatest player in Jordan. Jordan was a monster playing beside guys like Kerr, Paxson, and Armstrong. You really don't want to give him Magic. Not only do you have great individual defenders but team defenders as well. By the way, considering that Magic played the majority of his minutes at point guard, he was probably spending a lot of time guarding quicker players. If you're a smart player, which he was, you negate that with length, especially when you're going to be between 5 - 9 inches taller than the other guy.
if you are going top 5 against too five then you would have to give the egde to the new school because every one of those players is smart basketball wise to some degree. Tim Duncan and Kobe are both students of the game. Also the top 5 best players that you have there would not be a perfect fit and if we are doing players in their prime then you have to take Wade out and put Kidd. Wade is a 2 guard who can pass but if you are building a team, you may want to throw Kidd out there and then you dont have to rely on Lebron making plays for other people he could play off Kidd as would Kobe. Duncan is a solid post player with a nice mid range and that would go well with Shaq a power player who can pass. Sorry Howard is nice but he is not the passer Shaq is. The New school would win but the Old school would be the better team. The New school is so much more physically better than the old school remember backin the day they did not really lift weights much.
Every team needs Role Players.
Could any team beat this 90's dream team?
John Stockton
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Karl Malone
Hakeem Olajuwon
Or maybe even this one?
Isiah Thomas
Reggie Miller
Dennis Rodman (Yes he used to play small forward.)
Charles Barkley
David Robinson
u are a dumba$$ if u think dwight should be in front of shaq!! shaq is arguably the best center of all time. hm and wilt are very close. shaq has dominated every year he's been in the league and been healthy. even when dwight hits his peak i dont think any of his accomplishments will ever compare
Instead of Duncan i would put Kevin Garnett at Pf, he was just as good as duncan in his prime and would be a better match up against Bird, hed be able to guard bird out to the perimeter becuz he has better lateral quickness then duncan and hed also beable to hold his own in the post and would have shaq to back him up incase, then on offense Kg would have an advantage everywhere on Bird, and seriously the new team would win LBJ would kill Dr.j it wouldnt even be close
Larry Bird was no doubt a great player, but if you were going to find an old school player to match up against Tim Duncan, you would have to pick Karl Malone in my book, he is a taller more traditional power forward and a better matchup to combat Duncan. Bird would stretch Duncan out on defense, but would be at a disadvantage on the block against Tim. Malone, Elgin Baylor, or Moses Malone would be a better matchup at PF
Any way you want to look at it, the game evolves. Wilt would'nt be nearly the same player against a prime Shaq. Magic and Bird could'nt gaurd anybody then let alone now when the game is more athletic. Dr J could'nt dribble or shoot as well as players now, and his athleticism would be nothing special in today's game. Jordan's the only guy who could consistently outplay today's players, and he alone does'nt beat a prime Kobe, Lebron, Duncan, Shaq and Wade. Plain and simple, the game evolves. Defense and being complete ball players is higher then it was in the 70's and 80's.
I would take the old school in their prime over the new school. Not only were they better playing as a team, but they were better all around players. The players today probably are more talented than the players in the early eighties and before. However, I disagree with the argument that the players today are more talented than the players in the late eighties and early nineties. Sure, Magic and Bird were not great athletes, but there were other very athletic players with high basketball skills during their time. Dominique, Pippen, Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Kevin Johnson, David Robinson were very athletic and talented. Isiah Thomas was quick as hell plus he was a great shooter. John Stockton was underrated as an athlete. He was very quick and very strong, not too mention he was a great defender and shooter. Charles Barkely was also very talented in his prime. Jordan was the greatest athlete to ever play basketball.
Everyone on the current team can gaurd their man straight up. Sure, the past players will still get their's because they are great, but no one would have to be double teamed or would cause serious matchup problems on the old school team. With the new school, please don't tell me you think Magic could gaurd Wade or DR J could gaurd Lebron or Bird could gaurd Duncan or Wilt could gaurd Shaq. Jordan is the only elite defensive player on that old school team. The new school guys would be getting whatever they want on offense.
Old School vs New School
PG- Magic Johnson - PG- Dwayne Wade
adv. New
Wade would easily create and break down the D the entire game. Magic would lack the required foot speed to keep up with and hold him in check.
SG- Michael Jordan - SG- Kobe Bryant
Draw
This is one matchup I could watch for ages. The two most competitive players going at. (as many of you know I would take Kobe, but I'll give you guys historic measures, so we'll call it a draw)
SF- Dr.J - SF- Lebron James
adv. NEW
Mismatch heaven here, LeBron is a more polished and more athletic Dr. J. (really Bird should go here, because he was the GOAT at the three)
PF- Larry Bird - PF- Tim Duncan
adv. New
I love Larry Legend and his fire (more of the eighties players had this, so I do love that about old school ball) but Duncan would dominate in the post.
C- Wilt Chamberlain - C- Shaq
adv. New
Shaq would prolly crush Wilt, the man who played against guys who 4-6 shorter than him and less athletic. Give me a break, Shaq (as much as I don't like him) would destroy him in this matchup.
So I have 4 new and 1 draw. I am not one bit hating on the old school era, they just don't stack up well to todays greats (to strong, fast, & skilled).
iguodala, the thing is the players in their prime. Shaq in his prime was more dominate than dwight is now. come on, no one could stop the shaq attack!
i think the old school would win because of their fundamentals. the new school will be more athletic, but the old school would be too good of a team for the new school
I don't like Erving at the 3 and Bird at the 4. Here's how I'd match them up:
Magic vs Wade - Though Magic has the size advantage and would punish Wade on the block, this would be a tough matchup for him defensively against the athleticism, speed and quickness of Wade. Wade would be able to get into the lane whenever he wanted. However, Wade is not a point guard... He's a scorer. He'd get his points, but wouldn't get his teammates involved like Magic would. IMO edge goes to Magic due to him understanding his role to get everyone else involved.
Jordan vs Kobe - This would be the most entertaining matchup. As great as Kobe is, he'd be no match for Jordan in his prime. Jordan was even more competitive than Kobe, a better defender and more explosive. He'd turn Kobe into a high volume shooter, while he'd get whatever he wanted against Kobe, especially on the block. Kobe would score 30, but it'd take him 30 attempts. The prime Jordan was also more successful at making his teammates better than Kobe. Edge goes to Jordan.
Bird vs James - James has the advantage in every physical attribute, BUT NOT THE MIND. Larry is more competive, has more heart, a higher IQ and is just as good as a rebounder/passer. James would completely dominate due to his obvious advantages, but he wouldn't stop Larry from doing what made him great. Edege goes to LeBron.
Malone vs Duncan - The most boring matchup. Malone had a great career, but Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time. Edge goes to Duncan, though Malone would compete.
Kareem vs Shaq - I don't think there's a center in the history of the NBA that can matchup w/ Shaq in his prime. Shaq was just too dominant. Shaq has never been a great defender though, so I think Kareem would have some success against him on offense. I also think Shaq would be a liability on defense against the pick and role. However, edge goes to Shaq.
The new school team would have the athletic and physical advantages, but how great would their chemistry be? The old school would have more chemistry, fundamentals and be more competitive IMO. Out of 10 games, I say the old school wins at least 6 of them.
Well put, but I think the mismatches the new school would have with Lebron over Bird and a prime Shaq over Kareem would be too great. I love Bird, but Lebron would toy with him on every single possesion. There would just be too many mismatches for the old school to handle. As for Jordan Kobe, that would be the best matchup and I don't think Jordan's advantage is as great as you suggest. Kobe would probably do like he did in the Olympics and just focus on the challenge of stopping Jordan while deffering offense to the other guys. I watched ball in the 80's, and I respect those dudes, but plain and simple the game has evolved and I think the new school win everytime.
People always indirectly say that the modern era of basketball has way more talented players then old school players, but old school players were the best fundamental players......so i thought who do you think will win a match if all these players were at their prime
Old School
PG- Magic Johnson
SG- Michael Jordan
SF- Dr.J
PF- Larry Bird
C- Wilt Chamberlain
New School
PG- Dwayne Wade
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Lebron James
PF- Tim Duncan
C- Shaq
remember than some players on the new school haven't even reech their prime and are improving year end year out, so the sky is not close for them....And Remember that the old days they won by actually playing like a team, so they are better team players but the new school day it is shown that you don't really need more then 1 good player to make the play-offs, So talent is really shown in the new school players