Celts/Heat Dame 7

[tzznandrew]

On someone’s comment about West guarding Jordan, West was a better defended than many realize but yes, he would have had quite a bit of trouble if that were the matchup. Jordan (unless the refs gave him ridiculous leeway, which they did quite often) would have had quite a bit of trouble guarding West. That would not be that matchup however as Oscar would have gone against Jordan (and eaten him for lunch). Oscar was almost as tall, faster, much stronger, a better ball handler, passer, shooter from any distance and a better defender. This also would likely be the closest matchup (in favor of the 92 team) on the floor (Magic-West would be an interesting one but he couldn’t score the way West could.

As for Oscar Robertson (who I think was a great player, and one of the best ever), I'd like to challenge some of your points.

On shooting:

Arranging their shooting % from highest to lowest:
53.9% (MJ [1])
53.8% (MJ [2])
53.5% (MJ [3])
52.6% (MJ [4])
51.9% (MJ [5])
51.8% (OR [1])
51.5% (MJ [6])
51.1% (OR [2])
50.0% (OR [3])
49.6% (OR [4])
49.5% (MJ [7])
49.5% (MJ [8])
49.3% (OR [5])
48.6% (MJ [9] and OR [6])

I think that would suffice, as well as career percentages: Robertson - 48.5%, Jordan - 49.7%

I think that your suggestion that he was a better shooter from the field may not be accurate, as some of the Jordan stats are after "Air Jordan."

It's difficult to do much else because a number of stats (TOs, steals, blocks) weren't taken. It's makes it difficult to argue about who was the better ball handler, or defender, or what-have-you. Although, there was an NBA All-Defensive Team started in 68-69 (Robertson averaged 24 ppg, 9.8 apg, 6.4 rpg), and he never made either first or second team even once. Contrast that with Jordan who not only made a ton of them, but won DPOY. You may try to argue that the voters were biased, but he did lead the league in steals that year, and two others.

Do we go Win Shares, then, which takes into account how they played against their own competition?

MJ led the league in that 9 times, and was second twice. Robertson led it once, and was second 4 times.

In order of Win Shares:

21.2 (MJ [1])
20.6 (OR [1])
20.4 (MJ [2])
20.3 (MJ [3])
19.8 (MJ [4])
19.0 (MJ [5])
18.3 (MJ [6])
17.7 (MJ [7])
17.4 (OR [2])
17.2 (MJ [8])
17.0 (OR [3])
16.9 (OR [4] and MJ [9])
16.8 (OR [5])
15.8 (MJ [10])
15.6 (OR [6])

Etc.

Sometimes it's easy to glorify players who played in the past--especially when they are among the greatest ever. But I don't think there's a statistical measure that we can use to put Robertson ahead of Jordan. And it's not like enough game footage exists that would allow us to "use our eyes." I think that the stats suggest that, at his best (the first 5 years or so) Robertson was comparable (but not equal even over that timeframe) to Jordan, but Jordan just played at a higher level much longer.