I'm making the opposite point. Jordan, Bird, Magic
by 84david (2020-05-14 14:15:57)

In reply to: Team Defense is so much better now, though  posted by HScorpio

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at al of the 80's might be 40 pts a game in today's game.

I just don't think it's likely - Harden averaged 36 last yr
by HScorpio  (2020-05-14 17:02:23)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

and that was an anomaly of late - you'd have to go back to Kobe in 2005 for the last person to be over 35, and before that it was MJ in 86. I am not saying Harden is as good as any of those guys, and I personally hate his game, but the dude has maximized the ability to play within today's rules to increase his scoring. 3s and FTs. Averaging 40 in the modern game would be insane. The amount of traps and rotations has largely taken away ISO ball and dominant scorers, to some degree.

I mean, it's possible. I just don't think it's likely. Especially not Magic. His career average is under 20 PPG. Possibly Bird or Jordan in their prime, for a season or 2. Not consistently.

P.J. Carlesimo said Jordan could average 50 today.
by TripleDomer  (2020-05-14 16:07:28)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

PJ was asked on a radio show I heard last weekend about a comment from David Falk that Jordan could average 50 or 60. PJ noted that Falk is an agent and therefore prone to exaggeration, but he then said he believed Jordan could average 50 today. He also said that Jordan wouldn't do so because Jordan cared more about winning.

Which is insane really
by DBCooper  (2020-05-14 16:36:50)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

So if Jordan has an “off” game of only 30 points, he has to score 70 the next game to get his average back to 50? That seems hard to believe

PJ thought part of the reason MJ could do that was his drive
by TripleDomer  (2020-05-15 01:24:32)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

He observed that Jordan didn’t take games off.

Well yeah if it was a 2 game season
by Ajax  (2020-05-14 21:35:36)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

in a 10 game season, he could score 30 in a game and then 52 in the next 9.

I do believe Jordan could average an easy 40 ppg in todays game.
Other names to consider: George Gervin, Tiny Archibald, Bob McAdoo and Maravich.

correct. 1 game won't affect the average that much
by ram  (2020-05-20 12:24:30)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Bird was shutout in a game (1980-81 season, IIRC, 0-9 from the field vs. GSW) and averaged over 20 PPG

Did he have to score 40 in the next game? No.