First, it was Mark Jackson thinking he had everything to do with the Warriors’ current success. Now, Stephen Jackson has jumped in on that bandwagon and thinks the Warriors team he played for in 2007 could beat the Warriors.
On ESPN’s The Jump on Thursday, Jackson posited something so crazy, that…actually, we should let him explain
“My Warriors team would beat today’s Warriors team. I guarantee that. I guarantee that.”
The 2007 Warriors upset the defending Western Conference Champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round before losing to Utah in the second round of the playoffs.
For argument’s sake, let’s compare the 2016 Warriors to the 2007 Warriors, the best team in Golden State history up until the Splash Brothers started shooting the lights out on everybody.
Starting lineup in 2007: PG Baron Davis, SG Jason Richardson, SF Stephen Jackson, PF Al Harrington, C Andris Biendriš.
Starting lineup in 2016: PG Steph Curry, SG Klay Thompson, SF Harrison Barnes, PF Draymond Green, C Andrew Bogut.
Hmm… tough decision.
Zach Lowe, who was on the show with Jackson, had the reaction any sensible human being would when hearing an outlandish statement like that.
Jackson: “They’re great, don’t get me wrong, I’m not taking that from them…”
Lowe: “Yes you are.”
Jackson: “…but we would’ve beat ’em. We had more heart.”
So you’re telling me the 2007 Warriors would have beaten the 2016 Warriors simply through the will of heart? Sure. The debates about whether Jordan’s Bulls or Steph’s Warriors are better were annoying enough, but this one?
Stephen Jackson and Mark Jackson in a room together talking about how they would have made the Warriors even better than they are now…there’s a debate not even the most ardent basketball fan would embrace.
