Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2020 6:15:06 GMT -8
When NBA Jam dunked its way into arcades in 1993, players discovered just how fun basketball can be when freed from rules, refs, and gravity itself. But just a few years after the billion-dollar hit conquered the world, developer Midway, publisher Acclaim, and video arcades themselves fell off the map. How did a simple two-on-two basketball game become MVP of the arcade, and how did this champ lose its title?
The opening paragraph is the description of a book written about NBA JAM that a highly recommend for anyone a fan of video games, 90s NBA, or just 90s culture in general. The JAM series also happens to be one of my favorite vigi game series of all time so I figured I would parlay it into an article about the league! This won't necessarily match traditional FBB team/player rankings as some bad teams may have some pretty good JAM duos and skills that translate into JAM success (dunking/height/passing) are LESS important in FBB. Let's get started!
15. Miami Heat
| Francisco Garcia | Matt Bonner |
The Heat are obviously trying to win the race to the bottom for the slim reaper and as a result don't have a whole lot of molded talent on their roster. Garcia has solid height and has a good jumper. Bonner is a tall big that can shoot & board some which can be an advantage in 2 on 2 arcade basketball.
14. Philadelphia 76ers
| Steve Francis | Shane Battier |
Another team that clearly has no interest in accumulating wins has a pretty poor JAM duo as well. Francis can rebound well for a small man which has some usefulness and Battier would be adept on the defensive end but you would need to type in a cheat code to unlock DR. J to make this team be ant fun in JAM.
IT MUST BE THE SHOES!
13. New Orleans Hornets
| James Posey | Luis Scola |
Scola can do (almost) everything you need out of a big in JAM. He can score inside and out, rebound but the above the rim dunks and shot blocking ability aren't there. Posey is a another decent wing that could get hot from outside and play good defense.
12. New Jersey Nets
| John Salmons | Raef LaFrentz |
I told you this wouldn't merely be each team's conventional best two players. Unlike some previous bigs mentioned Raef is closer to an elite JAM post player, everything is there except for dunking ability most likely. Salmons is probably the best all around perimeter option for a two man squad as he isn't bad at anything but doesn't excel in any one category. His size is a plus.
11. Atlanta Hawks
| PJ Tucker | Andrew Bynum |
10. Milwaukee Bucks
| Brandon Roy | Rasheed Wallace |
Another rookie makes a team's duo as Roy looks like an all around great option. He can handle shoot and score, also a solid rebounder and has a solid frame to push and shove opponents. Wallace can hold his own inside against all but the strongest JAM bigs.
9. Washington Wizards
| Peja Stojakovic | Marcus Camby |
Camby is close to the ideal JAM big forward/center. He protects the rim and can sky for boards. The lack of a true perimeter player that can handle and bring the ball up the court holds them back when it comes to 2 on 2 action.
Obama with the sauce
8. Orlando Magic
| Allen Iverson | Al Jefferson |
7. New York Knicks
| Lior Eliyahu | Udonis Haslem |
Thinking about Lior in a NBA JAM game is fun. He can score inside, has a nice shot, and would almost never get the ball stolen from him no matter how much the rubber-banding game AI tried to force him to cough it up. Haslem would be a decent post JAM player but if you subbed him for someone like say Yao Ming or Al Jefferson then the Lior+said big woild be higher imo.
6. Chicago Bulls
| Larry Hughes | Gerald Wallace |
I love hughes, I hate wallace. However I think Wallace would be a serviceable inside presence who could board and hit the 15 foot jumpshot. Hughes could be a great thief and hit layups and jumpshots with ease. I just dont think they translate to an elitr JAM team.
5. Toronto Raptors
| Ray Allen | Yao Ming |
The reason the Raptors are this high is simple: Yao Ming is huge!!! He would be a terror with his size and solid jumpshooting ability. Ray Allen is just gravy, the main meal is Yao.
4. Indiana Pacers
| Manu Ginobili | Alonzo Mourning |
Manu has elite handles and has consistently been one of the best non PGs at stealing the ball. ZO is big and strong and can catch lobs block shots and rebound. Almost a perfect combo if both hadn't regressed slightly in TC.
Zo an OG JAMmer!
3. Boston Celtics
| Antoine Waller | Theo Ratliff |
Toine is tall, can handle, score, and is a VERY good rebounder for his position. Ratliff blocks the shots and erbes can attest that he can play on the perimeter. Honestly I like this duo a lot but at this point the rankings are so close when it comes to imagining them as NBA JAM duos.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
| Dirk Nowitzki | Kevin Garnett |
Hate ranking the champs anywhere other than one, but I just don't see the primary ball handler here to rank them any higher. I would almost trust KG to do it but then you're putting him in a position to play more on the perimeter versus an alley-oop/putback fiend.
1. Detroit Pistons
| Gilbert Arenas | Tim Duncan |
Duncan is an elite big that has dominated the MVP race and his skill translates very well to JAM. He can shoot, block, board and even handle the ball. That's without even mentioning one of the most dynamic perimeter scorers in the league, Arenas! This would be a super fun duo to play with.
Thanks for reading!
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