Anybody know the most points scored by MJ

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

in just one half?

[bwink23]

39

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

what is the most scored, in one half, by anybody not named Wilt?

[Heavincent]

what is the most scored, in one half, by anybody not named Wilt?

Kobe with 55 points in the second half of his 81 point game.

[LABean]

Less than 81? :confusedshrug:

[Bladers]

what is the most scored, in one half, by anybody not named Wilt?

He scored 42 on Jordan in one half. :oldlol:

But the most is 55 by kobe in the 81 point game.

[bwink23]

Kobe 55....David Thompson 53 in a half.

[bwink23]

He scored 42 on Jordan in one half. :oldlol:

But the most is 55 by kobe in the 81 point game.


On 40-year old Jordan's TEAM....Kobe 1-13 second half when MJ switched on him.

[bwink23]

Now if your talking NBA FINALS for one half....that would be 35 for Michael Jordan.....:pimp:

[Bladers]

On 40-year old Jordan's TEAM....Kobe 1-13 second half when MJ switched on him.

lol in your dreams. :roll: :roll:

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

So, is Kobe's 55 more than anything Wilt did in one half? Is 55 the record?

[bwink23]

So, is Kobe's 55 more than anything Wilt did in one half? Is 55 the record?

Wilt had 59....

[linZoMourning]

Wilt had 59....

He's talking about fact not fiction

[jlip]

Wilt had 59....
This

source (http://www.nba.com/history/records/regular_points.html)

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Wilt had 59....
insane. was that his 100 point night...or one of his many other huge nights?

[bwink23]

insane. was that his 100 point night...or one of his many other huge nights?


100 point night.

[LoneyROY7]

Carmelo had 33 points in one quarter.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[bwink23]

Carmelo had 33 points in one quarter.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:



As did George Gervin.


http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/2011/news/features/shaun_powell/07/27/george-gervin-feature/0727-george-gervin-300.jpg

[OldSchoolBBall]

in just one half?

42-43 I believe. He's had several (like 3-4) 40+ point halves that I know of. Sick thing is that he could have had like 45 points in the first half of an NBA Finals game in 1992 if he didn't sit out 7 minutes of the first half. Crazy. :oldlol:

[Unstop]

haha this thread and this OP^^
u see what hes doing here? pretty obvious and then bashing chamberlain for his 100 point game because hes the only one who had more points than kobe :DD

poor dude.:facepalm

[Bladers]

42-43 I believe. He's had several (like 3-4) 40+ point halves that I know of. Sick thing is that he could have had like 45 points in the first half of an NBA Finals game in 1992 if he didn't sit out 7 minutes of the first half. Crazy. :oldlol:

wait everyone does that? the only crazy thing is you jerking off to the notion of it not happening. :facepalm

[Unstop]

gervin had 33 points in a quarter...

[La Frescobaldi]

Love ran 42 13 on 15-23 in regulation game tonight against Thunder... I predict people are gonna slam him as stat padder who has 0 assists

[eliteballer]

Kobe scored 33 in a 7 minute stretch in the 55 against Jordan's Wizards game

[Da_Realist]

42-43 I believe. He's had several (like 3-4) 40+ point halves that I know of. Sick thing is that he could have had like 45 points in the first half of an NBA Finals game in 1992 if he didn't sit out 7 minutes of the first half. Crazy. :oldlol:

I think this is a regular season thread. Talking about the playoffs would...weed a few people out. :pimp:

[jlauber]

Regardiing Wilt...

He had a FIVE STRAIGHT GAME stretch, in which he scored 351 points...or 70.1 ppg.

He also had TWO separate streaks of 14 straight games of 40+ ppg, and he averaged 53 and 54 ppg in those two separate runs.

And how about this two game stretch...

Games of 73 points and 36 rebounds on 29-48 shooting, and then 62 points and 28 rebounds on 27-45 shooting...and against 6-11 HOFer Walt Bellamy and 6-10 world-class leaper Bill Russell.

Oh, and in his 61-62 and 62-63 seasons, he averaged 39.7 ppg and 38.1 ppg against Russell, in 19 H2H games. And, in the same 61-62 and 62-63 seasons, he averaged 52.7 ppg and 43.7 ppg against Bellamy, and in 20 H2H games.

[LockoutOver11]

Kobe scored 33 in a 7 minute stretch in the 55 against Jordan's Wizards game

....zzzzz

[AlphaWolf24]

Kobe's 42 points on MJ was epic....MJ had to sit helpless on the bench bout to cry.

[andgar923]

Didn't MJ almost score 50 in the second half in a playoff game vs the Heat?

[KG215]

Now let's compare things like scoring titles, shooting percentages, and playoff averages to regular season averages when talking about Kobe and MJ and see who wins.

This is a lame attempt at trying to make a case for Kobe>MJ, right?

[Boston C's]

its pretty sad that kobes legion try to take solace on his 55 point game against m.j's wizards... its funny when they say he dropped 55 on jordan when jordan wasnt even marking him... hell i believe that jordan was playing small forward mostly for washington at the time although i could be wrong on that

[Heavincent]

Now let's compare things like scoring titles, shooting percentages, and playoff averages to regular season averages when talking about Kobe and MJ and see who wins.

This is a lame attempt at trying to make a case for Kobe>MJ, right?

Um no. I'm pretty sure the OP was just genuinely curious. Talk about insecurity on your part :facepalm

[bwink23]

its pretty sad that kobes legion try to take solace on his 55 point game against m.j's wizards... its funny when they say he dropped 55 on jordan when jordan wasnt even marking him... hell i believe that jordan was playing small forward mostly for washington at the time although i could be wrong on that


No...Jordan was not guarding him....ask them what happened to Kobe in the second half...:pimp:

Anytime you compare Kobe to a 40-year old man, it speaks volumes for the other guy.

[OldSchoolBBall]

wait everyone does that? the only crazy thing is you jerking off to the notion of it not happening. :facepalm

No, superstars in their prime at age 29 don't sit out 7 minutes in the first half of an NBA Finals game too often.

[LBJMVP]

its pretty sad that kobes legion try to take solace on his 55 point game against m.j's wizards... its funny when they say he dropped 55 on jordan when jordan wasnt even marking him... hell i believe that jordan was playing small forward mostly for washington at the time although i could be wrong on that


seriously. all you have to do is youtube the game. jordan is not even guarding him.

[Psileas]

According to the latest Bulls Media Guide, the most points Jordan had in a half were 39, on 2/16/88 vs Milwaukee.

[Cali Syndicate]

39

Against which team?

[bwink23]

Against which team?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq_nGlfjZTI

This game against the Bucks...he scores 39 in the second half, 26 or 27 in the 4th quarter to lead the comeback, and hits the game winner at the buzzer.

[White Mamba]

On 40-year old Jordan's TEAM....Kobe 1-13 second half when MJ switched on him.

What????????? nice dreams.:roll:

[bwink23]

What????????? nice dreams.:roll:


It was 1-10 or 1-13 one of those 2....:D

[Shade8780]

Less than 81? :confusedshrug:
I'm pretty sure MJ never took 46 shots in one game :oldlol:

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

I'm pretty sure MJ never took 46 shots in one game :oldlol:
and you would be mistaken.
1993. 49 attempts. 64 pts. 1 assist.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pgl_finder.cgi?request=1&player=jordami01&match=game&year_min=1986&year_max=1998&age_min=0&age_max=99&team_id=&opp_id=&is_playoffs=&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=&is_starter=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_G=&pos_is_GF=&pos_is_F=&pos_is_FG=&pos_is_FC=&pos_is_C=&pos_is_CF=&c1stat=fga&c1comp=gt&c1val=40&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts

[Shade8780]

and you would be mistaken.
1993. 49 attempts. 64 pts. 1 assist.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pgl_finder.cgi?request=1&player=jordami01&match=game&year_min=1986&year_max=1998&age_min=0&age_max=99&team_id=&opp_id=&is_playoffs=&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=&is_starter=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_G=&pos_is_GF=&pos_is_F=&pos_is_FG=&pos_is_FC=&pos_is_C=&pos_is_CF=&c1stat=fga&c1comp=gt&c1val=40&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts
I'm guessing you have no friends, right?

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

I'm guessing you have no friends, right?
dude, you put your foot in your mouth. you got called for it.
suck it up and move on. consider yourself educated.
If slinging juvenile insults makes you feel better about it, knock yourself out.

[Deuce Bigalow]

and you would be mistaken.
1993. 49 attempts. 64 pts. 1 assist.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pgl_finder.cgi?request=1&player=jordami01&match=game&year_min=1986&year_max=1998&age_min=0&age_max=99&team_id=&opp_id=&is_playoffs=&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&game_month=&game_location=&game_result=&is_starter=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos_is_G=&pos_is_GF=&pos_is_F=&pos_is_FG=&pos_is_FC=&pos_is_C=&pos_is_CF=&c1stat=fga&c1comp=gt&c1val=40&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=pts
49 FGA & 1 assist.....:biggums:

[Shade8780]

dude, you put your foot in your mouth. you got called for it.
suck it up and move on. consider yourself educated.
If slinging juvenile insults makes you feel better about it, knock yourself out.
But honestly though, how do you find that out!? :facepalm :eek:

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

But honestly though, how do you find that out!? :facepalm :eek:
it was in thread yesterday. all kinds of stats.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

haha this thread and this OP^^
u see what hes doing here? pretty obvious and then bashing chamberlain for his 100 point game because hes the only one who had more points than kobe :DD

poor dude.:facepalm
not everyone is out to belittle all other players. grow up.
I don't see anyone bashing Wilt...but rather praising him.
posts like yours are what make this site weak. try communicating like a grown up.

[bwink23]

The number of shots you take has only partial bearing on how much your gonna score...

27 for 49 is not bad shooting for that many attempts....he netted 64 points after all....but he had only 11 FT attempts.

He did that on a bad wrist as well against the Magic in Shaq's rookie year.

[SwooshReturns]

42-43 I believe. He's had several (like 3-4) 40+ point halves that I know of. Sick thing is that he could have had like 45 points in the first half of an NBA Finals game in 1992 if he didn't sit out 7 minutes of the first half. Crazy. :oldlol:
And given MJ was actually willingly shot jacking 3's ... if the game was close or he wanted to be super selfish and see how many he could put up on the Blazers ... 70+ was very possible that game.

[bwink23]

And given MJ was actually willingly shot jacking 3's ... if the game was close or he wanted to be super selfish and see how many he could put up on the Blazers ... 70+ was very possible that game.


Can only imagine what Jordan would do if he decided to disregard the entire team offense, put his foot on the gas from start to finish instead of looking to get his teammates involved going early on.

[NumberSix]

In game 1 of the 1992 finals (that's right. the FINALS) MJ scored 35 points on 66.6% shooting in the first half. Oh, and he sat on the bench most of the 2nd quarter.

[Cali Syndicate]

In game 1 of the 1992 finals (that's right. the FINALS) MJ scored 35 points on 66.6% shooting in the first half. Oh, and he sat on the bench most of the 2nd quarter.

Context is an ignored concept here on ISH it seems.

[-23-]

In game 1 of the 1992 finals (that's right. the FINALS) MJ scored 35 points on 66.6% shooting in the first half. Oh, and he sat on the bench most of the 2nd quarter.

The number of the devil.

:kobe:

[hkfosho]

Kobe > MJ? LOL OH HOW BLASPHEMOUS.

ppl talking about Kobe's 42 vs Jordan's wizards at halftime? Who guarded Kobe?




6 Ft Tyronn Fvcking Lue.

Once Jordan defends Kobe in the second half, Kobe get's slammed hard.

Come on Kobe fans, don't embarrass yourselves.

next

[SwooshReturns]

ppl talking about Kobe's 42 vs Jordan's wizards at halftime? Who guarded Kobe?
Actually Kobe was guarded for a solid portion of the game by one of the best on ball defenders of his era, Larry Hughes. The player with the next most amount of possessions guarding Kobe that night was Jerry Stackhouse. Let's not down play Kobe's fantastic game. It just wasn't on MJ ... at all. And even if it was, the guy was 40 years old. Kobe was 24 at the time.

:oldlol:

But in actuality MJ never even guarded him the entire game. Given MJ slowed down physically so much by his return as the Wizard of Oz in 2002 and 2003, and also given added weight gain, Jordan usually played the SF spot. He rarely if ever guarded 2 guards. That's why they had RIP Hamilton, Larry Hughes, and Jerry Stackhouse.

Jordan, the ever stupid GM tried building the Wizards in the 90's Bulls images. Only MJ wasn't near the player he was from 1990 - 1998, so it didn't work. If Jordan had an effective big at that time, like sya a young Pau Gasol ... the Wizards get in the playoffs, Jordan's burden is eased (he came off the bench for much of 2003, was their best player at season's end and starting) and I wouldn't be suprised if they would have made some noise in the playoffs.

The only competition in the East was the Nets, and the Wizards usually had their number in their meetings. Jordan usually playing his best, against at what was then the elite team in the Eastern Conference.


Can only imagine what Jordan would do if he decided to disregard the entire team offense, put his foot on the gas from start to finish instead of looking to get his teammates involved going early on.
Well that's the point. MJ always put a cap on the amount of points he would score, so he could make a statement with his scoring power, but wouldn't alienate himself or embarrass his teammates at the same time.

Because at some point, even watching that 81 point game in retrospect, it gets to the point where it's akward to watch and the other team isn't just getting shown up, your teammates are as well.

The only time I've really seen MJ look to purely score was the 64 he put on a hyped up rookie Shaq, where he wanted to set straight he was still the NBA's alpha. For his standards he didn't shoot all that particularly well either, with a hurt wrist.

I was in love with the 81 point game when it happened. But in retrospect it isn't that impressive. And I suspect alot of players given the right circumstances that Kobe faced that year could've duplicated it.

Kobe was in his absolute prime, rule changes beneffited guards / wings, his coach asked him to focus mainly on scoring, and his teammates were terrible.

You mean to tell me peak MJ (1990, 1991, 1992) on a team not playing for anything just being asked to score couldn't duplicate something similar?

You don't think the Kevin Durants, Carmelo Anthony and other scorers of the world couldn't have done something similar when they were blistering hot, getting to the line all night, and playing in a close game?

I've seen a lot of superstar scorers with ridiculously hot nights who at some point left their foot off the gas, got others involved, or the game was out of reach.

In 2010 I saw LeBron with 31 points at the start of the 2nd quarter against D'Antoni's non defense playing Knicks. Dude could've scored anytime he wanted to all night. I've seen Melo with a blistering hot night through 3 quarters, but took his foot off the gas.

What's more impressive to me is a player doing well and scoring big when its needed, on the biggest stage, in the bright lights, against the best defenses. Like when Wade, the player least among the big three of LeBron and Kobe who doesn't feast and stat pad against weaker opponents went off for 48 points v.s. the 2010 Celtics and got double and triple teamed the entire 4th quarter taking the ball out of his hands.

High scoring regular season games mean nadda to me. D-Rob scored 71 ... is he better than Shaq? No. Baylor scored 71, is he better than Jordan? Nope.

How many 40+ and 50+ games you got in the playoffs? Now that is something that interests me. Who played against the best defenses and did the best? That interests me.

[Knoe Itawl]

Well that's the point. MJ always put a cap on the amount of points he would score, so he could make a statement with his scoring power, but wouldn't alienate himself or embarrass his teammates at the same time.

Because at some point, even watching that 81 point game in retrospect, it gets to the point where it's akward to watch and the other team isn't just getting shown up, your teammates are as well.

The only time I've really seen MJ look to purely score was the 64 he put on a hyped up rookie Shaq, where he wanted to set straight he was still the NBA's alpha. For his standards he didn't shoot all that particularly well either, with a hurt wrist.

I was in love with the 81 point game when it happened. But in retrospect it isn't that impressive. And I suspect alot of players given the right circumstances that Kobe faced that year could've duplicated it.

Kobe was in his absolute prime, rule changes beneffited guards / wings, his coach asked him to focus mainly on scoring, and his teammates were terrible.

You mean to tell me peak MJ (1990, 1991, 1992) on a team not playing for anything just being asked to score couldn't duplicate something similar?

You don't think the Kevin Durants, Carmelo Anthony and other scorers of the world couldn't have done something similar when they were blistering hot, getting to the line all night, and playing in a close game?

I've seen a lot of superstar scorers with ridiculously hot nights who at some point left their foot off the gas, got others involved, or the game was out of reach.

In 2010 I saw LeBron with 31 points at the start of the 2nd quarter against D'Antoni's non defense playing Knicks. Dude could've scored anytime he wanted to all night. I've seen Melo with a blistering hot night through 3 quarters, but took his foot off the gas.

What's more impressive to me is a player doing well and scoring big when its needed, on the biggest stage, in the bright lights, against the best defenses. Like when Wade, the player least among the big three of LeBron and Kobe who doesn't feast and stat pad against weaker opponents went off for 48 points v.s. the 2010 Celtics and got double and triple teamed the entire 4th quarter taking the ball out of his hands.

High scoring regular season games mean nadda to me. D-Rob scored 71 ... is he better than Shaq? No. Baylor scored 71, is he better than Jordan? Nope.

How many 40+ and 50+ games you got in the playoffs? Now that is something that interests me. Who played against the best defenses and did the best? That interests me.

Surprisingly astute, coming from you. That's what makes Kobe's scoring feats not as impressive to me. Sure he's an awesome scorer and all that, but he's the most scoring obsessed great scorer in NBA history to me. I've never seen any of the other great NBA scorers go through such lengths to score. It's like when you have to force it that much, it doesn't impress as much. It's like he's doing it just to impress/score highly rather than to win. That's the big problem a lot of his detractors have with him. Jordan just didnt come across like that, neither did Gervin, Dominique, Bird, etc. Even TMac didn't. They all seemed to do it more in the flow of the game whereas Kobe seems to do it to say "Yeah, look at me I can put up all these points".

[SwooshReturns]

Surprisingly astute, coming from you.
I've always been astute ... catch up, clown

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Surprisingly astute, coming from you. That's what makes Kobe's scoring feats not as impressive to me. Sure he's an awesome scorer and all that, but he's the most scoring obsessed great scorer in NBA history to me. I've never seen any of the other great NBA scorers go through such lengths to score. It's like when you have to force it that much, it doesn't impress as much. It's like he's doing it just to impress/score highly rather than to win. That's the big problem a lot of his detractors have with him. Jordan just didnt come across like that, neither did Gervin, Dominique, Bird, etc. Even TMac didn't. They all seemed to do it more in the flow of the game whereas Kobe seems to do it to say "Yeah, look at me I can put up all these points".

Yep. He's got that silverspoon mofo mentality. Like that prissy rich white kid you couldn't stand in school. I can appreciate Kobe's brilliant feats, but when he has those awful shooting nights? It's f*cking embarrassing.

[Knoe Itawl]

I've always been astute ... catch up, clown

Now, now. No need for you to get your panties in a bunch. You're an unsual Kobe Knobslobber in that you're an MJ fan first and foremost. This forces you to see things from a reasonable perspective in regards to comparing him to Jordan.

[SwooshReturns]

Now, now. No need for you to get your panties in a bunch. You're an unsual Kobe Knobslobber in that you're an MJ fan first and foremost. This forces you to see things from a reasonable perspective in regards to comparing him to Jordan.
Then why was it 'suprisingly astute'? ... that's how my loyalties and basketball perspective has always been surrounding both of those players.

And please w/ the "kobe knob slobber" ... I've called Wade the same caliber player, who out performs Kobe in the playoffs and Finals. And LeBron is the superior regular season player compared to Kobe for his career.

I'm also not the one who ONLY posts in Kobe Bryant related threads, Knoe.

We all know your history here, you're attracted to the Kobe threads like a streetwalker to tricks. What would that make you then if Kobe is the only active conversation you have EVER had on ISH?

:biggums:

[Knoe Itawl]

Then why was it 'suprisingly astute'? ... that's how my loyalties and basketball perspective has always been surrounding both of those players.

And please w/ the "kobe knob slobber" ... I've called Wade the same caliber player, who out performs Kobe in the playoffs and Finals. And LeBron is the superior regular season player compared to Kobe for his career.

I'm also not the one who ONLY posts in Kobe Bryant related threads, Knoe.

We all know your history here, you're attracted to the Kobe threads like a streetwalker to tricks. What would that make you then if Kobe is the only active conversation you have EVER had on ISH?

:biggums:

Now, now. No need to get testy. I've never had that much of a problem with you, mainly because like I said you're a Jordan fan first and foremost which is unusual for hardcore Bryant fans. I was mostly just teasing when I said it was suprisingly astute. You took it personally calling me a clown, to which I responded with calling you a Knobslobber. But I defnitely think you're miles above the average Bryant psychophant, if that's better.

[Da_Realist]

Well that's the point. MJ always put a cap on the amount of points he would score, so he could make a statement with his scoring power, but wouldn't alienate himself or embarrass his teammates at the same time.

Because at some point, even watching that 81 point game in retrospect, it gets to the point where it's akward to watch and the other team isn't just getting shown up, your teammates are as well.

Reminds me of the LaBradford Smith game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdDb32m2EsM&feature=player_embedded) where he promised to drop 37 on him before halftime because Smith posted 37 on Jordan the game before. He got 36 at the half...and only scored 11 points the rest of the way. He shot 59% that game.

[bwink23]

Reminds me of the LaBradford Smith game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdDb32m2EsM&feature=player_embedded) where he promised to drop 37 on him before halftime because Smith posted 37 on Jordan the game before. He got 36 at the half...and only scored 11 points the rest of the way. He shot 59% that game.


But missed the last FT before halftime that would have netted 37....:banghead:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Reminds me of the LaBradford Smith game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdDb32m2EsM&feature=player_embedded) where he promised to drop 37 on him before halftime because Smith posted 37 on Jordan the game before. He got 36 at the half...and only scored 11 points the rest of the way. He shot 59% that game.

Phil put it best. Jordan would go on scoring terrors, a retribution night often times going after the teams leading scorer (needing to take him out to hurt the opposing teams psyche). Kobe would go on 40-50 point game streaks vs bad defenses, and some of those high scoring games were on mediocre shooting percentages.

[Da_Realist]

Phil put it best. Jordan would go on scoring terrors, a retribution night often times going after the teams leading scorer (needing to take him out to hurt the opposing teams psyche). Kobe would go on 40-50 point game streaks vs bad defenses, and some of those high scoring games were on mediocre shooting percentages.

Yep. MJ was a competitor first and foremost. It didn't mean as much to beat scrub teams. MJ was a better player in the playoffs than he was in the regular season. Playoffs matter because not only is the competition better, but you're facing that same team up to 7 times in 2 weeks. It's very hard to dominate a team that is actively scheming against you after scouting your strengths, weaknesses and tendencies.

MJ needed to make up or exaggerate stuff to feed that fiery competitor inside. LaBradford Smith is just one of these examples. He just needed to get up for a boring regular season game.

I don't think we ever saw MJ max out. If the championship level Bulls could go back in time to face Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics, win or lose we would have seen the best of MJ. If MJ had the foresight to see what Hakeem was going to do in the mid 90's and stayed to play instead of retire, that 3 year war would have brought out the very best of MJ.

Instead, we just hear stories of what happened during those Dream Team practices. MJ said that was the very best he has ever played. And we missed it. :banghead:

[bwink23]

Yep. MJ was a competitor first and foremost. It didn't mean as much to beat scrub teams. MJ was a better player in the playoffs than he was in the regular season. Playoffs matter because not only is the competition better, but you're facing that same team up to 7 times in 2 weeks. It's very hard to dominate a team that is actively scheming against you after scouting your strengths, weaknesses and tendencies.

MJ needed to make up or exaggerate stuff to feed that fiery competitor inside. LaBradford Smith is just one of these examples. He just needed to get up for a boring regular season game.

I don't think we ever saw MJ max out. If the championship level Bulls could go back in time to face Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics, win or lose we would have seen the best of MJ. If MJ had the foresight to see what Hakeem was going to do in the mid 90's and stayed to play instead of retire, that 3 year war would have brought out the very best of MJ.

Instead, we just hear stories of what happened during those Dream Team practices. MJ said that was the very best he has ever played. And we missed it. :banghead:


Magic said that was the best basketball he's ever been a part of....and MJ had the greatest dunk he's ever seen in one of those scrimmages....where the hell:banghead: were the camera phones then....

[Da_Realist]

Magic said that was the best basketball he's ever been a part of....and MJ had the greatest dunk he's ever seen in one of those scrimmages....where the hell:banghead: were the camera phones then....

Camera phones in 1992??? :oldlol:

[Nevaeh]

What always amazed me the most was how Jordan became the best post Player on his team during his career, when at the time that would be where the Center players would operate the most. From his book "For the Love of the Game" page 47:

"We had lost to the Pistons 4-2 in the 1989 Conference Finals and I had taken a beating in that series. I promised myself I never would let that happen again. I knew I had to get stronger. If I was going to go into the post, then I was going to have to play like a big guy. I still had my quickness so I knew if I got stronger I could turn the tables. Teams such as the Pistons and Knicks figured the only way to throw me off my game was to throw me out of the air. I'd had enough. I wanted to start dishing out the punishment instead of taking it all the time."

Of course, we all know that he did lose to Pistons one last time in 1990, but it certainly wasn't from his lack of trying to get his team over the hump. It seemed like Jordan was always waiting for his teams to "catch up" to him, and not the other way around.

What made his big scoring days special was that he was a master at picking and choosing his spots. I re-watched game 6 of the 97 Finals and was amazed at how he scored one of the quietest 39 point games that I ever saw, all within the offense, unless he was on the break.

[SwooshReturns]

Yep. MJ was a competitor first and foremost. It didn't mean as much to beat scrub teams. MJ was a better player in the playoffs than he was in the regular season.
Yup, Wade has this Chicago / Jordan gene in his basketball DNA, too.

Do you know he performs the best against elite defenses compared to LeBron and Kobe?



Playoffs matter because not only is the competition better, but you're facing that same team up to 7 times in 2 weeks.
Very astute basketball observation. You can't hide weakness in a 7 game series where you're facing the same people game after game.

A great defense takes something away from you, the great players have other option on how to beat you ... even if you're heavily scouted.


MJ needed to make up or exaggerate stuff to feed that fiery competitor inside. LaBradford Smith is just one of these examples. He just needed to get up for a boring regular season game.
Yup. He had what .... 36 at the half, while shutting LaBradford Smith down the entire game? And then he chilled in the 2nd half.

How about that reverse pivot move from the elbow in that game? Ugh, sick. Kobe's got a lot of MJ's post foot work, but I've never seen Kobe do things quick enough on the block and in the post with his upper body to accentuate the moves and literally SHAKE defenders in the post the way Jordan was known to do.


I don't think we ever saw MJ max out. If the championship level Bulls could go back in time to face Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics, win or lose we would have seen the best of MJ. If MJ had the foresight to see what Hakeem was going to do in the mid 90's and stayed to play instead of retire, that 3 year war would have brought out the very best of MJ.
We didn't get to see him max out. Ever, really. Not in his prime at least. Him and his damn gambling habits deprives us fans of an epic 1994 and 1995 season. The last two years of MJ's prime, both physically and skill wise.

:facepalm


Instead, we just hear stories of what happened during those Dream Team practices.
Oh, like where he almost made Clyde Drexler cry? Or have Magic begging to take it easy?

The same way Craig Hidges leaked a story of how Pippen in practice following the Olympics wasreally feeling himself, decided to challenge MJ's alpha ... and MJ went on a tear in practice "raining buckets" on Pippen to the point he begged him to stop in front of the team?

[Da_Realist]

Swoosh, in the 91 Finals the Bulls were more hungry, younger, and (as we found out starting in Game 2) much better than the Lakers so MJ played traffic cop and directed the flow of the offense. He averaged over 11 assists per game while also scoring the most points.

In the 93 Finals, the team needed more scoring to keep up with Phoenix's high octane offense. MJ ended up averaging 41 points and grabbing 9 boards a game.

Now, imagine a team good enough to force both of these MJ's out at the same time. Basically, a smarter, more experienced version of the late 80's beast that ripped through the playoffs. :facepalm It would have been ugly.

I think the closest we ever got to seeing MJ at his best was the first half of Game 7 vs the Knicks in 1992. That should be required viewing before anyone wants to compare somebody to MJ. INCREDIBLE :applause: