MJ: 45 points in his last finals game at the age of 35!

[ClipperRevival]

With the game winner to boot. That's what the GOAT does.:cheers:

[3ball]

As usual, MJ saved his best, FOR the best - the 1998 Utah Jazz had a 100.3 defensive rating (DRtg) in the playoffs (http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1998.html#all_misc_stats) - that's a better playoff DRtg than any team Lebron ever faced in the Finals.

It's also better than any team Kobe ever faced as the #1 option.. I have to use the "#1 option" caveat because Kobe did face teams with lower DRtg while playing alongside Shaq between 1999 and 2004 (the NBA's only low DRtg period).

Overall, the DRtg's that MJ faced in the 90's were exactly the same Lebron has faced his entire career (2005-2015) and also Kobe's post-Shaq years (same period, 2005-2015).

Interestingly, if you compare MJ's 2nd three-peat (1996-1998) to Kobe's non-Shaq championship years (2008-2010), MJ faced lower DRtg defenses while putting up better stats.. There's a whole thread on it:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=11319566
.

[Mr. Jabbar]

kobe-esque

[ClipperRevival]

kobe-esque

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.

[ClipperRevival]

This is the greatness of MJ. When Kobe made his last finals at the age of 32 and started declining in 2011, MJ came back from retirement at the age of 33 and 3 peated. Being the alpha on teams with the two best regular seasons ever and adding 3 more fmvp. Wins his last ring at 35.

People seldom talk about the fact that he dominated at the age of 35. He was still far and away the best player in the game at that age, which is unheard of for a wing player.

He came, he saw, he conquered.

[AintNoSunshine]

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.
Wow are you serious? Is that some kind of record in low efficiency? He must have lost right?

[Ca$H]

35 year old MJ > Prime Bran.

[ClipperRevival]

Wow are you serious? Is that some kind of record in low efficiency? He must have lost right?

Game 7 against Boston in 2010. But he did have like 16 rebounds. But Lakers won that game primarily due to Artest and Gasol. But Kobe was clearly deserving of fmvp in that series despite a weak game 7.

[diamenz]

35 year old MJ > Prime Bran.

it's ****ed up, but it's true.

[Elosha]

This is the greatness of MJ. When Kobe made his last finals at the age of 32 and started declining in 2011, MJ came back from retirement at the age of 33 and 3 peated. Being the alpha on teams with the two best regular seasons ever and adding 3 more fmvp. Wins his last ring at 35.

People seldom talk about the fact that he dominated at the age of 35. He was still far and away the best player in the game at that age, which is unheard of for a wing player.

He came, he saw, he conquered.

:cheers: Jordan's performance at the age of 35 is practically unheard of. I also feel that if Klause and Reinsdorf had not jettisoned Phil Jackson, which led to Pippen (and I think Kukoc?) leaving in 1999 season, all of them could have stayed one more year. In that lockout shortened season, I believe the Bulls would have been fresher and probably would have won against the Spurs.

[PistonsFan#21]

kobe-esque



Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.


http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-garnett-reaction.gif

[ClipperRevival]

:cheers: Jordan's performance at the age of 35 is practically unheard of. I also feel that if Klause and Reinsdorf had not jettisoned Phil Jackson, which led to Pippen (and I think Kukoc?) leaving in 1999 season, all of them could have stayed one more year. In that lockout shortened season, I believe the Bulls would have been fresher and probably would have won against the Spurs.

It's not unheard of for a big but absolutely unheard of for a wing player. His efficiency and performance, even at the age of 35, is up there with the best of all time. The guy won fmvp at 33, 34 and 35. Won regular season mvp at 33 and 35 and should've also won it at 34 but when you are so much better than everyone else, voters feel the need to give it to someone else (Malone).

MJ's last minute offensive/defensive sequence (stealing ball from Malone and hitting series winner) in game 6 of the 1998 finals defines his career. Meaning he was dominant on both ends of the court.

He came, he saw, he conquered.

[Elosha]

It's not unheard of for a big but absolutely unheard of for a wing player. His efficiency and performance, even at the age of 35, is up there with the best of all time. The guy won fmvp at 33, 34 and 35. Won regular season mvp at 33 and 35 and should've also won it at 34 but when you are so much better than everyone else, voters feel the need to give it to someone else (Malone).

MJ's last minute offensive/defensive sequence (stealing ball from Malone and hitting series winner) in game 6 of the 1998 finals defines his career. Meaning he was dominant on both ends of the court.

He came, he saw, he conquered.

Absolutely. What I meant related to the bold above is that his playoff performance at the age of 35 is almost unheard of. I guess Kareem may have had comparable regular season performances at 35, but I don't think he dominated the playoffs to the extent as Jordan at 35 or older. Too lazy to look it all up right now...

[ClipperRevival]

Absolutely. What I meant related to the bold above is that his playoff performance at the age of 35 is almost unheard of. I guess Kareem may have had comparable regular season performances at 35, but I don't think he dominated the playoffs to the extent as Jordan at 35 or older. Too lazy to look it all up right now...

Yeah, Kareem is the one guy I can think of who had stretches of dominance at 35. But even he couldn't do it for 82 games and then give you 30 ppg for the entire playoffs at that age and great D. I think even considering bigs, no one in history was close to as dominant as MJ at 35.

[AirFederer]

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.

B-b-but his TS was still great! :roll:

[keep-itreal]

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.
:roll: REKTED

[CavaliersFTW]

The last game MJ ever played wasn't even a playoff game.

That's not how you GOAT.

[ClipperRevival]

The last game MJ ever played wasn't even a playoff game.

That's not how you GOAT.

I don't even count his Wizards days. Everyone knew by that time MJ was no longer MJ. He had retired for 3 full seasons before coming back at the age of 39. He played two seasons at the age of 39 and 40. You expecting MJ to be the same? Come on.

[CavaliersFTW]

I don't even count his Wizards days. Everyone knew by that time MJ was no longer MJ. He had retired for 3 full seasons before coming back at the age of 39. He played two seasons at the age of 39 and 40. You expecting MJ to be the same? Come on.
That's like people who try to say he's 6 for 6 in the Finals as if that's better than failing to even make the finals or advance in the payoffs early in his career. You've got to take the bad with the good. No player has a spotless resume, his Wizards years happened. MJ didn't go out like a cowboy riding into the sunset, he went out on two teams that failed to even make the playoffs.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

35 year old MJ > Prime Bran.
Yup..........the worst, oldest version of prime MJ who was hobbled and had injuries all year was a better player than peak Bran. Pretty crazy considering Bran is prolly a top 25 player EVER

[3ball]

That's like people who try to say he's 6 for 6 in the Finals as if that's better than failing to even make the finals or advance in the payoffs early in his career.


MJ is 6/15 at winning rings, including his Wizards years - he won championships 40% off the seasons he played.. That's GOAT, other than Russell.. Take out his Wizards years, and that's 6/13.. Your argument is an obvious troll.





You've got to take the bad with the good.


That's 3rd grade level analysis though - we shouldn't ignore that the 1986 and 1987 Boston Celtics were vastly better than the 2006-2008 Wizards.. that's even worse than a 3rd grade analysis.





MJ didn't go out like a cowboy riding into the sunset, he went out on two teams that failed to even make the playoffs.


MJ led a virually identical roster to 18 more wins in 2002 - 18 to 37 - look it up.. That's a lot better than Bran did for the Heat in 2011 - he only improved them by 11 wins, and he had Bosh helping.

Btw, averaging 20+ PPG at 39 and 40 is GOAT for a wing player - when has a wing player ever averaged 20 PPG at 40?... Also, scoring 51 points, 40 pts at 40, game winners over Marion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjo06p5zchg), Sprewell in NY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgG9X0aZb_Q&t=5m23s), and Lebron's Cavs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwW9XbwlV1o&t=5m52s)... all GOAT.

[MP.Trey]

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.
That ether. :oldlol:

[dude77]

lol gone for 3 yrs after age 36 when he was already old .. his head long gone from basketball .. then comes back at 38 almost 39 when he's ancient .. he also donated his salary that year for 911 .. that was bonus playing time for jordan .. for fun .. nothing to prove .. totally irrelevant

[Deuce Bigalow]

The last game MJ ever played wasn't even a playoff game.

That's not how you GOAT.
MJ 6/6
WILT 2/6

INB4 paragraphs

[AirFederer]

Would not have expected Wilt's name to come up in a thread about scoring 45 in the play offs, but whaddaya know!

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Jordan was 15 for 35 (.43%)

His teammates were 19 for 32 (.59%)

Fortunately the referees allowed him to get away with an offensive foul at the end of the game otherwise some may have held this ballhogging performance against him despite an otherwise good legacy.

[Wade's Rings]

The last game MJ ever played wasn't even a playoff game.

That's not how you GOAT.

He said Last FINALS Game in the Title.

[sportjames23]

With the game winner to boot. That's what the GOAT does.:cheers:


:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Asukal]

The last game MJ ever played wasn't even a playoff game.

That's not how you GOAT.

Wilt at age 35 was a role player. That's not how you GOAT. :whatever:

[Angel Face]

Just the GOAT GOATing

[Indian guy]

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.

Kobe was 31 in 2010, not 32. Always annoys me when people get ages wrong.

[ClipperRevival]

Kobe was 31 in 2010, not 32. Always annoys me when people get ages wrong.

Kobe was born in 1978, so he was 32 in 2010. But technically, you are correct in that he was 31 when the game actually happened and a couple months away from turning 32. But I usually go by year of birth, which is close enough.

[ClipperRevival]

Jordan was 15 for 35 (.43%)

His teammates were 19 for 32 (.59%)

Fortunately the referees allowed him to get away with an offensive foul at the end of the game otherwise some may have held this ballhogging performance against him despite an otherwise good legacy.

That's some weak stuff right there. So if he hits a couple more shots, he's at almost 50%. Then is that a great game? 45 points, game winner at 35 years old. Deal with it

[ClipperRevival]

GOAT gonna GOAT.

[dubeta]

It's threads like this that turn even the staunchest Jordan fans like me against him :facepalm

[Fire Colangelo]

Such a random bump lol

I think Hakeem has a 35/15/6 in his last finals game :bowdown:

[kennethgriffin]

It was only his 13th season lol


Lebrons playing in year 13 right now for god sakes.. kobe had 5 more 1st team all nba's left in him by that point

[dubeta]

It was only his 13th season lol


Lebrons playing in year 13 right now for god sakes.. kobe had 5 more 1st team all nba's left in him by that point


35 year old Kobe was the 2nd worst player in NBA history, while Jordan was FMVP


(37 year old Kobe is the worst in history FYI)

[Haymaker]

Kobe was 6-24 in his last finals game at the age of 32 in 2010.

Man, easy!! :oldlol: Show mercy!!

[Angel Face]

Most perfect way to end his career in Chicago. One of the most clutch performances of all time down the stretch, on offense and defense. Easily the best playoffs performer of all time.

[Elosha]

You know another thing that was amazing in 1998? Everyone expected Jordan to be great, and everyone expected him to lead the Bulls into serious title contention and the possible three peat. Today, even for superstars there is an expectation that between 33-35, their games will become significantly diminished. Sure there were whispers that Jordan and the Bulls were old, but Jordan's dominant regular season and playoffs meant no one could really say he's a "has-been." The whole league still feared him, the whole league still knew he was the best.

No one was "surprised" that the Bulls threepeated, despite Jordan's age, despite the fact that the Bulls were coming off the exhausting repeat championships and extra playoff mileage, despite the fact that Jordan carried the Bulls to 62 wins, and despite much of the season without Pippen. That's just how amazing Jordan was, his greatness and his all consuming drive to win was always presumed, never really questioned.

[tmacattack33]

As usual, MJ saved his best, FOR the best - the 1998 Utah Jazz had a 100.3 defensive rating (DRtg) in the playoffs (http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1998.html#all_misc_stats) - that's a better playoff DRtg than any team Lebron ever faced in the Finals.

It's also better than any team Kobe ever faced as the #1 option.. I have to use the "#1 option" caveat because Kobe did face teams with lower DRtg while playing alongside Shaq between 1999 and 2004 (the NBA's only low DRtg period).

Overall, the DRtg's that MJ faced in the 90's were exactly the same Lebron has faced his entire career (2005-2015) and also Kobe's post-Shaq years (same period, 2005-2015).

Interestingly, if you compare MJ's 2nd three-peat (1996-1998) to Kobe's non-Shaq championship years (2008-2010), MJ faced lower DRtg defenses while putting up better stats.. There's a whole thread on it:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=11319566
.

Do you have all these stats saved in a Word document on your computer or something?