“God disguised as Michael Jordan” Turns 25
25 years ago today, a young Michael Jordan torched the Boston Celtics for 63 points and caused Larry Bird to famously say, “That was God disguised as Michael Jordan.” In the wake of Dwight Howards’ 49 point, 17 rebound performance in a Game 1 loss to the Hawks and Carmelo Anthony’s 42 point, 17 in a Game 2 loss to the Celtics, its nice to look back on the gold standard of playing big for a lost cause.
Jordan broke his ankle that season and only played 18 games. Returning in time for the playoffs, and playing in just his second playoff series Jordan scored 49 points in the opener before the ridiculous 63-point outburst. Jordan’s three game totals from the Celtics’ sweep of Chicago? 131 Points, 48-95 FG, 1-1 3pt, 34-39 FT, 19 R, 17 A, 7 S, 14 TO.
[the grio]
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- starkweather on Roy Hibbert Blocked Carmelo Anthony And It Was Epic [GIF]
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- Curtis the Close talker on Roy Hibbert Blocked Carmelo Anthony And It Was Epic [GIF]
- starkweather on Oklahoma State Blocks Wes Lunt Transfer Options, Lest Mike Gundy Look Bad Indirectly
- resolutedefense on Roy Hibbert Blocked Carmelo Anthony And It Was Epic [GIF]
186 Responses to ““God disguised as Michael Jordan” Turns 25”
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April 20th, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Barely a 1-1 assist to turnover ratio? Seems about right for a great Eastern Conference shooting guard.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Piling up all of that in a series he got swept?
Carmelo is intrigued.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
holy shit. that is ridiculous.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
I believe this is the bronze standard, CRM. He is, after all, the 3rd best player of all time.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
Insane.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Defenders weren’t athletic and long back then. Kobe would have dropped 80 something on the C’s.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:56 PM
yea, but they could breathe on you back then without getting a foul.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Amazing how similar the 1986 Celtics look to the 2009-2011 Indiana Pacers. Not from a talent standpoint, of course.
This game is easily the most difficult Jordan Challenge by the way.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Imagine how good he could have been if he’d had James Worthy on his team.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
The best part of the Pat O’Brien interview with Jordan before that game got cut off. He asks Jordan how he’s going to beat the Lakers. Good times. Also it’s awesome to see some old clips of Jordan, and see why he’s the best. He was able to change his game as he got older.
April 20th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Don Calhoun. Legend.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Dick Stockton was beyond terrible the other night screwing up game events and simple facts, someone needs to put that horse to pasture
April 20th, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Look at that roster and tell me who he should have been passing to
April 20th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Haha. Ok, now I see why Clown does this.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
John Paxson.
/vomits.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
would there have been enough time for him to attempt 135 shots in one game?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:04 PM
+1 overreaction
April 20th, 2011 at 1:04 PM
would there have been enough time for him to attempt 135 shots in one game?
That’s not fair. He’s probably close to 50% in the first 46 minutes of the game and most if not all of those 80 points would have to come then
April 20th, 2011 at 1:05 PM
1 attemped 3?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
IIRC, Jordan didn’t start really shooting threes until just before they started winning titles. Took him a while to really develop that. And even then he was never really “great” as a three-point shooter. Had some really good years, though. His three-point shooting had a really strange career arc.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
You guys are mean
April 20th, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Haha the robot throwing the first pitch in Philly bounced it to home plate. At least are still superior to robots in sports.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
He took advantage of the shortened line for 3 of his 4 best years.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:11 PM
No idea, direct all Kobe questions to resident expert CursedCleveland.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Look at that roster and tell me who he should have been passing to
The Ice Man is a top 10 all-time scorer, isn’t he? And John Paxson could shoot, at least. Also, Orlando Woolridge was a really good scorer but apparently him and Jordan didn’t really like sharing the ball with each other
April 20th, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Definitely. Not sure what happened between ’89 and ’92. He took almost 250 and then was at 100 or under the next two seasons. His percentage plummeted, too. Maybe it’s as simple as he lost confidence in it, so he stopped shooting them? What year did they shorten the line?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Haha the robot throwing the first pitch in Philly bounced it to home plate. At least are still superior to robots in sports.
I don’t know. That robot’s got a better arm than Jeter
April 20th, 2011 at 1:15 PM
That was his last year, though. And by then he was shot, had to play limited minutes.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Ad the day after he became self aware, no less. Faggy machines.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:15 PM
It’s not hogging the ball when Jordan does it.
/amazing performance
April 20th, 2011 at 1:16 PM
sheeeeit. kobe gets 1/4 the love from the refs MJ got. they didn’t allow anyone to guard that guy. Missed shot = foul, automatically.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:18 PM
i hope this isn;t comparing the teams in those situations. jordan torching the celtics at or near their peak somewhat diff than melo torching a celtics team not at or near their peak and howard torching…the grizz
April 20th, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Hand check rule was introduced, I think. Easier to drive and get to the foul line for the old fashioned 3 point play.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:18 PM
If I come back from lunch and see this thread has turned into a Worthy > Jordan debate, heads will roll.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:18 PM
That was his last year, though. And by then he was shot, had to play limited minutes.
I was just being argumentative. Paxson made the one shot he ever really needed to in his life but wasn’t a very good player. And Woolridge and Jordan were really the same position. I’m just knocking the idea that Jordan had “nobody” to pass to even though it’s basically true.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:19 PM
94-95 through 96-97.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:20 PM
sheeeeit. kobe gets 1/4 the love from the refs MJ got. they didn’t allow anyone to guard that guy. Missed shot = foul, automatically.
That stuff really started after this game for Jordan and you might want to go back and see the hand-checking and all that shit that teams were getting away with back then
April 20th, 2011 at 1:21 PM
whoah. I did not know that.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:21 PM
There’s a little bit of a case for it that season, but on the chip runs, it isn’t remotely true. Only someone born in the 80′s would even suggest it.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Steve Kerr’s glory days
April 20th, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Those Pistons teams used to beat that ass.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Yeah, but then he went back up to almost 250 the year before the three-point line was shortened. It’s just an odd trajectory. I’m sure it’s not really and can be explained, I just find it interesting.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:23 PM
And then didn’t even have the common decency to shake the man’s hand after he returned the favor on the floor…classless fucks
April 20th, 2011 at 1:23 PM
There’s a little bit of a case for it that season
There’s a pretty good case for it that season and that’s the only season in the discussion.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:24 PM
it’s amazing he didn’t lead with this for his HOF speech.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:25 PM
contrary to the popular legend, the reason that happened was cause Jordan and Pippen had been bashing the Pistons after game 3, saying they were terrible champions, dirty, etc.
I don’t blame them, but it adds to the Jordan mythology, sure.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:26 PM
I saw it first hand, no need to go back. but just watch the crap kobe endures tonight without getting calls and see if you agree. Trust me, you get better calls when you are the savior.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
3D Dennis Scott!!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
@SC, I had a tougher time getting the 5 steals against Utah in the Jordan Challenges. This one was tough though.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
it’s amazing he didn’t lead with this for his HOF speech.
i’m no jordan historian, but seems like he’s not a fan of thanking folks/deities
April 20th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
They interviewed Laimbeer here on the radio a few weeks ago. Says he doesn’t regret that decision at all. Also had some interesting word for Rose:
I think clown does Laimbeer’s PR work.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
If the shoe fits…
April 20th, 2011 at 1:28 PM
It’s a frequent argument people use, as you noted. No need to be a prick.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:28 PM
Now there’s a name from the past, he still hold the record for most in a game?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:29 PM
Here’s what karma was talking about:
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
I don’t know about y’all, but I really miss The Outfield’s “Winning It All.”
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
I think it has been tied twice. kobe and donyell marshall, if memory serves…
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
This is actually not true. The Pistons did it because that is what the Celtics did to them when they finally got past them three years earlier. Listen to Isaiah on the Whitlock podcast, he discusses this
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Did Laimbeer mention anything about Garret Gilbert being top 5?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
The most amazing thing about that video was seeing what Dick Stockton looked like before he died four years ago. The re-animation project that TNT employs to keep him yapping is impressive.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Best shooters from the 90s I used to love using in video games:
Hershey Hawkins
Dennis Scott
Wesley Person
Pete Chillcut
Steve Kerr
Reggie!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
Think Kobe broke it, actually.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
.
That is ridiculous. Kobe gets just as many superstar calls as anyone else, if not more. Just because he throws a tantrum every time he misses a shot and thinks he was fouled doesn’t mean he doesn’t get calls. Don’t be silly.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
Kobes elbow endures blow after blow from opposing players heads. its not fair!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
I just feel bad for him these days, he’s a legend in the industry and shouldn’t go out like Summerall did in those last couple years after Madden moved on
Epic hairpiece in that video though before the move to his now famous hair plugs
April 20th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Kobe fans pollute threads it’s so fucking annoying.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Dale Ellis
Mark West
Sam Perkins
April 20th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
the outfield has two songs i could listen to at anytime…josie’s on a vacation far away…and i can;t remember the other one
a-ha has one i could listen to any day. tommy tutone has one as well
cheers to one/two-hit wonders.
/my sharona
//the long version with the awesome guitar solo
April 20th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Oh I dont know, I really only watched the NBA from 94-98 ish, loved my Orlando Magic.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Him and Anthony Parker. That school turns out pros, yo.
/Pretends O’Bryant doesn’t exist
//Marcus Pollard fist pump yea!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
+17 interceptions
April 20th, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Huh, this is correct…Donyell Marshall, amazing
April 20th, 2011 at 1:34 PM
but on the chip runs, it isn’t remotely true. Only someone born in the 80′s would even suggest it.
Didn’t mean to come off as prickish Vega, but I took this as a shot at me. Even though I wasn’t born in the 80s and I wasn’t saying anything about the later Bulls teams
April 20th, 2011 at 1:34 PM
I know. Didn’t really mean to take it there… sorry.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:34 PM
+1
April 20th, 2011 at 1:34 PM
This, a thousand times
April 20th, 2011 at 1:35 PM
So true. Summerall does the Cotton Bowl still (or at least he did 2 years ago) and it was a nightmare.
Your Love
April 20th, 2011 at 1:35 PM
what Dick Stockton looked like before he died four years ago. The re-animation project that TNT employs to keep him yapping is impressive.
easy dude. what would you look like if you were marrried to visser and her hat/hair?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:35 PM
!!
He was actually the best player.
And no, Kobe gets enough superstar calls…he should actually get more technicals than he does cause he makes gestures way too much rather than get back on D.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Best shooters from the 90s I used to love using in video games:
Hershey Hawkins
Dennis Scott
Wesley Person
Pete Chillcut
Steve Kerr
Reggie!
Dale Ellis
Mark West
Sam Perkins
where’s majerle?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Epic college bar song.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:36 PM
You know I like my girls a little bit older…
April 20th, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Huh, this is correct…Donyell Marshall, amazing
Did anybody come up with/follow the Norm’s bad sports movie titles thing on twitter last night? Forgetting Donyell Marshall was one of my favorites that I saw
April 20th, 2011 at 1:37 PM
The hair in this video is phenomenal.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:37 PM
April 20th, 2011 at 1:37 PM
No worries. Wasn’t a shot at all. But people have always loved to diminish MJ’s teammates (starting with him, referring to them as his supporting cast) and it’s a crock of shit. Dude played with some great effing players.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Karma is the most level-headed Kobe fan on here. I’m not a Kobe hater by any means, but all that “he doesn’t get the calls LeBron does/Jordan did” is just dumb.
Any chance the Hornets keep it close tonight?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:38 PM
I’d listen to a whitlock podcast but I don’t want to hear him breath heavy when he is trying to discreetly eat 3 or 4 triple baconators
/he’s fat
April 20th, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Wesley Person
Did you mean Chuck?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:38 PM
chambers
April 20th, 2011 at 1:39 PM
Right here.
But seriously Majerle was a much better player before he started launching moon shots. Thats the Thunder Dan I want to remember.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:39 PM
Ah Donyell Marshall. This is how I know him.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:39 PM
I’d listen to a whitlock podcast but I don’t want to hear him
/fixed for me
April 20th, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Hershey Hawkins
Him and Anthony Parker. That school turns out pros, yo.
/Pretends O’Bryant doesn’t exist
//Marcus Pollard fist pump yea!
well shit, i’ll take illinois ballers for 200
who led the country in scoring for eastern illinois U.?
who is domercant
i need the..
who is henry domercant!
ding!!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Just watch a game. Just so happens to be one on tonight. Prob won’t be too high pressure, so might not be the best example. But if you don’t think the Celtics were mugging him (and the rest of the Lakers) relentlessly three years ago, and getting away with it, then I don’t know what else to tell you.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:40 PM
*salutes*
Also, no I meant Wesley, he was a much better shooter, played for the Cavs.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Kobe is an extremely unlikable person. I just happen to have a man-crush on his game that I see through his doucheness and enjoy his amazing talent.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Right here.
But seriously Majerle was a much better player before he started launching moon shots. Thats the Thunder Dan I want to remember.
dude that was a fucking splash!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:42 PM
There is nothing lazier than using foul calls (or lack thereof) as the basis for an argument.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Kobes elbow endures blow after blow from opposing players heads. its not fair!
YY- don’t forget the mehksicans!!!
April 20th, 2011 at 1:42 PM
This x 1000
April 20th, 2011 at 1:42 PM
He was totally useless on the HBO panel a few weeks back. Brought absolutely nothing to the table, and I am actually somewhat of a fan of his. I was thoroughly disappointed.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:43 PM
Ahh, I love this argument. “If you don’t think Kobe gets hosed on calls, then obviously you’re not watching!” What the fuck ever, I’ve watched a bunch of Laker games this year, and every minute of the first playoff game. (As well as that Celtics series three years ago) Kobe does not get treated unfairly by the refs. If anything, as Karma pointed out, he should get T’d up more often for throwing his fits.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:43 PM
I know the Lakers were getting roughed up in 08, but I’ve seen Kobe play lately and he just complains and flails more than he actually plays. Some days he takes it well, some days he mostly complains. They don’t call as much fouls on his defenders as they used to back in the day, but that’s also because Kobe’s ability to draw fouls (yes that’s a skill) has decreased with age and limited explosiveness.
He’s still bloody good, but refs are NOT the problem.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Brought absolutely nothing to the table, and I am actually somewhat of a fan of his. I was thoroughly disappointed.
how did you feel about richrod being on there?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Anyone that knows basketball doesn’t question his teammates from the 90′s, I was only talking about the 85-86 roster.
I watch a lot of games, the way the game is called in this era compared to Jordan’s through his first retirement is eons apart. There is no comparison. Would have loved to see Kobe go up against the Bad Boys and the Knicks.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:44 PM
I also love watching Kobe play. Best player of the past decade, in my opinion. I just hate the extreme that some Laker fans go to. He does NOT get unfair treatment from the refs. It’s just not true.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Also, no I meant Wesley, he was a much better shooter
I’d always remember The Rifleman as the better of the two but I’m looking at their numbers and you’re right. Fascinating. I also don’t really think of Wesley as anything but a Phoenix Sun. The more you know…
April 20th, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Kobe is an extremely unlikable person. I just happen to have a man-crush on his game that I see through his doucheness and enjoy his amazing talent.
i see opportunity. after i open my Clutch HOF (those with meh careerss except in the postseason) I’ll build a Nice Guy HOF (great players who were by all accounts nice people)
thome a charter member
April 20th, 2011 at 1:46 PM
agree completely. it’s getting to be a problem.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:46 PM
I liked that they had someone there who was a coach at a big time school and was one who felt the wrath of the NCAA. He made some points were making (the line about going after the j-walkers instead of the bank robbers…or something to that effect) was a good line. He didn’t blow my mind with any comments, but he was solid enough.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Karma, I would like to thank you for being a level headed fan.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Would have loved to see Kobe go up against the … Knicks.
Geez. Shooting percentages in crunch time would be infintessimal
April 20th, 2011 at 1:48 PM
I agree with this, but fans do that with every favorite player. It’s just one of those things.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Before 07 or so? sure. After the Gasol trade though, he’s much more likable and speaks his mind without coming off as douchy. He’s more open in interviews, etc.
Kobe’s interviews with tv personality Cabbie (from Canada) show Kobe in a light that most American fans have never seen. Search it up on Youtube, they’re hilarious.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:48 PM
thanks dawg. i never get a chance to watch anything entirely, so i saw only enough to see the subject and the panel members, and thought his presence was interesting
April 20th, 2011 at 1:50 PM
Fair enough. I guess I just see it more from Kobe fans than LeBron/Rose/Howard, etc. fans lately.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:50 PM
I’m a huge Kobe fan. However, his postgame pressers now are sometimes hard to watch. He’s very short with answers. I know it sucks to talk after a loss but he’s really shitty with reporters after losses.
Doesn’t affect my respect for his basketball achievements though.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Tell that to spence, coop, JT, gfunk, etc. I have a long list of people on here who think otherwise.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Let me re-phrase then. I’m not saying he gets treated unfairly, I just don’t believe he gets the benefit of the doubt quite the same as Jordan did. If you got near MJ, you got whistled. Simple as that. Does Kobe get superstar calls? Yes. Just don’t think it ever got to MJ levels of superstar calls.
And btw, Kobe would kick ass back then. He has said that he would have loved to have played in that era. Anyone who watches how hard dude goes at it can see that.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:51 PM
has there ever been any doubt or mitigating factors to the tale of kobe throwing shaq under the bus about infidelity?
cuz if not, not sure a guy could ever live that down. like holding a baby up as a shield
April 20th, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Karma, I’ve seen Kobe in more recent interviews and you’re right, he does seem much less douchey. However, when he throws a tantrum about a call and calls the ref a faggot, he goes right back to looking douchey IMO.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:53 PM
I like that RR is willing to make appearances. The CBS recruiting day special was another that caught my eye, especially when Michigan was discussed. While I agree with his firing, I also agree that he was never going to have the support of a lot of the higher ups at Michigan. I think he can succeed at a school like Clemson or Kentucky; I really do.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Its a postgame presser though, can you really blame him? what star player excitedly talks to a group of reporters after a loss?
I think, honestly, the only douchy thing I’ve seen him do since the Gasol trade is that stupid interview with Woj where he texted him that Adonis line. That just seemed a little too contrived to me, and it reminded me of 2004 Kobe, which was the worst Kobe of all the Kobes.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:54 PM
But that’s just you being supremely biased toward Kobe. I know it get brought up time and time again, but Jordan got HAMMERED by those Piston teams, as well as the Knicks/Heat of the 90′s. You’re exaggerating the calls that Jordan got.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:55 PM
/clears seat on winnipeg jets plane for Kobe
/waves goodbye happily
/thinks for a second as plane almost gets out of sight
/fires rocket
April 20th, 2011 at 1:55 PM
/throws rotten fruit at karma
April 20th, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Adonis = Achilles.
/ Brad Pitt’d
April 20th, 2011 at 1:56 PM
But that’s just you being supremely biased toward Kobe. I know it get brought up time and time again, but Jordan got HAMMERED by those Piston teams, as well as the Knicks/Heat of the 90′s. You’re exaggerating the calls that Jordan got.
what exactly were the Jordan Rules?
April 20th, 2011 at 1:59 PM
On a more depressing note, having seen Kobe play his entire career, I’m going to be a sad man in the coming years as his game becomes less and less effective.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:00 PM
White suit photo shoot.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Can you believe the photographer said he was going for a “Tupac” look? What Tupac was he looking at?
April 20th, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Is it just me or is he hitting the wall unbelievably fast? I think Simmons reversed jinxed him on how well he is holding up. Seems to be a shell of his old self now. I don’t care for most of his shots nowadays, and am almost convinced there will be no three-peat. Not the way it’s going now anyway. Ugh.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:04 PM
doesn’t he take a helicopter to ‘work?’
that’s douchey in and of itself.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:05 PM
just you because he’s been declining for a few years now.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:06 PM
The strategy the Pistons employed to slow him down and a book about the first championship season chronicling the issues between Jordan and his teammates. I assume you incorrectly think they refer to refs.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Just keep him at the tables, he’ll lose it back eventually
April 20th, 2011 at 2:07 PM
doesn’t he take a helicopter to ‘work?’
that’s douchey in and of itself.
i love road trips and tunes on a sweet system while driving, but L.A. traffic? i’d hire a copter too
April 20th, 2011 at 2:08 PM
+ 1 Minor League baseball stint
April 20th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
begging your pardon, prior to the last part of this season his game changed, not declined. He was still incredibly effective. Now, as karma says, he is less so. It’s depressing.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:10 PM
I assume you incorrectly think they refer to refs.
no, i knew it was the pistons’ strategy, and a book, dilwad. i wasn;t clear on what exactly the strategy was.
you might have educated me instead of judged me
April 20th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
He hit it this year. He’s been declining since 09, but last year he still held up well to his usual standards. He’s starting to get into that “living off reputation” zone. He’s still amazingly good in stretches, but they’re much, much shorter.
From 05-09 or so, he could carry the entire team by himself if they were struggling like in Game 1, and still have enough for the 4th quarter. This game, he gassed himself out after the 3Q from trying to score.
He’s a great scorer (got by Ariza really easily) on most defenders but he takes pretty stupid shots….shots he used to make in his prime, but they don’t fall as much now cause he can’t get as much separation and lift.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
still effective doesn’t mean he wasn’t still declining. he’s not at his mid-00′s peak, hence, declining.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
White suit photo shoot.
i love the rhyme and rhythm of that sentence
/dr. suess lover here
April 20th, 2011 at 2:13 PM
Haha dilwad, that’s a good one. Try Google, which leads to Wikipedia:
The Jordan Rules were a defensive strategy employed by the Detroit Pistons against Michael Jordan in order to limit his effectiveness on offense. Devised by head coach Chuck Daly in 1988, the Pistons’ strategy was “to play him tough, to physically challenge him and to vary its defenses so as to try to throw him off balance. Sometimes the Pistons would overplay Jordan to keep the ball from him. Sometimes they would play him straight up, more often they would run a double-team at him as soon as he touched the ball to try to force him to give it up. And whenever he went to the basket, they made sure his path was contested”.[citation needed] This strategy has also sometimes been employed against other prolific scoring guards.[1] The Jordan Rules were an instrumental aspect of the rivalry between the “Bad Boys” Pistons and Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[citation needed]
The Jordan Rules were most effective for the Pistons during their first three playoff meetings with the Bulls.[citation needed] Detroit beat Chicago four games to one in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pistons and Bulls met each other in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals for the next three seasons. Detroit’s defense defeated the Chicago Bulls in six games in 1989 and in seven games in 1990. The Pistons won back-to-back championships after eliminating the Bulls. Finally, in 1991, an improved Bulls team defeated an ailing Pistons team in the playoffs. Chicago neutralized the Jordan Rules by utilizing their triangle offense[citation needed] and establishing a sharper focus on teamwork.[citation needed] They swept the Pistons four games to none in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. Soon after, the Bulls captured their first-ever NBA title, beating the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
This strategy was later used by the New York Knicks from 1992 until 1998.[citation needed] However, the Knicks were not as successful as Detroit was in containing Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Jordan faced New York in the NBA Playoffs in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1996. The Bulls eliminated the Knicks and captured NBA titles in all four of those seasons. Unlike his meetings with the Pistons, some of Jordan’s best games came against the Knicks.[citation needed]
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Daly described the Jordan Rules as:[2]
“ If Michael was at the point, we forced him left and doubled him. If he was on the left wing, we went immediately to a double team from the top. If he was on the right wing, we went to a slow double team. He could hurt you equally from either wing—hell, he could hurt you from the hot-dog stand—but we just wanted to vary the look. And if he was on the box, we doubled with a big guy.
The other rule was, any time he went by you, you had to nail him. If he was coming off a screen, nail him. We didn’t want to be dirty—I know some people thought we were—but we had to make contact and be very physical.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:13 PM
/dr. suess lover here
then you;d know how to spell his name numbnuts
/seuss
April 20th, 2011 at 2:13 PM
One of my favorite Jordan quotes came after he was asked if Drexler was better at anything than he was: “Well he’s a better 3-point shooter than I choose to be.” Classic dickhead Jordan.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:14 PM
When Kobe is on, he’s as fun to watch as Jordan was when he was on. As a Suns fan, I’m trained to hate Kobe for all the times he has killed the Suns, but I still enjoy his game.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:14 PM
wrong. If one is able to dominate a game, regardless if it’s through getting to the rim, hitting from outside, setting up teammates, etc. then it’s still dominating, and that’s what he could still do. Certain skills may have declined, but overall? No. Sorry.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Try Google, which leads to Wikipedia:
love to do that, but i think it’s very cool to have commenters explain things to other commenters. you know, like social humans
fuck, why don;t we all google and wikipedia and stay off the blog?
April 20th, 2011 at 2:18 PM
Love a couple of those Jordan Rules quotes: “He could hurt you equally from either wing—hell, he could hurt you from the hot-dog stand” and “The other rule was, any time he went by you, you had to nail him. If he was coming off a screen, nail him. We didn’t want to be dirty—I know some people thought we were—but we had to make contact and be very physical.”
Wish more teams employed this now.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Cause then you’d have to actually look at Oden’s dong rather than commenting about it.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:20 PM
yes, overall. his PPG have decreased every year since 2005 and is getting to the line 3 fewer times per game since 2007. these are the two clearest indications of a decline due to age.
nobody’s saying he sucks, but it’s not outrageous to say he’s been in a decline THAT EVERY OTHER SINGLE FUCKING PLAYER SEES. nobody’s being unfair to kobe out of spite.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
spence yer caps lock switched on in a random way
get that checked
April 20th, 2011 at 2:24 PM
So you could make more claims that Kobe gets robbed by the refs?
April 20th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Why do fan boys always get so defensive? Stating that his skills have declined is not an insult, it’s commentary on a process that every human in the world goes through. It happened to Jordan to. As his career progressed he moved off the wing and a face up game and spent a lot more time posting up and relying on his fade away. Kobe’s done the same. It doesn’t mean he can’t win a game by himself it just mean he is no longer the best athlete on the floor. In most instances he is still the best basketball player. Settle down.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Not possible with the current rules
April 20th, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Please come on in take a seat. Have some of my finest scotch.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:29 PM
This.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:32 PM
You guys deserve it for 06 and 07 you bastards!
April 20th, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Stats get people into trouble. His team has changed significantly since 2005. But don’t let that get in the way of your flawed argument.
Clearly he is not the same player as 2005. But up until now, he was every bit as dominant. You know, the two titles and all.
Going down a point or two a game and a FT or two (when he doesn’t penetrate as much) is hardly the universal sign of decline you claim it to be.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Wasn’t that what Spencer was saying before the butthurt ramped up?
April 20th, 2011 at 2:36 PM
yes, overall. his PPG have decreased every year since 2005 and is getting to the line 3 fewer times per game since 2007. these are the two clearest indications of a decline due to age.
nobody’s saying he sucks, but it’s not outrageous to say he’s been in a decline THAT EVERY OTHER SINGLE FUCKING PLAYER SEES. nobody’s being unfair to kobe out of spite.
So true. He’s gonna have to retire soon because his pride will not allow him to play second fiddle.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:36 PM
actually teams employ it pretty good against LA. But when guys are going unmolested for 30 or so and getting to the rim? Time for a hard foul or two.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:38 PM
Kobe’s decline is more apparent when you watch him play. He is still very good facing up, but he cannot do dribble penetrations from the top of the arc (e.g – the facial on Dwight) like he used to. When he tries dribble penetrations, it usually leads to turnovers. This is because he is not as quick off the dribble as he used to be and people know his tendencies.
He’s not at the point where he is horrendous at anything, and 25 ppg is nothing to scoff at, but he’s set some pretty high standards for himself.
/ 35 ppg in a season is insane.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:39 PM
Yup. The Lakers have to endure hard fouls. Not other teams though. You are something else.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:39 PM
I disagree so I’m defensive? Fuck off douchebag. It’s a basketball discussion. Take your hands off the keyboard and shut the fuck up and you may learn something.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:40 PM
yep…kobe fans because they can’t deal with proof. kinda like religious people who think that god created earth 5k years ago.
of course it helps having three times the amount of talent like gasol, ariza, artest, odom, bynum, etc…but nevermind that, kobe did it all on his own.
when it happens every single year, then yes, that’s a fucking decline.
here, im going to do you a favor…here’s the definition.
…now stop being a fanboi and face facts.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:40 PM
I’m looking forward to tonight’s game. Kobe has to have the rest of them fired up right? Can CP3 do near what he did in game 1? And I’m also looking forward to watching Kobe get slaughtered on every shot and not get calls, so I can hear Vega whine about it tomorrow…
April 20th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
i mean, you, of all people, get it…nobody’s saying he sucks.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:42 PM
What rules? A hard foul is still legal last time I looked. Not saying be flagrant or anything. Go for the ball, but don’t let guys just waltz through the lane.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:42 PM
I don’t see how you can disagree with Spence either. He is just stating fact; Kobe’s skills have declined, even if only slightly, since 2005. Not saying he sucks, he’s just not as dominant. The titles don’t prove he’s on the same level, just that his team got a lot better.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:45 PM
Goddammit. I’m not saying that you fucking cock. I agree with teams using it against LA, i would put kobe on his ass too. But when you have CP and rondo dancing around, and fucking james harden lighting you up, you need to foul like you mean it. Not this pussy slap on the arm and give the guy an and one. That’s all I mean. Jesus…
April 20th, 2011 at 2:48 PM
April 20th, 2011 at 2:49 PM
My point exactly. That’s wher spencer is wrong. He was as dominat, just in a different way. And his team being better also proves my point. His stats of course are going to go down. How is that a measure of decline? Is Wade declining? I’ve already said certain skills of his have gone down. I’m using overall effectiveness as my basis. Not a point or two, or a FT or two.
April 20th, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Having Gasol, Bynum and Odom around him proves your point that he is just as dominant? Huh?
April 20th, 2011 at 2:52 PM
so explain, then, if his teammates are better why are his attempts per game pretty much unchanged since 2006 yet his points are going down?
April 20th, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Ummm, because he is taking more jumpers now?
C’mon Spence, you’re better than that.
April 20th, 2011 at 3:00 PM
it’s why his stats are going down. have you ever watched basketball before? has he not been dominant in the last two years? if he hasn’t, then i guess I am wrong.
// i am not wrong
April 20th, 2011 at 3:13 PM
Indeed we shall.
April 20th, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Having Gasol, Bynum and Odom around him proves your point that he is just as dominant? Huh?
it’s why his stats are going down. have you ever watched basketball before? has he not been dominant in the last two years? if he hasn’t, then i guess I am wrong.
// i am not wrong
He has been dominant in stretches but no he’s not at the same level he was back in 2005 or even in 2008. I’m a fan and I watch as many games as possible but, father time is catching up to Kobe. He’s lost a step but he is still able to score and get past his defender at times because he has excellen footwork and his fundamentals are solid. Like Karma said in years past he would have been able to win game 1 by himself but, he looked gassed in the fourth quarter.
April 20th, 2011 at 4:14 PM
Yes, but in much shorter stretches, hence a decline.
April 20th, 2011 at 4:25 PM
Can’t say I agree with that. He hasn’t had to takeover for long stretches since getting Gasol and Bynum to go with Odom. He has had to work on learning to incorporate others and changing his game for the success of the team. The 2005 Kobe has no place on today’s (or the last two years) Lakers. This year? I would agree with you.
April 20th, 2011 at 4:42 PM
Thanks for proving my point
So he is settling for jumpers not because his ability has declined but because he wants to be less effective? Gotcha.
Yes you are and Spencer and others have proved this repeatedly. It’s not their fault you’re so dense.
April 20th, 2011 at 6:06 PM
If I were choosing Vega or the field in this argument, I would have chosen the field instantly. Come on man, of course Kobe’s in decline. Do you watch the games? guy is still a great player, but he’s lost a step this year when comparing him to ’08. Even if it’s just one step, he’s still at the beginning of the decline.
April 21st, 2011 at 8:55 AM
Kobe may have lost a step, but he’s still got enough to lead this Laker team to the Finals. And even in his prime, Kobe wasn’t MJ.