Michael Jordan 1988: 38pts vs. Hawks ('Nique 41pts)

[Fury1986]

We all know about Jordan, But Dominique at his peak was one of the greatest offensive scorers of all-time.

[MisterGUITAR1000]

There Battles are Simply the BEST Ever !!! Saddly Dominique's Ankel Injury kept him from making DREAM TEAM One his Replacement was Chris Mullins what a JOKE .. Seeing Jordan ,Drexler and Wilkins on the same Team Nearly Happend too Bad it Didn't .. After seeing games like this it should be Clear that The HUMAN HIGHLIGHT FILM was so Deserving of a Top 50 Player of All Time Not just a Great DUNKER !!!

[phoneke]

Nique vs Jordan games on TBS were epic during the 80s. Must see TV @ the time

[ryanrayonec]

That white guy in the opening dunk jumped like the biggest ferry of all time.

[SwaggerLikeUz]

These games were just so Epic i have so good ones myself, but its a treat to see really all the Years i was too young to See!!!

[spitnificent]

The vid intro is funny as hell. Dude got juked so hard on the one on four.

[Mr23632]

mj best ever but lol he was pretty bald at the time!

[gocelts34n7]

Hawks shouuldve never traded for moses malone and reggie theus, if they just stayed the course and kept adding to team needs they were developing into a real championship contender around dominique (with willis in teh post and doc at the point)

[gocelts34n7]

In the 80's people dont realize that hte hawks had a great team and nique had a bit better supporting cast but he really brought it to mj all the time and their duels were classic

for you youngstrs its like how wade and bron go at each oher nd jus light each other up, hey both step their game up and either ones team could win any time and either one could get the best of the other on any given night (well hats how it was from 85-90 for nique vs mj and how its been since 2003 for lebron vs wade)

[mi4k20]

THis is a great video Hoops. I love MJ but im a Hawks fan also and i wish Nique has the team MJ ended up having.

[GoingOn9Lives]

Hoops you are clearly Michael Jordan's biggest promoter. Ive seen all your videos and I love how you capitalize on the different aspect of Jordans game. Always matching Jordan up with the other teams leading man. In this video you show how Dominque started off stronger than Jordan emphasizing his highlights but you then show what makes Jordan great his hunger to be better as he picks up his game to lead the bulls.

[radragonmc]

I like Dominique better then Lebron. Eazy.

[spitnificent]

The opening credits scene is funny as well with Michael shaking this dude to the ground in the pick up game...

[jtmoneykcr]

lol watch the Hawk's bench at 4:45...one guy throws a towel over his head and then another one throws his head back and just crosses his legs haha

[thatdudecozz89]

This is a sweet clip, considering the fact it occured a year before I was born. I wish the NBA was still like that now (even though I like K.G., LeBron and Kobe), but I like the 1980's and 1990's NBA Players, etc. better.

[mflulder1013]

wow, truly a battle of power versus finesse.

[gocelts34n7]

lebron vs wade nowadays reminds me of nique vs jordan from the 1980's (85-91)

But Dominque was not the passer that MJ or Wade or Lebron are/were, and MJ is the best of the bunch of course

[karabop3000]

Respect must go to Nique. Even MJ was dazzled by him at times. This was when basketball was full of artists.

Nice!

[greganthony30]

Dominique was hated more than any other player. everyone who said he was one deminsional and a ball hog can kiss his ass. he is a hall of famer now and the 10th all time leading scorer. by the way hoops do you have a 36 point game he had against the bulls in the 89 season that was played in chicago. jordan in that game couldn't miss from the field but missed 7 free throws. if you have please post.

[MauryDann73]

MJ is the GOAT. But as a longtime Hawks fan I can't help but wonder how much greater Nique could've been if he'd had a Pippen-like sidekick.

[ratesforless]

Couldn't agree more. Every team who won a title did so with help; Nique had to hang 30+ every night for the Hawks to have a shot at winning...

[greganthony30]

Dominique Wilkins scored more points against michael jordans team than any other player. He and lebron james are probably the most athletic small fowards to ever play the game. Dominique used to light up scottie pippen. Pleas every time they played. probably the toughest guy for pippen to guard. Please hoops post more dominique and jordan games.

[JPPT1974]

Nobody has nor ever will, come close to a Michael Jordan at all!

[heyvoon316]

why wasnt jordan doubled throughout the game? they just set him screens and had open jumpers all day

[jimmychuang]

If they doubled MJ throughout the game, there would be one player always wide open.

MJ was around 3 pt line throughout the game, they could double MJ sometimes, but it's not possible to double him all game.

Looks how MJ find the way to get wide open without the ball, MJ is smart offense player.

[hoopsencyclopedia]

That's right. No player has ever had more mental tricks to get the ball in perfect spots to get the best shot. MJ used hitch moves to fake his man out, collisions, teammates' bodies without them even knowing etc. to get open at the right spot. Coupling this with his ability to make all the toughest shots was key to his 50% career FG. No one will ever come close until they have both physical and mental aspects of the game mastered.

[utfanatic2000]

They didn't need to double him, they won the game. Besides, remember, you are only seeing the times Jordan scored. YOu aren't seeing the many times he may very well have been doubled and missed or passed the ball to a teammate.

[heyvoon316]

it just looked too easy for him

[hoopsencyclopedia]

One thing about my edits its that I probably do not do justice to MJ's passing. MJ passes out of a lot of doubles or beats them before they set so you might not see that in my vids. There's a lot of mental games going on to get the best shot so outsmarting doubling or tripling sets is part of his play. When MJ does attack doubles to take the shot, it's usually for a clutch situation or he's in the zone. He's not going to take low% shots like some players-even though he makes them too

[hoopsencyclopedia]

Also, MJ during this era was supernatural in his ability to get to the hole. Therefore, even though he was shooting lights out on Js, you did not want him to shoot 100% going to the rim. You had to play his drive and stand back or he would split everyone and then jump over your center. There was no way to play him.

[Jordanhair]

We still hope you could add more clips (Being double-trippled,passing,block,­steal or nice miss shots.)in your edits and delete clips like 0:42~0:52 or clips of shooting FT to make your video more compact and plentiful.

[RohoicRamz94]

No disrespect to jordanhair but hoops is a master at this editing thing if it wasnt for him a lot of us wouldnt be doing this his videos are plentiful.I subbed your channel hair so im no hater but there are certain channels you just have to enjoy what they give you.Hoops is number one everyone who knows anything about video making subs this channel.

[Jordanhair]

Just a suggestion.

You also want to see more ,right?

[RohoicRamz94]

Well Hoops has always edited his gams this way these were the first ones I saw on youtube in this fashion its his trademark.On my channel I have complete games as well as edits but I do put more into my edits but they are similar because this guy and a few others are who I learned from.peace.

[reedpower]

i just want to see jordan scoring, so shut up

[VicOyedeji]

'88 was nique's year. too bad larry bird spoiled it in the playoffs that year.

could u imagine the finals with hawks vs lakers?

[dimedropper1992]

look at the move at 4:45 .. especially the reaction from the bench!

[Bandy500]

is this the year mike finally realised he was going bald?

[neyboo]

HaHa. Nice highlight of Doc.

That was cool.

[neyboo]

1:55 That was nice.

[theelectricman]

Mike was wearing the II's in this game!

[jordanlover23]

That between the legs and spin move by Nique at 3:03 is lightning.

[jordanlover23]

I just noticed: does anyone see how amazing Jordan's block attempt at 1:21 is? Nique makes an amazing shot, but Jordan actually jumps while facing one direction for the block and turns 180 degrees in the air to track Nique's release. Amazing.

[bgdjordan1988]

wow man thanks for pointing that out. jordan was unreal and unmatched in athleticism.

[TmacClutch]

props

[MJisKingKobesuckss]

Just imagine if Jordan put up 34 shots in this game we might have been looking at another 50 pts plus performance by MJ. What Made Jordan so great that many people don't talk about is his efficiency. The game of basketball in term's of winning is made on efficiency

[JCR1992]

It was a hell of a game by both of them

[jeditwinz]

Anybody remember that "Anything You Can Do, I can Do Better" ad with Nique and Jordan from back in the 80s?

[hoopsencyclopedia]

Yeah. It's in one of my games. But I think someone put that segment up on youtube already.

[25lat]

I remeber seeing that Vid... It was great!!!... I hope someone uploads that video!!

[Amir883]

What Bill Cartwright did with his arms was just plain old ugly. But it worked and he won 3 titles with the Bulls as a starter. Maybe I'll start shooting that way!

[SiLenT366]

I like seeing Doc Rivers as a player.

[bwink23]

Jordan's reverse window shot is just money in the bank...doesn't matter what angle, defensive pressure, which hand, nothing...Jordans trademark shot most would struggle with, he does effortlessly.

[Bigturns33]

The announcer got it right as you said, those where never lucky shots.

[bigdplaya25]

i love it wen he jus pulls up and shoots in someones face or does a sick move and wen he is coming down court he has his hands wide open like at 4:40 its like hes sayin "yuck did u see what i jus did..i dont even want the ball anymore" lol gotta love MJ.

[JCR1992]

Hey hoops can u post this game from 12/29/89 vs the spurs MJ shot was kinda off but he had some amazing plays including a sick dunk on robinson

[uberathlete]

Always fun watching these two on the court together. Man, I envy those people who had the chance to do so.

[jjl51999]

thank you thank you thank you

[uberathlete]

That Jordan jumper is effin smooth.

[8cali94]

LOL mj just killed that white guy in the beginning

[jordanlover23]

(cont)...He said he and his friends -- all kids around 13-15 years old -- went to the aisle and were taunting Jordan, saying "you suck, Mike! Nique's lighting you guys up!" He said that Jordan just looked straight at them and didn't say anything. In the second half, Jordan scored 40 points (yes, in the half), held Nique to something terrible like 4 points on 1-7 shooting, and the Bulls won the game. It's too bad they pulled this article down. I still wonder what game this actually was.

[hoopsencyclopedia]

I remember reading that story.

[Jordanhair]

Jordan's best record was 39 pts in a half.

So which was that game he talked about?

[jordanlover23]

I know for a fact that that's incorrect. Jordan also had a 40 point half vs. NY in the mid-80's.

[Jordanhair]

Which season?

Which game?

statistics ?

[jordanlover23]

Not sure. It was mentioned in The Sporting news or Sports Illstrated in the early-mid 90's. I think it was one of the games he had 50+ against them between '86-'89, but I think all of those are up on YT and you can see when his points come, so I'm not sure. I think he also had 40 in the second half of a game vs. Milwaukee.

[Jordanhair]

Jordan just had one 50+ game against Hawks in the 80's and he scored 32 pts in the first half.

He also had just one 50+ game against Knicks in the 80's .He missed his first 6 (or 8?) and scored 34 pts in the second half.

He once scored 39 pts (27 in the 4th) in the second half vs. Milwaukee in 1990.

[jordanlover23]

I don't think he had 50+ in the Atlanta game in the story I referenced, because Scoop Jackson said that he had a very poor first half. Maybe I can email him. There's always a chance he was slightly off on his numbers, who knows.

[zopoundsakpase]

actually jordan had a 50 point game against the hawks and a 60 plus point game against them in the same game in the 80s. jordan also had a 48 point game against them in 89

[Jordanhair]

Jordan had only one 50+ game against Hawks.

61 pts in 1987.

[jordanlover23]

There was a column up on SLAM's website in the archives written by Scoop Jackson that's no longer there. unfortunately. I have it bookmarked. In it, he's talking about a time that he went to see the Bulls play the Hawks in Atlanta as a kid (he was from ATL I believe), and Jordan had a pretty bad first half, like 3 or 4 points on 1-6 shooting or something, while Nique had a huge first half (like 25 points). He says that as the players were leaving to the locker room for halftime...(cont)

[johnthecoolguy]

lol doc rivers

[triklops]

- :) I always gotta smile on how Sedale Threatt lands after that MJ layup on 3:30

- As always : Great reaction by the opponents' bench after MJ's circus shot at 4:45 :) :) :)

- Nique was really great !!!

[triklops]

Haha, in the intro take a look at the left guy trying to defend Jordan. He simply throws himself to the floor :)

They could have used a real game here instead...Jordan would have taken to the hole anyway . No need to stage this IMO :)

[candiasis333]

I think i just caught epilepsy :P

[koneerok]

nice

[jordanlover23]

Nique is the only dude who had as much (or more) elevation as young Jordan on his jumpers.

[nza07]

wo a weird j technique by nique n jordan lol

[uberathlete]

What are you talkin about? Nique had a weird kick jump to his jumper but the form was good. And MJ has one of the most beautiful jumpers in history with many of the modern players emulating that form. You want a weird jumper look at Shawn Marion. That ish is fugly.

[hoopsencyclopedia]

Yes 'Nique was a very good shooter and an excellent free throw shooter. His main criticism was his shot selection which gave him a FG% that doesn't do him justice. MJ always tinkered with his form to achieve perfection and around this year, it was nearing the perfect, straight-up form (as opposed to the lean-in rookie form to get closer to the rim) that he would dominate with during the latter half of his career.

[jeditwinz]

Yeah, now Bill Cartwright had a weird jumper.

[uberathlete]

True. Heck I wouldn't even call it a jumper. I'd call it a ... ummm ... I don't what the hell to call it lolz.

[jeditwinz]

It looked like some kind of stretching exercise...either that or someone waiting to have a hula skirt put on them.

[curvalecce]

Yeah, Wilkins could do it, but MJ could keep on doing it.

[S33P]

No offence, but it's 1986/87 season. MJ with his Air Jordan II made in Italy (Italian Stallion)

[S33P]

The Guy scored over 20,000 points, changed the understanding of dunkinkg in a game and wasn't among the top 50 of all time: Total BS.

[jeditwinz]

I still say he should have been up there instead of Walton. Bill might have had a great season or two but nowhere near the career of Wilkins

[ClearedForTakeOf]

great stuff

What a pitty Nique barely did not score in the 2nd half after putting in 30 in the 1st

[jwb6189]

Wow what a great game, thanks for the upload. I gotta say, for Wilkins to do this well against MJ in his prime, you gotta give the guy credit.

[airjordan1585]

what is the intro from??

[jp3813]

From here: watch?v=mNypPQs-1Gc

[clarkman83]

Thanks Hoops for uploading another Jordan/Bulls game against the Hawks IN Atlanta. He always seemed to put on a show whenever he went there, and the fans always seem to enjoy watching him play. I always hear MJ talk about NY, Boston, L.A., etc being some of his favorite places to play, but I believe ATL had to have been pretty high on his list too!

[deserthobo]

thanks hoops

[cooljjjj]

4:45 look at the Hawks' bench. LOL

[popeyeisgood]

look at those expressions of the hawks bench at 4:48! they are all stunned. and as the commentator said, jordan has full body control on that shot and it wasn't lucky at all.

no one single player now can do this with that much grace.

[larry89]

nique played his heart out

[villan214]

the intro was so unbelievable! 4 on 1. damn!

[jp3813]

Yeah, considering that it was from the Bugs Bunny commercial: watch?v=mNypPQs-1Gc

[DINACMI]

check my channel the next allen iverson

[mnmcrapass]

3:32, owned bitch!

[juangarcia2007]

this is one of the best rivalries in the Nba I loved watching jordan games when i was a kid mj is still the best basketball player ever!