Flight 23

About this user

Michael Jordan possesses countless qualities that make him the greatest basketball player of all time. He is highly skilled and has a plethora of moves available at his disposal. Although he is noted as being a flashy player, Jordan is the ultimate player in efficiency. Out of all the ways to measure a players shooting ability, Jordan has always proven to be an amazing scorer/shooter. During the beginning of his career, Jordan did not take many three pointers, although he became a serious threat from the three later on. His main focus was using his athletic ability to find high percentage shots. If you leave Jordan open for a mid-range jumper, he will knock it down. If you play tight on him, he will drive around you for a smooth layup or a powerful jam. If you double team him, he will kick the ball out to a teammate and reposition himself for a better shot/play. Also, he has what Phil Jackson likes to call "magic hands". With his hands, he can palm a ball after catching it with one hand. He can get bumped in traffic, and still make the shot. They are a major key to his greatness. Michael Jordan is also a great passer. Not because he has exceptional skills, rather he is an intelligent player who knows when and when not to make a pass. Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest perimeter defender of all time. He won defensive player of the year in 1988 and has often taken it upon himself to guard the opposing teams best player. Although Jordan's offense and defense are almost perfect, it is his heart that sets him apart from all the other greats. George Karl said it best, "Your going to have to cut Michael Jordan's heart out to beat him". Jordan's heart is the foundation to his success. It is the reason he practiced everyday. It is the reason he was so hard on his teammates when they did not pull through for him. It is the reason he has six Championships, and six finals MVP's.

"Last season, Jordan had to [overcome] the harassment of [zone traps] and [double & triple teaming] to win the scoring title by averaging 37.1 points a game"
-- NY Times, Nov 4, 1987
"[Zones] were also used [frequently] [before] they were [legalized] as well. One example, the 80s Celtics were known [users] of it and always got away with it. These are the same Celtics Jordan destroyed from an individual standpoint."
-- NY Times, Feb 29, 2009
"Don't give me the old 'players deal with zone now' crap. Watch Bird & Magic in the '80s, they played a [free-safety zone] against everyone and it [never] got called. If pre-baseball MJ played [now], they'd have to [change the rules] to make it more [even]"
-- Bill Simmons, ESPN Page 2 April 1, 2009
"Perhaps the biggest confusion of all was the [tougher] illegal-defense rule to [combat zone defenses.]"
-- Rod Thorn; "The Sports of times; combating handchecks the world over"; Nov 6, [1994]
"Zone defenses are [rarely used] in the NBA for a [number] of reasons. Because of the [defensive 3-sec rule], the NBA [does not allow] a [true] zone as post defenders are [not allowed] to just [park themselves in the paint]. Beyond that, it is [viewed] as a [gimmick] among players & coaching personnel."

-- Jonathan Abrams, NBA Reporter for NY Times; "Talk to the Newsroom: NBA Reporter"; May 10, 2009