Michael Jordan 1998 Playoffs: Gm 3 Masterpiece Vs. NJ, 38pts

This is one of my favorite performances from MJ. This was MJ portraying his complete mastery of the game.

35 year old MJ had his Bulls up 2-0 against the young and athletic NJ Nets. With his year-long shooting hand injury, MJ was shooting a 'poor by his standards' 44% in those two games (although he was averaging 35.5ppg). With NJ facing a sweep, they were determined to play hard, scrappy and desperately. But MJ lived for these moments and elevating his game during these times was his trademark. Facing a 'closing' situation, MJ chose to lock into his Yoda mode - yet again.

It wasn't the fact that MJ shot 73% on 16-22 here to finish the series on 53% shooting overall that grabbed me. It was that he displayed yet more poker cards hidden up his sleeve that further separated him as the greatest there ever will be: style, control and mental intimidation. With his jumper on guided-missile control, MJ knew that he could have dropped 40-50 in the first half alone. But he picked his spots and toyed with the game. The mere threat of him anywhere near the ball provided him with the mental dominance that made the Nets scramble with nervous energy. Meanwhile, MJ looked like he was barely sweating during a scrimmage game. In contrast to the scurrying Nets, it appeared as if he was playing in slow-motion with everything coming too easy for him. Calm and cool, he didn't even need to shift gears and attack the rim. The finesse jumper was on, the ability to take over the game was on and his legend took over.

But MJ's mental mastery of the game was what dominated this game. He chose only to shoot 22 shots and only enough to provide the knockout punch. Sometimes, the threat of scoring 50-60 on 75% shooting is even more powerful than actually doing it. Like a master surgeon who only needs one cut to get it right, that was all that was needed. This was truly a masterpiece from MJ's mature, perfected game.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Michael
• Jordan
• NJ
• Nets
• Bulls
• Shaq
• Bird
• Magic
• Lebron
• Dwyane
• Wade
• Kobe
• Iverson
• Vince
• Carter
• AI
• Carmelo
• Yao
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• mcgrady

[dmac14af]

The thing I love about MJ that I think separates his shooting percentage from Kobe is MJ's control. Even at 35, he looks more under control than he was in his 20's. I think Kobe is a great player, but so many times he looks wildly out of control when he spins and shoots. That's the difference between a guy shooting 45% and a guy shooting 50%. It's the little details. MJ never looked like he put up wild shots.

[y2jon2007]

dream on Kobe...

[Shermstyle23]

@truthteller123456 Just because people talk about similar topics(players in this case) doesnt mean it proves anything. I can talk about how Hot Sauce is a great street baller with a similar style to Allen Iverson like many do, but that doesnt mean hot Sauce is on Allen Iverson's level. People including Magic & Bird always talk about their great legacies & how they compared with MJ, but Bird & Magic have always stated that MJ was on a whole other level. Use some common sense!

[truthteller123456]

How is that Kobe's name keeps coming up whenever MJ's name is talked about? You guys just keep proving the arguement that Kobe deserves to be in the discussion.

[BasketballStud99]

i know phil jackson probably just wanted to pump on the morale of his players... but i couldnt believe that Phil Jackson said Kobe is a better shooter than MJ.

[KOnneh1234]

@dmac14af Mj had around 70% shooting

[frusionnn]

1:34 ''well during the year, this is the lowest average that he's ever shot from the floor 47%''

^ Jordan's lowest FG % in 1997-98, or at least up until this game, is the BEST that Kobe has ever shot from the field in his entire 15 seasons in the NBA (46.9%). so that makes me wonder how AMAZING does one (MJ) have to be @ shooting, where 47% shooting is actually considered decent! simply amazing!

[swinpat]

damn, you know how they say great players let the defense come to them and then adjust, this man absolutely showcase that right here. such grace, never really forcing the issue. old MJ plays so differently from young MJ, but both so utterly dominant.

[sauceandbuttah]

@toomuchfails Yea but he would never do it when the game is on the line and the way players do it now to back then u cant even compare, motherfuckers in the NBA know try to win games just on fouls that was never Micheal's style of winning a game.