Michael Jordan 1996 Playoffs: Gm 4: 45pts, Shaq/Penny Swept

Seeking revenge for his rusty loss the past year against this Orlando Magic team, MJ sought redemption in this series. With a monster Shaq entering his prime and a monster, young Penny having his finest year, MJ didn't just want to beat this duo - he wanted to annihilate them. Nothing short of a sweep was acceptable and that's precisely what happened. In this game, MJ procured the sweep with yet another astonishing performance. Opening by hitting his first 7 shots, he finished with one of his 'super-zone' perfomances with 16-23 shooting for 70%. Again, on call, he produced a brilliant, efficient game to neutralize the combined 56 points scored by Shaq and Penny. Perhaps Shaq went to LA the next year because he had enough of MJ in the east.

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[kpocket25]

@chiladin

you know that was jerry stackhouse guarding him in that game right? mj was 40 and just off knee surgery...so the fact that he was able to have 30 point games (let alone 40 and 50 point games) at that age is remarkable. and i remember that game in 96...thats when kobe had 30 with the majority coming in garbage time as the bulls were up 30, right? i think mj was watching from the bench as he already had 36 himself...

[jaredrl06]

@sportygu123 with todays rules the players can barely play defense properly, now it's more about rules than skill or strategy, modern great players are illusions created by a weakened field of play who whine over everything like spoiled brats.

[rattlehead54321]

at 2:50 Jordan just made Hardaway his bitch

[shaqpopcorn34]

@42marisol1 ....u mean shaqq was swept 6 times....yet STILL won twice as many rings as wilt.....wow....simply amazing...

did i mention wilt was swept by the 38-41 syracuse nationals.....SWEPT by a losing team.....wilts preferred method of losing was game 7 chokes though.....thats why sam jones outscored him in all 4 game 7s of wilt vs celtics,and how a crippled willis reed was still able to whip wilts ass in game 7 of the 70 finals....LMAOOOOOOO

[42marisol1]

@oneman91 - says "Champions don't get swept" Yeah maybe one time in a career and if they're young BUT SHAQ WAS SWEPT AN AMAZING 6 TIMES ! Shaq is so USED TO BEING SWEPT that the opposition has the BROOMS out already when BEEFY BOY SHAQ comes to town !

[kuriaki71]

95-96 Bulls team greatest ever

[uberathlete]

@sportygu123 Incredible yes, but not as spectacular when put in perspective. Raps had the worst defense in the league that year. They could barely dress 10 players because they also had the most injuries. They had the most number of 10 day contracts. Coaching staff also instructed the players to lay off Kobe and concentrate on his teammates instead. Add to that the lax perimeter defensive rules of today, and that 81 isn't as mind blowing as it's made out to be.

[bolder2009]

Marv Albert's commentary was made for MJ. It just fits like a glove. MJ never forgets. He went on a retribution mission against Orlando in that series.

[quadence]

@1upirons stop please



[sportygu123]

@jaredrl06 but still, no matter what rules are present, scoring 81 points will always be an incredible feat. plus, it's not like most of kobe's 81 points were from FTs.

[sportygu123]

@fatkid187 but please think about what you said about kobe's 81 pt performance. sure, it was against toronto, but keep in mind the lakers were down by 18 in that game, and kobe's performance not only brought them back, but it also turned the game completely upside-down as it ended with a LAKER blowout win. Plus, it was 81 POINTS. No matter what era you're in, scoring that many is an EPIC milestone, so there's nothing wrong getting excited all over it. that said, MJ's the greatest