Michael Jordan vs. Piston's Defense (aka: "Jordan Rules")

Sports Illustrated, November 1989:

The Jordan Rules
by Jack McCallum

The guiding principle is that a defender is never left to guard Jordan unaided. Jordan's position on the floor dictates whether the Pistons trap him with a second defender or have the second defender play "help and recover" (that is, run at Jordan to stop his dribble, but then scramble back to his own man; Salley is a master at this ploy). The closer Jordan is to the basket, the more the Pistons go with the trap. When he is above the sideline hash mark (28 feet from the baseline), they usually play help and recover.

Even when Jordan is far from the basket, perhaps bringing up the ball as a point guard on a wide-open floor, Detroit runs a second player at him, someone like Salley or Rodman. This reduces the amount of open court that he has to work with and often forces him to give up the ball to a teammate. The Pistons always want someone else to handle the ball. Not sometimes. Always.

When Jordan has the ball on the wing, the Detroit player guarding him forces him toward defensive help. Most often that means turning Jordan to the right when he's on the left side of the floor and to the left when he's on the right side.

If Jordan happens to get isolated with one man and is in a potential scoring position, the Piston defender will try to force him to go left. They think he makes a stronger, more explosive move to his right. So does Jordan.

When Jordan tries to run a pick-and-roll, Detroit traps him. That means that two men, the one guarding Jordan and the one guarding the Bull setting the pick, run at him. The Pistons do this with remarkable efficiency, partly because that second defender is usually the 6 ft. 11 in. Salley or the 6 ft. 11 in. Laimbeer. The tall trappers make it almost impossible for Jordan to deliver the ball to a teammate rolling toward the basket, and their aggressive charge toward Jordan usually forces him to retreat.

When Jordan posts up near the basket, Detroit typically puts three men on him, with Dumars most often behind him, using his strong hips and legs to "body" Jordan away from the basket. When the entry pass comes in from the point guard, Thomas leaves that guard and double-teams Jordan. If that means the point guard is free, so be it. Meanwhile, another defender, perhaps Laimbeer or Salley, will have come over and planted himself in the lane, maybe on the baseline side, maybe toward the middle. Dumars will then turn Jordan toward that help. Jordan loves the baseline. "Even though there's less room down there, I can be more creative," he says. But by and large, the Pistons take it away from him.

When Jordan comes off a screen set near the baseline -- his most frequent maneuver when he's playing shooting guard -- a host of Jordan Rules come into play. Dumars must follow him around the screen -- no matter if he has to go into the bleachers -- to prevent Jordan from making a backdoor cut and receiving an alley-oop pass for an almost certain dunk. The Piston -- usually Laimbeer -- guarding the Bull setting the pick will step out to make Jordan receive the ball farther from the basket. In addition -- and this is important -- that man will guard against Jordan's making a "tight curl" off the top of the screen and suddenly looping back into the middle to take a short pass on the dead run, a circumstance that is almost always disastrous for the defense.

In most cases Jordan will have to step back and take the pass on the wing. Then Thomas will come over, creating a double team, and the process begins all over again. If Jordan puts the ball on the floor, at least two players stay on him, pushing him toward even more help. If he passes, the weakside defenders adjust to play two Pistons against four Bulls or one against three. As long as Jordan is out of the picture, they love those odds.

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[mathsteacher45]

@bolder2009 absolutely right !!

[TaylorAA23]

most star players other than fundamental players such as duncan,love, bynum and maybe a few other playerswould be bench warmers in the 80s and 90s imho. todays game is based more on flash than fundamentals which is rather sad.

[23TDJ]

They would have to change their entire game because the defense was good fundamentally, they collapsed, they helped, they didn't give up and-ones, they recovered and you didn't get baby fouls and you had to earn free throws. You face doubles and triples and the entire team when you come to the lane. But, on the other hand, Jordan, Olajuwon, Ewing, Penny, Clyde, Pippen, Wilkins, Bird, Magic, Sir Charles, Shawn Kemp, Isaiah, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and David Robinson would have a field day now

[23TDJ]

@Kenny1984 to have survive because you wasn't facing one person you had the whole team. Kobe, Wade and especially Lebron depend on fouls to get points. They would all have to alter their games or they would suck. Just the attitude and the tenacity of the defense back then just frustrate them. But, I think Kobe and Wade could have changed to make an impact, but the way they play now would not work. "Kobe and Lebron would have a field day" I can't believe you said that disrespect..........

[23TDJ]

@Kenny1984 most of these players don't guard Kobe, most of them suck now, B roy is retired and played Kobe for what 4 or 5 good years, Melo and KD doesn't matchup against Kobe, and the fact that he only faces Wade and Lebron twice throughout the entire year so please shut up with this bull competition. When it comes down to it Kobe, Wade, Lebron face really weak defenses that don't have fundamentals; getting every call possible. I'm a Rose fan but Rose would have to seriously alter his game.....

[23TDJ]

@Kenny1984 are you serious when did game only depend on athleticism. Lebron and Kobe would struggle. Players didn't play one on one so it didn't matter that it was Isaiah or Dumars because the entire team helped defend him. Again are you serious, people back then had a thing called hustle and fundamentals unlike the garbage defenses now. You don't have to be athletic to be dominant talk to Kevin Love. You sound so stupid. Kobe doesn't face Wade, Tmac, VC, AI, Lebron, Melo, KD, B roy.........

[Kenny1984]

@bolder2009 Kobe has more competition

Who was competing with MJ in the perimeter ? Clyde Drexler ?

Kobe have Wade, Tmac, VC, AI, Lebron, Melo, KD, Broy etc. Great perimeter players

defenders back in Jordan era doesn't have the lateral quickness and footwork of today defenders.

[Kenny1984]

All these MJ rules wouldnt mean a damn thing if Jordan have great shooter camping on the lanes

Also notice the sizes of the Piston guards vs MJ lol

MJ is 6'6 with a 40 inch hop

Joe Dumar is 6'3, Isaiah 6'0 . Rodman is the only one who can match up with MJ in term of size but MJ speed , agility and first step poses too much threat for Rodman to guard him 1 one 1.

Again this is late 80s , before Pippen develop.

All this MJ rules wouldnt mean a damn thing if MJ had better teammates

[Kenny1984]

@23TDJ

Don't know what youre smoking on but if you watch the 80s, 90s defense. The lateral speed and footwork of the defenders are terrible compare to today defenders.

MJ was one of the few that have a deadly first step thus he was able to beat his unathletic defender to the rim.

Put Kobe and Lebron , Wade, Rose, etc back in the 80s and 90s and it would be nightmare for the defenders

[Kenny1984]

@23TDJ "Lebron and Kobe are lucky to have not played throughout the 80's and 90's"

Umm no Lebron and Kobe would have a field day

Back then the defenders lateral speed is pathetic . One step and Lebron would be at the rim. same with Kobe. He would just rise over his defender for a easy jumpshot