Michael Jordan 1997: First Game Vs. Shaq/Kobe Lakers, 30pts
Uploaded by: hoopsencyclopedia
Video Description:
If I remember correctly, I believe MJ had one of his all-night-golf outings before this game which was one reason why his shot might have eluded him this night. This game was interesting in that MJ was meeting Shaq in LA for the first time. On a side note, the appetizer was a very young and skinny Kobe Bryant who was given 10 minutes in his first ever game against his idol. And as MJ greeted a rookie Shaq in Orlando in their first meeting with a block, MJ welcomed the future star to a modest dunk in their very first matchup (the 2nd meeting is also uploaded on my channel).
But the story of the game was the game. The Bulls were taken aback by an amazing night from Van Exel and Shaq and fell behind by 22 at the half. MJ's shot was only visible at the end of the half which was probably why the Bulls didn't drop by 30. In the 2nd half, MJ became what he would call "Th
e Utility Man". He plugged all the holes and did the dirty work - hustling on defense, setting screens, passing to the hot man etc. Down 18 points in the 4th, Kukoc and Pip stepped up and stood besides MJ's leadership and brought the game to OT. And while MJ's shot was still MIA, he drilled the nail
-in-coffin free throws to seal the game. This was one of the most amazing comebacks ever and one reason why the Bulls were the Bulls.
Tags for this video: AI Basketball Bird Bulls Carmelo Chicago Garnett Heat Iverson Jordan Kobe Lakers Lebron Magic Michael Paul Shaq Wade Yao
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1996-98 WERE NOT MJ's "Peak" years. Those were the years he was on the DOWNSIDE of his career, but he "STILL" was heads
shoulders above the rest..
1986-92 were his "PRIME" yrs. That was "Air Jordan"..kobe comes NOWHERE CLOSE to that MJ. He more favoriably compares to the '96-'98 version of MJ, as far as physical ability goes..
No, MJ is the GOAT of 2-guards because of what he "CONSISTENTLY DID" on the floor. The stats are a "RESULT" of that. The league doesn't just "Make Up" stats
assign them to people LOL!!
In EVERY facet of the game, MJ in reference to kobe, is simply just better. His CAREER #'s PROVE it.. Hell, in 2 yrs with the wizards, he went out
posted avg's that are virtually "IDENTICAL" to kobe's "Career" avg's
he was 40!
posted avg's that are virtually "IDENTICAL" to kobe's "Career" avg's
he was 40!"---Wow...you definitely don't understand do you? Kobe dropped 81 POINTS on one team...
people say "oh but it was Toronto"...that doesn't matter...NO ONE should drop 81 points in this age in time...NO ONE. Not to mention, he outscored (62 points) the whole team of Dallas in 3 QUARTERS!...oh yeah, did I mention that Dallas went to the finals that SAME YEAR!
What you're "FAILING" (
MISERABLY at that) to understand, is these kinda offensive explosions by him, are a DIRECT RESULT of the "Changes" in the defensive rules, more than his offensive talents.
Is it "Coincidence", that "Prior To" the defensive changes, he never came ANYWHERE CLOSE to avg'n 30ppg or that Shaq was the ONLY player with a 60+ pt offensive effort since the 90's? SINCE those changes, we have 6 players with 60+ pts in a game..ALL GUARDS!
Of course they do! Did horry ever lead ANY of the teams he played on in ppg, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, etc.? Then it's PLAIN to see, what his "Role" was.. Stats CONSISTENTLY reflect performance on the court, which "IS" influenced by skill/talent, thus they CONSISTENTLY reflect who tha
t player is, was
has been for their career..
But you're arguing his 81 pt game
his outing vs Dallas as his "Worth" in reference to MJ.
U guys ALWAYS pick these "mini-accomplishments" of kobe's to try
compare to what MJ CONSISTENTLY did offensively.
This only highlights just "HOW" out of his league he really is when put into it's PROPER perspective. He's NEVER scored 50+ pts vs the league's #1 or 2 defense in his career! Think about that..
aggressive defense LOL!! Remember the '04 Finals? And NONE of these teams today are as physical as the Bad Boy Pistons, early 90's Knicks, hell, mid 90's Heat LOL!! Is it coincidence that for kobe's 1st 8 yrs, he played against that kinda defense
he avg'd only 21ppg on 42% shooting, but "After" the rules changed, it jumped to 31ppg on 46% shooting. U think that's a coincidence?
3-sec rule(s), the Top 10 scorers were avg'n 23.45ppg with 4 players 6-6
shorter
2 post players. In 2006, just 2 yrs "AFTER" the changes, the Top 10 scorers were avg'n 29.1ppg..a 23% INCREASE, with 6 players being 6-6
under, with NONE OF THEM being post players! I ask again, is it just a coincidence that all these wing players, especially kobe, started havin' these offensive explsions around the time of the changes?
They ALWAYS tty to take a "FEW" moments of Jordan-esq offensive brilliance by kobe
compare it to what MJ "Consistently" did for his career
think that they're making a LEGITIMATE argument LOL!!
Like I said, once its put into its PROPER perspective, it only HIGHLIGHTS just how he DOESN'T compare to MJ..
88 Jordan would have dunked on the entire Laker team more than once in this game.