Sonics' Defense on Michael Jordan (1996 NBA Finals)

Sonics' Defense on Michael Jordan (1996 NBA Finals)

[@universexf6]

What makes Jordan different from others is his shooting skill when he is falling. That skill is no doubt ever sooooo spectacular.

[@Shojjahan]

This is one the best basketball videos that's been posted, true game film, it settles the GOAT question once and for all, what a man.

[@SrtKoke]

So lebron has never been doubled on defense.

[@Itsdwayne]

@@SrtKoke I don't think he said LeBron never get double team but you said it. you can look up Lebron get double team then look up Micheal Jordan get double team and it a whole different situation

[@justsayin669]

@@Itsdwayne How much a player gets doubled doesn't dictate how good they are. There are so many defensive schemes that can be thrown at a player and teams simply know that doubling LeBron isn't usually a smart decision because he will pick you apart.

[@madman8319]

@@Itsdwayne you dumb

[@happyvrguy]

Did anyone else see jordan airball every game but one...

[@zpacify]

Wow, that was intense. Ive already forgotten how defense could be so intense back then. I get tired watching these guys battle for position..The fact that Jordan could still score against this type of defense is impressive.

[@Rodzilla97]

that Supersonics team had one of the best perimeter defenses ever. my god...

[@HMRS]

0:20 explain that

[@MS-so5fr]

@@HMRS Better defense than the best defense we see today. By far. Not even close.

[@sportstalkonly1442]

@@MS-so5fr definitely not. Still illegal defensive rules. No zone

[@Big_3000]

@@sportstalkonly1442Sonics lead the league in illegal defense calls in 96 by far to the point where the Jazz and Sonics both complained of illegal defense not being called against them to the press.

[@sportstalkonly1442]

@Big_3000 that's a well known fact..there's articles on it..the sonics had tactics to get away with it..that doesn't mean zone was legal.

[@BallerFever]

I hardly see teams playing defense this intense anymore... actually I've never seen a team play as physical as right here. This is GREAT DEFENSE and Jordan still did awesome...

[@drewfernelius3330]

Gary payton only guarded jordan two games during that series. You didn't see defense that intense then

[@NothingElseMattersJM]

@@drewfernelius3330 He was getting doubled the entire series lol

[@1124-w9d]

Personally, I think this may be the best team defense against a wing player ever. I've seen the Bad Boys and the 90s Knicks play D and of course they were phenomenal, but the thing about 90s Sonics was that they had the combination of 90s physicality and the active switch-rotation of the post-2004 era(handcheck-ban era) Look how they are actively switching the perimeter players so that anyone playing 1 to 3 could be on MJ, and how everyone else is helping out. What's more is even when they're swarming MJ, there aren't that many open chances for anyone else on the Bulls. Their defense from 1:34 is just flawless. They got three guys surrounding Jordan, but the moment the ball swings over to Pip, the defender goes right back on Kerr to stop that deadly three. Payton is too far away to guard Scottie so the guy guarding Kukoc comes over. When Scottie passes to Toni and he pulls up, Payton goes back to cover him. All while Wingate is at the rim hassling Mike. It's just perfect. You have two or three guys always bothering Jordan, yet open chances for other players are very scarce. In 91 finals, the Lakers focused on Jordan so Paxson was left open for all those shots. But not here. Their defense is just astonishing to look at. The only real weakness the Sonics had was that they were a small team, which explains why Luc Longley had a career series against them. (Though of course, a career series by Luc isn't that much of a threat) As far as defending the perimeter players, I don't think it gets any better than this.

[@vitezjura]

How do you think they would match vs the 2016 Warriors (without Durant)? I don't think Warriors were used to defense this intense, but on the other hand no one has ever seen someone like Curry.

[@JoshDavis1016]

@@vitezjura In fairness, the Warriors have never seen a defense like the 96-97 Bulls, they have an answer defensively for each of their stars, Harper, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, against Curry, Klay, KD, Green would be a matchup for the ages, Warriors without KD I think the Bulls sweep.

[@ampworkz22]

Jordan's aggressiveness is amazing to see...Relentless

[@jordanrioscreations]

2:16 Amazing shot.

[@gcasillas1213]

I love how michael just took the hit and got back up to play defense. Not even once did I see him complain. Amazing

[@dadillonful]

Because he was complaining to the league

[@chichis5757]

@@dadillonful yep

[@that_dude_tk7327]

@@dadillonful how do you mean?

[@CraZzy3n3rGy]

Wasn't old enough to watch him and remember these great games but look at his motor. Yes he is great but I think the greatest thing about him was his stamina to defend and score on these type of defense day in and day out.

[@boogieloo1831]

Thomas Le - definitely. Countless people who played and were broadcasters in his day talk about MJ's motor as one of the main factors that separated him from everyone else.

[@airtime23]

STAMINA!!! Imagine how consuming it is to fight through this kind of defense just to get the ball. It also shows you how strong Payton was.

[@akonvict]

True my man. But most of all, what people don't realize is that MJ strived on this kind of defense. "Allright you're gonna double and triple me, hard foul me and put me on the ground, I'll show you that I will overcome anything you throw my way". That's that killer mentality he had that allowed him to DOMINATE, and that will NEVER EVER be duplicated. He loves that hard defense, he loved competition and didn't want anything to be easy, he wanted to overcome the BIGGEST CHALLENGES. GOAT.

[@okeythegoat2332]

❤

[@NotAnAstronaut2k]

11 years ago comment still facts today

[@jobgarilao1285]

Good times. This is a real basketball. Tripple Team on def. No Blood no Foul. Also calling travels. good times.

[@kbend]

Goes to show just how much harder it was to score back then.

[@SrtKoke]

This is fken trash defense

[@goodguyfergie2071]

Clutch Hoops how the hell is it trash? lmao every play he was forced for a) a bad shot or b) a tough shot

[@cancel-9646]

They can play defense? They can't even barely jump with Jordan.

[@samhopkins3610]

Edizon Ediza well Jordan has one of the highest verts ever

[@et5740]

Edizon Ediza Clearly didn’t even watch the damn vid

[@algladyou]

And they say mj was never double team. Heck, this is triple

[@clydetheglidetop5sgtop10du7]

I was literally gonna comment this

[@algladyou]

@@clydetheglidetop5sgtop10du7 right? It seems they followed the jordan rule without hurting him.

[@Good4uNot4me]

That's how triple team was born. Why i cant see it on these days.

[@chongyen7923]

lol.. today's NBA is a joke

[@scarykurapika100yago2]

Sonics played so hard and very physical on defense, they switched and sent double/triple teams greatly, they even got away playing zones. But lastly they had DPOY Gary Payton.. but guess what MJ still averaged 27 lol

[@Thechannel8286]

God damn look at the fear Jordan put on the defense they relentlessly sent triple teams just amazing how much damage he can do especially when he was in his prime when is another player like this gonna come along?? ? Never so stop looking.

[@elranchero4204]

10 year olds lookin at this like 👁👄👁 "What about lebron" like bitch gtfoh

[@victorquintana4018]

ever heard of a 6'9" guy who'll tell you where he would get the ball and shoot it in your face??..

[@kOrOne79]

Jordan shot 42% Kukoc shot 42% Harper shot 38% Pippen shot 34% Kerr shot 30% Sonics really played great defense against them.

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

i still say till this day, this was the best D played on MJ in all his trips to the NBA Finals, esp in Games 4-6. It seemed like it was like 6-7 Sonics players on the court. They were swarming. The amazing thing is MJ still put up really good numbers

[@thomasdealmeidaleone9859]

That was the only time MJ faced good defense 😂 and only the last 3 games when Payton did guard him and he shot like 36% FG and averaged 23 PPG.

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

@@thomasdealmeidaleone9859 i disagree. the 90s was the defense/hard fouling era. U had bad boy pistons, knicks, heat, pacers, jazz, sonics, suns, rockets etc. u had to be a man to drive the lane in that era

[@thomasdealmeidaleone9859]

@@Classicbasketballdvds c'mon man. Don't say what everybody is used to just to overrate the 90's. MJ faced Scott, Ainge, Drexler, Majerle, Hornaceck twice on the perimeter in the NBA finals. Those were just bad defenders, specially for a guy as explosive as MJ. Payton was the real deal, that's why he shot 36% FG in the last 3 games of the NBA finals. Joe Dumars was a great defender, that's why he struggled against Detroit. Cause it's was actual good defenderS guarding him. Imagine Kawhi, Iggy, Bowen, Tony Allen (just to name a few) guarding him in the perimeter, with zone defense allowed and the likes of Ben Wallace, Duncan, Garnett waiting in the paint. There's no comparison. And I'm a MJ fan. Everybody who likes basketball, loves MJ, he's the GOAT to me, for now. Depends on what LeBron does the rest of his career. But the 90's is just overrated by old folks because of the sometimes physical play and that doesn't mean good defense.

[@thomasdealmeidaleone9859]

@@Classicbasketballdvds I mean think about. Reggie Miller was one of the best opponents MJ had in his position with Drexler. To put it in perspective, Ray Allen, who's not even top 25 in the 00's/10's is equal or better than Miller. Wade, Kobe and Harden were all better than Drexler ever was. And I'm talking only SGs.

[@Classicbasketballdvds]

@@thomasdealmeidaleone9859 u may have a point here. i think harden and drexler may be a bit even here and drexler has a chip. but we're talking defense

[@RunninAD]

It was always fun watching Gary and Michael play each other. No love lost there

[@lisashirley7051]

What a great defence!! It is a pity that nowadays we almost can't see the tough defence in the NBA...

[@HMRS]

Better than watching bums and plumbers

[@leecm]

I wish the NBA would release these series on bluray in their entirety.

[@maskriderrx]

Great post! U can see how tough it was during that era!!!

[@magichands135]

Never realised he was guarded so intensely! Its tiring to watch even and he makes it look effortless.

[@EnduringArts]

+Magic Hands No modern player is exposed to this type of pressure and physicality.

[@TheLionaaa]

+Magic Hands He would do it all the time, even though he was guarded that intensely all the time. There is a reason why he is so legendary...

[@bermudacuba]

Much of this video you see the Sonics have one or more defenders camping the paint for 3+ seconds without actively guarding their man. Players haven’t had to deal with that since 2001/02 with the defensive 3 seconds rule.

[@NothingElseMattersJM]

That was Jordan’s entire career lol

[@peteralick]

I love this kind of basketball; tough, physical defence and a prime example why I find it so difficult to watch todays NBWBA.

[@marlonborreo]

wow, what brutal physicality MJ had to fight through game in and game out! I've never seen anyone else fight through that kind of defense and still produce at a high level. Not Kobe, not LeBron, not Iverson, not anyone. MJ is the Real King.

[@cheyheyway6244]

Fight through what his one on one matchup?

[@marcusreed5862]

@@cheyheyway6244 I think he was being sarcastic 😂

[@bigball3947]

Actually, all of them had to. Don't down others and put your persona at the top.

[@Obkool27]

Jordan was awful this series. Shot under 40% are you blind?

[@MS-so5fr]

@@cheyheyway6244 One on one? Lmao you ain’t even watch. MJ is being doubled, tripled and quadrupled here. They ain’t leaving him alone. They’re running every kind of zone and man to man and hand check and rough edge they can. Meanwhile LeSoft plays in the defensive 3 second violation era, rarely gets doubled by weak defenders today and has 6’1 point guard children on him today. Or JJ Barea who locked him up.

[@jumpnam]

Love that swagger at 6:19. He's like, "c'mon...that's all you can do to stop me. Wrap me up."

[@halenbardock7031]

Thats what a lot of people (todays casual fans) dont realize. Jordan had to fight for position constantly, and if his shooting was off hed still come back on defense and give it his all. A lot of players now dont have to fight that hard for positioning because of rule changes, and sure as hell dont get defense played on them like that.

[@TRYNDD]

A lot of zone defense for an era where they allegedly didn’t play zone

[@tylerwaffles21]

Jesus Saldana maybe because...he was a FOURTY year old GUARD way past his prime. Who still by the way averaged over 20 a game.

[@tylerwaffles21]

Jesus Saldana yeah when you get older you’re not at your physical prime, meaning your legs get tired faster, meaning your shooting percentage is going to drop. Remember he was 40 year old guard shooting from the perimeter. 2001 was also in the most defensive era in the history of the sport. And the 40 year old Jordan still averaged 20+.

[@tylerwaffles21]

Jesus Saldana YOU brought up the 42% at age 40. If he played in his physical prime you really think he would still be shooting that poorly...give me a break.

[@tylerwaffles21]

Jesus Saldana Kobe who was the best guard in that era shot 46%. 4 percentage points more than a 40 year old Jordan. So yes if Jordan was younger he would have shot much better. Maybe not 50% since it was by far the most defensive era in basketball, but close.

[@tylerwaffles21]

Jesus Saldana of course he is going to shoot worse. I mean a guard at age 40 is different than say a power forward at age 40. And he wasn’t getting to the rim as much at that point. So even shooting 42% while primarily shooting jumpers in the most defensive era in basketball at the age of 40 is quite impressive.

[@ferrarijm9]

absolutely awesome video. Nice clips including both preferable defense from Sonics and outstanding offense from Chicago Bulls(especially Jordan). Thanks a lot for such a clip.

[@AzmiGameTV]

hes so fast, even the cameras having a hard time chasing him..

[@weezergiantfly]

Thank you for making this video for fans of the game. Not fans of the story lines.

[@tonytoni16]

you never see michael complain in this defense . GOAT

[@sabishiihito]

The 3-point line was moved closer that season.

[@jp3813]

1994-95 to 1996-97 seasons. The intention was to stop the decline in scoring, but it didn't work.

[@kristion9774]

@@jp3813 made help defense closer, paint harder to penetrate.

[@khiladiincorporated6286]

@@jp3813 Also it was done when Jordan retired and ratings dipped. So it was just another rule to try and pump up ratings because the pull of Jordan no longer there.

[@lionelangemario]

nate mcmillan,vincent askews, david wingate,gary payton,shawn kemp,hersey hawkins...a collection of great individual defenders in only one roster,what a team!

[@revelation67]

Doubled him every time he touched the ball.

[@jumpnam]

Absolutely right man. Rodman won them 2 games (Game 2 and game 6) and was the most consistent player for the Bulls. I been a Jordan fan all my life, but even watching this series as a 14 year old, I knew Mike was having his worst Finals. I was worried he was washed up. Then he came back next 2 Finals and averaged 32ppg and then 33ppg and I was alright :)

[@erwinadrados4747]

that boxout by MJ on 8:41 is massive

[@poet279]

Sonics 1996 was a great team. Love Shawn Kemp, he was a beast.

[@derrickdarakyahawadahyashr6707]

It's senseless to even start a conversation about anybody ever being as good as MJ. Milky Bucketz. At 6:54 battling hard for the rock, soon as he receives it, laser quick turnaround jumper in Payton's face.

[@Keepit_100]

LAST 3 GAMES OF THE 96 FINALS FOR MJ: 23.7 PPG 3.3APG 36.7% FG 11.1 3PT %

[@derrickdarakyahawadahyashr6707]

​@@Keepit_100I know. And you see why. In my opinion Rodman was the real MVP. But this series shows how laser focused MJ was despite the swarming doubles and triples defense.

[@Brackus2]

there is somethin incredibly beautiful about the game and how it is played here. The post up battles that Jordan and Payton (and others) have is just amazing. I understand there is a home for players who just run willy nilly around the court, utilizing a bunch of screens set for them, just to get an open shot. However, having a guy on your team you can send down to the post, post em up, and good things will usually happen on your team, that is such a luxury...

[@LakerKev]

They made MJ work hard. Gotta give the Sonics credit but Jordan as always raises his game to a level that no human can reach.

[@poiuymsong]

That was the most successful defense against MJ because he scored just 27.3 ppg in the final games haha

[@raurman4946]

Pretty good considering he was dropping between 40-50 on the other teams he played in the finals.

[@georgio2976]

Ye this was by far the best defense MJ played against in the finals, they held him to kobe-like efficiency

[@queballXgames]

Real Defense!!

[@derrickdarakyahawadahyashr6707]

Payton flops at 3:17. Jordan gets the Offensive foul and laughs it off while shaking his head. LeBron would appreciate that highlight.

[@stlshow629]

The Sonics borrowed a page from the Bad Boys. MJ needed his teamates this series. The Sonics had great defense, they set a record for steals that year.

[@TKollaKid]

This was awesome. Thanks for posting :)

[@boogieloo1831]

I don't think people realize how much of a difference this kind of physical play over 48 minutes can have on a player. The fatigue is so much more than today. When you fight to establish position and run through illegal screens and get held constantly over a game, it breaks you down with fatigue. Today's guys play through very little resistance, period.

[@SrtKoke]

How is this physical. All I see is mj doing a weak ass pump fake, drives and doesnt get touched until hes in the paint lol this defense is horrible

[@ThanosDidTheRightThing]

@@SrtKoke 4:40. That’s 100% a flagrant foul in today’s game. You can’t even argue against that.

[@UpTheDown7]

@@SrtKoke You watched this entire video and don't think MJ was touched until he reached the paint? Seek help, bruh.

[@FrankW1029]

Today's NBA everyone guarding MJ would foul out in 5min...

[@Daveskee]

GP is a defensive genius

[@duncanspurs-21angle]

Espero que puedas leerlo con traductor: Este video es genial Es increible como editaste el video para que se vean los detalles importantes de la defensa que le hacen a Jordan Me gustan los videos que señalan con: . Circulos . Luz y sombreados . Numeros . Lineas . Slow motion y acercamientos Ya que permiten ver con claridad lo que quieres que vean y donde empieza la jugada o situacion que se quiere mostrar Hay otros videos que se sobrepasan con el uso de esos recursos de edicion y pausas excesivas que ya te aburren lo lento que va el video Felicidades amigo Este video deberian ponerlo para dar clases de como mostrar un contenido con la edicion correcta Posdata: Espero que puedas hacer mas videos como éste, de: . Jordan contra la defensa de los Bad Boys de Detroit Pistons cuando los Bad Boys eliminaron a Jordan y los bulls . Jordan contra la defensa de los Bad Boys de Detroit Pistons cuando los Bulls eliminaron a los Bad Boys (creo que fue en el 91, cuando incluso se fueron sin darles la mano a los ganadores) . Kawhi defendiendo a Lebron en las finales 2014 . Kawhi defendiendo a Giannis en las finales 2019 . La defensa de Kobe en las Finales de 2009 y 2010 Ahi te dejo esas ideas que espero que te sirvan si es que las tomas en cuenta Felicidades por tu trabajo Que te vaya bien en todo

[@orlandolewis1629]

And your favorite player now days haven't even seen a defense like this! So never try to compare anyone to this guy!

[@benwallace5364]

Orlando Lewis defense is the same today the only diffenrence is the intensity of the crowd....

[@orlandolewis1629]

Patrick Robertson Bruh name 1 team in the NBA right that plays this kind of Defense! With the defensive player of the year on their team

[@benwallace5364]

Orlando Lewis spurs

[@orlandolewis1629]

Patrick Robertson Spurs are a old school team lol!!

[@benwallace5364]

Orlando Lewis they are new school as well lol

[@TieOnRadish]

And this probably isn't even as rough as what Bad Boy Pistons did to Jordan

[@mikebuckets]

Not nearly

[@algladyou]

Thats what i said. They seem to used the jordan rule without the hurting part.

[@victorquintana4018]

that was the 80's..90's...soft.

[@nicktamere75]

Payton's defense is a thing of beauty. Too bad we can't see this type of D anymore

[@DjGoGo09]

its cuz when jordan was supposed to sign to a college team, he was in the gym practicing lol. he played more basketball outside of the nba than most players played in their whole lives

[@jraposo]

I counted 6 fouls that would've been flagrants by today's standards

[@ChicagoJ351]

Great footage here. It's nice to see Gary Payton's defense get credit and you see alot of off the ball stuff. And of course, MJ's greatness.

[@SBIJJJ1]

man what an unstoppable fadeaway

[@chitownkidd33]

Thanks so much for this

[@jsm607781]

wow..Payton+Kemp+Schrempf..love that '96 Sonics team

[@jiangteng]

today rules, MJ and GP foul out in 1 qt.

[@Akirah1231]

true

[@glassjabari]

King Hang Wong he'd probably be the best defender ever who knows

[@X02Overdose]

jiang teng nah MJ actually played good defense when he was on the Wizards

[@JoshDavis1016]

The most ignorant comment possible, Jordan and Payton were light years ahead of today’s players mentally, they would adapt and dominate the NBA today.

[@boogieloo1831]

King Hang Wong - Jordan and Pippen were better overall defenders than Kawhi. Jordan is arguably the greatest perimeter defender of all time and is universally accepted as one of the greatest defenders overall of all time. You guys with these types of comments are laughable and clearly have zero understanding of the game. Kawhi is a great player but but not nearly as good offensively as Jordan, Pippen, Barkley and countless others of the past. He's a great defender but he's no Jordan or Pippen. Clearly slower than Jordan.

[@Blodia1990]

Kobe never was on Jordan's level. Nobody is nor will ever be

[@Keepit_100]

LAST 3 GAMES OF THE 96 FINALS FOR MJ: 23.7 PPG 3.3APG 36.7% FG 11.1 3PT %

[@scarykurapika100yago2]

The Sonics used the Jordan rules minus the hard fouling.

[@stevenwalker7925]

Unbelievable post A+++* pretty much settles the debate PERIOD

[@AMIGOrute]

Damn. Guards those days were a lot more physical than post players these days.

[@chrislee232445]

RESPECT to Payton

[@tng2528]

That is why he succeed...these defenses made him great.

[@jvinsantos6861]

NBA Superstars nowadays when get bump and shots didn't fall will death stare or cry to the referees immediately.. MJ just build different.. also Kobe as well!

[@DoulsTIM]

oh yeah.

[@tanetoa]

GOAT ... enuf said. Thanks for sharing!

[@Teffy2105]

dam mike post was amazing he changed his style of play as he got older he mastered the post game. His younger days he used all athletics that quite astonishing for someone to change their game that much and still dominate like he did unbelievable!! When LBJ loses his speed it's going to be tough for him because his post game has a long way to go. MJ post game was better than PF & centers.

[@corkystorky]

I agree, most managers recruit players with high D even with low scoring, it's often rare to find a center that's complete package, with offense and defense, like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Marvis Camat.

[@zmoneytmnt]

First of all Jordan was past his prime and hobbled with injuries here. Still the sonics are one of the most underrated defenses ever and had a great overall team defense on Jordan in the finals although I think Payton gets too much credit Jordan was 3/4 against payton in game 6 and shot 50% in game 5 so game 4 is the only game payton shut down Jordan. Also in the very next game after the finals george karl put Payton on Jordan and got destroyed for 45 points on 68%. Jordan was 7/11 with 18 points 2 offensive rebounds and 3 assists against Payton. Also missed a wide open three and faked payton out of his shoes but missed the wide open layup. So Payton really only forced one miss from jordan that game. It was so bad that Jordan mercifully didn't shoot the ball the rest of the game with 5 and a half mins left with the Bulls up by 20. So basically what I'm trying to say is that payton is not the Jordan stopper

[@TheLionaaa]

+Young Rain True, Jordan was 33 and got injured in the first round against Miami (he wasn't able to play the second half of game 2) on his back. And he played the entire playoffs with his injuries...

[@zmoneytmnt]

Air Magic Also was his first full year back from baseball. He probably was getting fatigued.

[@antigraphein943]

Rodman could stop Jordan

[@has3219]

this was actually Jordan still in prime he had the 3rd greatest statistical season by win shares and PER in nba history.

[@taehyeonlee6141]

Nakib Hasan you cant call 'prime' to a basketball player who was out playing baseball for a year and a half. before mike's first retirement, he was godly, but after his comeback, he wasnt in the same form

[@TRasheed94]

I did'nt get to watch Jordon when I was growing up.... wtf happend to the standard of basketball since then?!?!

[@jal2135]

They held jordan to 41% from the field, the best of any finals. That is respectable.

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

Jordan has 3 inches on EVERY Sonic guard in this series--Hersey Hawkins, 6-1, Payton, 6-2, Wingate 6-3. The bulk of his points came on posting up these skinny little guards.

[@TheLionaaa]

+Emmanuel Enyinwa He was also guarded by 6-10 (and very good defender) Detleph Schrempf. But it has nothing to do with the size. Payton was the defensive player of the year and Hawkins, Wingate and askew were all specialist defenders. You don't have any defenders like them in today's nba outside maybe Tony Allen and Bradley. Back in those days, there were great defenders on every roster...totally different level of basketball. Don't forget he was never guarded one on one...it was much more tougher top score back then.

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

"Hawkins, Wingate and askew were all specialist defenders. You don't have any defenders like them in today's nba outside maybe Tony Allen and Bradley." Now, that REALLY takes the cake. You are telling me that if you were a coach and you had your choice of who to put on the big 6-6 uber athlete guard bullying you in the blocks, you would rather have 6-1, 180 pound, can't dunk Hersey Hawkins on him rather than 6-7 uber athlete Klay Thompson or 6-7 monster athlete Andre Iguodala, or 6-7 Shaun Livingston, or, heck, 6-8 uber athlete Harrison Barnes. All you Jordan worshipers come up with some of the most asinine comments I've ever heard. Why can't you accept the FACT that in Jordan's time, there were maybe 2 or three athletic freaks like him, whereas in the NBA today, EVERY team has like 5 MJ level athletes?

[@TheLionaaa]

+Emmanuel Enyinwa Because your argument is DUMB and IGNORANT, that's why. Now let's go back to the beginning so that I can show you how stupid your comment is. First of all, why can't you (new nba fans who discovered basketball yesterday and who've been brainwashed by ESPN/TNT marketing/propaganda) recognize that YOU HAVE ZERO IDEA of what you are talking about when it comes to the 80's/90's? You don't know shit about this era. You said : " Now, that REALLY takes the cake. You are telling me that if you were a coach and you had your choice of who to put on the big 6-6 uber athlete guard bullying you in the blocks, you would rather have 6-1, 180 pound, can't dunk Hersey Hawkins on him rather than 6-7 uber athlete Klay Thompson or 6-7 monster athlete Andre Iguodala, or 6-7 Shaun Livingston, or, heck, 6-8 uber athlete Harrison Barnes" The DIRECT ANSWER is YES...IF AND ONLY IF THOSE PLAYERS ARE GREAT DEFENDERS. And there were great defenders on every roster back in those days. Did you see the 6'4, can't dunk Tony Allen SHUT DOWN the "6'11 MVP CAN PULL UP FROM 30" Kevin Durant??? Without any need of double team...until the newspapers nicknamed Durant " Mr UNRELIABLE"??? The refs had to BAIL OUT Durant to allow him to score by giving foul trouble to Tony Allen. The reality is that it's not only the rules that affected defense but the culture itself changed since nobody is playing defense nowadays. I've never seen THAT MANY OPEN SHOTS IN PLAYOFFS GAMES THAT WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. You think it's normal to have WIDE OPEN SHOTS IN PLAYOFFS GAMES? Klay Thompson my ass. What defense does he play? Allow Lillard to score 40 on him in a playoffs game and you call it great defense? Give me a break... Now, since you don't know...Gary Payton was 6'4, hersey Hawkins was 6'3, vincent askew was 6'6, david Wingate was 6'5, Schrempf was 6'10 as well as Kemp and Nate McMillan was 6'6'. They all guarded Jordan in those finals. THERE IS NO TEAM IN TODAY'S NBA THAT CAN MATCH THE DEFENSIVE LEVEL OF THIS TEAM. THIS IS A TEAM THAT SHUT DOWN OLAJUWON (6 POINTS...) AND SWEPT THE DEFENDING REPEATING CHAMPION. So get your facts right to begin with...and stop using stupid arguments. Last but not least, if basketball was only about athleticism, then why the fuck Lavigne isn't the best player in the game? Why Tim Duncan and the Spurs dominate every season since almost 20 years? Why Steph Curry is so dominant? Do you think only shooting guards would guard MJ in his time?? Jordan was guarded by all positions except the center position...you're just ignorant. When Chuck Daily (legendary coach) tries to put Rodman (an athletic freak and 2 times nba defensive player of the year) on Jordan and then prefer to go back with 6'4 Joe Dumars (one of the best defender ever at his position), is he Dumb??? Or does he understand basketball than fans like you raised with the baby bottle of ESPN/TNT? You call me Jordan worshiper? Well, 90% of basketball fans are "Jordan worshipers", including Kobe and Lebron (and you are either a Kobe worshiper or a Lebron worshiper). Let me go even further and let's pretend basketball is all about athleticism like you do, you say there are better athletes today than in Jordan's era right? Then give me your top 3 of athletic players at EACH POSITION in this currant era and let's look at it and compare it with Jordan's era (give me also the 2 or 3 players that were the only athletic freak in Jordan's era in your mind) and we'll see...

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

"When Chuck Daily (legendary coach) tries to put Rodman (an athletic freak and 2 times nba defensive player of the year) on Jordan and then prefer to go back with 6'4 Joe Dumars (one of the best defender ever at his position), is he Dumb???" No. But, he UNDERSTOOD that leaving Rodman out on the floor for long periods SEVERELY weakened the Pistons OFFENSIVELY against what was back then a GREAT Bulls defensive team. It also put too much ball handling responsibility on Isaiah Thomas, and Jordan would bully little Isaiah, who Jordan had 5 inches on, and this would hurt the Pistons offense, as they had no other ball handler besides Thomas and Dumars, as Vinnie Johnson was primarily a jump shooter with no playmaking ability off the dribble. And, if you played BOTH Dumars and Rodman, Dumars had to swith over to a long offensive player like Pippen, or you had to sit Mark Aguire or Adrian Dantley, two severely undersized, but very good small forwards. So, you see, there was a lot more to the Pistons concerns than how many points a ball hog hero baller scored. It worked because they kept beating Jordan and the Bulls in the playoffs until Thomas got hurt and expansion decimated the team.

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

+Air Magic "The reality is that it's not only the rules that affected defense but the culture itself changed since nobody is playing defense nowadays. I've never seen THAT MANY OPEN SHOTS IN PLAYOFFS GAMES THAT WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. You think it's normal to have WIDE OPEN SHOTS IN PLAYOFFS GAMES?" As you could see from my games (if you cared to look), I could shoot a little from outside, but this was in the days of the 20 foot college line. I played in the Pro Am under NBA rules for years and NEVER made an NBA 3 in a game. NONE of us WORKED on NBA 3s back then because NOBODY thought it was a good shot. Larry Bird was reputed to be the "best shooter in the NBA" back then, but he was a .376 percent 3 point shooter. In his second season, when he led the Celtics to the title, he made ELEVEN threes the entire SEASON, shooting .211 percent. And, he was the best shooter on his team! Today, EEEEEEEEEEVERYBODY can shoot, well, except Tony Allen. Kevin Love is a 6-11 center. On Sunday, he made 9 threes. In other words, he made almost as many 3s in one NBA GAME as Bird made in a season. On the same team, when they defend the pick and roll by trapping LeBron, he simply picks them apart by finding the open guy. Same with Irving. If you leave ANY of them open, they will rain 3s on you. Can you IMAGINE Rick Mahorn or Bill Laimbeer or Bill Cartwright or Oliver Miller or Greg Ostertag chasing Love around 28 feet from the hoop? You DON'T think Paul Milsap and Al Horford are better athletes than Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn? Yet, LeBron's intelligence, Lue's coaching and the INSANE skill level of Love, Smith, Irving, Shumpert and co keep making them look silly. You really think the Pistons lineup of 6-2 Dumars, 6-1 Isaiah, 6-4 FAT Mark Aguirre or 6-5 non-athletic Adrian Dantley, and 6-11 fat white Bill Laimbeer, and 7-1 OLD, slow James Edward can COMPETE with the team that swept the Hawks yesterday?

[@arasseo_wakarimashita3904]

lebron would cry if he face this kind of defense

[@Ghenges]

They have to play him as though every time he touches the ball he is going to score.. which is true. Greatest ever.

[@rionshilva15]

man! you have to respect Jordan's patience back then..GOAT

[@TheLionaaa]

That's a great video and this sonics team had a constellation of great defenders (like many teams in that era) on ...which is not exactly the same thing)its roster (Hawkins, Payton, Wingate, Askew, Nate McMillan)...even Schrempf and Kemp were very good defensively...). And the funny thing is this team was far from being the best defensive team Jordan faced in his career. But defense is only one aspect among many that has regressed tremendously in modern nba. The level of skills has regressed, the level of parity has regressed, the density of talents has regressed, the fundamentals have regressed, the centers disappeared and I'm not even talking about the phenomenon like Olajuwon, Shaw, Robinson, Ewing etc...the intensity of the game has regressed, the tactical aspect...so, people talk a lot about the rules which allowed a lot of physicality but it's not ONLY the rules. There is much more to it...

[@GMG05]

Unbelievable! I remember watching this.

[@drparkash]

James Harden needs to watch this

[@agda11]

If Jordan plays in this time he would score 40 points per game

[@alxx292]

They legit send help or trap him when ever he gets the ball in the post or on the perimeter lol and then they always have people collapse on him whenever he drives

[@Ljoose]

dang! These were the dayz boy!! In those games u really had to work for ur points! that defense on jordan was ridiculous which makes the games entertaining as f***. excuse my french!

[@Hirotigashi]

An example of getting away with zone defense in an era where it was illegal. In fact, the Sonics lead the league in illegal defense calls that year. After the 2001 All Star game Jordan said he wouldn’t have had as great of a career as he did have if he had to play against zone defense. This is a very wild video to watch

[@jessicalancaster4280]

The modern illegal defense is the defensive 3 second. You can only play true zones in FIBA.

[@chitownkidd33]

Agreed, the Sonics got away with playing zone the whole series. The degree of difficulty of these shots, coupled with the constant wrestling and fighting for position (which absolutely does not exist now ) makes this all the more impressive. When was the last time you saw guys fighting for position as long as 4,5,6 seconds as Payton and Jordan were. Todays players only look more skilled because they don’t have to use ANY energy fighting for position.

[@mbro9700]

Omitting the double forearms, elbows, knees, hip check, and hand placements not being called as well.

[@X02Overdose]

Jordan was referring to true zones you would see in college or from the 1950s lol

[@lucidstudious750]

Yes the physical era of the 90s that makes today's game SOFT Man Jordan was getting stabbed during this series

[@Keepit_100]

😂😂😂

[@jumpnam]

Look at the speed at 6:17. The change of pace.

[@TheDeftones821]

I miss these days of the NBA

[@Asgardberserk]

In order to put those schemes into FULL effect you will need the right players. You can't put those schemes to best use when guys that are supposed to rotate are to slow or are in the wrong place at the wrong time. IQ is just as important, a lot of nba players have the talent an athleticism (high jumping, quickness etc) but with the lack of IQ put themselves in the wrong position on the court to succeed on the defensive end.

[@Nate187um]

one man SPORT*, six games* I was going to OWN you but you OWNED yourself for me, thanks!

[@thumper3662]

man, GP is the freakin man! totally deserving of DPOY

[@anerres]

Gary Paytons defense is RIDICULOUS. he's a beast. But of course, MJ has the unfair advantage because he somehow is fucking amazing as always. Only having 1 or 2 "off games" during the duration of his career.

[@TheAcenck]

Amazing.

[@lionelangemario]

first of all,payton didn't guard jordan by himself in those finals,it was a collective work and this team had also great individuals(askew,wingate,hawkins,payton,kemp,mac milan) defenders. second,people forget that jordan played injured since the heat series. third,in game 3 of those finals,jordan had 30 at half time..but since it was a blowout,he didn't really try to dominate in the second half and finished with only 36.kobe would have tried to go for at least 60 at his place.

[@VinmanMJ23]

This is what I love about that era of NBA basketball. First of all it's very physical. Secondly, check out 0:42 where MJ makes the turn-around jumper the talks a little shit to Gary Peyton. Then at 2:52 Gary Peyton makes the steal and dunk and stares at MJ and talks a little shit too. :-)

[@mpix00]

When basketball was basketball!! I wish they allowed more defensive ability game!! Being a teenager in the 90's and that whole basketball era was amazing. Guess that's why i'm still schooling these youngsters with the all around game, fade away and defensive effort I Learned from the GREAT JORDAN AND PIPPEN!!

[@itzme_ztar]

,,thanks for this video,,we can see that michael jordan are 10 times greater than lebron,,,

[@JMXMCOC]

Defense was so physical back then. The only player today with active hands like that is wesley matthews & joahkim noah

[@um52]

Greatest defender ever vs the greatest player ever. Of course Jordan, the greatest player ever won the ring that year, Payton did a very solid job against him.