40 years ago (April 20, 1986) Michael Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics. A still standing playoff record.
I always find it jarring how long he waits on some shots before taking them, often taking them after he’s already started coming back to earth. Are there any other players that seemed to take advantage of their hangtime that?
He had incredible balance and body coordination in the air. It’s also what made him such a good finisher at the rim
And he’s got those big hands and generates power for his shots with a wrist flick, which lets him release whenever he wants.
Hands are kind of slept on, there’s dudes with Jordanesque hops and body control who had normal (to their size) hands and it stopped them from doing half of the acrobatic stuff
Hands are definitely not slept on, they’re a pre draft measurement. And anyone who has played basketball, knows how important hand size is.
His ability to float and maintain a stable shooting platform was insane. Haven’t seen anyone like it.
Something about Demar DeRozen’s game and jumper specifically reminds me of Jordan. Not the same exact style but the way his release kinda just holds there while in the air is similar and cool looking.
Vince Carter, you may laugh but he was expected to be the “next MJ” at one point. The trait they had in common was the ability to palm the ball with one hand and hang in the air. But Vince didn’t have the same first step or handle like MJ (still an awesome player and HOF)
The real surprising part was that he was a rare “next MJ” breed who was actually elite instead of a bust.
Early 2000’s was brutal with every team having a “next Jordan” wing taking 30 ISOs a game.
Excited for 7 years from now, when LeBron considers retirement, and every team has a “next LeBron” that puts up 15+/6+/6+ instead!
And never actually have a game with 15/6/6, just average it
My Wizards of course had Jerry Stackhouse and 40 year old one-knee MJ himself on the same team.. that was some thrilling fast paced basketball ..
Vince was touching the top of the back board in HS, so his peak jumping might have been a lot earlier and the knee problems came before he developed his bag and anykind of midair hangtime shot advantage.
Or drive to be great.
A couple of years ago I listened to a ex spanish basketball player talking about their experience in the olympics vs Jordan and he said something like “I was waiting for him to come and block the shot but once I raise my hand he was still going up and I was meeting his balls”
Yes but it ended up being a detriment. Westbrook used to really elevate on his jumper, as he got older and lost athleticism it really messed with his shot though.
I watched every pretty much every OKC game starting during the 2009 season until 2013. I definitely remember Westbrook getting up there for his jumpers, but I’m not sure I really recall him shooting after he started his descent.
Repeatedly watching MJ highlights there’s a split-second thought in my mind that he’s held on to the ball too long and will get an up and down call. The damn 3rd person muscle memory from watching so many other players shoot and his just breaks my brain so many times. Especially because he seems to do it jumping straight up and down and also on jumps where’s he’s covering a lot of horizontal distance.
Tbh it’s not really good form (and yes I know I’m saying this about Michael Jordan)
A lot of the really classic “signature moves” aren’t great form, some of them actually work because of this (because defenders train to stop one thing and get something different)- the Dirk fadeaway is way, way higher than his normal – textbook- release point for example
Honestly MJ never had the best form and his shot was always flat, but he was so elite at everything else and so goddamned athletic that it just did not matter even a little bit.
If you watch SGA shoot his midrange jumpers he does this a lot too. He’s releasing as he’s coming down sometimes and it looks so funky.
Shai has a hitch where it feels like takes too long before he releases
Kyrie
Kobe
The craziest thing that sticks out when watching 80’s Jordan is how it looks like he’s playing a completely different game. He was so damn far ahead of his time.
yeah it looks like somebody playing 2k on rookie difficulty with a 99 overall player
People upset at the number of times SGA goes to the line would have an absolute aneurysm with MJ playing with today’s rules.
people were having aneurysm’s about MJ going to the line back then, lmao.
There’s just always gonna be a subset of fans who’d rather focus on officiating than the actual sport. You see it in every sport at every level. The funniest version is parents crying to the teenage refs working their kids peewee games lol
At the time people bitched but a big part of it is he was so much better than everyone else it was hard to even ref him.
Oh for sure. I do think if social media had been around, reddit would have absolutely loathed 80s MJ.
It’s definitely interesting seeing how fan driven narratives develop on social media nowadays vs how narratives developed via in person interactions and traditional media back in the day. Definitely seems more negative now imo
my 13 year old son quit after reffing one weekend of 4-5 year old soccer games because parents were pissed and got mad at him for missing calls.
Those types of sports parents are disgusting.
right. it’s the part of the sport where the subjective judgement of an observer matters, where things are up for debate. so people with certain personality traits will get sucked into that
Athletic one of one. Especially relative to his era. And thats not shade on the era.
Yeah he was wicked fast in the first half of his career. Really fast
Crazy how some OKC fan said today that Shai is greater than Jordan. Anyone with eyes can see the difference.
this is when bird called him “god disguised as michael jordan”, right?
“I would never have called [a player] great like I’ve called him… That was God disguised as Michael Jordan”. “He was hitting outside shots, driving to the hole. We had about everyone on the team guarding him,” recalled Bird, now the Pacers’ advisor to the president of basketball operations. “He obviously was in a zone. He kept them in the game with big basket after big basket. We couldn’t stop him. We tried to shade him to help, everything. You were talking about a different type of talent.”
“I would never have called [a player] great like I’ve called him… That was God disguised as Michael Jordan”.
“He was hitting outside shots, driving to the hole. We had about everyone on the team guarding him,” recalled Bird, now the Pacers’ advisor to the president of basketball operations. “He obviously was in a zone. He kept them in the game with big basket after big basket. We couldn’t stop him. We tried to shade him to help, everything. You were talking about a different type of talent.”
This is possibly even better than the famous quote:
So the Bulls go into Game 1 with the mighty Celtics and Jordan plays 43 minutes, making 18 of 36 shots, 13 of 15 from the line for 49 points against nine-time all-defensive team guard Dennis Johnson. “Dennis was a prideful defensive player,” recalled Jerry Sichting, who would come off the bench and make what would be the winning shot in the second overtime. “He’s in the shower after that Game 1 when Michael has 49. He’s got the stat sheet stuck to the wall and he’s staring at it. He’s all soaped up and he says, ‘The good news is we beat them. Michael is never going to have another game like that again.’
So the Bulls go into Game 1 with the mighty Celtics and Jordan plays 43 minutes, making 18 of 36 shots, 13 of 15 from the line for 49 points against nine-time all-defensive team guard Dennis Johnson.
“Dennis was a prideful defensive player,” recalled Jerry Sichting, who would come off the bench and make what would be the winning shot in the second overtime. “He’s in the shower after that Game 1 when Michael has 49. He’s got the stat sheet stuck to the wall and he’s staring at it. He’s all soaped up and he says, ‘The good news is we beat them. Michael is never going to have another game like that again.’
Also some Heinshom-esque shower details. If you don’t like that, you don’t like Boston Celtics basketball.
https://www.nba.com/bulls/history/god-disguised-michael-jordan
Yeah.
It’s crazy to think a prospect of Jordan’s caliber was dropped into the 80s NBA. There still hasn’t been a guard drafted since then with his physical tools. 6’6 strong plays through contact. Generationally elite first step + wingspan + huge hands and acrobatic finishing angles. Great handle and change of direction . Just wild
He had no fear of driving into traffic either. He knew he had just enough space to get off a shot or that he would get a foul call.
It’s something you don’t see (working) anymore.
He knew he had just enough space to get off a shot
It helps a lot that he had the body control to shoot so well on the way down
MJ is like if I could combine all of the best parts of SGA and JDub into 1 player.
The two best players on the best team in the league, both all-NBA, all-defense caliber players, one with generational efficiency and ball handling, the other with insane physical tools that can guard 1-5, combined
And even then I’m not entirely sure that I’m not shortchanging Jordan.
I think Kawhi comes closest? Just injuries mitigated him from reaching what he perhaps could have
Kawhi is a pretty good comp build wise. Playstyle wise, he seems closer to a Tim Duncan version of a guard vs. MJ.
Kawhi never had the first step or hang time
VJ Edgecomb has similar athleticism. That’s where I’ll stop my comparison, his future is bright though
This is what makes 80’s basketball so interesting. MJ was a supreme talent, but better teams still ruled the era. Celtics, Lakers, Pistons.
Once a proper core was built around MJ and he (along with Scottie & others) addressed the physical play of the league by bulking up, he ascended to the throne of basketball and the Bulls became the best team.
Wembenyama.
TIL Wemby is a guard
with an elite first step!
he basically is tbh
Honestly surprised the 63 point record still stands 40 years later
Y’all lucky Bam missed the playoffs
On a serious note; MJ averaged 33.4 ppg throughout playoffs. Of course all time leading Luka is the only with >30 but let’s see how it will end for him.
Yeah this is the thing that stands out to me. I would’ve expected it to be beaten by now. I know teams play better defense in the postseason but still this feels too low. I’m especially shocked Wilt never had it higher.
I for sure thought Mitchell or Murray were going to get it during that bubble series.
It’s also the mix of a generational player being on a shit team competing against a powerhouse. MJ needed his team to be ass enough and the other team to be good for his 63 points to not even win the game but also go 2OT
Bam isn’t getting close to that in a postseason game
I kinda hate that this took the record over Baylor. Baylor’s performance was in a win, in game 5 of the NBA finals, and was all in regulation. Meanwhile this performance was in the 1st round in a loss in double OT. It also feels like Baylor is one of those guys quickly getting forgotten and this record would have helped.
I suppose even if it was still the record people would dismiss it as against milk men even if it was against the MVP and 3 time defending champions.
Is it 63 points in a win? I vividly remember dame getting to some crazy 65+ maybe 70 point game and I thought it was playoffs and we lost.
Jordan would shoot 50 FTs a game in today’s NBA.
Yup I came here to say the exact thing. All of these would be and ones if he got Shai’s whistle.
He had Shai’s whistle. That’s why he shot 21 FTA in this very game lol
I stg people think “foul baiting” as they call it now was invented in 2021.
They’d freak out if they knew the pump fake and jump into the defender move has existed almost since pro basketball was a thing.
One of the things Kobe was known for was drawing fouls. It’s always been considered a good thing because it puts the other team at a disadvantage. It’s why players keep doing it.
Also pushes off a lot, Shai just flails more while MJ holds his form better as he rises for the J (probably due to better vertical athleticism)
Bruh people made the same jokes about MJ back then that they make about Shai and others today.
It’s a good thing we still have tape so we can actually see the fouls
are y’all seriously trying to say he got fouled on these shots? he blows by everyone and no one gets a finger on him.
I was actually surprised at the lack of physicality on this video.
In this clip no I don’t think he got fouled at all.
His jumper was so damn wet
I know people focus, rightfully , on his athleticism, but MJ had amazing fundamentals. 3 years at UNC did him great. And then later he elevated his post game to perfection
So, I watched this game in the back room of my grandparents house. I remember it being on a Sunday, because I’m pretty sure that my Grandad was watching NASCAR on the tv in the living room. I don’t think he even knew who Michael Jordan was. As an 11 year old kid, though, I was in awe of Jordan. He was so different and so much more exciting to watch than most other players. I know that I was busy practicing my MJ moves in the driveway, the next day!
Bulls lost by four in double OT
Insane performance as his team got swept by the Celtics
Insert Melo copypasta
He should have won this game but they didn’t reward him 3 fts on a 3pt foul just 2 so I think it went to overtime
Half of these attempts would get him an extra 2 charity shots in today’s game
I don’t know about this particular game but let’s not pretend like MJ did not get his fair share of whistles/FTs during his career
No doubt and no argument, but let’s not pretend that the game is officiated today like it was in the 80s/90s. Fouls in the NBA are like holding calls on offensive lines in the NFL. They happen on pretty much every play and if you called them all the game would be unplayable.
More guys in general get more whistles because the NBA has changed the way they officiate.
really not sure why you say this. Fouls calls are actually way down compared to that era. Also there is zero physicality that I would expect from today defenders. I was actually thinking wow this era is so soft compared to modern NBA. The defender isnt putting hands on him.
Fouls calls are actually way down compared to that era
I think that’s largely because there are so many more long-distance shots taken.
The shots that disappeared are the mid range. So instead of mid range shots we have 3 pt shots. Same amount of drives per game. I truly believe this one the most physical eras of the NBA. Watch a game, every team is shoving the screener almost every time, putting hands on the ball carrier. Watch Jokic play and tell me that you cant get away with murder in the post. Someone decided since you cant clothesline someone without being called a flagrant that this era isnt incredibly physical.
In this particular clip the defense does look soft, they contest the shot itself but give him space
He shot 21 FTs in this very game in case you’re curious.
brother he wasn’t even touched on these shots, y’all are insufferable.
Dude is literally floating out there
I’m starting to think this Michael Jordan fellow was good at basketball.
The more I learn about this Jordan guy, the more I like him.
I wonder if his career amounted to much after this game, perhaps I will google him later.
He went on to be the subject of multiple popular memes
I still remember watching it on the tv in the lounge in my apartment building in college - watched it with my usual hoops diehard buddies in the building. Nobody there was a Celtic or Bulls fan, but everyone was going nuts every time he scored.
That was the reaction Jordan inspired, and I’ve never seen anything else like it.
Michael “Despite the loss” Jordan
That ‘86 Celtics team had 4 HOFers in their primes (Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ) and a healthy Walton who was Sixth Man of the Year coming off the bench. Danny Ainge was a future All-Star. They were widely considered the greatest team of all-time at that point. These were their stats in Game 2.
MJ’s Bulls teammates stats in that game.
So if MJ didn’t pick up the scoring load, the Bulls would have been blown out instead of forcing double OT.
Some of the further jumpers are almost identical to how Kawhi shoots
Insane that this stat still stands. If people could have just seen it live once they’d understand why there is no goat debate
there certainly is a debate lmao
Think a problem is people can’t accept looking at guys in their time and are always looking for a reason to show how much better the game is today. It’s like yeah I know I’m alive and watching this too.
Am I the only one noticing the offensive basket interference on the first one? Technically it shouldn’t have counted.
Yup my first thought
That first step at 34 seconds and the effortless dunk is why they call him the black cat.
Jordan had an insane combination of size/strength and explosive first step and overall athleticism. He could beat you in such a variety of ways.
Celtics still won in 2nd OT and swept the series 3-0. Impressive that Jordan managed such incredible numbers against a historically great team like that.
You get some you get some you get some you get some and you get some!
Wish I was alive to see him play
Incredible comedy in the score at the end lol. For a second there Jordan was getting the basketball equivalent of the “Tungsten Arm O’Doyle” Copypasta
Scored 63 and lost. Those early Jordan Bulls teams were like the early Lebron Cavs in that neither were good enough to support an all time talent.
I know it’s never fair to compare players to Jordan, but I swear Anthony Edwards moves just like a young Jordan.
I don’t see what people say he is waaaaay faster than Ant Man.
And he lost ☘️
If bam was in the Playoffs it would’ve been broken fs
How many 3s?
Zero
54% from the field, and 90% from 21 free throw attempts.
Magic is the king of this, but the spacing is borderline hilarious in this era.
If that power forward is out taking threes these shots just get infinitely easier.
If Boston decided to go small or had
….in a double-OT loss
I feel like alot of these contests against him would be fouls today
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Nah, they just knocked you over in the 80’s no need for all that flopping and ref whining.
I’m watching a guy walk by defenders with no resistance right above your comment
like the first four clips all have a defender right in his face
Right, especially when Bron throws his head back and grabs his face and no one even close to him.
I like Bron. 2nd best player ever to play the game. Won every award, holds a bunch of records. One day he will even get the award that he has practiced and practiced but has eluded him…. an Emmy.
Just some absolutely horrid defense. Look at the defensive stance some of those guys are in lmao. Watch the whole game on YouTube Jordan played like a modern guard with his handle and speed against guys that wouldn’t sniff a roster in today’s league.
It’s almost half a century ago mate… no shit.
I agree no shit, but you have people trying to convince you teams and defense were better back in the day
Eh …that Celtics team is one of the 3-5 best teams of all time
I mean no one could guard Jordan much in the 80s pistons had to start flagrant fouling him
Yeah no shit that’s why you compare guys and consider the era they played in.
I mean you got a majority of people saying Jordan and the Bulls would come in and dominate today’s era which simply seems like a stretch. You also got people comparing LBJ vs Jordan using Jordan’s numbers which LeBron could’ve put up if he played back then.
Yeah bro. That Celtics team were plumbers bro.
/s
Jordan takes a Subway sandwich maker off the dribble for an easy lay in