Top Five: Victims of Michael Jordan August 30, 2007
Posted by Marquis Chapman in Basketball, NBA, Sports, Top Five.trackback
5. Clyde Drexler/Cliff Robinson- The Bulls and the Trailblazers met in the 1992 NBA finals. Jordan was after his second ring and determined to prove that he was better than Clyde Drexler. Although Drexler and Cliff Robinson would attempt to contain Jordan, MJ went off in the first game. Jordan got in the zone and made 3 pointer after 3 pointer, eventually hitting 6 threes in the first half. Jordan was so hot, he couldn’t even believe it. After he hit yet another three, he looked over at commentators Marv Albert and Magic Johnson, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders as if to say, “I don’t even know whats going on.” In the first half alone, Jordan had 35 five points. The Bulls went on to win the game, and eventually their second championship.
4. The Boston Celtics- You know you’ve victimized a team when Larry Bird later refers to you as “God disguised as Michael Jordan.” Just a couple games back from a foot injury, Jordan abused the entire Celtics team, scoring 63 points at the Boston Garden. MJ really seemed unstoppable in this game. He was scoring at will and talking trash to the fans at the same time. Jordan abused Bird a couple of times down the court as well. Everyone remembers the move where he drove hard to the right, stopped and dribbled twice between his legs, and shot the jumper in Bird’s face. Bird looked lost on that play. No one had ever seen one player single handly destroy the great Boston Celtics.
3. Bryon Russell- No one wants to be remembered as the guy that Jordan hit the game winner over to win the series and presumably end his perfect career. Enter Bryon Russell. Although it may have been just a little push off, the game wining shot by Jordan in the 1998 finals against the Utah Jazz is an absolute classic. Russell was in a good defensive stance at the top of the key. Jordan drives hard to his right, gives Russell a “little nudge”, and shoots the J with perfect form. Nothing but net. Jordan then proceeds to hold his perfect form just a little longer than usual. The Bulls win. Russell is yet another player made famous by His Airness.
2. The Entire New York Knicks Team- Everyone knows the New York Knicks play their home games at Madison Square Garden. So when the greatest basketball player of all time says his favorite place to play is Maddison Square Garden, there might be a few problems. Jordan gave every single player on the New York Knicks problems. Some notable highlights of Jordan against the Knicks include 55 points in Madison Square Garden, two playoff triple doubles, and that unforgettable spin move he did on Oakley and Starks to go baseline, which ended with a dunk on Patrick Ewing.
1. Craig Ehlo- The game winning shot over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Caviliers is arguably the most memorable shot of Jordan’s career. There was really nothing Craig Ehlo could do to stop Jordan. Jordan drove hard to his left, pulled up to the foul line, hung in the air for quite some time, and hit the game winning shot over Ehlo. A demoralized Ehlo, who had a pretty good game himself, collapses on the floor, and a young Jordan jumps in the air and pumps his fist, yelling at the crowd. The game winning shot clinched the series for the Bulls, and forever ethced Craig Ehlo’s spot in history as the #1 victim of Michael Jordan.
Yes these are all memorable shots by Jordan. I really think that Byron Russell’s shot should have been number two. That was technically the end of Jordan’s career. Well at least it should have been.
I would have put Russell #2 or possibly #1 if that shot was really that last shot of Jordan’s career, but MJ just had to come back a third time.
You cant have russel that high. I saw russel should have been number 4 or 5 because jordan did have the push at the end which i think made a difference with the shot going in.
I think the Russell shot is fine at #3. Jordan gave the Knicks the business…often. That and the fact that he gave Russell one of the biggest push-offs ever, regardless of what Jordan fans say.
Ehlo needs to be number 1. That’s been in commercials and is always mentioned in TV specials and stuff. Its like when Jordan became Jordan.
Although it may have been a push off, the Russell shot was still a great shot and Ehlo had to be the number #1 victim. The Knicks came in at a VERY close second. Starks, Ewing, and Oakley probably still have nightmares about Jordan.
The Boston Celtics were not the ‘victims’ of Michael Jordan. Jordan was the victim given the great Celtics team won the game. Jordan won nothing until the Bulls added Pippen, Grant and company. There is no ‘I’ in team.
True, the Celts won the game, but when a great team like the Celts let one man score 63 points and their team leader refers to him as God, you can make a strong arguement that they were victims. I think this game made the Celts and the many other teams fear Jordan. Also, head coach KC Jones has been quoted as saying that he looked down at his bench, and no one really wanted to go back in the game to guard him. If that doesn’t make you a victim, I don’t know what does.
my list of MJ’s top 5 victims
1) The Mailman
2) Patrick Ewing
3) Charles Barkley
4) Reggie Miller
5) John Stockton
These are “Dream Teamers” who he kept from having rings, as opposed to people he “faced”.
The Sultan on Sports
Just put the whole league on that list. MJ was just that great.
Oh why did jordan have to make a return to the game? I guess him and Jay-Z have something in common. Coming back to the game when everyone knew they shouldn’t
Marquis! Another excellent post buddy. Couldn’t agree more. Though I might put Russell above the Knicks just because of the implications of the times he got abused. But Ehlo, damn, no one will ever remember him but for getting abused by Jordan.
Thanks. I knew a guy that resides in the NC would appreciate this post.
Craig Ehlo #1 with a bullet someone sticks a dagger in your heart at home. And it becomes your signature photo for the rest of your career and after you retire.
Have to agree about Ehlo. I know nothing about the guy other than that he’s that white dude who went down, arms flailing, before the triumphant Jordan.
everytime MJ plays against next well its got to be something.. that double nickel was really memorable.
Have to say if it is two guys, The Mailman and Sir Charles.
Karl Malone was always one of my favorite players, and I wanted him to get a ring, but not happening. Sir Charles was just entertaining, but people forget how good he was at his peak. The Mailman had a peak for many years while Sir Charles did not. But those two HOF’ers were always a step behind “Be Like Mike”. Jordan was in a different dimension that even the other great ones. People talk about Kobe today. He is shallow in leadership, but great in talent. Michael had it all. I would say that about Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Wilt ‘the stilt’ Chamberlain, John “Hondo” Havlicheck and the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson greats. But noone was like Mike at his peak. I’m out with that!~
air jordans and the man are top notch .there is no way that this man can hurt anyone. he loves his shoes and fans
63 pts? Let’s see…they lost the game, and got swept 3-0. And Boston won that year. Yeah. Victims. Whatever.
You’re missing the big picture. This game was a sign of things to come. When the head coach of an NBA team says that his players seemed scared, that automatically puts you in the victim category. Larry Bird referred to him as God. C’mon Lucky, they were victims.
My favorite is Bryon Russel…. HAHA… poor guy! He has to live with the fact that he WAS pushed off but no call… sad… the LAST SHOT must give him nightmares!