Michael Jordan: In His Prime

[Ashman23]

Michael 'carried' the team more in the earlier faze of the championships, he felt if he couldn't do it then they would lose. Once he came back he trusted the other players more and understood what it took to win (not just talent but the mental side of things, like even dealing with Rodman) and let them do their jobs to get the wins.

[Zoom]

I think he learnt he couldn't do himself i nthe first three peat. The arrival of Jax helped to coerce him to share the ball with Pippen. Ho Grant joined in too... maybe someone can acknowledge this fact as true...

Also, I have a feeling Jordan didn't have much to do with Rodman except for playing together.

[CMJ3]

No one wanted anything to do with Rodman unless you wanted to get caught up in the controversy. I feel sorry for Pippen he never got any real individual recognition even tho he is one the best players ever but was never awarded with MVP or anything. He was a big part of the Bulls, he was probably the most important player on the team if you think about it that way.

[nlscSUPERMAN]

Well in 97-98 Pippen missed FORTY games after demanding a trade and not getting it. Jordan carried the team brilliantly to a very strong record and then when Pippen came back they went on a nice streak at the end and won 62 games. And of course in the 98 Finals Pippen missed nearly all of game 6 with a back problem. He played a couple of minutes and scored a couple of buckets but it was all Jordan in game 6.

[Zoom]

CMJ, after MJ retired the first time, Pippen got to have some of the limelight. He was the star on his team, went to All-Star weekend (And won All-Star MVP I think)... not sure if he was considered for the MVP... but he did get recognition. And anyone who follows basketball should know that he had the skills to be a good player by himself.

He didn't need the individual acolades although I am sure that he would sometimes feel bad for playing in MJ's shadow most of the time. But he did have his moments.

I don't see Pippen as a more important player to the Bulls team. He is just as important as MJ... you couldn't replace either of them. Their games meshed well and they performed great. I think that sure, Pippen never won MVP or scoring titles or anything like that. And it's sad that sometimes people see him as number 2 to MJ and nothing else... but you can't feel sorry for him.

Why? Because he won 6 rings... and he knew that he needed MJ's help. They both knew they needed each other. That's why when MJ came back, I think it was Pippen who was one of the most happy players on the team. (On a sidenote, I don't think Toni Kukoc was happy )

[Chris_23]

Actually, Jordan and Kukoc were both happy The record breaking season is considered as a season where MJ smiled the most on court out of all his seasons. And while Pipped did demand a trade in last Bulls championship season, it was just a one time thing. There were different reasons for it, but he was alright when he started playing again.'

nlscSUPERMAN, have you even seen the game six of 98 finals? Pipped made a really strong effort in the game despite the injury and played alot more than a couple of minutes.

"Also, I have a feeling Jordan didn't have much to do with Rodman except for playing together." is also not correct. Jordan was one of the key figures in dealing with Rodman and holding him in check. Rodman was about to spin out of control during the Bulls years, but he performed quite well on the court.

It is quite amazing actually to check out the second threepeat Bulls games that worked amazingly together as a team. After that Bulls dissolved, none of the players got even close to what they were with the Bulls. Kukoc faded, Pippen performed average in Rockets, Harper faded, Longley faded, Rodman became a mess, Kerr faded and so on and on..

It really shows what a -team- the Bulls was.

[theflash02]

Actually, Jordan and Kukoc were both happy The record breaking season is considered as a season where MJ smiled the most on court out of all his seasons. And while Pipped did demand a trade in last Bulls championship season, it was just a one time thing. There were different reasons for it, but he was alright when he started playing again.'

nlscSUPERMAN, have you even seen the game six of 98 finals? Pipped made a really strong effort in the game despite the injury and played alot more than a couple of minutes.

"Also, I have a feeling Jordan didn't have much to do with Rodman except for playing together." is also not correct. Jordan was one of the key figures in dealing with Rodman and holding him in check. Rodman was about to spin out of control during the Bulls years, but he performed quite well on the court.

It is quite amazing actually to check out the second threepeat Bulls games that worked amazingly together as a team. After that Bulls dissolved, none of the players got even close to what they were with the Bulls. Kukoc faded, Pippen performed average in Rockets, Harper faded, Longley faded, Rodman became a mess, Kerr faded and so on and on..

It really shows what a -team- the Bulls was.

I agree..The Bulls with MJ and the rest of the champions was what a team should be..But nowadays it seems like almost each team only goes to their superstars for decisions..MJ and the Bulls, MJ took the limelight since he had all the skills to win a game..And the greatest thing about the Bulls is that they respected MJ and allowed him to do what he was supposed to do..Which was to win..

But Rodman had the best talent which was to give up the stat sheet on offense and do everything in his power to play defense..He was a coach's dream player..Someone who could rebound, block, defend, and do the little things that needed to be done without thinking of the stats..He was also a reason for the Bulls' great team..Sad that he let his attitude ruin his career..

But I'm glad that MJ kept Rodman at bay..He was the reason for Rodman being Rodman..

[Chris_23]

I think that what really is the problem here is that very many current generation basketball fans never saw Michael Jordan and the Bulls play in his/their prime. This results in their opinions being based on what they've seen in different programs and shows. This is not just how one would rate the Bulls team, but about other things, even the question whether Jordan was in his prime during first or second threepeat.

Heck, I was a young obsessed salivating fan when Michael first retired, and I've not seen even one seasons amount of full games by Bulls. And most games I've seen have been from tapes and dvd's.

But I guess that's just natural. People will tend to forget the team and remember the hype. It was so with Jordan as well, not many remembered what Magic and Bird did for example.

It is great to see that there are many in these forums who've seen Michael play (and probably few who've actually been lucky enough to see him play from the crowd), and many can easily state the lineup of 90s Bulls without much hassle. But how many of you are able to state Bostons lineup of the 80s? Or Lakers?

I guess that in ten years time, Bulls lineup will be quite forgotten as well, which will of course ensure Jordans name being eternally listed as the greatest player of all time. But quite often for the wrong reasons.

I am quite sure that in ten years people would say that it was Michael who gave Bulls those 72 regular season victories in record breaking season. While it may sound ridiculous now, it's quite possible in ten years time

(In ten years I'll buy all of you a round when you come to Estonia, and if it's not so)

[theflash02]

i agree..after a few years or so..only Mj will get remembered and the other Bulls won't..That's a sad thing since without the other Bulls, Mj wouldn't win a championship..That's the sad part though..Is that only Mj gets remembered..

[Joe']

I think he was in his prime during the early 90's (1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93) and he was on fire during the first games he played in the 94-95 season too (I personally think his 55-point-performance against the Knicks in the Madison Square Garden was one of his best ever).
The fact that the Bulls were a better team during the mid/late 90's doesn't mean that Jordan was a better player, the team overall got better (Harper, Rodman, Kerr, etc weren't part of the Bulls team in the early 90's and I think they gave a HUGE contribution to the Bulls during the 96, 97 and 98 seasons) but I still like the early 90's Bulls better: gotta love BJ, Horace Grant, Pippen, John Paxson and MJ on the same team.