So with the NBA Finals about to end, we’ll all have to wait a few months before the inane and pointless Jordan vs. LeBron articles crank back up again. Although I have in the past expressed my firm belief that MJ was the better player, ultimately it doesn’t matter what I or anyone else thinks. Let’s just agree that the NBA has been home to many great players over the years. If you think Kareem was the best ever, great. Bill Russell? Fine. Cuttino Mobley? Well, we would have to part ways there.
Anyway, I just wanted to make it clear that I am NOT posting this to put my thumb on the scale for MJ being the Best Ever or anything like that. I just stumbled across this clip the other day and wanted to share it. It’s from Game 3 of the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals. The clip starts with the Bulls down by 14 to the Pistons, with about 7 minutes left to play. That’s when Jordan takes over and pretty much single-handedly drags his Bulls back into the game. It’s an amazing display of MJ’s incredible talent and will to win — some of the shots he makes are pretty insane.
So set aside any notions of debating whether LeBron or KD or anyone else in history could have done this. It doesn’t matter. Just enjoy 7 minutes of fantastic, fun basketball by one of the game’s all-timers. Trust me, this is more entertaining than anything the Warriors or Cavs will be showing us later tonight.
Good reminisce. I’ll give you that. But, honestly, after these last few years of Dubs immersion, it’s kind of a yawner.
Pistons got hosed. Bad foul call on Rodman with about 50 seconds left, then another ticky-tack on Laimbeer. What really strikes me about this clip, though, is that this game happened in 1989, and Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown — who already sound old — are still going strong almost 30 goddamn years later. Gotta have some grudging respect for that.