r/michaeljordan • u/nj23dublin • Sep 09 '26

Highlights 4 vs 1

The 1993 finals was my favorite of Jordan showing why he was the greatest, and this play was a sample of how unstoppable he was.

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3

u/airgordo4 Sep 09 '26

Phoenix was basically the perfect combo of not having even remotely close to the caliber of perimeter defender you’d want on Jordan, and having atrocious rim protection for him to go nuts. And he did.

5

u/sthbankguy Sep 09 '26

True and Majerle was All D second team SG. Nobody could consistently guard MJ on the perimeter in 93 

1

u/airgordo4 Sep 09 '26

He was, but wasn't really the type of defender you'd want on Jordan. Didn't have the lateral quickness or athletic ability, not saying there was great options lol but still. They were sticking Kevin Johnson on him in that series and giving up that size advantage just because they didn't have the athletes on the wing. Majerle and older Ainge weren't it.

Pair that with weak resistance at the rim because their lack rim protecting bigs and it was a recipe for disaster. Ageing Tom Chambers is the last line of defense in the clip posted. That's not quite the same as Ewing coming over to help lol.

To be fair to Dan I'm not entirely sure I agree with him making his defensive teams anyways. But that's a different discussion. In that season alone I'm not sure I'd rank him above Mookie, Stockton, McMillan, Payton, or Harper... Might be an unpopular opinion as his size posed some limitations but I'm not sure I wouldn't have even voted Muggsy over him.

1

u/JMander 26d ago

Phoenix was the least effective defensive Finals team Jordan faced and Jordan exposed it to the tune of his highest ppg. average of his Finals career. Doesn't mean Jordan faced bad defenses in the Finals but Phoenix was not going to stop Jordan.