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Michael Jordan’s Top 5 Greatest Games EVER!
Michael Jordan’s Top 5 Greatest Games EVER! Is Michael Jordan the Goat we always saw him as? Will these top five games prove he IS the goat? Find out by scrolling through and reading why they are!
Coming in at number five:
At number five, we have Michael Jordan’s career-high 69 point game! This is a spectacular game, even though it is the regular season. The Bulls needed every single point that MJ produced, why? It was due to the fact that he was cashing in on all his shots, free-throws, some threes, but still couldn’t rally his teams for a support.
Plus, what makes this even more significant is the fact that Jordan also had 18 rebounds. That almost made it into his career-highs list too. He also played 50 minutes, what did Jordan say after the game?
This is what Jordan said about him NOT being fatigued:
“I didn’t think about being tired because I wanted to win the game. I’ve been in that situation where I’ve scored a lot of points and we lost, and I didn’t want that to happen. So I kept pushing myself, kept talking to myself, saying, ‘Don’t stop, don’t stop. Keep going.’ You feel better about the effort when you win.”
Not only did he want to win, score, and not stop trying. But the fact that he didn’t need to play this hard as they weren’t facing any complications towards the playoffs, that just tells you have badly Jordan wanted it.
Coming in at number four:
This game is an oldie but a goodie. The Flu Game performed by Michael Jordan was incredible, especially coming down with flu-like symptoms. This took place in the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz. It was Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Anybody watching that game, without knowing the severity of Jordan’s symptoms, would know something was wrong. This was due to the fact that the Chicago Bulls were losing by 16 points to the Utah Jazz in the first quarter.
Even in the worse condition possible for Jordan, he didn’t care. He went onto score about 17 points in the second quarter, leading them back into the game to win it. The Bulls won that NBA Finals in six games.
This is what Jordan had to say about his condition after the game:
” I almost played myself into passing out,” Jordan said after the game. “I came in and I was almost dehydrated, and it was all just to win a basketball game, I couldn’t breathe. My energy level was really low. My mouth was really dry. They started giving me Gatorade, and I thought about IV.”
His stats in that game? He scored 38 points, had 5 assists, plus a clutch-three that pretty much sealed the deal for the Bulls to win Game Five of the NBA Finals.
Coming in at number three:
Remember when the Cavs got dismantled by Jordan’s 69 points against Cleveland? This was the year after beating them in the First Shot, why called the “First Shot?” Because The “First Shot” was the beginning of Jordan, nobody saw anything that incredible by Jordan in the playoffs before hitting that iconic shot to win the game.
In 1989, Jordan was beginning to rise to the occasion in the NBA playoffs. Jordan knew, Bulls knew, everyone knew that it was win or go home. Because for the Bulls they haven’t reached the Finals it feels like forever, so for Jordan to hit this iconic shot to send them to the Finals was a huge deal.
Jordan took the inbound pass, took one dribble, pulled up, the announcer said this:
“It’s good! Michael Jordan has won it at the buzzer for Chicago!”
Jordan had achieved 44 points in that game, but sadly when they reached the NBA Finals the Pistons dismantled them. Made them look like fools, and defeated them to win the gold. None of the less, this was huge momentum for Jordan and the Bulls, how?
For starters, a team was being formed the right way around Jordan. Jordan was able to have reliable teammates, plus he showed he could take his team to the next level. This shot sent to a place, a state of mind, that nobody could have snapped him out of. The rest is history beyond the years of 1990.
Coming in at number two:
Backing it up in time, we head over to 1986, where Jordan is faced with the mighty Celtics. Who had Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, and Bill Walton. They eventually became Hall of Famers.
It was the Celtics against the Bulls in the 1986 Eastern Conference Finals Round One. Where Jordan would be coming off a broken foot injury, but that didn’t stop him nor did it phase him.
He came back for 15 games until the playoffs, and was ready for the Celtics. On that night in Game Two of Round One, Jordan probably earned the respect of Bird. Even though the Bulls got swept, Jordan put on an incredible performance.
He had a playoff-record of 63 points, the most by anyone in the NBA at the time. Even though Jordan took a lot of shots, not including the free-throws, Jordan never took a three. All those shots were taken to the rim or mid-rangers all day.
Because remember back in the ’80s and ’90s the three-point line wasn’t heavily introduced. It was more about contact, driving to the lane, drawing fouls, and waiting for those jumpers. Plus, the defense was huge back then. The defense was fierce so your only option was to drive or to shoot mid-rangers because you would have gotten killed if you were taking all those threes.
This is what Larry Bird had to about Michael Jordan after that performance:
“It’s just God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
Coming in at number one:
This shot is the most iconic, heroic, craziest shot you’ll ever see. This is how Jordan’s career with the Bulls ended, on his terms. He sealed the game by winning his sixth championship, Jordan sealed the game by hitting the game-winning shot. Plus, it was the last shot he ever took in a Bulls jersey. That is how people are remembering his last shot, whenever someone says Jordan’s name you think about that highlight, you think about that shot.
This was back in 1998, when the Bulls came to an end on their terms. Winning a championship.
When Jordan was coming up court, he had the ball, with 15 seconds remaining he was locked in. Jordan came up and hit Byron Russell with this cold-blooded crossover to send him packing. Jordan then rose up, took his position, aimed, and fired. Michael Jordan buried the shot, the stadium/fans and announcers went crazy.
This is how Jordan is remembered. His six Finals MVPs, his six rings, his epic last shot, plus having a documentary featured about his 1998 Chicago Bulls.
The conclusion to Michael Jordan’s Top 5 Greatest Games EVER!
Has this changed your mind at all on how you view Jordan? Did these top five games prove to you that he is the true and only goat? Leave your answers/comments down below in the chat box.
The way Jordan played was intense and incredible, his style was ferocious, and the team around him had the same mentality. They wanted to win, and they did it as a team. This is the greatest dynasty with Jordan being at the helm of things.
Thank you for reading: “Michael Jordan’s Top 5 Greatest Games EVER!”
If you would like to read about the truth about Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game,” then click here: https://courtsideheat.com/the-truth-about-the-flu-game/
If you would like to watch these SICK highlights about Michael Jordan, then click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW9XYGyN1D8
The Phoenix Suns are destined for more than just the playoffs!
The Phoenix Suns are destined for more than just the playoffs!
The Suns are destined for more than just the playoffs! They have gone through so much in this past decade from front office decisions, new coaches and coaching staffs, and to players that have gone up and down through the years. They were considered a laughing stock in the league for the past few years, this would be before 2020. We have gone through developmental players like TJ Warren that showed promise in college then failed to perform for the Suns; we have also seen the worse days of our roster like Tyler Ulis and Tyson Chandler. Those were just one of the many bad players that signed and tried to use.
Now the Suns are clinching a playoff berth and becoming one of the most dominant teams in the league, currently. So, the question begs itself. Why is this more than the playoffs for the Suns?
First up: History lesson on the Suns
The Suns began their impressive journey back in the 2020 NBA Bubble when they went on the incredible 8-0 run. Phoenix would have been in the playoffs, however, a not so good Nets team at the time chocked and cost the Suns the opportunity. However, this was made into something more.
Momentum. Momentum was given to the Suns as Booker was playing like a madman, there bench players were lighting it up, Oubre (who was there before being traded) was cashing in, Ayton was playing like the stud the team drafted for. Things were lining up and we were heading into the next season with confidence.
Confidence that Monty Williams could lead your Phoenix Suns and become a good team that hasn’t seen the light of day since 2010. Then the Suns decided to trade for Chris Paul, one of the greatest moves ever. Why? Because when he was with the OKC Thunder they had a two percent chance of making the playoffs, they did that and demolished the odds. It was due to the fact that they had great talent and leadership within Chris Paul.
How does this transition to the Suns?
Paul was able to take this team currently and make it into something. Meaning, Booker was becoming more explosive and turning into that player he looked like in 2016-17. The man turned Ayton into the player that the PHX Suns drafted; he got more vocal, more dominant with the boards, became a true big-man under the scheme and play-fit of Williams. Paul as the point guard transitioned this team smoothly to where Booker did not have to rely on taking the ball up the court and trying to hit a shot; he was able to create his own shot off the dribble or in place, able to drive to the lane more. Communication was big, Paul said and commanded there be communication on both ends of the court.
Why do you think the Suns are doing better without Rubio, Oubre, and some other players? Because the missing piece of their team was that veteran leader and guider. His coaching on the court has made a tremendous difference for this team and it is not even close. This team with Booker, CP3, Ayton, Bridges, and Crowder is the best lineup since the Steve Nash era. Really since 2010.
Second up: What contracts are coming up for the Suns?
Look, before we jump into how this team is destined for more than the playoffs. We need to understand where this team lies after this postseason and into the offseason.
For contracts we have several names, however, Chris Paul is the biggest one and the only one to have a player option this offseason. The rest are unrestricted free agents. Some of those names? Frank Kaminsky, Cameron Payne, Torrey Craig, and other names that are not as significant as those presented. Right? These players are bench and potential role players.
Depending on how the playoffs go, I would be like get the player option as your advantage to get Paul back and then work out a 2-3 year contract worth around $50-$55 million dollars. Why do that? Here is the reason: This is a facilitator and commander on offense and defense; and from what I am seeing this is a guy, even though going to be 37-years-old, has great leadership and mentorship roles left in him. This is a player that the Suns need, in my opinion, that will keep them thriving on momentum and skill. Not luck.
So you gotta work this deal throughout the season, or even in the offseason, and make sure you sign him. That has to be on top of your list because you originally went all-in on him, now you have to keep it that way. This team is inching closer and closer to greater things, great strides are being made and this is being taken notice.
Sign him, don’t hesitate, it will stab you in the back. Trust me.
Finally, why are the Suns destined for greater things beyond the playoffs?
Suns are going to have an interesting path, an interesting road, to the NBA Finals. That is their goal, but you need to take it round by round. And they’re not idiots, they know they have to do that. I am just laying that out there, to keep hope alive for the gold you need to win round one. If you lose in round one then all that work, all that motivation and momentum was for not. If you at least get to the second round, you are gold. That meant that you were able to successfully win games in crunch time and battle like crazy.
The reason why I lay it out this way is due to the fact that if we can do that then it will have more motivation for Paul to come back to the team. That would lead this team to even more confidence of making it to the next round the following year in hopes of a championship bout. The last time they had a championship opportunity they had Charles Barkley against a primed and seasoned Chicago Bulls team that consisted of Jordan and Pippen.
I believe with all my heart and soul that they are destined for greater things beyond the playoffs because they have Monty Williams, coaching means everything. Do not tell me otherwise; why? Look at the New York Knicks they have a great head coach now and have turned around that franchise. They are going to the playoffs, something they haven’t done in forever. He is doing great as he has developmental players and bums working harder and better. Randle is a great case, Barrett is developmental as he is working and achieving high numbers. This team is in number three right now in their division. So, yes, coaching matters.
So, they have a good HC… what else is there for the Suns?
A good head coach always has some good weapons, in William’s case he has several. Bridges is great in the stretch of a game and when it is needed of him. Booker can drive down the lane, pass the ball exceptionally, create the open shot, get guys open, and so forth. Same with Paul, he can play magnificent defense and offense and his IQ in the game of basketball is outstanding. Another reason to have him on your team regardless of age. Ayton is also improving to being the big man that Monty Williams wanted and needed. Not a bust but a future star. The bench is becoming very good, rotations are on point, minute restrictions and overall minutes per player is fantastic. The scheme, the play calls, and the general physicality and awareness on the court is something that has been working for the Suns.
Lastly, you have the front office and ownership. Sarver has been putting tons of money recently in paying players and making sure that his team is finally winning games and potentially playoff games; same with the front office, the general manager and everyone included have been making smart player and business decisions. Most notably with the recent trades including Chris Paul. With ownership and the front office finally making and getting into a comfortable and profitable situation they are making moves we have not seen in a while. Good coaching, good ownership/office, and good players will lead to a successful team. It has been proven time and time again, without fail.
Conclusion:
This wraps up everything about why the Suns are destined and potentially set for greatness and success beyond the NBA Playoffs. Like we have mentioned before when you have a working office that knows what they are doing and get pieces like Chris Paul, you are going to see the positive upside. Especially when you already have pieces like Ayton and Booker.
The Suns could either be facing the Lakers or potentially someone else if they stay in second place and LAL stay in seventh; however, things could change as LAL will be in the playoff tournament and we could see a shift in power. Especially with injuries for the Lakers, most notably Anthony Davis (on same levels) and LeBron James.
Anyways, the NBA Playoffs begin on May 18th as that begins the exciting play-in tournament. Thank you for reading this article from our exclusive newsletter; if you want more of these exclusive articles and/or deals then continue to read the newsletter every week on Sundays.
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