classic MJ 69 points against Cavs

1990, the year Michael Jordan peaked as a scoring machine, not as an all-around player. The thing about MJ's scoring ability is that it's always been a double-bladed sword that cuts both ways. The more he scores, the less the others are involved. A one-man show he is! The Chicago team was once called "Michael and the Jordanians". Later in his career he found the sweet spot where he could score as much as he wanted and the team still won.

Yes you may argue that Wilt Chamberlain scored more points in a game, and you are absolutely right. But Jordan's got that special something, that insatiable competitive drive, those great hands that are much bigger than what a person who claims to be 6'6" should have. He is indeed probably only 6'5". A dunker, a sharp shooter, a fade-away perfectionist, a play maker, a clutch go-to guy, an icon, a champion, you name it, he has achieved it.

Click to download this monster game (Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers - March 28, 1990)
about the video:You can collect as many Jordan DVD's as you find, but a full classic game is hard to come by. Usually most of them classic games have really shaky picture. This one is however clean and relatively crisp. Doug Collins did a fine job commentating the game as he knows Michael quite well having had coached him in his earlier years in the NBA.

about the game: Cavs back in those days had a funny policy when they played against #23 - do not double-team the guy early on. Let him score and let the other guys depend on him. What a foolish decision. But thanks to this foolishness we can witness what MJ was capable of. I still think he should have gone for another point to try to reach the 70/+ territory.

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York) is a former National Basketball Association player, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time.

A remarkable force at both ends of the floor, Jordan ended a career of 15 full seasons with a regular-season scoring average of 30.12 points per game, the highest in NBA history (ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.06). He won six championships, notched 10 scoring titles, and was league MVP five times. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, and led the league in steals three times. In 1991, he was named Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year." These and other achievements have persuaded many fans that Jordan was the best ever to play the game. (Others call Jordan overrated and point to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Shaquille O'Neal.) -Wikipedia

FUNDAMENTALS. You don't see Jordan missing open jumpshots or blowing layups. The man is deadly if you give him an open look or scoring opportunity. He performs even better when under pressure. The players these days can't hit an open jumpshot even if given plenty of time to set up. Lack of focus or mental strength is the problem. Too many youngsters playing their Nintendos or PS2s instead of practising their game (eg. Darius "Hype" Miles) during the off-season. Practise improves skill and Jordan's skill is so immense that he can score with ease. 8 points a quarter and 32 points a game is not a problem. In his younger days (pre-1990), Jordan arrives 2 hours before games to shoot around. Now, he can't do that because fans would swamp him with autograph requests.

ATHLETICISM. Everyone loves it when Jordan pulls-off an acrobatic reverse layup. Everyone loves it when he slashes through the keyway and hammers it home. Everyone loves his hangtime and leaping ability. Jordan is like the Energizer Bunny, you just have to wonder where he gets his energy from. Many times have Jordan kept on at full-speed late in the final quarter while the opposing players are exhausted. The man is a super-athlete. 3.3% body fat, 40 yards in 4.3 seconds, 48 plus inch vert, free-throw slams. Jordan is the most electrifying athlete to watch. ditto

KILLER INSTINCT. The man is an assasin on the court. Once he sees the opposing players demoralised, he uses that as motivation to demoralised them more. Hasta la vista, flashback to the Lakers in the 1991 finals and Portland in the 1992 finals. Magic and Sam Perkins didn't know what to do to stop Michael. And then Clyde Drexler and Buck Williams with the look of defeat in their faces, they were about to surrender to the Jordan assault. And Jordan won't back down a bit or ease off. He will play hard until the final whistle is blown and the game is won.

HEART. Michael has a huge heart. He wants to win more than any other ball player. Game 5 of the 1996-97 NBA Finals where Jordan was seriously-ill from food poisoning (rotten pizza) and yet manages to score 38 pts and lead the Bulls to victory. If the Bulls lost, there could be a Game 7 and the Jazz would probably win the championship. Jordan's will to win is incredible and it filters down to his teammates, Pippen, Rodman, Kerr, Harper, Randy, Luc, Dickey and Buechler. He plays each game like it's his last game. Makes it worthwhile paying for the ticket to watch him play.

BASKETBALL IQ. The man is a genius. He's the Albert Einstein of basketball. He has the ability to see gaps in defenses and physically take advantage of it. Everything seems to go into slow-motion when Jordan attacks. It's probably because he executes his play so quickly that the defenses don't have time to react. He could visualise where the double-team is coming from, even before it happened. The man loves basketball. He studies videos and scouting reports to discover weaknesses in the defense. His knowledge of the game is second to none in the universe.

SHOES. We love the shoes. Those Air Jordans are the greatest marketing coup by Nike. Each new release of Air Jordan represents the bleeding edge of shoe technology. Visible Air, Zoom Air, Carbon fibre sheaths, Ballistic nylon uppers, Huarache inner sleeve, Lace-locks, Jordan Shroud, Carbon Comfort Plate, double-stacked zoom air units, Techflex... The shoes raise the level of innovation and technology in sneaker production. Companies like Reebok, Adidas and Converse were blown away by the popularity of Air Jordans. Also we love the TV advertisements too. Especially those creative and funny adverts by Spike Lee. What would we be wearing now if it weren't for Air Jordans?

LOVE FOR THE GAME. It's clear that the man loves the game. Two comebacks from retirement is proof enough. He enjoys the game and like all athletes, he just can't get enough of it. When you love something, it's real hard to let go. All the accolades, the admiration, the attention... it's real addictive.

-Jordan EXTREME