Deseret News | Utah Jazz seemed to bring out the best in Jordan

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Utah Jazz seemed to bring out the best in Jordan

jazz spazz | 2:25 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

MJ is a true jazz killer. We will never win until we get a superstar along side DWILL. say.... TMAC?

die hard | 4:47 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

HE PUSHED OFF ON RUSSELL and it still bugs me......I have pretty much never missed a Jazz game since they have been in Utah. Jordan got away with murder on the court! However, he is still the best small foward to ever play the game.
It would be interesting to hear his take on Stockton and if he fills like Chamberlin did.I seem to remember that it was the long time announcer for the bulls that said that Sloan was the only player he ever saw that could shut down Jordan.
Interesting that he is going into the hall of fame with Jerry and John.
Can you imagine if he had Stockton on his team how many championships he might have won?

Jed | 5:35 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

I seem to remember attending a regular season game during the early 90's against the Bulls in the Delta Center that went to triple overtime, with the Jazz barely pulling it off. I would add that one to the list (if, indeed, this game really happened). I would have been rather young at the time, so I don't remember for sure. Does anybody know what game I'm talking about?

Comments continue below

RE: die hard | 8:13 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Give it up, complaining about Jordan pushing off on Russell is why the Jazz can't win. Jazz fans cry so much and complain about every foul even ones that happend ten years ago. The frachise has turned into the biggest crybabies in all of sport. You will never find consistant crybabies win anything. Oh and by the way Sloan wouldn't have stopped Jordan either. I hate to break it to you but if Stockn was so great he should have won one when he was here. Jordan did just fine with out him. If anything Stockton needed Jordan, Jordan didn't need Stockton.

Anonymous | 8:17 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

jordan was a best! i hated watching him kill the jazz but i liked watching him play. there is no way kobe lebron or anyone one else is half as good as he is

Thanks Deseret News | 8:49 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

For bringing back those painful memories of the 98 finals.

Russell slipped | 8:55 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Jordan faked Russell out of his sneakers and hit a game-winner. Give him credit.

Jordan Hype | 9:17 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Prior to 1980, the NBA product was competition. The league made rule changes to limit the advantages of a player like Wilt (widened the key, put in the 3-second rule, etc) so that competition would be the thing that attracted fans.

When Bird and Magic entered the league, the focus was changed to make superstar players the product. And they started to allow those stars some latitude with the rules.

MJ was a huge beneficiary of that environment. He was allowed to travel with impunity. He was given the benefit of countless phantom calls to send him to the free throw line. If he had played in the 1960s, even in that era of high-scoring games where every team in the league averaged 105 PPG, his scoring average would have been 3-5 points lower.

Many of his dunks would never have happened since his drives started with an uncalled travel. Many of his free points at the free throw line would never have happened. Athletically, Jordan had nothing over Dr J and Connie Hawkins. Jordan's myth is a league/media-made mirage.

Anonymous | 9:27 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

i've always belikeved the biggest problem for the jazz was that karl malone was afraid to mix it up with dennis rodman. through the playoffs malone would drive hard to the hoop and score...against rodman and the bulls he'd go to the turn around fade jumper. malone could never be counted on in the clutch.

Laker Fan | 9:28 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Kobe Brayant is a billion times better than Jordan. You stupid Jazz fans neeed to get an education. The only Jazz player that you have ever had that is worth anything is John Amechi. Bring Amechi to the Lakers!

John | 10:27 a.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Go Lakers.... Beat the Jazz this year in the playoffs this year again... I will be waiting for it in April......Oh yeah... Way to go Bulls( in 97 & 98 at least!)

RE: Jed | 12:00 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Yes, I remember that game, and I am surprised it didn't make the list. I think the Bulls had the best record in the NBA, and everyone in the country was paying homage to his airness. If I recall correctly, Jordan got a technical late in the game, and was ejected, or he fouled out. Either way it was great to see the Jazz get under his skin.

Re;Jordan hype | 12:21 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Ya whatever!..Here we go again the conspircy capital of the world.

Re: Re: Jordan Hype | 1:10 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Great logical response. "No sir! uh uh!" Thanks for contributing to the conversation.

Of course, you could try a different approach and offer a counter-argument with some real substance. That may be a little challenging for you since all the data screams against you, but you could still try.

I don't know how old you are, whether you ever saw Connie Hawkins even play, or whether you saw basketball when it was a team sport instead of a showcase for pre-ordained superstars. But I did.

I even played pick up games against NBA players such as Hambone Williams and Stu Lantz. That was back in the day when they would still show up on the playgrounds and run with the boys.

But that's just an aside. The point is that I never saw Jerry West move both his feet when he started his dribble. If he had, he would have been called for traveling. I never saw Sam Jones parade to the line just because he missed a shot. In those days, they were players ... not advertisements or media stars.

Anonymous | 1:33 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Well I guess MJ was just a regular player and that the refs and Nike helped him to win 6 nba titles, 6 nba playoffs MVP titles, I don't know how many scoring titles, two gold medals, being honored by as one of the best 50 players of history and praised by most of the rest of the players (bird, magic, you name it) as the best of all times. But what do I know, this was probably just another publicity stunt by nike to sell more shoes.

Re: Jordan hype | 1:44 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Jordan was a great competitor and a genius at self-marketing. Greatest player ever? There are many opinions, but here's something to consider. Triple doubles are considered the essence of all-round great performance. MJ got 28 of them in his career, a remarkable feat. Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double for five straight years--night in and night out--and narrowly missed a sixth. He holds the record at 181 during his career, just one year shorter than Jordan's. And that was playing in the era of team play with straight-up officiating.

Having said that, I am thrilled that Michael's entering the Hall of Fame. He provided a lot of entertainment for millions of people and carried the flag for the NBA for a good portion of his career.

Bird and Magic | 1:56 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Interesting to note, in todays propaganda, Bird and Magic would be just ordinary players. Bird seldom dunked the ball, was a great shooter, nothing flashy. Magic was an assist man and struggled to score. I doubt we would even consider them great.

jazzfan | 4:26 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Jordan was the best player ever. there is no way that kobe is even close to as good as him (laker fan). watch them both play at the top of their games and it isn't even a contest. there is a lot of controversy where mj is concerned as to traveling and "phantom fouls" but that's just the polotics of the game and even if all those things happened they are in the past.

re:re: die hard | 4:48 p.m. Sept. 7, 2009

Pretty high basketball IQ aay.
Stockton was never surrounded with the caliber of players Jordan was. And by the way wasn't he maybe 6 feet tall?
And U obviously never saw Sloan play.
I would probably argue with u about Jordan but he is to crappy of a citizen.(loser)....to be exact!
You sound like a product of HYPE and the MEDIA.

Triple OT | 9:33 p.m. Sept. 8, 2009

Yes, you remember the triple overtime game correctly. Bulls had a 20+ point lead in first half and Jazz clawed their way back into the game in the 4th qtr... (some things never change).
Jordan missed free throws, Stockton went down right after that and made a 3 pointer to tie the game to force a 3rd OT! In the last minute of the 3rd OT, Jeff Malone got the ball, Jordan fouled him and was called on it. Jordan got angry & was actually tossed from the game. Jeff Malone made all 3 free throws, & Bulls John Paxson missed a 3 pointer with a scond or two left and Jazz won. This game & Stockton's off balance layup at the buzzer were among the most amazing games I have seen in person!

THEeyepatch | 2:53 a.m. Sept. 10, 2009

Do the Jazz fans really need a history lesson on losing to Jordan? I remember the "Stockton layup", and the Delta Center erupted like they had just won the Finals. That's how all the teams in the NBA acted if they beat Jordan and the Bulls. That's how fun it was back then, we had the best combo and they (Bulls) had the BEST! Now, you have a player that wears #23 for Cleveland, a clone from L.A. that's no where near as cool, and an overall stagnant feeling in the NBA.

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