This is entirely a reaction to a blogpost I read some days before. It doubts the authenticity of a claim made by Michael that he could achieve 100 points in this era (How has the game changed from your playing days? It's less physical and the rules have changed, obviously. Based on these rules, if I had to play with my style of play, I'm pretty sure I would have fouled out or I would have been at the free throw line pretty often and I could have scored 100 points). True enough 100 points captures the imagination of many as something that can't be surpassed but is it possible for Jordan to get the mark?First let me give you some facts before we go to the fictional phase of this entry. In the 80's (1980-1990), considered the best and most brutal decade in basketball, only five times did an individual crack the 60 point mark and that happened in:
1. December 25, 1984. Bernard King scored 60 vs. the New Jersey Nets
2. March 12, 1985. Larry Bird scored 60 vs. the Atlanta Hawks
3. March 4, 1987. Michael Jordan scored 61 vs. the "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons. Doing it without attempting a 3-pointer. OT
4. April 20, 1986. Michael Jordan scored 63 vs. the Boston Celtics. 2OT This is the game when Larry Bird mouthed the now famous quotable quote "god disguised as Michael Jordan". Again doing it without attempting a 3-pointer. It still stands as the highest ever play-off mark.
5. March 28, 1990. Michael Jordan scored 69 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers in OT. Cavs were led by Hot Rod Williams, Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper, Larry Nance and Mark Price. Other notable players were Craig Ehlo, Chucky Brown and Steve Kerr.
Out of the 5 stated above 3 of them were scored by Michael Jordan. You also have to note that in 1987 Detroit went straight into the finals carrying their brand of "dirty" defense and the 1986 Celtics were eventual NBA champions. So Jordan was pouring it on vs. the heavyweights but on the hindsight we also have to note that Jordan did it in overtime games.
Now let's compare it to the 100 point game. Kelly Dwyer reports:
"Wilt was a 7-2 dominant force going up against a 6-10 backup center on the New York Knicks back in 1962. He was able to put up 63 shots and attempt 32 free throws mainly because the pace was so, so much faster back in that era, and because his Philadelphia Warriors team was intentionally fouling the Knicks down the stretch in order to get Wilt the ball every time down court in a contest that was a 16-point game at the end of the first quarter. It was an absolute joke of a "contest," and though Wilt is to be commended for his brilliance, there's a reason why nobody has come very close in the 48 years since Wilt's 100-point game."
If that is the case and knowing how Jordan put up his best numbers can he get 100?
My answer is maybe, maybe not.
But it is also intriguing to note that Jordan at age 40 did get 43 points and mind you he did that in February 21, 2003. Meaning he put up that numbers against players that still plays up to this point. On top of that he did it with hand-checks still warranted in the NBA.
Implemented in 2006 the NBA softened it's stance on defense to give way to a more offensive minded, fun game. As Mike notes: "It's less physical and the rules have changed, obviously." Jordan compatriots cry of the same:
"You can't even touch a guy now," says Charlotte coach Larry Brown. "The college game is much more physical than our game. I always tease Michael [Jordan], if he played today, he'd average 50."
"The defensive rules, the hand checking, the ability to make contact on a guy in certain areas .... [have] all been taken away from the game. If Kobe could get 81, I think Michael could get 100 in today's game." - Scottie Pippen January 2006
Craig Hodges is the Lakers shooting coach, get a look at what he said:
Q: If you could take one player in their prime, would you take Michael Jordan or Kobe?
A: M.J., all day. There's no comparison. M.J. could score 100 points in this era. You can't hand-check now. Imagine that trying to guard M.J. It would be crazy.
Hall of Famer Rick Barry, a keen observer of the game, said he would love to see players of the past getting to attack the basket under the new officiating. “They’d score a lot more,” he said.
Tex Winter said. "Players today can get to the basket individually much easier."
Asked if he could defend Jordan under today’s interpretation of the rules, Dumars first laughed, “It would have been virtually impossible to defend Michael Jordan based on the way the game’s being called right now.”
Rod Thorn: “My opinion is that the game had gone too much toward favoring strong players over skilled players, The NBA felt there was too much body, too much hand-checking, being used by defenders to the detriment of the game. There was a feeling that there was too much advantage for a defensive player who could merely use his strength to control the offensive player. If the refs perceive that a defender is bumping the cutter, or bumping a ball-handler, then they’ll blow their whistles.”
So today's NBA does favor Michael Jordan in terms of rules. Jordan a natural slasher/cutter type of player will benefit from calls and even more since with the restriction of the hand-check rules the NBA also implemented the defensive three second. So even though the NBA now sanctions the zone as an alternative defense few chooses it because the "Zone" is maximized if a defending big man can stay downlow on an indefinite amount of time. Take that out and there's nothing to it they'll just retort to man-to-man which again is hampered by the no hand-check rule.
And blowing their whistles is what the refs did. Did you know that: 82% of Tyreke Evans's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? 75% of Dwyane Wade's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? 71% of Carmelo Anthony's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? 70% of Kevin Durant's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? 68% of LeBron James's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? 68% of Derrick Rose's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? 66% of Kobe Bryant's points came from inside of 15 feet and free throws combined? Michael Jordan has been known to be automatic from 18 ft. inwards. If the players stated above can move accurately near the basket even as close as 15 ft. why can't Jordan as he can easily match each guy's athleticism? Given these results I think the "airman" can get as close to 100 points as he benefits a lot from these rules.
Again the catch is Mike should be in the zone to accomplish the feat. What's being in the zone? Players tried explaining it like it's a once in a life-time (maybe twice? thrice?) experience, when the stars are aligned and you feel unstoppable at whatever it is your doing. Like when rain continuously pours like it's not ever stopping. 100 points is a long feat and that is why nobody has ever came close to breaking it in 48 years. Again this is a supposition but if there is one man that can do it... benefiting from these present NBA rules it's Michael Jordan.
Thanks (sources):
Photo: from Web
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Basketball_Association_players_with_60_or_more_points_in_a_game
http://hoopsapedia.webs.com/thenbazoneera.htm
http://hoopshype.com/articles/defense_lazenby.htm
