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MICHAEL JORDAN WIZARDS YEARS: MJ GOT EXPOSED🧵
2024 is the year where Lebron is the same age as Jordan was when he returned from a 3 year break.
The MJ Wizards years are bad—bad play, bad leadership, bad results.
Let’s look at some myths.
2024 is the year where Lebron is the same age as Jordan was when he returned from a 3 year break.
The MJ Wizards years are bad—bad play, bad leadership, bad results.
Let’s look at some myths.
MYTH #1: IT WAS THE BROKEN RIBS!
MJ fans say MJ’s fractured ribs interrupted his comeback and caused his bad play.
He was hurt 6/13. He returned 7/19.
The season started 3.5 months later. 🤷♂️
Grover actually said the REST of MJ’s schedule was the problem. “Camps.”
Excuses?
MJ fans say MJ’s fractured ribs interrupted his comeback and caused his bad play.
He was hurt 6/13. He returned 7/19.
The season started 3.5 months later. 🤷♂️
Grover actually said the REST of MJ’s schedule was the problem. “Camps.”
Excuses?
MYTH #2: MJ CAME BACK SIGNIFICANTLY OLDER AND WEAKENED
No.
Humans lose 1% of muscle mass every year after age 30. MJ was 3.3% weaker.
Players wear down mostly due to wear and tear.
MJ had none for 3 yrs.
Oh, except those ribs. Which were due to…wear and tear from playing.
No.
Humans lose 1% of muscle mass every year after age 30. MJ was 3.3% weaker.
Players wear down mostly due to wear and tear.
MJ had none for 3 yrs.
Oh, except those ribs. Which were due to…wear and tear from playing.
MYTH #3: MJ WAS THE SOLE REASON FOR AN 18 WIN IMPROVEMENT
No.
The Wizards went from 19 to 37 wins. But the 2001 Wizards were possibly the most unstable team of all time.
They had a bunch of trades after going 7-33. There was no continuity.
MJ knew 2002 couldn’t be worse.
No.
The Wizards went from 19 to 37 wins. But the 2001 Wizards were possibly the most unstable team of all time.
They had a bunch of trades after going 7-33. There was no continuity.
MJ knew 2002 couldn’t be worse.
The 2001 instability is astounding:
14 guys started 10 games…I can’t find another team with that.
Nobody started more than 56 gms. Only 3 over 38.
Only 1 player with over 2,000 MP
It’s ugly.
Only ONE starter from gms 1-39 in 2001 played on the 02 team.
Different teams.
14 guys started 10 games…I can’t find another team with that.
Nobody started more than 56 gms. Only 3 over 38.
Only 1 player with over 2,000 MP
It’s ugly.
Only ONE starter from gms 1-39 in 2001 played on the 02 team.
Different teams.
Because of this, when the Wizards started to play better after a 2-9 start in 02, MJ was NOT considered the reason.
It was further team familiarity and defense.
In fact, MJ was called out as the reason they played BADLY at the start. “Disruptive.” “Guys not getting touches.”
It was further team familiarity and defense.
In fact, MJ was called out as the reason they played BADLY at the start. “Disruptive.” “Guys not getting touches.”
MYTH #4: MJ PLAYED WELL.
No. In 2002, he was historically inefficient. He was the least efficient volume scorer in the NBA that year. The worst rTS% for 25 pt scorers…EVER.
He shot 41%. 18% from 3. He had a .468 TS%.
NBA avg was 52%.
He had the 2nd worst ORtg on the team.
No. In 2002, he was historically inefficient. He was the least efficient volume scorer in the NBA that year. The worst rTS% for 25 pt scorers…EVER.
He shot 41%. 18% from 3. He had a .468 TS%.
NBA avg was 52%.
He had the 2nd worst ORtg on the team.
MJ was awful.
He made NO adjustments for age, shooting woes, inefficiently…he just kept shooting 22 shots a game as though he were in his prime.
Selfish.
He got exposed. This is all this guy could do. Shoot and shoot, whether it hurts the team or not.
Not a team guy.
He made NO adjustments for age, shooting woes, inefficiently…he just kept shooting 22 shots a game as though he were in his prime.
Selfish.
He got exposed. This is all this guy could do. Shoot and shoot, whether it hurts the team or not.
Not a team guy.
The shooting low points in 2002 are numerous.
Bad games: 2-10, 3-16, 5-21, 5-26, 8-26, etc.
28% shooting on shots to tie or take the lead with 2 minutes or less.
Bad in the clutch with the playoffs on the line.
Bad vs zones.
Missed 14 straight shots vs SEA.
It’s ugly.
Bad games: 2-10, 3-16, 5-21, 5-26, 8-26, etc.
28% shooting on shots to tie or take the lead with 2 minutes or less.
Bad in the clutch with the playoffs on the line.
Bad vs zones.
Missed 14 straight shots vs SEA.
It’s ugly.
MJ fans address this by cherry picking games.
They separate his activity into 3 tranches:
First 27 games until the 6 point game (22.7/6/5.3)
The next 20 until he was “hurt” (28/6.5/5.2)
2003 (20.000/6/3.8)
Only the middle 20 games count, starting EXACTLY with the 51 point game.
They separate his activity into 3 tranches:
First 27 games until the 6 point game (22.7/6/5.3)
The next 20 until he was “hurt” (28/6.5/5.2)
2003 (20.000/6/3.8)
Only the middle 20 games count, starting EXACTLY with the 51 point game.
Both the start and finish of that 20 gm stretch is disingenuous.
The first 27 games ends EXACTLY at the 6 pt game. Before that, it’s just injuries.🤷♂️
But they also cut off everything at game 47, when the Wizards were 26-21.
Except…MJ actually stopped playing 8 games later. 🤔
The first 27 games ends EXACTLY at the 6 pt game. Before that, it’s just injuries.🤷♂️
But they also cut off everything at game 47, when the Wizards were 26-21.
Except…MJ actually stopped playing 8 games later. 🤔
They went 1-7 in those 8 games. But they don’t “count,” somehow.
He was actually 27-28 when he stopped. Does it just not sound as good as 26-21?
By the way…if MJ was so hurt after banging Eton Thomas’s knee Feb 7th…why did he play 22 min in the All Star game on February 10th?
He was actually 27-28 when he stopped. Does it just not sound as good as 26-21?
By the way…if MJ was so hurt after banging Eton Thomas’s knee Feb 7th…why did he play 22 min in the All Star game on February 10th?
They also ignore that Jordan came back for 7 games late in the season, as the Wizards were 2.5 games out of a playoff spot.
He had surgery Feb 27 and returned March 20th. No visible “limp.”
He came off the bench and scored 12.4 PPG, on 12.6 shots, 37% FG%. .436 TS%.
🤢
He had surgery Feb 27 and returned March 20th. No visible “limp.”
He came off the bench and scored 12.4 PPG, on 12.6 shots, 37% FG%. .436 TS%.
🤢
The Wizards went 3-4 in those games. Only 2 were contested.
Jordan hurt the team at the end of both.
In a one point loss to Toronto, Jordan had a turnover with 15 seconds left and missed the final shot.
Versus Dallas, he started 0-7 and missed 2 shots at the end. Another L.
Jordan hurt the team at the end of both.
In a one point loss to Toronto, Jordan had a turnover with 15 seconds left and missed the final shot.
Versus Dallas, he started 0-7 and missed 2 shots at the end. Another L.
MJ sat out the last 8 games, with Wizards still in playoff contention and 4 days after scoring 34.
At the time, Skip Bayless wrote an article about MJ returning. What did he say?
Jordan didn’t work hard enough, continued his bad health habits and…it bit him. Too fat.
Oof.
At the time, Skip Bayless wrote an article about MJ returning. What did he say?
Jordan didn’t work hard enough, continued his bad health habits and…it bit him. Too fat.
Oof.
In 2003, the Wizards collapsed. Started 29-29, then finished 7-14. 2-5 in one possession games.
Jordan missed shots at the end of several games they needed to win down the stretch. Plus 0 pts in OT vs DET.
In a 12 game stretch they went 2-10 on the road, he shot 38%.
Ouch.
Jordan missed shots at the end of several games they needed to win down the stretch. Plus 0 pts in OT vs DET.
In a 12 game stretch they went 2-10 on the road, he shot 38%.
Ouch.
Finally on this point…this graphic. MJ was supposedly near perfect on fadeaway shots as a Wizard.
He apparently took 174 of them over 142 games.
So…why not take that shot MORE than once a game? Or at the end of games? Didn’t he want to WIN?!?
🤔
He apparently took 174 of them over 142 games.
So…why not take that shot MORE than once a game? Or at the end of games? Didn’t he want to WIN?!?
🤔
MYTH #5: MJ DID WELL VERSUS ZONES
MJ fans argue MJ did “just fine” versus zones.
The bad shooting suggests that’s not the case.
But…Jordan himself bitched about it. They would zone him up in the second half, and he would disappear.
He got exposed. As he did vs the Pistons.
MJ fans argue MJ did “just fine” versus zones.
The bad shooting suggests that’s not the case.
But…Jordan himself bitched about it. They would zone him up in the second half, and he would disappear.
He got exposed. As he did vs the Pistons.
Remember, Jordan made an “impassioned plea” to the rules committee that zones would’ve destroyed his career.
And, once he got to face them legally…he shot 41%.
Keep in mind 02 and 03 were the 1st years zones were allowed, so it was a primitive version he was facing.
And, once he got to face them legally…he shot 41%.
Keep in mind 02 and 03 were the 1st years zones were allowed, so it was a primitive version he was facing.
MYTH #6: MJ DIDN’T STAT PAD
22 shots/game!
2 examples.
1st, he entered 03 as the 6th man. That lasted 15 gms. Then he shot furiously to maintain his PPG lead over Wilt, hurting the team.
In his last 21 gms, his +/- was -88. Is this why the Wizards missed the playoffs?
22 shots/game!
2 examples.
1st, he entered 03 as the 6th man. That lasted 15 gms. Then he shot furiously to maintain his PPG lead over Wilt, hurting the team.
In his last 21 gms, his +/- was -88. Is this why the Wizards missed the playoffs?
Related to this is the myth that nobody was tracking Jordan’s career PPG record (where he was vs Wilt).
It was being tracked. Jordan knew where he was.
Especially in the final games of 2003.
It was being tracked. Jordan knew where he was.
Especially in the final games of 2003.
Back to stat padding.
In his final game, he needed 15 points to average EXACTLY 20.0 for the season.
He exited the game in the 3rd with 13 points. Done.
But…wait! There’s more!
He went back in the game, with 2:38 left, DOWN 20, to get his 20.00 average.
Stat. Padding.
In his final game, he needed 15 points to average EXACTLY 20.0 for the season.
He exited the game in the 3rd with 13 points. Done.
But…wait! There’s more!
He went back in the game, with 2:38 left, DOWN 20, to get his 20.00 average.
Stat. Padding.
MYTH #7: JORDAN WAS A GREAT LEADER
Um...no.
He was dismissive of everyone.
The players hated him so much, they were happy to have his “era” over.
The owner fired him from his executive role.
He referred to his #1 pick, an abused kid, as a “f&g,” continually.
Um...no.
He was dismissive of everyone.
The players hated him so much, they were happy to have his “era” over.
The owner fired him from his executive role.
He referred to his #1 pick, an abused kid, as a “f&g,” continually.
This is NOT leadership.
Shouldn’t Jordan have been at his BEST as a leader after 15 years of it?
His bullying didn’t work in college. Or 85-89. Or in Washington.
Jordan needed Phil and Pippen to tame his toxicity. The Wizards era exposed who he was without them. Badly.
Shouldn’t Jordan have been at his BEST as a leader after 15 years of it?
His bullying didn’t work in college. Or 85-89. Or in Washington.
Jordan needed Phil and Pippen to tame his toxicity. The Wizards era exposed who he was without them. Badly.
So, the Wizards years?
Bad leadership. Stat-padding. Toxic. Selfish shooting.
No winning season or playoffs.
Guys, this was the oldest, most MATURE Jordan. And this is what you got.
Jordan didn’t just not play well….he got exposed.
Bad leadership. Stat-padding. Toxic. Selfish shooting.
No winning season or playoffs.
Guys, this was the oldest, most MATURE Jordan. And this is what you got.
Jordan didn’t just not play well….he got exposed.
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