Post by eric on Jun 1, 2020 19:07:09 GMT
The 90s were by a pretty wide margin the golden age of NBA centers, so I was struck at how little they were mentioned in The Last Dance.
One of the most notable by omission was the depiction of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals aka Literally The Only Playoff Series Mike Lost in the 90s that focused entirely on Jordan's legs and Grant in general, making no mention of the only All-NBA big man on that Magic squad, the runner-up for that year's regular season Most Valuable Player award, who had more points rebounds assists steals and blocks than Horace but otherwise sure pretty equal contributions, who led all players in rebounds and blocks - indeed, who with a cool 6(!) offensive rebounds per game had more than any other two players combined, number thirty-two in your scorecards, number one in your hearts, Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal. Indeed, the only mention I remember of him at all was an unrelated Bulls locker room shot where someone observed the opposition had defended O'Neal well, to which Jordan derisively responded that he wasn't Shaq.
But the most notable in my very humble opinion goes directly to the enduring myth that Michael retired the first time because he had bested all comers, had beaten everybody, there was nothing left in basketball, shades of Alexander the Great and Sir The Knight Companion of The Most Noble Order of the Garter Yes This is a Real Thing Edmund Hillary. Or, in the words of the time:
"I have nothing more to prove in basketball. I have no more challenges that I felt I could get motivated for."
"He felt he had accomplished as much as he could."
Everyone knows 1993 Finals Loser Charles Barkley won the 1993 MVP, which because it infuriated Michael Jordan is why Chuck was the 1993 Finals Loser.
But for literally the only time in any of his championship years Michael "Air" Jordan didn't even come in second that year.
Everyone knows Michael Jordan would manufacture slights when needed ("needed") to give himself sufficient motivation.
Everyone knows Michael Jordan was not drafted first overall.
Most people probably don't know but suspect that Michael Jordan's Bulls had winning records against almost every other team in the NBA from 1991 to 1993.
But there were two out of twenty six they didn't, and in fact were only a crisp 1 and 5 against.
.
In 1993 Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon finished 2nd in MVP voting,
won his first Defensive Player of the Year award, and
had his first All-NBA 1st Team and
first playoff series win since the NBA Finals-reaching late 80s Rockets fell apart due to Lewis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins (yes relation) getting banned for years (you heard me) for cocaine use not to mention Ralph Sampson's leg falling off (YOU HEARD ME).
The same Hakeem Olajuwon who was drafted 1st overall in the 1984 N.B.A. Draft where Michael Jordan was not drafted 1st overall.
Are we to believe Michael forgave and forgot that slight?
The same Hakeem Olajuwon whose Rockets were a crisp 5-1 against the 1991-93 Bulls,
including 2-0 in 1993,
including a 14 point shellacking in Chicago,
a margin that was not only the Bulls' worst home loss of the regular season but as large as the next two combined,
a game where Hakeem outscored, outrebounded, outassisted, outstealed, outblocked, outpercentaged, outeverythinged Michael.
.
Everybody knows Olajuwon in fact went on to lead the Rockets to titles in 1994 and 1995.
Perhaps more people can now know that this feat was in fact thoroughly presaged.
That Jordan did in point of fact have a challenge remaining and chose not to face it.
That even 30 years later he would not even acknowledge it.
Incredible!
The Disappearing Center
One of the most notable by omission was the depiction of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals aka Literally The Only Playoff Series Mike Lost in the 90s that focused entirely on Jordan's legs and Grant in general, making no mention of the only All-NBA big man on that Magic squad, the runner-up for that year's regular season Most Valuable Player award, who had more points rebounds assists steals and blocks than Horace but otherwise sure pretty equal contributions, who led all players in rebounds and blocks - indeed, who with a cool 6(!) offensive rebounds per game had more than any other two players combined, number thirty-two in your scorecards, number one in your hearts, Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal. Indeed, the only mention I remember of him at all was an unrelated Bulls locker room shot where someone observed the opposition had defended O'Neal well, to which Jordan derisively responded that he wasn't Shaq.
But the most notable in my very humble opinion goes directly to the enduring myth that Michael retired the first time because he had bested all comers, had beaten everybody, there was nothing left in basketball, shades of Alexander the Great and Sir The Knight Companion of The Most Noble Order of the Garter Yes This is a Real Thing Edmund Hillary. Or, in the words of the time:
"I have nothing more to prove in basketball. I have no more challenges that I felt I could get motivated for."
"He felt he had accomplished as much as he could."
Everyone knows 1993 Finals Loser Charles Barkley won the 1993 MVP, which because it infuriated Michael Jordan is why Chuck was the 1993 Finals Loser.
But for literally the only time in any of his championship years Michael "Air" Jordan didn't even come in second that year.
Everyone knows Michael Jordan would manufacture slights when needed ("needed") to give himself sufficient motivation.
Everyone knows Michael Jordan was not drafted first overall.
Most people probably don't know but suspect that Michael Jordan's Bulls had winning records against almost every other team in the NBA from 1991 to 1993.
But there were two out of twenty six they didn't, and in fact were only a crisp 1 and 5 against.
.
In 1993 Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon finished 2nd in MVP voting,
won his first Defensive Player of the Year award, and
had his first All-NBA 1st Team and
first playoff series win since the NBA Finals-reaching late 80s Rockets fell apart due to Lewis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins (yes relation) getting banned for years (you heard me) for cocaine use not to mention Ralph Sampson's leg falling off (YOU HEARD ME).
The same Hakeem Olajuwon who was drafted 1st overall in the 1984 N.B.A. Draft where Michael Jordan was not drafted 1st overall.
Are we to believe Michael forgave and forgot that slight?
The same Hakeem Olajuwon whose Rockets were a crisp 5-1 against the 1991-93 Bulls,
including 2-0 in 1993,
including a 14 point shellacking in Chicago,
a margin that was not only the Bulls' worst home loss of the regular season but as large as the next two combined,
a game where Hakeem outscored, outrebounded, outassisted, outstealed, outblocked, outpercentaged, outeverythinged Michael.
.
Everybody knows Olajuwon in fact went on to lead the Rockets to titles in 1994 and 1995.
Perhaps more people can now know that this feat was in fact thoroughly presaged.
That Jordan did in point of fact have a challenge remaining and chose not to face it.
That even 30 years later he would not even acknowledge it.
Incredible!
The Disappearing Center
