michael jordan drops 55 with single coverage '97 1st round

[diamenz]

doesn't even break a sweat out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZkTK8FECJs

don't miss the bball iq @ 8:55

[Hey Yo]

stat padding on a first round opponent.

:sleeping

[diamenz]

yeah, stat padding in the fourth quarter with the bulls within five.

good job.

[3ball]

http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/Jordan_Fadeaway_Hangtime_VS_En_f2e6935bf43334e8c5c 30c1b2b6489d8.gif


Nice video OP.. Other than the dunk at the 5:54 mark and the layup right after, MJ scored all 55 points on jumpshots.. He was forced to shoot jumpers because the paint was too crowded the whole game.

In his era, MJ was frequently required to have big scoring games on all jumpers because defenders didn't guard 3-pointers and they could legally paint-camp - the paint was simply sealed much of the time.. So just like all players at the time, MJ often couldn't get in the paint and had to rely on the jumpshot.. MJ's most famous all-jumpshot game was in the crucial Game 4 of the 1992 ECF, when he scored 54 on Riley's Knicks.

Also, as the GIF shows above and throughout the video, defenders were in closer proximity because there was no spacing - defenders barely had to take one step and they were in prime position to help on someone else's man.
.

[sportjames23]

GOAT of GOATs. :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[3ball]

.
As the OP video shows, there was no weakside spacing in previous eras, so all 5 defenders remained on the strongside, and therefore closest to help on strongside action:


http://www.gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/95daa895eb22b488294eeed3b6d490c3.gif



Otoh, in today's game, weakside spacing reduces the number of strongside defenders.. Help defenders are now on the weakside and furthest from helping on strongside action:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/5-22-2015/WAhpK1.gif



Here's another example of no weakside spacing resulting in more strongside defenders (all help defenders on strongside):


http://www.gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/a4ff987e6ddfd5e8564a5ae6555428be.gif



And here's the present day equivalent that has weakside spacing and consequently, less strongside defenders (all help defenders on weakside):


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/60edafbed8d187680e60fbc7ad5e81de.gif


The weakside spacing and resulting porous strongsides necessitate the flooding of defenders BACK TO the strongside - this is how strongside floods originated.

Otoh, weakside spacing didn't exist in previous eras, so defenders weren't lured away from strongside - defenders just remained on the strongside, which meant players faced strongsides that were already flooded with all 5 defenders (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11128077&postcount=21).

The difference is night and day - just a completely different game altogether compared to today's 1-defender strongsides (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=377570).

In the 2015 NBA Finals, Golden State let Lebron isolate all alone on the strongside for the entire Finals because Lebron is such a poor shooter and horrible isolation player - he shot 32.5% on isolations in the playoffs.. It's always the best defensive strategy to let a player take a 32.5% shot over and over.. The Warriors exploited the Cavs by letting Lebron isolate at 32.5% a pop over and over (similar to how teams do hack-a-Deandre):

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378398
.

[sportjames23]

Why you do 'em like that, 3ball? :bowdown:

[PsychoBe]

it disgusts me to see how much spacing players are allowed nowadays. how is that remotely comparable to what old-school basketball players had to go through? weak era :facepalm

[Prime_Shaq]

Imagine if Shaq had single coverage :D