1998 Jordan gets underrated by most here.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Jordan's 1998 season is the greatest season ever, not in terms of absolute dominance. But in terms of what he achieved despite age, injurys, etc.

Exactly. More a testament to intangibles, and psychology. Many things that LeBron stans just simply want to act like they don't exist.

Heart, intelligence, determination, sheer force of will. Young in experienced fans will not understand what you're saying here.

God had essentially stripped MJ of many of his natural physical gifts those last 2 years in '97 and '98. Even more so in '98. Floor Jordan, cause his hops had disappeared that year ... yet he still found a way to defend the throne and will his team to victory through mental toughness, heart, and basketball skill.

[bond10]

What does Jordan do to stop guys like Hibbert/Duncan/Robinson/big men?

Nothing. His team just had better rebounders and interior defenders. See 1995 without Horace Grant/Rodman and look at how Shaq/Horace destroyed them. Bulls didn't win shit when in the same boat as LeBrons Heat.

I don't think anyone has ever argued that these Heat teams are better than the 90s Bulls. These Heat teams are one of the most FLAWED champions of all-time. No other champion has ever had as glaring a weakness in the interior as the Heat.

LeBron has to be his teams best scorer, rebounder, perimeter defender, post defender, facilitator, ball handler EVERYTHING for his Heat to have a chance at winning against quality teams in the playoffs. He has performed beautifully when facing adversity these past two years. The best among any perimeter player ever.

Anyone that doesn't see LeBron is more valuable to his team is just a victim of Jordan propaganda or a Jordan dicksucker. Take your pick.

There are so many things wrong with your post, I'm embrassed to even read this crap.

[bond10]

So...... victim of Jordan propaganda? or Jordan dicksucker?

My money is on the slurpity slurp slurp.

Who was LeBrons best rebounder/interior defender in Cleveland? Drew Gooden? Big Z, the guy who can't even wipe his ass?

Jordan had Pippen an MVP caliber option in a league where no other team had two MVP caliber players, the best rebounder EVER in Rodman, and the best coach EVER. There is absolutely no comparison in the supporting casts.

Miamis advantage over the league is LeBron James and their depth of shooters where a number of guys can step up when the others have cold nights shooting.

Wade and Bosh can step up some nights, but Wades mid range game was on for like two games out of the 20 playoff games. Without Wades mid range game he is a role player which he was for almost all of the playoffs except Game 4 and 7 of the Finals. It's still more than anyone could do in Cleveland though.

Bosh is a big that gets bent over by anyone that plays slightly physical. 0 points in Game 7 for a guy thats strength is his jump shot. Some superstar huh. Give the Heat Rodman instead of Bosh and you'd see some real ****ing shit. 72 wins every year.

Oh god, I can't believe I read another one of these. Again, so many things wrong here. Get off that ESPN hype machine.

[Duncan21formvp]

It was probably my favorite season from MJ.

[diamenz]

jordan's mental prime was 98 for sure. those who did watch him know how he evolutionized his game in even just those few years from 95-98. his offensive approach was different every year! tonymontana couldn't tell you anything about that though.

[poido123]

The "Jordan rules" were in full effect in 98. How is it that a 34 year old Jordan takes more ft's (8.8) than he has since the 1989 season (9.8) when he was 25? He was attacking the rim less and less as he got older...yet somehow he averages the most ft's since about 10 years ago? You couldn't even breathe on him in 98.

You don't think he was able to work out how to draw contact more effectively as he got older?

Sure, his status and godlike awe he had, certainly got him a few calls by the refs as the years went by. Going by what you're implying, Jordan was carried by refs in 1998 If you dislike him fine, but Jordan was crazy good, unlike these fake stars we have going ATM.

[poido123]

this
Lebron literally has to do everything for his team to have a shot at the title, while Jordan only had to score and take advantage of having the most stacked team in the 90's. Dude was replaced by a D-league player in 94 and Bulls still nearly went to the Finals Talk about a diluted era and weak competition. Can anyone imagine Heat even sniffing East finals with some D-league scrub in the place of Bron? Yeah, I thought so...

That "stacked" 90's team were comparable to the Heat now, only that Jordan and co. were going up against Hall of Famers on a nightly basis and actually HAD competition in the East for pathway to Finals. Heat have a stacked team relative to their competition and have been in a weak East that have been riddled with injuries.

Furthermore, your "amazing" Lebron was about to be left out to dry, had it not been for Ray Allen's historic 3 point shot to save Lebron's ass from scrutiny. None of you fanboys would be saying a word about how great Lebron is, if Spurs had won game 6.

You can cut that shit out about weak 90's era you fckn retarded Lebron stan.

The 90's were flooded with Hall of Famers and great players. This era is weak.

Let's see,

Penny, Zo, Shaq, Mutumbo, Barkley, D-Rob, Duncan, Dirk, Nash, Kidd, Ewing, Rice, Richmond, Kobe, Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Iverson, Carter, McGrady, Sprewell, Cassell, Olajuwon, KG, Payton, older Magic and the list goes on and on.

Alot of these guys were in their prime or younger, and most of them were hall of famers and guys who are now in the top 20 of alltime.

While Lebron is cakewalking through an injury riddled Eastern Conference consisting of the "mighty Bucks" , the crippled Bulls and the Pacers led by a mighty George, perhaps that is where you should be looking when you're talking about weak era and weak competition.

GTFO with your nonsense and take Tanya Montana with you.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

In 98', Mike was more a jump shooter (back the basket / fadeaway, etc), so guys like Stockton and Payton, who regularly defended MJ, could NOT check him....at all. That fadeaway was practically impossible to block AND when he had good post position? Forget about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2sqyn3SCJs
Look at his turn around jumper at 7:13. Gary simply couldn't guard Mike when he had his back to the basket.

But yeah, I do think that season gets overlooked. Not just because of HIS injuries, but Scottie's too. Pippen missed damn near half the season, yet MJ and Chicago STILL had the best record in the East.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Some postseason highlights too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zurtZK1iAH8 -- dat artistry

[diamenz]

dat artistry

every move was on point - from the footwork to the decision making. artistry and grace is something lebron will never have.

[Vragrant]

62 wins, titles, MVP, FMVP, consensus best player in the NBA. He averaged 28, 5 and 3. But he was much better than his numbers. Everyone feared him and he did everything needed to win.

Look at what he did to the Spurs (basically the team that won it all in 99) with a near prime Robinson (21, 10, 2) and a rookie Tim Duncan (averaged 21, 11,2 - no question better than this years version of Duncan).

Does anybody seriously believe those Bulls would not have finished the 2013 Spurs in less than 7 games?

If Hibbert did that to the heat, the 1998 Spurs with Robinson and Duncan could sweep them.

Anyway, MJ in action against the Spurs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQePkBnD0vo
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...803140SAS.html

MJ, GOAT.

Call me insane, but I would not trade (for just that season) MJ for current Lebron or prime Kobe. Lebron and prime Kobe might have been better players than a 35 year old Jordan, but I don't think they would have the mental strengh and the aura of invincibilityto lead those Bulls to a title.

EDIT: Instead of most, read "by some".

Amazing vid, so much skill.

Also, its amazing how quick of the floor he was. I don't know if anybody watch the complete vid but look at 3:20 when he outjumps David Robinson on a jump ball clearly.

That hanging jumper @ the 1:40 mark

[lakers_forever]

Exactly. More a testament to intangibles, and psychology. Many things that LeBron stans just simply want to act like they don't exist.

Heart, intelligence, determination, sheer force of will. Young in experienced fans will not understand what you're saying here.

God had essentially stripped MJ of many of his natural physical gifts those last 2 years in '97 and '98. Even more so in '98. Floor Jordan, cause his hops had disappeared that year ... yet he still found a way to defend the throne and will his team to victory through mental toughness, heart, and basketball skill.

Also everyone was scared to death of MJ (people talk of his will to win and killing instinct like he was a murderer, a psychopath) I don't see that with Lebron. Don't get me wrong, Lebron is the best player in the NBA today, an all time great, a true legend of the game. But it's a different. There's no way in hell a player Jason Terry would have the balls to call out MJ in the finals like he did with Lebron. And if he did, he would be badly dominated and ended up embarrased.

Some postseason highlights too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zurtZK1iAH8 -- dat artistry

[aceman]

jordan shot poorly throughout the 1998 playoffs. without the support of a great defensive unit the bulls don't win.

[aceman]

Pippen was a shell of himself in the playoffs offensively for the entire 2nd three-peat.

People want to complain about Wade's nagging injuries in 2012 and 2013, his offensive numbers were much more appealing than what Pip brought to that table on offense. And Wade's still had some major games where he took over and won contests in both the 2012 and 2013 playoffs / Finals.

And even though Pippen was clearly the better defender, the difference between Pippen and Wade's defense is closer than Pippen's abilities and production on offense compared to Wade.

MJ's '98 is very slept on. He had no business being the best player in the league, or the MVP. Had a damn near cut off finger due to a cigar accident after the last championship, a messed up shooting wrist all season, and he dragged the Bulls with no Pippen for half the season, a Rodman that wasn't as focused as seasons prior, with Jason Caffey being arguably the Bulls 2nd best player until Pippen came back.

He was amazing, all season. 35 years old, you shouldn't be willing your team to championships. That's MAJOR heart right there.

pippen's defense won matches in the 1998 playoffs.

[lakers_forever]

jordan shot poorly throughout the 1998 playoffs. without the support of a great defensive unit the bulls don't win.

What? He shot at 462%. Better than what he did in 96 and 97.