Michael Jordan's "Shrug game" exposed

[CuterThanRubio]

Due to the recent era debates on the board, I've gained interest in analyzing old clips to compare and contrast defensive execution, since it has been implied by the majority that oldschool strategies were much tougher to score against.

I have concluded that the three point shot was rarely guarded, even in situations where a player got hot and had been knocking them down at a high rate, they still managed to find themselves free from distance more often than not.

I know it wasn't a priority back then, but to claim that modern teams wouldn't be able to compete against older teams is an utter falsification, especially when considering the improved ability to shoot, and the way the three was defended in the past.

I randomly chose to examine one of the most famous three point shooting outbursts, the shrug game, to see if my theory would continue to hold up, and here is what I discovered.

These images are in sequential order, ALL six of his first half threes.

Enjoy.

(Click the pics to make them larger)

(Mods: I'm reposting these pics from a different thread since I figured they would provide insight and didn't want them to waste away, I'm not spamming)

1.



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6.




EDIT: I'm adding a few additional images that were posted in this thread. A certain member challenged me to provide evidence to support the claim that even renowned shooters like Larry Bird were facing relaxed defense, and I promptly discovered more proof.

(Bonus Reggie Miller exposure included!)

[Wade's Rings]

Screenshots

[CuterThanRubio]

Screenshots

Gifs chew up too much bandwidth and the point remains the same.

Every shot was uncontested, Drexler and Ainge didn't even attempt to jump!

[ballinhun8]

Shrug game exposed???


It's one of the most historic Finals games ever bro.




And not to mention, you can't even see the 3pt line in four of the six pictures.

[CuterThanRubio]

Shrug game exposed???


It's one of the most historic Finals games ever bro.




And not to mention, you can't even see the 3pt line in four of the six pictures.

Don't play dumb, "bro"

We know he is behind the line, don't blame me for terrible early 90s camera angles.

You can still see the distance between him and the defense, and that is what I am conveying with this thread.

Not a single shot was directly challenged, the last two shots were jumped for, but the defenders were so far away and late it was after he was already releasing the ball.

[SouBeachTalents]

Let's dispel with this fiction that OP knows what he's doing, he has no idea what he's doing. That's why he's done the things he's done

[IllegalD]

OP is a f*ggot confirmed

[ClipperRevival]

Let's dispel with this fiction that OP knows what he's doing, he has no idea what he's doing. That's why he's done the things he's done

Yeah, he just doesn't know any better. Digging his own grave.

[CuterThanRubio]

So you guys are going to ignore VISUAL PROOF and try dissing me instead?

This is a legitimate discussion point, I just decided to use MJ as an example, don't cry, I know it's hard not to get angry when you see things like this!

[riseagainst]

Exposed of what?


????????

[AintNoSunshine]

So you guys are going to ignore VISUAL PROOF and try dissing me instead?

This is a legitimate discussion point, I just decided to use MJ as an example, don't cry, I know it's hard not to get angry when you see things like this!

Welcome to ISH!

GTFO if what you want is logical and mature discussion.

[IllegalD]

Nothing to see here.

Just another LeBron Stanley f*ggot melting down because his boy is gonna be stuck on 2 rings 44444 life and will only keep adding losses to his pitiful finals record.

[Sarcastic]

They were daring him to shoot. That's what the shrug was for. He was saying "well if they're gonna leave me open...(shrug)". Jordan wasn't known for his shot back then.

[CuterThanRubio]

Nothing to see here.

Just another LeBron Stanley f*ggot melting down because his boy is gonna be stuck on 2 rings 44444 life and will only keep adding losses to his pitiful finals record.

Lmao, you wish.

I'm not a Bran stan

Aren't you 35 or something?

I've seen you getting relentlessly trolled by that Simon kid, I suggest you fall back from attacking people, I'm not the one!


And yes of course they were leaving him open to a degree, because outside shots weren't expected back in those days, but you would think the pressure would increase after he made a few in a row.

My argument is that defensive tactics in that era are not on par with today's league.

I'm not trying to say MJ isn't the best, but this is one of the greatest illustrations of how primitive the league used to be.

[Sarcastic]

No. He was known as a bad 3 pt shooter, so they left him open on purpose. He tore them a new one for leaving him open like that.