Michael Jordan vs Reggie Lewis - MVP vs MVP Potential | Battle At The Stadium

Michael Jordan had many memorable performances against the Boston Celtics in his career. This would be a particularly interesting match-up because the Celtics were without Larry Bird, who had surgery on both feet due to bone spurs. This provided a tremendous opportunity for the Celtics' young talent, like Reggie Lewis, to step up & show the skill level that they brought to the table. Reggie Lewis had go-to elite NBA MVP contender type talent, but at this early stage of his career he hadn't been given the opportunity. With Bird out, Reggie showed up in Chicago to compete with the GOAT.

Even without Bird, the Celtics still boasted Kevin McHale & Robert Parish, who were an established championship level front court. The Celtics were still a very good basketball team.

Jordan, of course, had an inferior supporting cast at this stage of his career, but he was attempting to aid in the development of Grant & Pippen.

The Celtics main concern, of course, was Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan was averaging 41/5/6 against the Celtics in his previous 7 contests vs Boston. Jordan dominated the Celtics & Pistons in the 80's, like NO OTHER. Which is all the evidence one should need to understand how poor the environment was around Jordan, and how much patience was required to turn it around. Jordan being Jordan, he always thought he could win. Michael was still attempting to elevate a franchise that was holding him back with a fleet of boat anchors.

For Reggie Lewis and a plethora of other ultra-talented perimeter players, from the Jordan era, playing against Michael was their recognition championship. So many wings gave their absolute best efforts, of their career, against MJ... because they wanted to see... can I really compete with the best? MJ ultimately got the best of the overall rivalries and match-ups, and that's why he's Michael Jordan... For far too long people who weren't even born yet have undersold how stacked Jordan's era was, on the perimeter. Many perimeter stars in that era were held back by big man philosophies. So if someone attempts to shortcut film study, by looking up statistics, you will miss out on learning about all the great talent that Jordan BATTLED against, in his era.

The 4th quarter is where you saw that separation. When it came to WINNING TIME, Jordan separated himself from EVERYONE. But that doesn't mean we should ignore all the great talent that his opponents brought to the table, and appreciate all of their contributions to the game of basketball, as well. Reggie Lewis had the potential to challenge Michael for MVP one day. Unfortunately, we never got to see Reggie Lewis fully chase that dream & potential due to his untimely passing on the basketball court.

(1988-89 Season)

TIMESTAMPS:
3:14 - Game begins
6:16 - Robert Parish jumper
7:00 - Reggie Lewis jumper
7:26 - Lewis dunk
8:14 - Jordan driving layup
8:37 - Parish turnaround jumper
8:47 - Kevin McHale turnaround fadeaway jumper
9:03 - McHale turnaround fadeaway jumper
9:15 - Michael Jordan jumper
9:34 - Lewis jumper
11:00 - Brad Lohaus jumper
11:18 - Scottie Pippen chase down block on Jim Paxson
12:35 - Michael Jordan breakaway 2 hand dunk
13:30 - Jordan baseline jumper
14:17 - Rick Barry's opinion on the 3 point shot in 1988
14:41 - Reggie Lewis and 1 over Pippen & Jordan
16:40 - McHale post-up vs Horace Grant
17:45 - Horace Grant baseline jumper
18:05 - Parish POWERFUL facial dunk on Bill Cartwright
18:59 - McHale post-up vs Horace Grant
21:30 - McHale post-up turnaround jumper over Horace Grant
22:40 - Michael Jordan baseline fadeaway jumper
24:03 - Michael Jordan jumper over Reggie Lewis
24:38 - Brian Shaw baseline floater
24:50 - Michael Jordan jumper over McHale
25:11 - Robert Parish jumper
27:58 - Replay of Michael Jordan breakaway dunk
28:46 - Horace Grant dunk
28:51 - Reggie Lewis jumper
29:34 - Reggie Lewis jumper
30:03 - Brian Shaw jumper
30:08 - Rick Barry explains how playing individual defense can help your individual offense
31:00 - Michael Jordan elbow jumper
31:30 - Michael Jordan pull-up jumper
32:00 - Replay of Grant transition dunk
32:16 - Michael Jordan transition jumper
32:29 - Reggie Lewis baseline drive, and 1
34:35 - Michael Jordan transition amazing footwork for the contested bucket
35:35 - Jim Paxson layup, and 1
36:52 - Jim Paxson jumper
37:36 - McHale jumper
37:45 - Michael Jordan hang time & body control for the reverse layup
37:57 - Lohaus elbow jumper
38:05 - Reggie Lewis jumper
38:25 - Michael Jordan battles beneath the hoop
39:47 - Replay of Michael Jordan hang time blind reverse layup
40:44 - Lohaus driving dunk
41:45 - Scottie Pippen dunk
42:24 - Reggie Lewis battles beneath the hoop
42:46 - Parish vs Corzine
43:30 - Jim Paxson jumper
44:04 - Michael Jordan crossover jumper over Kevin McHale
44:23 - Reggie Lewis dunk
45:52 - Michael Jordan clutch free throw attempts
46:50 - Michael Jordan frantic clutch defense
47:50 - Michael Jordan dagger free throw attempts