Michael Jordan vs Dominique Wilkins - The Greatest & Most Lethal Tactician In NBA History

A significant percentage of Michael Jordan's scoring came in the 2nd half of games. Each game provided different circumstances so Jordan would attack accordingly. Sometimes that required aggressiveness early, but quite often MJ would get his teammates involved for 3 quarters, and take over the game in the 4th quarter.

Michael Jordan was a team player who was attempting to aid in the development of his young teammates Horace Grant & Scottie Pippen.

This is also a great example why stats debates are a humongous waste of time. Statistics carry no context. There's never been anyone more reliable & more clutch in 4th quarters and overtimes, than Jordan. Anyone who WATCHED Jordan, you know. It's easy to be misled with out of context statistics. Statistics are the shortcut to blatantly out of context "hot takes" on social media.

Michael Jordan didn't play for statistics, he played to win, and he was a true tactician on the basketball court. The math in Jordan's statistics should look different to the educated fan. The most important chunk of Jordan's numbers came in crunch time. None of the other greats have or do take over games, the way Jordan consistently did. If that context is ignored in any discussion, is it even a discussion worth having?

As for this Hawks team, this was an attempt at a superteam. Moses Malone is a Hall of Fame legend who took a ton of teams to the playoffs. Reggie Theus was a TV star at the time and a walking bucket. Dominique Wilkins is one of the most underrated All Time Great Hall of Famers, and the most underrated scorer in NBA history. The Hawks role players were explosive as well. This was a TOUGH match-up!

You know who had the toughest match-up? The great Reggie Theus! Michael Jordan put the absolute CLAMPS on Reggie Theus in this ballgame, and held him to just 4 of 15 from the floor.

The Hawks had the Bulls up against the ropes late in the ballgame! Michael Jordan flipped the clutch mode engaged switch! But would it be too late? Enjoy!

(1988-89 Season)

TIMESTAMPS:
3:46 - Game begins
3:52 - Reggie Theus jumper
4:58 - Michael Jordan inbounds baseline dunk
5:12 - Horace Grant put back, and 1
5:39 - Antoine Carr power dunk on Horace Grant
5:52 - Michael Jordan hesitation driving layup
6:08 - Michael Jordan fast break dunk
6:20 - Michael Jordan baseline jumper
6:32 - Dominique Wilkins elbow jumper
7:16 - Horace Grant jumper in the paint
7:53 - John Battle jumper in the paint
8:01 - Dominique Wilkins fast break 2 hand dunk
8:26 - Cliff Levingston blocks Scottie Pippen
8:30 - Pippen baseline jumper, and 1
9:26 - Wilkins jumper over Pippen
9:35 - Dominique Wilkins fast break dunk
10:20 - Dominique Wilkins fast break 2 hand dunk
12:15 - Dominique Wilkins blows past Scottie Pippen for the reverse pivot baseline layup
12:49 - Antoine Carr post up vs Horace Grant
13:18 - Moses Malone baseline jumper
13:35 - Antoine Carr blocks Bill Cartwright
13:42 - Michael Jordan reverse layup
14:15 - Michael Jordan weaves through a 1 v 3 for the pull up jumper
14:55 - John Battle jumper in the paint
15:08 - Horace Grant reverse layup
15:18 - Antoine Carr post up fadeaway
16:13 - Dominique Wilkins tough bucket over Grant
18:10 - Dominique Wilkins runner
18:53 - Jordan to Cartwright pick n roll (Bill goes down hard)
19:50 - Spud Webb jumper
19:57 - Michael Jordan to Horace Grant for the dunk
20:36 - Michael Jordan elbow jumper
20:56 - Dominique Wilkins reverse pivot bank shot
22:36 - Moses Malone vs Bill Cartwright post up
24:23 - Scottie Pippen put back layup
25:01 - Moses Malone patented offensive rebound & putback jumper
25:58 - Pippen to Grant for the dunk
26:10 - Dominique Wilkins bullies Scottie Pippen for the bucket
26:25 - Dominique Wilkins vs Pippen, and 1
27:17 - Dominique Wilkins baseline jumper
28:30 - Dominique Wilkins pull up bank shot
29:58 - Scottie Pippen jumper
30:18 - John Battle jumper in the paint
31:35 - World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda joins the broadcast
32:04 - Michael Jordan jumper
32:23 - Antoine Carr post up turnaround fadeaway jumper
32:33 - Scottie Pippen baseline baby hook
34:17 - Dominique Wilkins elbow jumper
34:24 - Michael Jordan jumper
34:35 - Reggie Theus breakaway dunk
35:32 - Dominique Wilkins tough bucket over Scottie Pippen, and 1
38:38 - Reggie Theus jumper
39:06 - Michael Jordan tough clutch bucket, and 1
42:17 - Michael Jordan to John Paxson for 3
44:15 - Moses Malone post up turnaround fadeaway jumper over Cartwright
44:29 - Horace Grant dunk
44:38 - Dominique Wilkins clutch jumper
44:48 - Michael Jordan to Grant pick n roll
44:57 - Michael Jordan clutch facial dunk on Antoine Carr
44:25 - John Battle tough jumper over John Paxson, and 1
46:40 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws
47:42 - Michael Jordan clutch pull up jumper
50:47 - Michael Jordan clutch dagger free throws

Michael Jordan greatest games series playlist (games in chronological order here):    • Michael Jordan's Greatest 1980's Regu...