80's Michael Jordan Leads Bulls to 50 Wins for 1st Time Since 1974 in Stacked East

Rapid rise! If you were around to witness the early years of Michael Jordan's career you understand that the Bulls organization couldn't even maintain the arena properly, when MJ got there. Players would often complain about the awful flooring that the Bulls used, on top of the Blackhawks ice, and players would often slide & fall on the court. Forget running a winning NBA franchise, the Bulls couldn't even properly maintain the actual basketball court. The locker room was infested with drugs & players who didn't care about winning. Achieving 50 wins, this quickly, is one of MJ's most underrated feats!! Considering ALL the circumstances, this was one of the great sports turnarounds, EVER!

The Bulls hadn't won 50 games since 1974. The Bulls wins & losses, during their first 50 win season since 1974, were directly dependent on Jordan's scoring & defense.

When Jordan scored:
Under 25 points: Bulls went 2-8 (20% win %)
25-29 points: Bulls went 7-6 (53.8% win %)
30-34 points: Bulls went 12-4 (75% win %)
35-39 points: Bulls went 16-10 (61.5% win %)
40+ points: Bulls went 13-5 (72.2% win %)

For context, Shaq & Kobe had a 72.9% win % as a duo. When 1987-88 Jordan scored 40+ points he had the Bulls just shy of Shaq & Kobe's duo win %. That's insane! Peak Michael Jordan was like nothing we've ever seen.

As for this specific performance, this should have been a gimme, the Celtics did not have McHale or Bird, who were both out due to injury. You would think that MJ's supporting cast would give him adequate help, and he'd be able to put on a cruise control performance. WRONG. Bulls were barely holding on to a slim 3 point lead, in crunch time, against Celtics backups. Once again, there was Michael Jordan, telling all his teammates to jump on his back... so he could once again will the Bulls to victory. This game also illustrated how far the Bulls still had to go, from the perspective of developing a supporting cast.

(1987-88 Season)

TIMESTAMPS:
2:34 - Game begins
2:42 - Michael Jordan reverse layup
3:04 - Dennis Johnson driving layup
3:11 - Brad Lohaus blocks Brad Sellers
3:36 - Dennis Johnson jumper
3:42 - Michael Jordan baseline jumper
3:52 - Robert Parish post up turnaround jumper
3:58 - Michael Jordan jab step jumper
4:48 - Dennis Johnson jumper
5:05 - 7'0" Brad Lohaus corner jumper
5:52 - Michael Jordan 1 handed rebound, 1 handed no look assist
6:15 - Michael Jordan blocks Dennis Johnson's fadeaway
6:46 - Jim Paxson jumper
7:00 - Michael Jordan pull up jumper off the glass
7:37 - Dirk Minniefield driving layup
7:47 - Jim Paxson Sr. interview
9:20 - Jim Paxson layup
9:28 - Michael Jordan drops Jim Paxson & dunks on a double team
10:59 - Jim Paxson off ball cut & layup
12:17 - Michael Jordan fast break scoop layup
12:55 - Scottie Pippen baseline jumper
13:05 - Brad Lohaus post up vs Scottie Pippen
13:54 - Fred Roberts reverse layup, and 1
15:14 - Brad Lohaus jumper
15:21 - Danny Ainge 3 point jumper
15:32 - Reggie Lewis blocks Charles Oakley
15:37 - Brad Lohaus jumper
17:32 - Danny Ainge top of key jumper
18:35 - Reggie Lewis corner jumper
18:38 - Ainge steal & pull up 3
20:30 - Michael Jordan baseline drive, and 1
21:10 - Roberts jumper
21:37 - Brad Lohaus jumper
22:59 - Jim Paxson off balance bank shot
25:31 - Brad Lohaus jumper
25:39 - Michael Jordan rainbow jumper over 7'0" Brad Lohaus
28:47 - Charles Oakley ENDS Dirk Minniefield with a clothesline
29:16 - Dirk Minniefield driving layup
29:43 - Michael Jordan driving layup
30:50 - Michael Jordan jumper
31:20 - Michael Jordan driving layup
32:07 - Michael Jordan full court driving layup
33:26 - Ainge jumper
37:14 - Michael Jordan dunks on Reggie Lewis
37:42 - Replays of Michael Jordan facial dunk on Reggie Lewis
38:02 - Reggie Lewis clutch layup
38:36 - Danny Ainge clutch jumper
38:42 - Michael Jordan clutch baseline fadeaway jumper
39:03 - Michael Jordan dagger baseline jumper

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

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Blitz Sports Network PSA: Always remember, the individuals who say "Michael Jordan didn't face great competition in his era" are trying to tell you something IMPORTANT. They are trying to tell you that they didn't watch the Michael Jordan era, and there are much better things you could be doing with your time rather than listening to their takes on an era they didn't even watch. Would you go to someone for an opinion on Shakespeare if they had never seen the plays Macbeth, Hamlet, or Othello? Of course you wouldn't. Consider the source. Nobody who watched that era would trash the talent all around the league. Michael Jordan played in a great era with a great blend of fierce competitors, awe inspiring athletes, lock down defenders, knock down shooters, and ultra skilled ballers.