Miseducation
The Jordan Rules seem to be as ever present in Detroit and Cleveland as the Babe's shadow looms over every home plate Barry Bonds stands over this season. Writers and fans will talk up the education of LeBron James as he stares down an 0-2 deficit against the Detroit Pistons. Even a personal fave of mine, Scoop Jackson, waxes academic about how a new LBJ will be born from the fire of a possible sweep at the hands of the franchise that once tormented MJ. With all that being said, I can't help but to wonder if this is all way too predictable. Way too plotted and planned, way too pristine. Way too... unfair. In highly concentrated efforts to make James "The Next One", we've had a heavy dose of Nike commercials asking us to "Witness" the ascenscion of a King. We've shelled out millions towards the sneakers, the Powerade (though I believe he's downing Gatorade during TOs thanks to the league's deal), even more Sprite and even some Bubblelicious for the youngins. There is absolutely no doubt that LeBron is one of the best players in the league. Think Coach K didn't wish he had James playing out his junior year at Duke as opposed to his third season in the NBA? Yet, all we will hear about now is this "education" from finally being in the playoffs and playing head on with a championship contender. I question this not because I don't believe that James is capable. Going back to IDB version 1, Marcellus Sexington and me had debated how well James would fare in the NBA considering the unparalled hype bestowed upon him starting in 2002. I felt then as I feel now that given a veteran presence on and off the court, the committment from Cavaliers ownership & management and the Eastern Conference's power vacuum, James could rise to become the best player in the NBA. A little luck can go a long way as well. Yet, I question this "education" because of how different the circumstances were between Jordan and James.
Can you recall who Jordan was supposed to replace in the kingdom of basketball? When Mike entered the fray in 1984, Julius Erving was still skying in Philadelphia. Pistol Pete's bad knee forced him to retire and passed away suddenly in '88. Magic and Larry were the rivalry that the sport had carried itself on at the time and to this day are hoping to recreate through James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade. Though there were plenty of stars and immense talents in the late seventies and early eighties, Jordan was looked to have been on his own plane from teh start. He didn't have to match Maravich's scoring, though it was not something ignored in his first season in the A. He showed an affinity for the dunks that the Doctor made famous and their duel at the Slam Dunk Contest cemented his place amongst the great athletes the league had ever seen. There wasn't player of a similar position drafted in 1984 that could compare to him either. The '84 draft did give us (H)Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and several solid careerists such as Kevin Willis and "Big Smooth" Sam Perkins. Yet, LeBron and Anthony were hyped from the beginning to be the next Magic and Bird. The '03 Draft did give us another top player in Chris Bosh and solid players like Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich and T.J. Ford. Yet, 'Bron had 'Melo. Mike had... Victor Anger.
Now, take a look at the education of Jordan and the actual birth of The Jordan Rules back in 1988. The one-man show had dropped buckets over everyone, including the Pistons that season, but unlike Chicago, Detroit was making a run at the NBA title while hoping to hurt the Boston Celtics in the process. To ensure that NOTHING got in the way of their fated meeting with the Cs, the Pistons swarmed at every opening Jordan would see. They double-teamed him on the ball and frustrated him away from it. They threw their bodies in front of him or at him to prevent baskets. This is what you were supposed to do to any prolific scorer. Yet, there was one more ripple that no team in the current NBA can get away with trying; they knocked him on his moneymaker as often as they could. The style of defense lambasted during the last era of Knick and Heat dominance was what made the Pistons contenders in the late eigties and early nineties. There was no “Shaq-zone” in the paint that discouraged PFs and Cs from patrolling the three foot area in front of the basket. There weren’t clear path fouls to penalize hard defense on a fast break. There weren’t zone defenses (which many fans dislike to begin with) and handcheck fouls that protected jumpshooters and penetrators. In watching LeBron, Kobe, T-Mac, Gilbert, AI, Vinsanity and all of these talented wing players that can attack the basket in addition to shoot on the perimeter, you cannot overlook how different the game has become within the last decade, let alone since the Jordan Rules were implemented.
Other than the fact that current Pistons are making a title run while trying to impair Miami en route to the Finals, not much else is similar. While it is true that the Pistons have thrown different looks at James during the first two games at the Palace, Detroit has to rely much more on athleticism and natural talent within the new NBA than the Bad Boys did in the old NBA. The Wallaces can’t throw ‘bows and Tayshaun isn’t going to push himself in ‘Bron’s grill. James won’t have a 50-point explosion against these Pistons, they are one of the best defensive teams in league history as they have managed to excel within the lack of physicality in this new game. Of course, Phil Jackson and Tex Winter brought the Triangle offense, which turned out to be the anctedote to the Pistons’ D. Can Mike Brown bring a system that can contend against strong defensive teams remains to be seen.
The Jordan Rules assumed that Jordan would come back and make his own run at the title. We don’t know if the city of Cleveland has even one trophy case anywhere in its geography. The Jordan Rules also assumed that he woud turn out to be the greatest player to ever grace the hardwood. Did Mike even know that he would be bestowed this title when he left North Carolina whereas LeBron had been promised greatness before he got a driver’s license? The education of LeBron James is asking us once again to accept that there must be an heir to Mike’s throne. Can we just let the games play themselves out before we anoint another?
Say What?!?!: He may not headline in Canton one day and he may not have been the first receiver selected for the Pro Bowl in the past, but Jimmy Smith will be the first player to have his number retired by the Jaguars... a well-deserved honor for one of the league's most prolific and productive wideouts.
Can you recall who Jordan was supposed to replace in the kingdom of basketball? When Mike entered the fray in 1984, Julius Erving was still skying in Philadelphia. Pistol Pete's bad knee forced him to retire and passed away suddenly in '88. Magic and Larry were the rivalry that the sport had carried itself on at the time and to this day are hoping to recreate through James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade. Though there were plenty of stars and immense talents in the late seventies and early eighties, Jordan was looked to have been on his own plane from teh start. He didn't have to match Maravich's scoring, though it was not something ignored in his first season in the A. He showed an affinity for the dunks that the Doctor made famous and their duel at the Slam Dunk Contest cemented his place amongst the great athletes the league had ever seen. There wasn't player of a similar position drafted in 1984 that could compare to him either. The '84 draft did give us (H)Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and several solid careerists such as Kevin Willis and "Big Smooth" Sam Perkins. Yet, LeBron and Anthony were hyped from the beginning to be the next Magic and Bird. The '03 Draft did give us another top player in Chris Bosh and solid players like Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich and T.J. Ford. Yet, 'Bron had 'Melo. Mike had... Victor Anger.
Now, take a look at the education of Jordan and the actual birth of The Jordan Rules back in 1988. The one-man show had dropped buckets over everyone, including the Pistons that season, but unlike Chicago, Detroit was making a run at the NBA title while hoping to hurt the Boston Celtics in the process. To ensure that NOTHING got in the way of their fated meeting with the Cs, the Pistons swarmed at every opening Jordan would see. They double-teamed him on the ball and frustrated him away from it. They threw their bodies in front of him or at him to prevent baskets. This is what you were supposed to do to any prolific scorer. Yet, there was one more ripple that no team in the current NBA can get away with trying; they knocked him on his moneymaker as often as they could. The style of defense lambasted during the last era of Knick and Heat dominance was what made the Pistons contenders in the late eigties and early nineties. There was no “Shaq-zone” in the paint that discouraged PFs and Cs from patrolling the three foot area in front of the basket. There weren’t clear path fouls to penalize hard defense on a fast break. There weren’t zone defenses (which many fans dislike to begin with) and handcheck fouls that protected jumpshooters and penetrators. In watching LeBron, Kobe, T-Mac, Gilbert, AI, Vinsanity and all of these talented wing players that can attack the basket in addition to shoot on the perimeter, you cannot overlook how different the game has become within the last decade, let alone since the Jordan Rules were implemented.
Other than the fact that current Pistons are making a title run while trying to impair Miami en route to the Finals, not much else is similar. While it is true that the Pistons have thrown different looks at James during the first two games at the Palace, Detroit has to rely much more on athleticism and natural talent within the new NBA than the Bad Boys did in the old NBA. The Wallaces can’t throw ‘bows and Tayshaun isn’t going to push himself in ‘Bron’s grill. James won’t have a 50-point explosion against these Pistons, they are one of the best defensive teams in league history as they have managed to excel within the lack of physicality in this new game. Of course, Phil Jackson and Tex Winter brought the Triangle offense, which turned out to be the anctedote to the Pistons’ D. Can Mike Brown bring a system that can contend against strong defensive teams remains to be seen.
The Jordan Rules assumed that Jordan would come back and make his own run at the title. We don’t know if the city of Cleveland has even one trophy case anywhere in its geography. The Jordan Rules also assumed that he woud turn out to be the greatest player to ever grace the hardwood. Did Mike even know that he would be bestowed this title when he left North Carolina whereas LeBron had been promised greatness before he got a driver’s license? The education of LeBron James is asking us once again to accept that there must be an heir to Mike’s throne. Can we just let the games play themselves out before we anoint another?
Say What?!?!: He may not headline in Canton one day and he may not have been the first receiver selected for the Pro Bowl in the past, but Jimmy Smith will be the first player to have his number retired by the Jaguars... a well-deserved honor for one of the league's most prolific and productive wideouts.
posted by Jason Clinkscales @ 2:11 PM
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