Moderators: PaulieWal, Doctor MJ, Clyde Frazier, penbeast0, trex_8063
When Jerry Krause fired Doug Collins in 1989 after the Bulls lost to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season, the move shocked many across the NBA landscape.
That included Michael Jordan.
“I wasn’t a Phil Jackson fan when he first came in,” Jordan said in Episode 4 of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary, referencing Krause’s replacement for Collins. “He was coming in to take the ball out of my hands. Doug put the ball in my hands.”
After enjoying free reign under Collins, Jordan initially balked at Jackson’s desire to incorporate the Triangle offense. The system, advocated by assistant coach Tex Winter, emphasized ball and player movement and a read-and-react style that, in theory, provided more equal opportunity offense.
“Everybody has an opportunity to touch the ball,” Jordan said in the documentary. “But I didn’t want Bill Cartwright to have the ball with five seconds left. That’s not an equal opportunity offense. That’s f**king bulls**t.”
Jordan eventually learned to embrace the offense, which the Bulls utilized to win six championships. Three times in NBA Finals clinching games, Jordan passed up game-sealing shots at critical junctures — twice to John Paxson (1991, 1993), and once and Steve Kerr (1997).
“Phil took over and just had a different approach,” Scottie Pippen said. “Doug’s approach was more catered to Michael. And Phil’s approach was more catered to the team.”
Jordan still took plenty of shots. He led the league in scoring for seven straight seasons from 1986 to his first retirement in 1993 and again for three straight seasons during the second three-peat.
But the triangle offense helped lead to a change in mindset in which Jordan began trusting his teammates more.
That season, Sharman instituted something that had never been done in the NBA - he required his team to come in during the morning of a game to do mandatory morning shootarounds.
As legendary basketball columnist Sam Smith relays the story:
The creation of the shootaround, ostensibly to better prepare for games but also to perhaps push players to ending their nights out earlier, is credited to then Lakers coach Bill Sharman in 1971. My favorite story about that was with Wilt Chamberlain on that team. Wilt supposedly told Sharman he comes to the arena once a day and Sharman can decide when. Wilt pretty much eschewed the shootaround.
"I've heard that story hundreds of times over the years. It's a great story. But it never happened. I talked to Wilt right before camp, and he said, 'You know, Bill, I usually don't get out of bed until noon. But if you think it will help, I'll go along if we win.' "
OfficialRef wrote:I think he would be a much smarter player. Sort of like the Warriors version where he was playing all around (Passing, defending) than the OKC version where he was more focused on scoring (but could be all-around).
Would be interesting to see a franchise that 100% supported him as the franchise player.
LookToShoot wrote:Melo is the only player that makes the Rockets watchable for the basketball purists. Otherwise it would just be three point shots and pick n roll.
