NBA Archives Debunked: The Jordan Saga

Chapter 53 Unprecedented and unprecedented (2)

The Bulls discussed the pros and cons of introducing Rodman. Scout Jim Stack (Jim Stack) said that if we don't act quickly, we may not get Rodman, so Krause decided to find Rodman. Deman talks seriously.Soon Rodman and his agent, Dwight Manley, flew to Chicago and met with Krause and Jackson at Krause's home.

When Jackson arrived, he saw Rodman lying on the sofa, wearing sunglasses and a hat.Jackson walked towards Rodman, stretched out his hand, and said softly: "Stand up Dennis, you have to stand up and shake hands with me." Rodman stood up obediently, shook hands with Jackson, and Jackson said: "Now Dennis, can you please take off your sunglasses so I can see you?" Rodman immediately took off his sunglasses again.That's it, Jackson didn't want Rodman to hide himself.

Rodman didn't talk much throughout the meeting, so Jackson asked him to chat alone on the balcony, but Rodman just wanted to know how much he could earn in the Bulls.Jackson said: The Bulls pay for your output, not for your commitment. If you play to your potential, we will give you the money you should earn.

The next day, Jackson and Rodman met again at the Beto Center, and this time Rodman was willing to talk more.Jackson asked him why it ended up the way it did in San Antonio.Rodman said that because he was dating Madonna, he invited Madonna to the locker room after a game. As a result, the media went crazy and the Spurs management was annoyed.Jackson also expressed concerns about Rodman's "selfishness". Rodman admitted that his real problem in San Antonio was that he was tired of wiping David Robinson's ass. Rajuwon was stunned. "Half the Spurs players, every time they come out of the house, they lock their balls in the refrigerator." Rodman sarcastically.

Jackson laughed, and asked again: "Then do you think you can master the triangle offense?"

"I'm fine," Rodman said. "The triangle offense is finding Michael Jordan and giving him the ball."

"That's a good start," Jackson replied.

Then, Jackson solemnly told Rodman: Since you think you are competent, then I am willing to recruit you. "But we can't screw it up," Jackson said. "We're going to win a championship, and we really want to get back there."

"OK."

On the third day, Klaus and Jackson met with Rodman again, and clarified to him the few team rules, basically requiring them to participate in training and competitions on time, and to always go all out. They are not harsh.After Jackson finished reading, Rodman said, "You'll have no problems with me." Then he added, "And you're going to win an NBA championship."

In October 1995, the transaction was completed.The Bulls sent center Will Perdue to San Antonio for Rodman.Someone asked Pippen: Can the Bulls introduce Rodman, can there be a more surprising move than this?Pippen: Yes, Bill Lambiel.

In the Bulls, Pippen was a completely different type of leader than Jordan. He was more easy-going and easier to get along with than Jordan.In private, Pippen would patiently listen to his teammates' complaints and find ways to help them.

"I think people are drawn to Scottie because he's more like us," Kerr said. To Michael Scottie is more mortal, like us, more vulnerable."

For Jordan, Pippen is a good supplement, and Jordan's return is also of great help to Pippen, making Pippen feel more comfortable.Jordan's experience of playing baseball made him understand the difficulties of ordinary players; at the same time, Pippen's experience as the boss also made him understand how difficult it is to be Jordan.Now that Jordan has become the boss of the Bulls again, Pippen has returned to his familiar position as the second head.

In the summer of 1995, BJ Armstrong was taken away by the Toronto Raptors in the NBA expansion draft. Fortunately, Ron Harper could take Armstrong's place.Harper joined the Bulls as a free agent the year before. He used to be an excellent scorer in the Cavaliers and Clippers, averaging around 20 points per game all year round.But in his first season in Chicago, Harper was out of shape and didn't adapt to the triangle offensive system. His performance was really disappointing, averaging only 6.9 points per game.In the new year, Harper restored his body to the best condition, and at the same time recognized the situation in his heart: Jordan's return will completely change his role. He is no longer a main scorer, but a perimeter defensive expert.Harper did a great job on this.

As a result, the Bulls also had three tall and excellent perimeter defensive players-Jordan, Pippen, and Harper, as well as a top interior defensive player-Rodman.Kerr said: "Basically, we have four dogs in the starting lineup, and they can all defend four or five positions on the field. This is really great." With high-quality defense, the Bulls can play a lot of counterattacks, Use this to kill your opponent.

As long as Rodman can put his heart and soul into playing, he is a perfect complement to the Bulls.The Bulls center position is still weak, but Rodman's speed can make up for the lack of Luke Longley.Thanks to the addition of Rodman, the Bulls can play both fast and slow basketball. They can run up and play fast-paced full-court offense and defense, or slow down to grind half-court positions with opponents.

Insiders saw the change Rodman brought about and were keenly aware of how terrifying the Bulls would be. At the beginning of the 1995-1996 season, Bill Walton said that this Bulls may become one of the greatest teams in NBA history.Former NBA coach Hubie Brown (Hubie Brown), who worked as a commentator on TNT TV, said that the Bulls have become the best defensive team in NBA history.

The team's desire for the new season was shown on the first day of the training camp. Most of the players were in excellent shape, better than other teams at the end of the training camp. "Sports Illustrated" magazine put Rodman on the cover, and Jordan's head appeared at the same time, with the headline "Air & Space" (aerospace).

Before Rodman reported to training camp, Jackson had a serious talk with the other players.Jackson said: Rodman may ignore certain team rules. Sometimes, I may give Rodman some privileges. "You have to be mature about this."Everyone agrees.

Teammates talked to Rodman in the past few weeks and found that Rodman rarely answered, or answered extremely briefly.He is the quietest and most reserved person in the team. He is a maverick. Even in the video room, he often wears headphones, watches the video, does not communicate with others, and hides in his own world.Still, Rodman was a great partner when he was on the court.He's smart enough to pick up on the Bulls' complex triangle offense quickly, and he's played his game from start to finish.

Suddenly, the Bulls, who were vulnerable the previous season, seemed to have no weaknesses at once.Jordan's new teammates all adjusted themselves and knew how to play around Jordan.Jordan said: "Everyone on this team is focused on playing their role, because most of them have something to prove." Jackson also said: "What I love about this team is that everyone Know their roles and play them really well. No one complains about not playing enough minutes, not enough shots, not enough fame."

Starting center Longley is a 7-foot-2 (2.18 meters), talented but slightly awkward, with better court vision than interior footwork and still learning how to use his body.Kerr took over Paxson's role as a pure shooter, ready to shoot [-]-pointers at any time.The backup center Wennington has a soft style of play, but he has a shooting touch that is rare for big men.The Croatian genius Kukoc is still figuring out how to survive in the American basketball world, but he is already a comprehensive and efficient scorer, providing the Bulls with strong offensive firepower off the bench.

In the 1995-1996 season, the Bulls won 25 of the first 23 games.The first loss was an away game against the Magic. Jordan scored only 23 points, while "Penny" Hardaway scored 36 points.When the Magic came to Chicago as a guest in December, Jordan blocked Penny's first shot. This time, Jordan scored 12 points and Penny scored 36 points.

The new teammates found that Jordan played every game like he was playing in the playoffs.Everyone has a time to relax, but during game time, Jordan almost never relaxes.Throughout the season, there was probably only one time when he failed to play with normal intensity. That was at the end of November 1995. The Bulls played seven consecutive away games, and the sixth opponent was the newcomer Vancouver Grizzlies.Jordan was really out of shape that night. He scored 11 points entering the fourth quarter, and the Bulls were still 10 points behind.

At this point, the Grizzlies were guarding Jordan's second-year guard Darrick Martin, who made a fatal mistake, the kind that young players often make in their eagerness to express themselves—he started trash-talking Jordan.

"You ain't that hot," Martin said. "I can guard you anytime I want to."

Grizzlies coach Brian Winters was taken aback by the news and almost immediately replaced Martin.

Too late, the sleeping lion has been awakened.Six minutes before the end, the Grizzlies led 77 to 71, and Jordan began to show off.He breaks through for a dunk, hits a mid-range shot, and then makes a left-handed layup from the baseline through the air, followed by another mid-range shot.For four consecutive rounds, Jordan scored four goals in a row. The Grizzlies called a timeout, and the Bulls tied at 79.

After the timeout, Jordan quickly completed a "2+1" frontal fadeaway jumper, a baseline fadeaway jumper, a baseline breakthrough layup, and a fast break dunk with a steal.This group scored consecutively, giving the Bulls a 91-83 advantage.In the fourth quarter, Jordan made 12 of 9 shots and scored 19 points alone.Darrick Martin never returned to the court and the Bulls won 94-88.

In the last ten seconds or so, the overall situation was settled. Jordan deliberately walked near the bottom line and taught Martin a few words while sitting there.Jordan has never been soft on this kind of junior who dares to yell at him.

Even for his junior brother.Jerry Stackhouse (Jerry Stackhouse), 1995 NBA No. 6 pick, born at the University of North Carolina, 6 feet 76 inches tall, functional shooting guard, these attributes inevitably make him the same as his brother Jordan contact with.The young and frivolous Stackhouse told the media: In the North Carolina training camp during the offseason, he can clean up Jordan one-on-one.He played for the Philadelphia [-]ers in the NBA, and his teammate Vernon Maxwell (Vernon Maxwell) also got involved, telling reporters: Jordan and the Bulls have received too much attention, they are not that special.

乔丹从未公开回应斯塔克豪斯和麦克斯维尔的狂言，不过1996年1月13日做客费城，他前三节就轰下48分，第四节无须上场，公牛依然大胜。那两个家伙如何？斯塔克豪斯11投4中得13分，麦克斯维尔8投1中得4分。

Don't provoke Jordan, because he will never forget any doubts and contempt directed at him. In early December 1995, after scoring 12 points against the Clippers, Jordan declared to the media that he felt "fully recovered now."Since his comeback in March of that year, the outside world has been comparing him to what he used to be. He said: "According to some people, I can't even be Michael Jordan. But, I have the best chance to be him, because I am him."

乔丹的信心越来越足，公牛的状态也越来越好。从1995年11月27日客场打开拓者，到12月23日主场打爵士，公牛连胜13场；这波高潮于12月26日终结在印第安纳，紧接着，从12月29日主场打步行者开始，到1996年2月2日客场打湖人为止，公牛又打出一波更吓人的18连胜。

Halfway through the schedule, 44 games have been played, and the Bulls have only lost 3 games.According to Wennington, the Bulls had a belief that as long as they played on time every night, played our own game, and achieved our own goals, we would definitely win, and it didn't matter what the opponent did.

At this level, the goal of the Bulls to conquer is not any opponent in the league, but NBA history.They are on the road to hit 70 wins, and the media is so loud that it is almost out of control. ABC News reporter Chris Wallace (Chris Wallace) named the Bulls the "Basketball Beatles", and Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Phil Jackson are the new Beatles foursome.The outside world began to speculate and discuss: Is this the best and most powerful team in league history?How will they fare against the great teams of the past?

After watching the Bulls' game, Bill Bradley, Jackson's player-era teammate, was impressed by the matchup troubles the Bulls created for their opponents.Bradley said that if the Bulls were to play against the Knicks of the championship era, he would have to match up with Pippen, who was taller, stronger and faster than him. quick."The only thing I can think of is... help!" Bradley laughed.

This inherent dislocation advantage can be seen everywhere in the Bulls' game.In a game against the Washington Bullets, for example, Jordan grabbed the ball with his right hand and calmly observed the situation on the court, while guard Brent Price, who was only 6 feet 1 inches (1.85 meters), was guarding him.Price kept his weight low and aggressively tried to interfere with Jordan, but every time he reached for the ball, Jordan simply held it further away from him, like a big brother teasing a little brother in his backyard .Jordan glanced down at Price, a small smile flashed across his face, and casually passed the ball to his teammate.

The Bulls don't have a super center who dominates the penalty area, but their most important scorers, 6-foot-6 Jordan, 6-foot-8 Pippen, and 6-foot-11 Kukoc, are in their respective positions. There is usually a height advantage at the position.At the same time, they have both speed and skill, so that Jackson does not have to follow the traditional concept of positioning. "It's just a bunch of versatile little guys who play different positions," Jordan said of his team. Centers win titles — don't mention Olajuwon, he's a small forward who plays center."

The "development direction of the game" discussed by Jordan has been verified in the 21st century.Breaking through the limitations of traditional positions and playing with all-around players who can swing in multiple positions, this new generation of basketball concepts has become a great sight in the NBA.While other competitors around them are still superstitious that "only a super center can win the championship", the Bulls took the lead in practicing a successful model centered on all-around perimeter players.

On February 1996, 2, the Bulls defeated the Lakers by 2 points in Los Angeles. After the game, Magician, who was making a short comeback, told the media that he had never seen a better team than this Bulls, "They and us The team that wins the title is just as good, they're better than the team that won three titles by themselves. Hey, they're horrible."

The sports media all over the United States focused their attention on the Bulls, and even the slightest change in Jordan made the media intoxicated.Bulls press officer Tim Hallam dubbed the team "Jesus and His disciples," telling reporters in a parody of a local TV news show: "Jesus ate alone in his hotel room. Pre-match light meal, details will be announced at 11 o'clock."

(End of this chapter)