NBA Archives Debunked: The Jordan Saga

Chapter 54 Unprecedented and unprecedented (3)

As the season progresses, the focus of media reports is more and more tilted towards Rodman, because he has been staring at Jordan for too long and writing about Jordan every day is somewhat aesthetically fatigued. Sports fans also hope to see evil and alternative characters appear. , to set off the positive side of the protagonist, and at the same time adjust their sports and entertainment life.Rodman and Jordan are now on the same team, which is a strange new situation.If you root for the Bulls, you can root for the good guys and the bad guys at the same time, and it's a lot of fun to keep the sun and a little evil in your back.As if overnight, the entire United States began to like Rodman, and the media tracked his every move on and off the court.

Rodman published a book called "Doing It My Way," with a cover photo of him sitting naked on a motorcycle. The book sold half a million copies.Later, to promote the book, in order to attract people's attention, Rodman once appeared in a women's wedding dress, claiming that he married himself.During the game, once he was expelled by the referee, Rodman took off his jersey and threw it to the audience in the stands. Soon these jerseys became collectors' coveted commodities, which were valuable, so some fans put up slogans to attract Rodman's attention, begging Rodman to throw them the jersey.It didn't take long for Rodman to appear on the late-night talk show. Rodman got an endorsement opportunity. Before joining the Bulls, Rodman was almost bankrupt. Now, he has money.

The teammates thought it was really interesting, like a game, not that Rodman struggled to perform for the world, but Rodman made the world perform for him.Overall, teammates liked Rodman, even though no one really knew him.Longley had a good relationship with everyone. He had dinner with Rodman a few times, and he told the other teammates that Rodman was a quiet and nice guy.For colleagues, this is enough.

Jordan was also receptive to Rodman's unique personality and behavior, saying later: "The Chicago Bulls were the perfect team for Dennis Rodman, and Phil Jackson was the perfect coach. Phil allowed Dennis to He wants to do it, but Dennis also knows that when it's game time, he has to focus and connect with the rest of the team. I don't care if he runs out and plays on his own, or is out all night doing what he wants Things to do, but when we all get to the arena, we have to connect with each other."

It's not easy to keep Rodman focused throughout, but most of the time, his behavior doesn't cross the line.Assistant coach Jim Clemons believes that the reason Rodman was more restrained in Chicago was because the Bulls and the Spurs treated him completely differently.In Chicago, coaches and teammates were tolerant of most of Rodman's actions; in San Antonio, almost everyone blamed him, which in turn inspired his rebellious psychology and stimulated him to do more outrageous things.

The task of training Rodman is mainly undertaken by Jackson.The relationship between Jackson and Rodman is very complicated. The two respect each other and are friendly to each other, but secretly engage in psychological contests.Rodman is like a naughty child, who often initiates some small challenges to test how much freedom he has; Jackson is like a father, letting Rodman know that he is being controlled and cannot be lawless, and let Rodman understand , Dad loves him after all.

Rodman's challenge is generally not over the top.For example, players are not allowed to wear jewelry during training, but Rodman occasionally sneaks into the field wearing a bracelet.When Jackson saw it, with a smile on his face, he walked over to him and said, "Dennis, does this look like jewelry to you?" Jackson never made a fuss about similar things.Sometimes Rodman lost his temper on the court, Jackson was not nervous, and even smiled and told his assistants: "He reminds me of myself." Of course, Jackson would not say this in front of the whole team.

Jackson's control over Rodman has always been relaxed.Jordan later wrote in his autobiography:
Each of us has the freedom to be ourselves and to express our unique individuality.Phil gave us that freedom.He understands that while restricting the players, it also takes away the relaxation methods that the players are used to, and in the end, it is not good for the whole.

Dennis may be one of the reasons why the rift between Phil and management has deepened.When players have the freedom that Dennis has, front offices get nervous.Krause never trusted his players enough to give them that kind of space.Management is most comfortable seeing everyone at the same pace under the same rules.And Phil understands that some players deserve more than others.Dennis could go to Atlantic City, bet there all night and come back with 25 rebounds, so he earned the freedom Phil gave him.

Where did Phil get this idea?I am not sure.But I know it is accepted and respected by every player.If you show him that you can do things your way and still fit in with the team during game time, he will give you freedom.But at the same time, once Phil felt that these freedoms were hurting us as a whole, he never hesitated to tighten the reins on everyone, including me.

He's been a player, he's been on a championship team, he's been around smart teammates who have a voice and a choice, and that's why Dennis found a home in the Bulls.That's not to say you'll never hear those nasty words—you still will, usually from me.But we had an atmosphere that allowed Dennis the freedom to be himself on a professional team that wanted to win a championship.In this regard, the Chicago Bulls are unique.

Rodman maintained his bad-boy image, and his endorsements required him to.The bad boy occasionally gets into trouble: In a game against the Nets in mid-March, Rodman headbutted the referee in dissatisfaction with the call, and then made a tirade against league officials including Stern. He was fined $3 and suspended for 2 games, and the actual loss exceeded $6.But such troubles do not destroy the internal harmony of the Bulls.

Go ahead. On April 4, the Bulls went to Milwaukee to play against the Bucks. The TV station sent helicopters to follow them all the way, and fans played support signs on the flyover of the interstate highway. An ordinary regular season suddenly attracted much attention.The Bulls seemed to be a little too excited. They only scored 16 points on 21 of 5 shots in the second quarter. Fortunately, they got back little by little in the second half, and they won 12-86.

With 70 wins, the Chicago Bulls became the first team in NBA history to do so.The captain breathed a sigh of relief, Jordan said: "This is a very ugly game, but sometimes, ugly is beautiful."

公牛全年的常规赛战绩定格在72胜10负，刷新了NBA历史单赛季胜场纪录，把原来由1971—1972赛季洛杉矶湖人保持的69胜提升了3场。

Unprecedented and unprecedented feats, the Bulls have gained a lot in the end of NBA season awards:
Jordan averaged 30.4 points per game, regained the scoring title, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.2 steals, and was elected MVP for the fourth time in his career;

Pippen averaged 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He and Jordan were selected to the First Team of the Year;
Rodman averaged 14.9 rebounds per game and won the league's rebounding title for the fifth consecutive year. He was selected to the first team of the best defensive team of the year along with Jordan and Pippen;
Kukoc averaged 13.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, and was elected the Sixth Man of the Year;

Phil Jackson was awarded the Coach of the Year Award, the only time in his coaching career that he won the award;
Krause was named Executive of the Year.

Everyone is happy, but everyone keeps a clear head. On the day of the 70th win, Jordan said: "We didn't start this season to win 70 wins. We started this season to win the championship. This is still our motivation." At the end of the regular season, Harper made for his teammates A T-shirt that reads "72 wins and 10 losses mean nothing/without rings."

In Jordan's view, the playoffs are a countdown game.Win another 15 games to win the championship.Therefore, since entering the playoffs, every time he wins, he will say a number in his mouth-to say "12", it means 12 games are still missing; to say "9", it means to win 9 games-for him, this is Really meaningful numbers.

In the first round, the Bulls swept the Heat coached by Riley 3-0.In the second round, facing the Knicks, another strong defensive team coached by Riley, the Bulls solved the problem in 5 games.Next in front of the Bulls is the enemy they can't wait to meet-the Orlando Magic that eliminated them the year before.

In this Eastern Conference Finals, the outcome was decided almost before the game started. The Bulls lost in 1995, mainly due to the lack of a substantial power forward. The Bulls were forced to let Pippen match up with Grant, and often emptied Grant in order to double-team O'Neal. This time in 1996, the situation was completely reversed. The Bulls had Rodman, but Grant basically disappeared.In the first game, Grant played 28 minutes, no points, no steals, no blocks, no assists, and only grabbed 1 rebound, while Rodman not only scored 21 rebounds, but also scored 13 points.In the second half, Grant collided with teammate O'Neal and was injured, and then he did not play in the entire series.Misfortunes never come singly for the Magic, a series of injuries followed, and the team was defeated like a mountain.The Bulls swept the Magic in four consecutive victories and avenged their previous revenge.In fact, before the series started, Rodman judged the Magic in this way: "They have the talent to become champions, but they don't know how to become champions."

In the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan made 23 of 16 shots and scored 45 points.A year ago, Magic guard Nick Anderson said that Jordan, No. 45, "can't fly." A year later, Anderson commented on Jordan: "Of all the guys who have worn basketball shoes, he is the best. one of."

Jordan returned to the familiar NBA Finals, four games away from his fourth championship.The Bulls eliminated the Magic on May 5th. On the western side, the Supersonics had already led the Jazz 27-3, but then the Jazz tenaciously won two games in a row, forcing the Supersonics to a tiebreaker. Wait until the finals on June 1th. The Bulls have been resting for 6 days.

In Game 90 of the Western Conference Finals, the Sonics narrowly won 86-64 and advanced to the finals, becoming the last enemy the Bulls wanted to conquer.In the regular season, the Sonics won 72 games, setting a record in team history. If the Bulls' [-] wins were not too eye-catching, they should have received greater affirmation.Some people in the outside world do think that the Sonics have enough athletic talent and defensive strength to be worthy of a battle with the Bulls.

(End of this chapter)