NBA Archives Debunked: The Jordan Saga

Chapter 8 North Carolina (2)

Jordan entered the North Carolina starting lineup, but he was still subject to certain restrictions.Before the start of the season, "Sports Illustrated" magazine knew that North Carolina was strong and strong, and it was the strongest team recognized by the outside world at that time. They contacted Dean Smith and wanted North Carolina's starting five to appear on the cover of the annual preseason special issue. .Dean Smith reluctantly agreed, but on one condition: All four of the main players could be on the cover, but not the fifth—Jordan, a freshman from Wilmington. The "Sports Illustrated" people have heard rumors about Jordan for a long time. They begged Coach Smith to let Jordan play together. Smith firmly disagreed.

Later, Dean Smith explained to Jordan: "Michael, you haven't done anything, you shouldn't be on the cover of a magazine, it's not time. Others have done some things. That's why I don't think you should be there. In a photo.” And just like that, on the cover of that special issue of Sports Illustrated, there was only Dean Smith himself, leading James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Matt Doherty, Jimmy Black starters.When the team really won the championship, an artist turned the cover photo into a poster, but this time, Jordan was added to the picture.

For the season preview, "Sports Illustrated" is not the only one to do, Billy Parker and his partner Al McGuire (Al McGuire) are also discussing the ownership of the championship on TV programs broadcast across the United States.Pike proposed that North Carolina has a champion, but McGuire disagreed.McGuire, who coached at Marquette University for more than ten years before becoming a TV commentator, said: "I heard that North Carolina will start with a rookie, and I know that you can't win the All-American with a rookie. champion."

After the start of the game, more people watched Jordan play, and there were more legends about Jordan.At that time, there was already TV broadcasting, but the sports media was far less developed than it is today, and North Carolina’s offensive system did not encourage publicity, so there were relatively few people who really saw Jordan’s amazing talent, and many things were still limited to Word of mouth.Some people think that Jordan is the next "Dr. J" Julius Erving (Julius Erving); some people say that the dunk time of Jordan is longer than that of Dr. J; Handed to the left hand to complete the layup; and some professional scouts claimed that they were allowed to watch the North Carolina practice, and Jordan occasionally made some advanced moves, which even Worthy and Perkins could not match.

The truth is, the coaches are happy with Jordan's progress.Jordan is not only hardworking, but also very focused and a fast learner.When he was in high school, he learned one way to defend against reverse runs, but in North Carolina, there was another way to defend against reverse runs, and Dean Smith taught him a new method in just one time.In the eyes of the coaches, this shows that Jordan is willing to accept transformation and is determined to take himself to a higher level.

Of course, freshman Jordan was not impeccable.He is not a particularly good shooter, and the opponent always tends to use the zone defense to limit Worthy and Perkins and let Jordan jump.In a game against Kentucky at the beginning of the season, Jordan was repeatedly emptied and kept making jump shots, but he couldn't make one.Former North Carolina player Phil Ford and his NBA teammate Otis Birdsong (Otis Birdsong) watched the game on TV together. Birdsong asked Ford in confusion: "Where is this kid named Jordan?" Has it entered Coach Smith's eyes?"

In March 1982, North Carolina broke into the NCAA "Final Four" and defeated the future NBA superstar Akeem Olajuwon (Akeem Olajuwon, later renamed Hakeem Olajuwon) and Klay in the semifinals 3-68. Clyde Drexler's UH.In the semifinals, Jordan scored the team's second-highest 63 points, Perkins scored 18 points and 25 rebounds, and Worthy contributed 10 points.

The opponent in the North Carolina final is Georgetown University.In that year, this final showdown was a dream.North Carolina and Georgetown are the two best teams in the United States. Both are the top seeds in the NCAA tournament division, but their styles are completely different.The head coaches of the two teams, Dean Smith and John Thompson (John Thompson), were best friends in private, but each built a strong team and had to compete in the face of ultimate glory.

John Thompson also has a super rookie, center Patrick Ewing.In college basketball, Ewing's combination of height, strength and speed is completely dominant inside player.Although his skills were relatively rough at that time, one stop on the court was enough to deter those college players whose physical conditions were closer to ordinary people.

However, this is the national final after all, and North Carolina players will not be so easily intimidated by Georgetown.Worthy later recalled that the Georgetown players might have been stronger and more powerful, but North Carolina was confident it had a better, deeper, more versatile roster.In terms of physical fitness, North Carolina does not lack physical fitness, but Georgetown is superior in pure height and strength, while North Carolina is a combination of strength, speed and technology.

One of the classic battles of Jordan's career
1982 NCAA All-American Finals
Time: March 1982, 3

Location: Louisiana Superdome

Score: North Carolina 63:62 Georgetown

The 19-year-old Jordan sat on the bus bound for the arena.Half asleep and half awake, he had a dream.

He dreamed that he made the game-winning shot, that he became the hero of the game.In the dream, he saw teammates James Worthy and Sam Perkins, as well as coach Dean Smith.

The dream was not real, so Jordan was not sure whether what he dreamed was the game he was about to play.He didn't know what that dream meant.

The game that Jordan is about to play is the 1982 NCAA All-American Finals, which is highly anticipated.The Louisiana Superdome, which can accommodate more than 6 spectators, is full of voices.Many people who don't usually care much about college basketball will watch this game today.

Georgetown played their high-intensity pressing defense from the beginning. Another team may be quickly dismantled by them, but North Carolina is a well-trained team. They move the ball patiently. Patiently look for opportunities.Ewing is really intimidating in the restricted area, maybe a little too sensitive. He seems to want to block every shot of North Carolina, but he has been called a lot of interference violations.In fact, none of North Carolina's first four "goals" were scored, and all were scored by Ewing's interference with the ball.A few months later, Jordan and Ewing went to Chicago to participate in an event together. Jordan asked Ewing face to face: "On the day of the finals, why did you have so many interference balls so early?" Ewing replied: "The coach told me, don't let anything Get into the basket." Ewing finally contributed 4+2 points, 3 rebounds, and 11 blocked shots, which was quite impressive.

North Carolina's mainstay is still Worthy.In the final, Worthy made 17 of 13 shots and scored 28 points.Looking at his performance, almost everyone has this feeling: This guy will probably be more successful in the NBA than he is in the NCAA.

Jordan performed mediocre in the first half, but scored 16 of his 12 points in the second half.Three of the last five North Carolina team hits were made by Jordan.

More than three minutes before the end of the game, Jordan scored a layup in front of Ewing, which made the professional scouts shine.At that time, Jordan received the ball on the left wing, suddenly accelerated his breakthrough, and went straight to the basket.After dodging two defenders, Jordan confronts Ewing near the basket.Ewing jumped up to block the shot, but Jordan picked the ball out with his left hand.To dodge Ewing's long arm, Jordan lifted the ball so high that, in Billy Peck's televised words, "he threw it 12 feet (3.66 meters) high."On the bench, Roy Williams also felt that Jordan's shot was too high and might go out of bounds over the backboard.However, the result was not.The ball hits the top of the backboard, comes down, goes in.The left-handed rebound was so crucial that Worthy later said it "turned the momentum of the game around."

North Carolina held a 61-58 advantage, but in the next 3 minutes, they failed to score. Instead, they watched Georgetown make two mid-range shots and lead 62-61 seconds before the end of the game, Coach Smith called a timeout and arranged for the final attack.

This will be a round to determine the championship.Dean Smith has been coaching in North Carolina for more than [-] years and is famous all over the United States, but he has not yet won his first championship.Right now, probably the best opportunity, not to be missed.

Who will shoot this crucial shot?James Worthy was the obvious first choice, but Dean Smith knew John Thompson very well, knew that Thompson admired Worthy so much that he would not give Worthy a chance to beat them, or even get the ball.Sam Perkins is a good choice, but in such a major game, Perkins should also be closely watched by Georgetown, not to mention that the person facing Perkins is Ewing.A coach like Thompson, this kind of key shot, will definitely force the opponent to beat them with someone other than a superstar.This means that the most likely to be shorted is the freshman-Michael Jordan.

"We've been trying to move the ball quickly and find gaps in the defense," Worthy said later. "So, if I get caught and Sam gets caught, we'll go to Mike on the wing."

Before the timeout ended, Dean Smith patted Jordan on the bottom and gave the order:

"Throw it in, Michael."

In this way, he pinned his hopes on a freshman.Dean Smith doesn't know if the decision was right or wrong, but thinks, "it's a lot of fun" anyway.

According to Worthy's description, hearing the coach's instructions, Jordan had a smile on his face.He was excited, not nervous.

Guard Jimmy Blake detailed his strategy after the game: "Facing their zone defense, we wanted to draw the defense to my side first, and then cross to Michael, where he could shoot a 15-foot jumper. "

The situation on the court was as Dean Smith expected.The ball was first passed between Jordan and Black. Black once fed it to Matt Doherty in the middle. Doherty had no chance and immediately passed it back to Black.Next, it's time to actually execute the tactics.Black dribbled the ball and immediately crossed it to the other side. The moment Jordan caught the ball, there was no defense. He jumped up, shot, and the ball scored without hesitation.

"James Worthy told me that even if he didn't go in, he would grab the position and go in," Jordan said, "but the whole thing feels good." 63 to 62, North Carolina leads.

Georgetown still has 15 seconds to counterattack.But when the ball reached the frontcourt, defender Fred Brown (Fred Brown) became confused for a while, and even regarded Worthy as a teammate, giving the ball and the last chance of winning to the opponent in vain.

The game ended quickly, and North Carolina narrowly beat Georgetown 63 to 62 to win the 1982 NCAA National Championship.Jordan's 17-foot (about 5.2 meters) jumper became the winning goal.That night, witnessing the long-suppressed and long-awaited carnival of the North Carolina supporters, Jordan suddenly looked at his friend Peterson and said, "I think I hit a very important shot." Peterson answered him : "Man, that was a great shot! Trust me."

The unreal daydream before the game actually became a reality.After winning the championship, Jordan told the content of the dream to his father, James Jordan. After listening to the old Jordan, he was silent for a while, and said to his son: "After that shot, your life will never be the same as before. Your Life is about to change, kid."

Jordan didn't take it too seriously, he thought it was just his father's recognition and expectation of him. "Of course he thinks about his son that way," Jordan said to himself. "No one really knows what's going to happen anyway."

But ten years later, Jordan also won championships in the NBA, returned to New Orleans, and returned to the Louisiana Superdome. He had a completely different state of mind."I feel like that shot pushed my basketball career forward," Jordan said.

That was no ordinary shot.At least, that shot laid a solid psychological foundation for Jordan to perform numerous lore shots later.Once asked why he could always remain calm when shooting key shots, Jordan said: "I guess maybe you will be nervous for the first time, but once you succeed more and more, you will become more and more confident. My biggest Confidence comes from what Coach Smith said to me: 'If you're empty, take the shot and don't think about it.' That's what you need. I'm fine with any outcome because I've got his permission."

Later, success and fame, Jordan wrote in his autobiography:
When I think about my basketball career, where I came from, where it all started, how I got here, I realize: Really, everything changed after that game — not just basketball, but is my whole life.

I think my father saw something in me that I didn't see myself.At first, I just thought it was the pride of a father who expected and dreamed of his son's success.I see his insight more as a motivational conversation, a father-to-son conversation.

I can't say with certainty that he foresaw what was going to happen to me.But when I look at my kids now, I can see traits in them, which ones are more athletic, which ones are going to be more successful, what kind of jobs they're going to have in the future.I can tell you something about my kids, so I'm pretty sure my dad could, too.

I really believe my dad knows, and I believe he can see things that no one else can see -- I can't, the Chicago Bulls can't, everyone else can't.I believe that's a father's gift.I only wish I could talk to him again now, to ask him how much he had foreseen.

On the day of the 1982 NCAA finals, James Jordan was not the only one who vaguely foreseeing Jordan's future.Lenny Wilkens, then head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, also watched the North Carolina-Georgetown game.Like many in the NBA, Wilkens doesn't usually pay much attention to college basketball, so that game was the first time the name Michael Jordan caught his attention.After Jordan hit the game-winning shot, Wilkens thought, "Oh, this kid is going to be very, very special."

At the awards ceremony after the game, Billy Parker, who had just finished explaining the game, did not forget to find Jordan's mother Delores. This was the first time the two had met since the McDonald's High School All-Star Game the previous year.That time, Parker told Delores, don't worry about Michael being robbed of the MVP, "Your son will have a great basketball career."This time, Parker came with congratulations and show off. He said, "How about it, Mrs. Jordan? McDonald's MVP decision doesn't look so bad now, does it?"

All kinds of joy, all kinds of emotions, only the real master can be calm and unmoved in it.

Dean Smith worked hard for 20 years, and finally bid farewell to the embarrassment of not having a championship when he was 51 years old.Roy Williams was so excited, he was so happy for the teacher.Returning to the locker room after the game, Roy Williams congratulated the teacher. His subtext was: Finally, those people can be shut up.

Dean Smith just smiled and said, "You know, I'm not a better coach than I was two and a half hours ago."

Smith didn't become a better coach, but Jordan became a better player.

(End of this chapter)