What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

[greatnesstcb]

What championship season do you believe was Michael Jordan at his absolute peak?

also

What championship season do you believe Scottie Pippen was at his Peak?

[cream6]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

What championship season do you believe was Michael Jordan at his absolute peak?

also

What championship season do you believe Scottie Pippen was at his Peak?

Jordan: 1992 season vs. trailblazers
Pippen: should have been MVP in 1994 (The year without Jordan) and Phil Jackson should have been COY in 1994

[AlexBrady]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

What championship season do you believe was Michael Jordan at his absolute peak?

also

What championship season do you believe Scottie Pippen was at his Peak?

I would say 1992 was Jordan at his best. He could go all out on defense and shut down almost anybody. His long-range shooting wasn't great though and he didn't have the turnaround jumpers yet from the low post.


In truth, Pippen's best year was the 94 season when Jordan was gone. He facilitated the triangle beautifully and directed one of the greatest team performances I've ever seen. I believe the 94 Bulls would have won the Championship if not for that horrible foul call that Hue Hollins made in Game 5 of the ECSF.


Otherwise, I would go with Pippen in 96. He forced a lot of perimeter shots that year but he was the signal caller of the best defense I've seen since the 66 Celtics.

[ojandpizza]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

Jordan from the first three peat, Pippen from the second.. I don't know if a specific year matters because there wasn't a large difference between those 3 years for either player.

If I had to pick a year I would probably take MJ from his first ring.. His game wasn't as complete as it eventually became but I think that year he was at his hungriest, and he finally realized he can't beat teams like Detroit playing 1 on 5.. Defensively he was still a monster, mostly from still being young enough to be so close to his athletic peak.

LOL @ Pippen should have been MVP the year Jordan was gone though. But that would be his best year individually if you weren't picking a championship year for him.

[demencia_total]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

LOL @ Pippen should have been MVP the year Jordan was gone though. But that would be his best year individually if you weren't picking a championship year for him.

I understand that there are arguments against him being MVP that season that are valid, but seriously? Its not that much of a crazy idea.

[ojandpizza]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

I understand that there are arguments against him being MVP that season that are valid, but seriously? Its not that much of a crazy idea.

I actually think it is.. He had a great season, and should have easily put away the argument that he's only capable of being a sidekick (though some people still say that). And he definitely deserved his voting to be a part of the All-NBA and All-Defensive first teams.. But in terms of being MVP, I think he should have finished somewhere in the mix of guys from 4th - 7th, though he finished 3rd in voting.

But let just say, for arguments sake, he 100% should have finished second, he fell just short and was second to Hakeem we'll say... Even then the gap between he and Hakeem would have been huge, I don't think it would have been fair to say it was close between the two.

[ojandpizza]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

But I don't want this thread to take the wrong turn and become something negative about Pippen. So after saying that I'll apologize because this should be about what he was rather than wasn't, and that was his best season individually, and it was a great season.

[demencia_total]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

I do agree that Olajuwon was clearly the best player too that season, just don't think it was thaaaat far fetched, so fair enough.

[VDusen04]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

I do agree that Olajuwon was clearly the best player too that season, just don't think it was thaaaat far fetched, so fair enough.

I would have put Pippen behind David Robinson that year as well. In fact, I thought Robinson was going to take that MVP (before Utah took his squad out in the first round). Averaged 30 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, quadruple double against the Pistons, 71 points against he Clippers, scoring champion, Sports Illustrated Mr. MVP cover.



Fourth grade VDusen was crushed when Robinson didn't take that one home, though in hindsight the Olajuwon case is very clear.

[ojandpizza]

What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

I would have put Pippen behind David Robinson that year as well. In fact, I thought Robinson was going to take that MVP (before Utah took his squad out in the first round). Averaged 30 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, quadruple double against the Pistons, 71 points against he Clippers, scoring champion, Sports Illustrated Mr. MVP cover.



Fourth grade VDusen was crushed when Robinson didn't take that one home, though in hindsight the Olajuwon case is very clear.

Pippen did actually finish behind him, he placed 3rd.

[VDusen04]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

Pippen did actually finish behind him, he placed 3rd.

Yessir. I was speaking toward the idea that Pippen could have been MVP. I thought he was rightfully behind two other fellers.

[Dice]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

I'd have to agree with ojandpizza that Jordan's peak year was 1991 because he was the hungriest. And although his game wasn't as complete as in the later years, Jordan didn't need to be as complete during 1991. Before 1991, Jordan was always a supreme athlete. He was always the most skilled player in the league. But combined with the hunger, 1991 he put the physical tools and the skills together to fit his game into the team concept and thus captured his first championship.

[st0rmb11]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

Jordan's peak was probably from the 1991 season through the 1993 Finals. That was likely his apex as an all-around basketball player AND teammate. So, basically, that first three-peat was his peak.

He won three championships, three Finals MVPs, two regular season MVPs (and a very strong case could be made that he deserved 1993 over Barkley), he averaged 31 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds, as well as nearly 3 steals per game, while shooting over 50% from the field in the regular season, and 33, 6, and nearly 7 assists in the playoffs.

However, from a mere talent standpoint, he was probably at his individual best from 1988-1990, when he averaged 34 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds, as well as 3 steals per game, while shooting 53% from the field. He had a season of 33 points, 8 assists, and 8 steals in there. He had a season in which he won Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 35 points and 6 assists. He won 1 MVP, and should have won in 1990, as well. But, as a teammate, he wasn't quite there yet. It wasn't until the 1991 season that he really started to embrace the concept that the Bulls were only going to be as good as his teammates were. So, that's why I would call his 1991-1993 stretch his true peak.


Pippen, on the other hand, I would say his peak (during the championship years) was either 1992, 1996, or 1997. He had a better regular season in 1997, but a better playoffs in 1996.

His career peak was easily 1994 and 1995. In 1994 he was the best all-around player in basketball, and in 1995, he led the Bulls in every major statistical category (Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks). He was like LeBron James in Cleveland during those two seasons.

[Dice]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

As for Pippen, to me 1996 was his peak. This was the time his mental skills were sharpened. After being beat up by the Pistons and Knicks previously in his career, you no longer were able to bully Scottie into submission. Scottie at this point couldn't be rattled by physical play. And even though his physical abilities was declining, he still had enough to make a difference.

[PJBrownHeat]

Re: What year was Michael Jordan's absolute peak?

For me, no problem it is in 1992 Jordan was at his peak for sure, even if he was really strong against the Suns in 1993.
After watching a lot of game, i didn't want to watch the final series in 1992, while i watched it when i was young but i was to young.
I finally watched a lot of game of the 1992 final, and i really discovered that Jordan was able to do every thing he wanted. His physics was impressiv and he played against another Jordan, with a better vertical jump, Clyde the glide Drexler.

Pippen in 1994. It is a really good idee too i think. I didn't really watch NBA this year, i just watched his game against the Knicks in playoffs because it was really different to watch the Bulls without Jordan and really difficult for me to love NBA.

In 1992, Jordan was able to do every thing he wanted in the air. Yes he was at his peak, it is sure. And the trailblazers were one of the most physical team in NBA story. Clyde was just behind Jordan this year, it was Jordan vs Jordan, Clyde was another Jordan this year!!

http://youtu.be/RxudyTJVwi0