The Michael Jordan film gets going again tonight with episodes 3 & 4. I would guess there will be a heavy emphasis on Michael’s epic struggles with the Bad Boy Pistons.
What a great era of basketball it was. The toughness in the game which is sorely lacking in today’s game make today’s game quite frankly seem like Little League girls are playing in an Edmond rec league. Detroit literally mugged Michael every time he touched the ball. It was more like hockey than the bullshit we see today.
Can you imagine either frilly Kevin Durant or Steph Curry playing against the Pistons of the early 90’s?
OMG…not a chance. Kevie’s momma would have to walk out there on the floor and kick Bill Laimbeer’s ass for bullying her little Cupcake.
But Michael fought through it. It took him a couple of years to figure it out as Pippin elevated his game, but the Bulls finally got past the Bad Boys in the playoffs and basically never lost to them again in the Michael Jordan Era.
I have to admit…a part of me came to love Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, John Sally, and Dennis Rodman. I loved the physicality. The sheer passion of their checking game. They’re the only basketball team in history who played dump and chase with forecheck.
I loved it. It was like watching full checking ice hockey all over the ice.
If Michael touched the ball, it was simple….he was going to be hit.
It’s a shame David Stern had to close the Pistons’ mode down at some point. What a show it was.