Just like Gan Guoyang, Jordan still has the capability to score 50 points in a single game, it just depends on how he performs tonight.
Returning to the United Center in Chicago, Jordan naturally felt amazing.
After missing his shot due to being overly excited at the start, he slowly calmed down and adjusted to a focused state.
The Bulls’ defense on the outside is really not great, their coach is Jordan’s old teammate, Bill Cartwright.
Cartwright knows Jordan, but doesn’t know how to defend him, and similarly, he doesn’t know how to defend Ah Gan.
As old teammates and rivals, Cartwright is no stranger to how capable these two are.
Any other coach, especially a young one, might think it’s no big deal—38, 39 years old, no matter how powerful, age is a factor.
But the Bulls coach is Cartwright, the one most aware of the terrifying capabilities of Jordan and Ah Gan, and during pre-game prep, he doesn’t know what to say.
How to defend, tell me how to defend? Anyone with the answer, I’ll give them the head coach position.
The truth is, there’s no good method, only hope that both players have an off night, and some shots don’t go in, lowering the shooting percentage.
Other setups, like double-teaming... how to double-team?
These two require three defenders to contain, and you only have five players, even splitting them in half isn’t enough, you’re still short one.
Double-team? Yeah right!
Coaches like Cartwright, transitioning from old-school players, don’t like zone defense.
The Bulls indeed don’t have a zone defense strategy; Cartwright wanted to learn from Phil Jackson, using half-court, full-court presses, changes in rhythm, and tough inside screens to suffocate opponents.
The problem is, the current Bulls don’t have the defensive resources of the past.
Jackson’s strategy isn’t something everyone can learn, nor can everyone implement it successfully.
Many cases later proved that Phil Jackson’s coaching philosophy only suits him.
His disciples, those who learned from him, emulated him, none have made it notable in the NBA.
This is why some believe Phil Jackson is a fraud genius.
He fooled the players, fooled the fans, even fooled himself.
Others don’t have his deceit, just following his tactics and setup leads to disaster.
Cartwright is no exception; his tenure as Bulls’ coach isn’t successful.
As a center, Eddie Curry and Tyson Chandler, both high schoolers, he had no clue how to manage.
Without college experience, they’re gluttons of fun; ask one thing and they know nothing, ask another and it’s the same.
What is toughness? They don’t know, both are still kids, yet they were thrust into the brutal NBA arena, clashing with seasoned veterans.
Without a good mentor to guide them on the court, high school players’ survival and progress are extremely tough.
As a coach, Cartwright’s primary task is to secure his position; the development of young players is sometimes not his priority.
Jordan soon scored another basket, after changing direction at the top of the arc, making an easy pull-up jumper with a bit of a fade.
The defender couldn’t interrupt him, and scored two points easily; during the Bulls’ offensive turn, the phrase confused sums up their situation.
Five starters, three newcomers, the inside facing historical greatness; when Tyson Chandler got the ball at the elbow, facing Ah Gan’s defense, he didn’t know what to do next.
In his nervousness, he was whistled for traveling by the referee, frustrated, he handed the ball to the ref and hung his head as he went back to defend.
Cartwright held his head; Chandler was in that position trying to screen for his teammate, how did the ball end up with him?
Also, with the ball in hand, if confused just pass it back, return it to the point guard, why travel?
The coach’s headache lies here; you know what should be done, yet can’t teach players how to do it.
And Jordan from nearly the same spot, a step in from the top of the arc, received the ball, dribbled to shake, stopped swiftly with a slight fade, and scored!
Jordan was feeling it, scoring consecutively from the same spot, the atmosphere at the United Center was electrified.
The Bulls were still working for their first goal; Jay Williams broke into the basket but was picked off by Gan Guoyang.
The Glory Team didn’t fast-break, taking their time, getting the ball to Jordan; Gan Guoyang drew attention on the weak side.
Jordan backed down his defender, from the three-point line easily and smoothly squeezed into mid-range, turned around!
Trenton Hassell was scared by Jordan’s consecutive shots, raised his defensive posture instantly, turns out it was a fake.
Jordan took a step and went in, leaning in for a bank floater, over Eddy Curry’s fingertips and bounced into the hoop.
Jordan scored eight straight points, the entire United Center was boiling over; the game had just started and was already on fire.
Even at 39, Jordan’s technique hasn’t diminished at all, even due to slower speed and less explosiveness, Jordan relied on skill even more.
For example, that last shot, peak Jordan would’ve just jumped and shot, regardless of the defense, knowing it couldn’t be blocked.
Now, lacking jumping height, he fakes, steps in after a foot shuffle, then shoots.
If it were some cunning players, they would draw a foul and get to the free-throw line, killing two birds with one stone.
But for old-school players like Jordan, he disdains such tactics, drawing fouls not through deceit, but by leaving no options for the opponent.
The Bulls finally scored two points thanks to Jalen Rose, but Jordan immediately responded with a stop-jumper from the left 45-degree angle for another two, taking him to 10 points!