Michael Jordan helped the Chicago Bulls become one of the best teams in the history of the league during the 1990s. He helped the Bulls win six NBA Championships at the prime of his career, but he was certainly not an easy job by any means.
Prior to Jordan becoming the unstoppable champion that fans fell in love with, they became accustomed to seeing him lose against the Bad Boys Pistons in the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons developed the ‘Jordan Rules’ to stop Jordan in his tracks. Former Pistons assistant coach Brendan Malone once explained the four steps to stopping Michael Jordan using the ‘Jordan Rules.’
Credit: ESPN/Detroit Pistons
The first three rules were pretty simple, as they were defensive strategies to stop Michael Jordan with pretty simple tactics. So much so that every other team in the NBA nowadays uses these tactics.
However, the fourth tactic was the true definition of the Jordan Rules. The Detroit Pistons players were instructed by coaches to make sure to knock Jordan down as soon as he reaches the paint.
Former Pistons stars Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, and John Salley, all talked about the true brutality of the Jordan Rules. They all had one thing in common – the intention of knocking MJ down whenever he reached the paint.
Michael Jordan vs. The Bad Boys Pistons
Overcoming the brutality of the Jordan Rules was undoubtedly one of the most challenging things that Michael Jordan had to do in his career. If MJ had failed to do so, he would have never reached the status of the GOAT.
For the first few years, Mike and the Bulls struggled against the Pistons as they lost to them in three consecutive playoffs in 1988, 1989, and 1990. However, in the 1991 NBA playoffs, Michael and the Bulls finally defeated the Pistons. Speaking of which, let’s look at Michael Jordan’s stats against the Detroit Pistons and how far the Chicago Bulls had gone against them through that period:
1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Detroit Pistons (4) vs. Chicago Bulls (1)Michael Jordan Stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 49.1 FG%
1989 Eastern Conference Finals: Detroit Pistons (4) vs. Chicago Bulls (2)Michael Jordan Stats: 29.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 46.0 FG%
1990 Eastern Conference Finals: Detroit Pistons (4) vs. Chicago Bulls (3)Michael Jordan Stats: 32.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 46.7%
The Bulls were no match for the Pistons in their first three meetings. But Jordan worked on his physique and finally overcame the hurdle in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals.
1991 Eastern Conference Finals: Detroit Pistons (0) vs. Chicago Bulls (4)Michael Jordan Stats: 29.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 53.5 FG%
The series finished 4-0 in favor of ‘His Airness,’ and it was the start of the Chicago Bulls dynasty while simultaneously the end of the Bad Boys Pistons era. After all, the Bad Boys Pistons didn’t reach the Eastern Conference Finals again during the Bulls era.
They were so disappointed after losing against the greatest player of all time that the members of the team even refused to shake hands with MJ and the Bulls. Now, that’s what we call a befitting ending to a rivalry.
Source: fadeawayworld
