In accordance with the release of the new NBA 2K11 basketball video game, legendary Chicago Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan has returned to the media's spotlight. That is, Michael Jordan has caught the sports world's attention by saying that today's NBA rules would have allowed him to score 100 points in a game. No one is questioning Michael Jordan's uncanny ability to make plays, create shots, and score points.
Michael Jordan is right in saying that, overall, today's rules favor offensive players, particularly guards. Much less contact is allowed in defensive play; some of what was legal when Jordan played (such as forearms and handchecking) is now deemed personal foul-worthy. Furthermore, with a 30-team league, talent is spread out more than it used to be, and players--while on average are more athletic today--come into the league much less fundamentally sound.
However, Michael Jordan has forgotten about the re-emergence of zone defense in the NBA. True, no team is running a defense that only consists of varying zone coverages--one-on-one, "man-to-man" defense is still considered more manly than playing zone defense. However, much of what used to be called "illegal defense" when Jordan played is now permitted by NBA rules. The current "illegal defense" rule is known as "defensive three seconds". Aside from staying in the key on defense when nobody is around, in terms of placement and spacing, most coverage concepts are allowed. While Michael Jordan was a top ranked prospect in college, the absence of zone defense in the NBA really cultivated his game. Teams could double team him, but only to an extent.
When Jordan came back out of retirement in 2001, the new "defensive three seconds" rule was in place. While Jordan lacked the same physicality and agility he had in his earlier playing days, he kept the same shooting touch. Yet, his points per 36 minutes in his two years with the Washington Wizards were the lowest of his career. Despite reduced contact, defenses could play the veteran Michael Jordan differently than the 80's and 90's NBA players could. Maybe defenders could not defend Jordan as physically, but they certainly could double team and triple team him more freely. Add in the fact that the NBA has also cracked down on traveling violations, and even a young Michael Jordan would not be able to move as freely on offense like he did during his playing days.
In the end, Michael Jordan probably could have scored 100 points if he had tried--old rules or new rules. However, the now retired Air Jordan overestimates his ability to dominate under the new rules and underestimates the defensive advantages created by the return of zone defense and the reduction of "illegal defense" to a "defensive three seconds" violation.
Michael Jordan is right in saying that, overall, today's rules favor offensive players, particularly guards. Much less contact is allowed in defensive play; some of what was legal when Jordan played (such as forearms and handchecking) is now deemed personal foul-worthy. Furthermore, with a 30-team league, talent is spread out more than it used to be, and players--while on average are more athletic today--come into the league much less fundamentally sound.
However, Michael Jordan has forgotten about the re-emergence of zone defense in the NBA. True, no team is running a defense that only consists of varying zone coverages--one-on-one, "man-to-man" defense is still considered more manly than playing zone defense. However, much of what used to be called "illegal defense" when Jordan played is now permitted by NBA rules. The current "illegal defense" rule is known as "defensive three seconds". Aside from staying in the key on defense when nobody is around, in terms of placement and spacing, most coverage concepts are allowed. While Michael Jordan was a top ranked prospect in college, the absence of zone defense in the NBA really cultivated his game. Teams could double team him, but only to an extent.
When Jordan came back out of retirement in 2001, the new "defensive three seconds" rule was in place. While Jordan lacked the same physicality and agility he had in his earlier playing days, he kept the same shooting touch. Yet, his points per 36 minutes in his two years with the Washington Wizards were the lowest of his career. Despite reduced contact, defenses could play the veteran Michael Jordan differently than the 80's and 90's NBA players could. Maybe defenders could not defend Jordan as physically, but they certainly could double team and triple team him more freely. Add in the fact that the NBA has also cracked down on traveling violations, and even a young Michael Jordan would not be able to move as freely on offense like he did during his playing days.
In the end, Michael Jordan probably could have scored 100 points if he had tried--old rules or new rules. However, the now retired Air Jordan overestimates his ability to dominate under the new rules and underestimates the defensive advantages created by the return of zone defense and the reduction of "illegal defense" to a "defensive three seconds" violation.