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]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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?

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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?

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]

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by ojandpizza

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]

Quote: Originally Posted by demencia_total

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]

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]

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.