In just the 4th game of the 1997 season, MJ turned it up on his old rival. The peaking Heat went huge that year with 61 wins. But, the Bulls were the champs coming off their record 72 win season and besides, MJ never let his guard down when Pat Riley was in town. Phil Jackson always clashed with Riley as the two were considered the best coaches so MJ had to back up you know who. MJ also loved to play against Alonzo. Riley would always say, the difference wasn’t the coaching, but #23. “Screw zen and all that, you have 23 and I don’t.” Shooting 55% in this 50 pt game (modest by MJ’s standards since he averaged 60.4% in his 39 games going 50+ in his career), the game was in absolute control by MJ’s mastery. The heat had no answer for his touches and shot creation. Hitting in-your-face fadeaways left and right, MJ, at age 33, looked like he hadn’t left from the first 3-peat. He also reminded us that the greatest player ever was also the greatest ever at making circus shots. But then again, did anyone forget in the first place?
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Lakers forward Matt Barnes on 96-80 loss to Miami Heat
