During the 1980's, Michael Jordan was actively trying to pull the Chicago Bulls cocaine circus franchise over hurdle after hurdle, and most of those hurdles included ending losing streaks.

Well, the Bulls had another active losing streak, and this losing streak was with the Indiana Pacers. The Indiana Pacers had beat the Bulls 4 games in a row (1/19/87, 4/1/87, 11/14/87, 12/26/87). So, there was extra motivation during this contest, because the Pacers had been on a win streak against Jordan's Bulls. Michael Jordan knew that in order to be a champion, he needed to jump over all of these hurdles along the way. Turning this franchise around was the toughest task in NBA history.

This Pacers team had fantastic talent. John Long took pride in his defensive ability and made it his #1 objective to harass Michael Jordan. The Pacers also had a young Reggie Miller coming off the bench, and he didn't waste any time going right after Michael Jordan (they even got tangled up late). And guess what Michael's bonus prize was? He got to defend Chuck Person for significant stretches of the game, and Chuck Person was a great & physical shooter/scorer. So MJ had 3 quality competitors gunning for him in this contest, and he put the clamps on ALL of them.

Michael Jordan was a disruptive force on defense, and he'd lead a great defensive effort in this contest along with a balanced precise attack offensively!

Also, prior to this contest, Bulls fans took part in a moment of silence due to the untimely passing of Pistol Pete Maravich. He passed at 40 years old while playing a pick-up game of basketball, due to a heart attack, because he had an undetected heart defect. R.I.P. to the great Pistol Pete.

(1987-88 Season)

TIMESTAMPS:
1:12 - Moment of silence for Pistol Pete Maravich's tragic passing
4:12 - Game begins
5:14 - Michael Jordan offensive rebound put-back
6:09 - Michael Jordan pull-up jumper off the glass
6:19 - Michael Jordan blocks Herb Williams
6:35 - Michael Jordan pull-up elbow jumper (wet)
6:55 - Michael Jordan muscles his way in for an offensive rebound
7:08 - Michael Jordan jab step & jumper
8:03 - Michael Jordan boxes out Reggie Miller on the offensive glass for the put-back
8:40 - Reggie Miller tough jumper over Michael Jordan
10:14 - Michael Jordan pull-up fadeaway jumper (wet)
13:23 - Pippen sticks with it & gets the hard earned baseline bucket
15:01 - Clinton Wheeler pull-up jumper
15:22 - Horace Grant top of key jumper
16:47 - Michael Jordan splits a double team with the baseline lean in jumper
19:05 - Herb Williams beats Michael Jordan inside for the dunk
19:17 - Chuck Person pull-up jumper
19:23 - Michael Jordan scoop layup
19:43 - Chuck Person overpowers Rory Sparrow
21:43 - Michael Jordan reverse pivot & baseline pull-up fadeaway jumper (wet)
22:33 - Vern Fleming drive to the basket with Michael Jordan draped all over him
23:55 - Herb Williams power dunk
25:16 - John Long jumper (wet)
26:20 - Michael Jordan blocks Chuck Person (foul)
28:06 - John Long top of key jumper
29:45 - Vern Fleming jumper
30:13 - Ron Anderson drive to the basket & slaps John Paxson after the scoop layup
31:33 - Horace Grant top of key jumper
32:12 - Reggie Miller ruins a Pacers fan's chance for a TV
32:18 - Michael Jordan fights through a physical double team & drills the jumper
32:36 - Herb Williams running hook
33:45 - Michael Jordan steal
34:02 - Michael Jordan outside jumper (wet)
35:26 - Reggie Miller pushes Michael Jordan so Michael Jordan clobbers Reggie Miller
39:39 - Michael Jordan gets an ovation from Bulls fans to end the show

Michael Jordan greatest games series playlist (games in chronological order here): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsuQLqnitVCGDTFsu5n5uFBnNvIwAAyBT

Hope you enjoyed the show.

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Blitz Sports Network PSA: Always remember, the individuals who say "Michael Jordan didn't face great competition in his era" are trying to tell you something IMPORTANT. They are trying to tell you that they didn't watch the Michael Jordan era, and there are much better things you could be doing with your time rather than listening to their takes on an era they didn't even watch. Would you go to someone for an opinion on Shakespeare if they had never seen the plays Macbeth, Hamlet, or Othello? Of course you wouldn't. Consider the source. Nobody who watched that era would trash the talent all around the league. Michael Jordan played in a great era with a great blend of fierce competitors, awe inspiring athletes, lock down defenders, knock down shooters, and ultra skilled ballers.