Who was your favourite "Jordan Stopper"?

[reignman]

got to say reggie miller hands down.
he was getting in jordans mind from game to game.

[Saskibaloia]

If anything Reggie was more known as a Knick killer (ask Spike Lee).

Yeah, I agree being a 90s Knicks fan there was only one player I wanted to kill …

He was untouchable!

An aspect that so many of today’s NBA superstars try to have or demand to have.

I think that Dumars was the first Jordan-stopper to enjoy any sort of success, but you have to keep in mind that the entire Bad Boys Pistons were geared to stopping him. That team was tough as nails and had Isiah and Dennis Rodman (Defensive Player of the Year) ready to pounce whenever Jordan was even close to beating Joe D.

The same thing can be said for the 90s Knicks teams. Pat Riley used his team's toughness to match-up with Jordan - If Starks was the head, Oakley, Ewing, Mason and the rest of the crew were the arms, legs and body.

They demonstrated to us the meaning of “Team Defense” which is definitely applied to today’s top defensive teams.

... Joe Dumars!!! He clobbered jordan during his days

... and the WHOLE Detroit "BAD BOYZ" Pistons team


Finally, how would this decade's perimeter defenders such as Bowen and Artest match up against these "Jordan Stoppers"?

[elaj]

Dikembe.

[Trifilli]

I'm not absolutely sure who was the best "Jordan Stopper", but the player who stayed in my mind more than any other was Byron Russell. Even today, when I see a recap of Jordan sinking that championship winner against him, I feel sorry for Russell. I never had the impression that he defended great against Jordan, but he tried so hard in that series, and it was a bit sad to see him get beaten that way, maybe even a blowout loss would've been better for him that given night.

[RolePlayer]

I think that Dumars was the first Jordan-stopper to enjoy any sort of success, but you have to keep in mind that the entire Bad Boys Pistons were geared to stopping him. That team was tough as nails and had Isiah and Dennis Rodman (Defensive Player of the Year) ready to pounce whenever Jordan was even close to beating Joe D.

The same thing can be said for the 90s Knicks teams. Pat Riley used his team's toughness to match-up with Jordan - If Starks was the head, Oakley, Ewing, Mason and the rest of the crew were the arms, legs and body.

If I recall correctly, I think Jordan listed Mitch Richmond as a tough match-up for him as well. I guess he wasn't nick-named 'Rock' for nothing.

[Billy]

Those old Bulls vs. Knicks or Pistons series were great.

Amen to that! I still watch them from time to time (once or twice per year). Those and the showtime vs celtics and the bulls vs blazers tapes are awesome!

[Czarkazem13]

Miller and Ehlo (more famous for giving up the winning shot in the playoffs)couldn't play D for anything. If anything Reggie was more known as a Knick killer (ask Spike Lee).

Russell and Wilkens never really impressed me against Jordan either - for the most part.

Now Dumars was a defensive stud and John Starks was more likely to match Jordan then stop (or contain him). Those old Bulls vs. Knicks or Pistons series were great.

Hell, the media couldn't even stop him when he supported sweatshops. He was untouchable!

[RetiredJordanStopper]

The most successful Jordan Stopper was:

DEAN SMITH

the only man alive to hold MJ to less than 20 ppg in his entire basketball career

[mvblair]

There is no need to bring up Cleveland's memories of Jordan.

[RetiredJordanStopper]

great topic, funny you should ask (check my name / handle)

almost all in the list had their "moment" of fun stopping jordan, or so they think, but in the end, MJ sticked a fork in them and said "you're done"!

...almost always, jordan leaves an indelible mark to brand his superiority over his defenders. the most memorables are:

Vs. Ehlo: enuff said, this is the receiving end of MJ's first and most dramatic buzzer beater ever. Ehlo will forever be the poster boy of the man who tried to stop Jordan but failed.

Vs. G. Wilkens: the first of the self proclaimed Jordan-Stopper. but poor poor Cleveland, they thought by guarding MJ with a different defender, their luck will be better. But same result, elimination at the buzzer.

Vs. Starks: Starks outplayed him in the first 2 games of a playoffs series in by harrassing him and outplaying him to go up 2 games to 0. but Jordan dismissed him and the Knicks as he played angrily in the next 4 to eliminate them...then 4 years later, he dropped 55 (the double nickel game) on Starks and the knicks on his 5th game out of retirement.

Vs. B. Russel: This is Ehlo2000...twice he got burned in 2 different Finals. First was in 97, game 1, MJ crossed-over to his right, then pulled up. Game over!!! Second is the most memorable one, the last seconds of the last game of MJ's last championship season... and you know all what happened. hehehehe

[mvblair]

Players, please. You stop Jordan with points, not defense. Reggie Miller, hands down.

[b3lowzro]

hands down its Joe Dumars!!! He clobbered jordan during his days

[Billy]

Mase -probably the most physical player Jordan ever faced.

[stuart]

Haha. Great topic Saski. I feel like were missing one...

Stuart

[Saskibaloia]

Who was your favourite "Jordan Stopper"?


Who was the most successful "Jordan Stopper"?


How would this decade's perimeter defenders such as Bowen and Artest match up against these "Jordan Stoppers"?


Well for me, my favourite has got to be my main man, John Starks. I have to admit that I am a HUGE fan of the 90s Knicks and nothing gets better than seeing a defender who was smaller, less athletic, less skillful but with plenty of heart attempt to give his all in guarding the greatest player to ever play the game.

In terms of the most successful, I have to say that Joe Dumars is my pick however, I would have loved to see him match up against Jordan during the second 3 peat of the Bulls to see how successful his tactics from the late 90s were.