Those who criticize Michael Jordan's return to the NBA are just jealous. If he were suiting up in their team's favorite uniform, it would be a different story. As a long-suffering Washington Wizards (nee Bullets) fan, I couldn't be more thrilled -- or optimistic.
| 2001-02 MJ Preview |
| Date |
|
Game |
|
Inspiration |
|
Result |
|
Record |
| Oct. 30 |
|
@ New York
|
|
Return to basketball "Mecca." |
|
Energized by MSG, MJ drops a "double-Knickel" on Spike & Co. |
|
1-0 |
| Nov. 1 |
|
@ Atlanta |
|
Shades of '92 Olympics -- abuse Toni Kukoc. |
|
Kukoc as a defender? Please. |
|
2-0 |
| Nov. 3 |
|
vs. Philadelphia |
|
Outplay AI. |
|
Iverson tries to do too much; MJ out-thinks him. |
|
3-0 |
| Nov. 4 |
|
@ Detroit
|
|
Remind world that Jerry Stackhouse is still no MJ.
|
|
Detroit is actually worse than the Wizards. |
|
4-0 |
| Nov. 7 |
|
@ Boston |
|
Sports Guy's naysaying. |
|
Sports Guy wishes MJ wore a Celtic-green No. 23. |
|
5-0 |
| Nov. 9 |
|
vs. Golden State
|
|
Back in D.C., in front of now-frenzied faithful. |
|
Outduels fellow UNC alum, Antawn Jamison, 50-45 |
|
6-0 |
| Nov. 11 |
|
vs. Seattle |
|
School young gun Rashard Lewis. |
|
Glove yaks after loss. |
|
7-0 |
| Nov. 14 |
|
vs. Milwaukee
|
|
"Ray Allen will school him." |
|
Yeah, so? MJ guards Big Dog. |
|
8-0 |
| Nov. 16 |
|
vs. Utah |
|
Confirm memory of previous "Last Shot." |
|
Same as last time he saw them. |
|
9-0 |
| Nov. 20 |
|
vs. Charlotte
|
|
Suddenly Jamal Mashburn thinks he can play? |
|
"MJ Mashes Bugs; Streak at 10." |
|
10-0 |
| Nov. 22 |
|
@ Indiana |
|
Seeing Isiah "All-Star Freezeout" Thomas on sideline. |
|
Sends Bender and Harrington back to nursery school. |
|
11-0 |
| Nov. 24 |
|
vs. Boston |
|
"Is that Sports Guy still talking about me?" |
|
Another shellacking; Paul Pierce cries. |
|
12-0 |
| Nov. 27 |
|
@ Cleveland
|
|
Early-round playoffs, early 1990s. |
|
Jumaine Jones is the new Craig Ehlo. |
|
13-0 |
| Nov. 28 |
|
@ Philadelphia |
|
Incessant Sixers yapping |
|
Exactly why they signed Tyronn Lue. |
|
14-0 |
| Nov. 30 |
|
@ Miami
|
|
Pat Riley. 'Nuff said. |
|
Riles is looking for Charles Smith. |
|
15-0 |
| Dec. 1 |
|
vs. Orlando |
|
I'm in better shape than Grant Hill. |
|
T-Mac gets greedy; MJ drops in buzzer-beater. |
|
16-0 |
| Dec. 4 |
|
@ San Antonio |
|
To posterize Tim Duncan. |
|
Injured Admiral eases previous matchup issues. |
|
17-0 |
| Dec. 6 |
|
@ Houston |
|
Stevie Franchise likes to jaw. |
|
Glen Rice is even easier to guard than Danny Ferry. |
|
18-0 |
| Dec. 8 |
|
@ Dallas |
|
A courtside Mark Cuban begs for autograph. |
|
"That's M-A-R-K, right?" |
|
19-0 |
| Dec. 11 |
|
@ Memphis |
|
Guarded by a haughty rookie from Duke. |
|
A new venue gets its virgin MJ rack-up. |
|
20-0 |
| Dec. 12 |
|
vs. Miami |
|
It's easy to want to mess with Riley again. |
|
Don't take LaPhonso Ellis for your fantasy team. |
|
21-0 |
| Dec. 14 |
|
vs. New York |
|
For Patrick. |
|
Houston. Spree. It doesn't matter. |
|
22-0 |
| Dec. 16 |
|
@ Toronto
|
|
Bout of Vinsanity. |
|
Tough matchups. Road game. No one's perfect. |
|
22-1 |
| Dec. 19 |
|
vs. Atlanta |
|
Coming off first loss. |
|
More Kukoc abuse. |
|
23-1 |
| Dec. 21 |
|
@ Orlando |
|
Tiger Woods in the front-row seats. |
|
Mark O'Meara sports Chris Whitney jersey. |
|
24-1 |
| Dec. 22 |
|
@ New York |
|
Finally found original Air Jordans that fit. |
|
Coal in Woody Allen's stocking. |
|
25-1 |
| Dec. 26 |
|
@ Charlotte |
|
Reunited with extended NC family for holidays. |
|
First 60-point game since return. |
|
26-1 |
| Dec. 27 |
|
@ Indiana |
|
Jalen Rose is too big for baggy britches |
|
As usual, road crowd cheers for Wiz. |
|
27-1 |
| Dec. 29 |
|
vs. Charlotte |
|
None. Bored with Hornets. |
|
MJ lounges through 20 minutes in blow-out win. |
|
28-1 |
| Dec. 31 |
|
vs. New Jersey |
|
Ringing in the D.C. new year. |
|
MJ starts party early thanks to blow-out win. |
|
29-1 |
| Jan. 4 |
|
vs. Chicago |
|
Oh, God, where to start? |
|
Eddie Robinson realizes he made a free-agent mistake. |
|
30-1 |
| Jan. 8 |
|
vs. L.A. Clippers |
|
Poster-children for the "new" NBA. |
|
The "D" in "D-Miles" doesn't stand for "Defense." |
|
31-1 |
| Jan. 11 |
|
@ Milwaukee |
|
Always disliked George Karl. |
|
Call the ASPCA. More Big Dog abuse. |
|
32-1 |
| Jan. 12 |
|
vs. Minnesota
|
|
Garnett left the Nike fold for And1. |
|
Wally Szczerbiak is playing defense. Take a guess. |
|
33-1 |
| Jan. 15 |
|
vs. San Antonio |
|
How many ways to smack around Danny Ferry? |
|
Wiz frontcourt too thin. Trade help on way? |
|
33-2 |
| Jan. 16 |
|
@ New Jersey |
|
Rod Thorn could have traded up to make MJ the '84 No. 1 pick. |
|
Keith Van Horn gets an intro to The Jordan Rules. |
|
34-2 |
| Jan. 19 |
|
@ Chicago |
|
The statue outside the stadium. |
|
Fans, NBC get what they want. Jerrys routed. |
|
35-2 |
| Jan. 21 |
|
@ Minnesota |
|
Doesn't like the looks of Joe Smith. |
|
Plays a half in easy win. |
|
36-2 |
| Jan. 22 |
|
vs. Philadelphia |
|
Scoring race with AI. |
|
Jordan 43, AI 40. |
|
37-2 |
| Jan. 24 |
|
vs. Cleveland |
|
Should be one he sits, but MJ plays for pride. |
|
A win. 38 points. But 34 shots. |
|
38-2 |
| Jan. 26 |
|
Phoenix |
|
Battling Penny for Comeback Player of the Year. |
|
Too much Air Marion for MJ's tired 38-year-old legs. |
|
38-3 |
| Jan. 29 |
|
vs. Detroit |
|
Doug Collins wants a little payback. |
|
Pistons wish they still had Dumars in uniform. |
|
39-3 |
| Jan. 31 |
|
@ Cleveland |
|
Wants to impress Drew Carey. |
|
Cleveland doesn't rock. |
|
40-3 |
| Feb. 1 |
|
vs. Atlanta |
|
Unimpressed with Jason Terry. |
|
Doubles up the Hawks' main man by 20. |
|
41-3 |
| Feb. 3 |
|
vs. Indiana
|
|
Did we mention Bender needed to be schooled?
|
|
Isiah can try any lineup he wants; same result. |
|
42-3 |
| Feb. 5 |
|
vs. Toronto |
|
Payback in MJ's house. |
|
Crushes Carter's spirit. |
|
43-3 |
| Feb. 7 |
|
vs. Sacramento
|
|
C-Webb spurned MJ on free-agent trail. |
|
Peja on wrong end of shootout. |
|
44-3 |
| Feb. 12 |
|
@ L.A. Lakers
|
|
Teach Kobe a lesson. |
|
Can't do it guarding Rick Fox. |
|
44-4 |
| Feb. 14 |
|
@ Sacramento |
|
Love for the game. |
|
Kings' run-n-gun antics show too much love. |
|
44-5 |
| Feb. 15 |
|
@ Phoenix |
|
End team's first skid. |
|
Where's Thunder Dan? MJ hits for 50 in win. |
|
45-5 |
| Feb. 18 |
|
vs. Houston |
|
Belated birthday gift to self. |
|
Present in form of triple-double. |
|
46-5 |
| Feb. 20 |
|
@ Detroit |
|
Doug Collins still has issues. |
|
Boy, is Detroit terrible. |
|
47-5 |
| Feb. 21 |
|
vs. New Jersey |
|
Never liked Byron Scott. |
|
Kerry Kittles more fragile than MJ. |
|
48-5 |
| Feb. 23 |
|
vs. Miami
|
|
'Zo enjoys D.C. |
|
Less so now. |
|
49-5 |
| Feb. 24 |
|
@ Miami |
|
Lacking. Road trips are a pain. |
|
Riley takes one back. |
|
49-6 |
| Feb. 27 |
|
vs. Portland |
|
Reunited with "Little Brother" Pippen. |
|
Shrugging shoulders. Nailing 3s. Just like '92. |
|
50-6 |
| March 1 |
|
@ Chicago |
|
Never liked Bulls scout B.J. Armstrong. |
|
Fans cheer MJ louder than Tyson Chandler. |
|
51-6 |
| March 3 |
|
vs. Orlando
|
|
Does he need a reason every night? |
|
Apparently so. Magic steal one in D.C. |
|
51-7 |
| March 5 |
|
vs. Chicago |
|
"Ruin my dynasty, eh?" |
|
50 points can't heal wrecked-dynasty wound. |
|
52-7 |
| March 7 |
|
vs. Detroit |
|
Yet another win for Coach Doug? |
|
Pistons are season-long punching bag. |
|
53-7 |
| March 8 |
|
@ Orlando |
|
Win one in ours, we'll win one in yours |
|
MJ too much for hobbled Hill. |
|
54-7 |
| March 10 |
|
@ Boston |
|
Is that Sports Guy still talking? |
|
Wiz win by 40 in laugher. |
|
55-7 |
| March 11 |
|
vs. Boston |
|
Sports Guy sporting Jahidi White jersey next to Robin Ficker. |
|
Next day, same result. |
|
56-7 |
| March 13 |
|
@ L.A. Clippers |
|
Clipper gear only team outselling Wizards. |
|
Odom toughest L.A. matchup of the year. |
|
56-8 |
| March 15 |
|
@ Seattle |
|
Goes to the Egyptian Theater for revival of "Space Jam." |
|
Lights out, Rain Men. |
|
57-8 |
| March 16 |
|
@ Portland |
|
Bonzi Wells has too much attitude. |
|
Blazers have too much dysfunction. |
|
58-8 |
| March 18 |
|
@ Golden State |
|
Larry Hughes' ridiculous new 'do. |
|
50 for his peeps in Oakland. |
|
59-8 |
| March 20 |
|
@ Denver |
|
Getting over road-trip hump. |
|
George McLeod-as-defender is just the tonic. |
|
60-8 |
| March 21 |
|
@ Utah
|
|
Memories of "Last Shot", Part II. |
|
Not enough to stop another pair of old-timers. |
|
60-9 |
| March 24 |
|
@ Toronto |
|
Last day of brutal road trip. |
|
72-10 seems that much more impressive. |
|
60-10 |
| March 26 |
|
vs. Denver |
|
Back home, need to end two-game skid. |
|
Glad it's the Nuggets. |
|
61-10 |
| March 29 |
|
vs. Milwaukee |
|
Scott Williams gave up on Bulls. |
|
Bucks still looking for an answer to MJ. |
|
62-10 |
| March 31 |
|
vs. Dallas
|
|
Juwan Howard's homecoming. |
|
MJ guards Juwan himself; not so hard. |
|
63-10 |
| April 2 |
|
vs. L.A. Lakers
|
|
Plays mind-games with Phil; guards Kobe himself. |
|
Wiz win biggest game of season. |
|
64-10 |
| April 3 |
|
@ Milwaukee |
|
Maintain 72-win pace. |
|
Looking too far ahead. |
|
64-11 |
| April 5 |
|
@ Charlotte |
|
Pressure off 72-win pace. |
|
Breeze past Hornets. |
|
65-11 |
| April 6 |
|
vs. Memphis |
|
Jason Williams' showboating for 20-win team. |
|
More punishment for Battier. |
|
66-11 |
| April 9 |
|
@ New Jersey |
|
Keen on "Comeback Player of All-Time" award. |
|
MJ maintains league-leading 31 ppg average, then rests. |
|
67-11 |
| April 10 |
|
vs. Philadelphia
|
|
Duel for home-court advantage. |
|
Home-court advantage secured. |
|
68-11 |
| April 12 |
|
@ Philadelphia |
|
MJ sits. Charles Barkley howls on TNT. |
|
Sixers win meaningless one. |
|
68-12 |
| April 14 |
|
vs. Indiana |
|
MJ planned to sit; Dick Ebersol calls in personal favor. |
|
MJ plays for first half, drops 24 on Rose. |
|
69-12 |
| April 16 |
|
vs. New York |
|
70 wins in comeback season; critics eat crow. |
|
As it began, it ends. Finals await. |
|
70-12 |
