With Each Celtics Loss, Jordan's Legacy Expands

CLEVELAND - Many people would be baffled as to how I can connect the current Boston Celtics and each of their defeats to the already overflowing legacy of the great Michael Jordan.

Just keep reading.

The Celtics of 2008-09 came out this season on a mission. As the defending NBA champions, they answered all doubters of their 2008 NBA title by rolling to a sizzling 27-2 record through their first 29 games. Just like all teams of the past dozen years that have gotten off to outstanding starts, their chances of possibly equaling Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' historic record of 72-10 became a viable topic.

Just six games later, the talk is all but dead.

Boston, with their super triumvirate of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen has suddenly began a downward spiral of losing. Since the 27-2 start, they have lost four of their past six games to currently stand at 29-6. The '95-'96 Bulls were 32-3 after the same number of games.

The 2005-06 Detroit Pistons were stockpiled with talent. They seemed to threaten the 70-win plateau until settling for a 64-18 record. Same with the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks, who dominated the season only to finish at 67-15 and a stunning first round playoff loss to supposedly inferior Golden State.

So where does Jordan fit into all this?

It's quite simple. The basketball icon retired in 1993 after leading Chicago to their third consecutive NBA title. When he surprisingly returned with 17 games left in the 1994-95 season, he was noticeably sluggish and out of sync. His high octane, high flying game had been grounded by the 21-month layoff. His struggles proved very costly in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against the upstart Orlando Magic.

With a 23-year old super dominant Shaquille O'Neal and 22-year old sensational Penny Hardaway, Orlando overwhelmed the once invinci-Bulls and ousted them from the playoffs, 4-2. For the first time in MJ's storied career, he was highly responsible for a playoff series loss with his untimely turnovers and ton of missed shots.

He wanted retribution in a huge way.

Buoyed by the controversial acquisition of Dennis Rodman prior to training camp of the following season, the Bulls were relentless all season long, amassing winning streaks of 18 and 13 in the first 44 games. They were an eye-popping 41-3 at one point and steamrolled the league en route to the unimaginable 72-10 mark. Though Rodman's arrival proved integral, it was the embarrassment that the hyper competitive Jordan felt after the '95 Playoffs that spurred him to retool, rework and refine his game during that summer while filming Space Jam.

MJ's workout regimen that summer was otherworldly and obsessive. He invited the best hoopsters in the country to ball with him and sharpen his game. Then during the historic season, he kept his teammates focused on reclaiming their place atop the NBA mountain by his own remarkable work ethic and persistent prodding. He even punched teammate Steve Kerr out of frustration that Kerr wasn't showing enough intensity for his taste.

Wow.

Maybe the most amazing things about the Bulls that season was the fact that the team was assembled in just a matter of months. There was no time for gelling or developing a team continuity. Plus, Jordan's return drastically altered the chemistry and dynamic of the team which normally sends teams into tailspins. Not these Bulls. Jordan wouldn't allow it.

Another amazing feat: The last three losses were by a single point each, including two one-point defeats at home, the first one snapped their perfect 37-0 home record. That means that Chicago was only three lousy points (or six) away from going 75-7 for the season! They were only two lousy points (or four) from a 41-0 home record.

Unbelievable.

Now, last year's Celtics were amazing. They finished at 66-16 and of course, won the title. This year will end up being another great run. Cleveland and the L.A. Lakers have been amazing too thus far. But in Boston's case, the East is supposed to be this awful, thin-on-talent conference and the Celtics as a team are far more talented than those Bulls were. Garnett is one of the most driven and highly talented players in the game. Pierce is also one of the league's best and Allen is not only a sharpshooter, but a volume scorer.

With a more watered down league and better players, the Celtics should easily match Chicago '96, but they won't. The other teams won't either. One can only conclude then, that Jordan's indescribable drive that season as well as his relentless leadership and overall competitive obsession were the difference makers. It's what separates that Bulls team from any other team, really in history.

That is just one reason Jordan will be a first ballot, unanimous Hall of Fame selection this year!