Jordan's 3-Point Plan For Success Was Stunning

CLEVELAND - During the 1991-92 NBA season, Michael Jordan was considered the best player in basketball. Clyde Drexler was considered nearly his equal, and a better 3-point shooter.

Then came the 1992 NBA Finals.

Jordan, 29 at the time put on an amazing shooting display 17 years ago today in Game One of the NBA Finals that contradicted his thoughts of his futile 3-point game. During the regular season, he was voted the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season as he led his Chicago Bulls to a sparkling 67-15 record. He also earned his 6th straight scoring title (30.1 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists) and was simply magnificent from the first practice in training camp. After the Bulls survived unexpected adversity in both the semifinals and conference finals, they met up with the Portland Trailblazers in the championship series to defend their NBA crown.

Jordan and Drexler was the ultimate matchup.

June 3, 1992 was a day I won't ever forget. Jordan uncharacteristically came out gunning from long range as the Blazers jumped out to an early lead in Chicago Stadium. He missed two three-point attempts but consistently drilled mid-range jumpers against Drexler's elite defense. As Portland's offense continued to flow easily, the Bulls seemed a bit disjointed and MJ kept finding himself wide open behind the 3-point arc (and with good reason; he shot just 27% from deep on the season).

To make a long story short, Jordan nailed a trio of three pointers in the 1st quarter and added another three in the 2nd. He wound up with six consecutive 3-pointers in a span of 9:22 and shot 14-of-19 from the field in the first half. His 35 points was not only breathtaking, it was also an NBA Finals record. After his final trey swished through the hoop, a totally surprised Jordan turned to basketball icon-turned-analyst Magic Johnson (who was courtside) and famously shrugged his shoulders with his hands out in an I-can't-believe-my-own-greatness-either pose.

Chicago acquired a 55-41 halftime lead and romped to a 122-89 thumping of Portland to capture Game One. MJ played facilitator in the 2nd half as he wound up with 39 points and 11 assists and an amazing tomahawk slam dunk off a missed free-throw.

It must be said that this was one of the most rousing, stupendous moments in MJ's legendary career, largely because it took place in the NBA Finals. His performance the rest of the series ended any idea that Drexler was even close to his equal. Sure, Drexler was outstanding in defeat (24.8 points per game), but Jordan was incomparable (35.8 points, 6.5 assists) and led the Bulls to a 4-2 series victory and their 2nd NBA title.

In the aftermath of his team losing in the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons, Drexler was gracious in defeat and remarked, "Going into this series I thought that Michael Jordan had 2,000 moves. I was wrong. He has 3,000."

Too true.