You’ll know it when you see it.
Byron.Oh, Bryon. Meh.
Byron RussellSee what?
Byron.
Tangentially, Shandon Anderson was the guy who always sort of disappointed me from those teams. I say disappointed because I saw some solid natural ability in him and it felt like once or twice a game, he'd miss a layup or do something dumb which just gnawed at me.
I actually liked Anderson quite a bit. After rewatching a bunch of those 97 and 98 finals (nothing else to do during quarantine), I think Anderson did the best job guarding MJ. He was athletic and tenacious. Why we consistently let Hornacek and Russell guard him was beyond me. They got absolutely cooked. It was also apparent how often Russ tried to gamble and got burnt, resulting in easy bulls baskets. There were so many chances the jazz had to win either of those series it's truly depressing.
Also, I think Sloan should've tinkered with those lineups more. You had Russell getting cooked by MJ while 6'4 Hornacek was guarding Scottie Pippen in the post (lol). He should've sent whoever was guarding Rodman to double every single possession.... Hindsight is 20/20 I guess
Tangentially, Shandon Anderson was the guy who always sort of disappointed me from those teams. I say disappointed because I saw some solid natural ability in him and it felt like once or twice a game, he'd miss a layup or do something dumb which just gnawed at me.
Sloan's coaching rigidity had every bit as much as anything else to do with why we lost those. Stubbornly refuse to take time outs untill the lead was gone. Refuse to deviate in the least from the plan, like he always expected them to guard their man, and completely missed opportunities like doubling off rodman. So many reasons why we lost those finals.I actually liked Anderson quite a bit. After rewatching a bunch of those 97 and 98 finals (nothing else to do during quarantine), I think Anderson did the best job guarding MJ. He was athletic and tenacious. Why we consistently let Hornacek and Russell guard him was beyond me. They got absolutely cooked. It was also apparent how often Russ tried to gamble and got burnt, resulting in easy bulls baskets. There were so many chances the jazz had to win either of those series it's truly depressing.
Also, I think Sloan should've tinkered with those lineups more. You had Russell getting cooked by MJ while 6'4 Hornacek was guarding Scottie Pippen in the post (lol). He should've sent whoever was guarding Rodman to double every single possession.... Hindsight is 20/20 I guess
On MJ's steal if that had been a decent player making that play a foul is called. But it was MJ and he was special. There was enough contact on that play that MJ would have been ejected and called for fifteen yards if it were today's NFL. Horrible officiating.And Antoine Carr protecting the rim (in the last sequence) of Game 6.
It comes down to Malone just can't turn the ball over there. You are up 1 and don't milk the clock or get a shot up. MJ did what Russell did... he gambled... if Karl was more aware that should result in a layup or open jumper.
Also, the whole story changes if Stockton's miss somehow just rattles in... it was right there. MJ was amazing... he's the GOAT... his legend has some luck to it doe.