Larry Schweikart
Veteran
In 1989-1990, the Detroit Pistons annually faced the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan as their usual finals opponent. After losing to him on several occasions, Coach Bill Daley came up with what he called the "Jordan Rules:" Jordan was to be hit, or placed in physical contact, every single time he touched the ball.
Daley figured with Bill Lambeer, Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, plus the tenacious Joe Dumars, he had plenty of fouls to give and should use every single one. The Bulls were known as less a "thug" team and more finesse. The Jordan Rules worked to perfection. With only Scottie Pippen to help with the slack, Jordan was physically beat up in each series. The following year, I think 1991-2, Jordan came back bigger and stronger, and demanded his teammates do the same. They weren't ever again affected by the Jordan Rules.
The San Antonio Spurs used the same behavior against the Nash-Stoudamire Suns, wearing down Nash and getting Soudamire/Diaw ejected in a key game thanks to an illegal hip check. Not surprisingly, the only time in our playoff history we beat the Spurs for a championship was with Charles Barkley, who himself knew a little about the "Jordan Rules." And it wasn't Jordan who beat us in the final game, but Steve Kerr, left wide open for a 3-point shot.
Daley figured with Bill Lambeer, Rick Mahorn, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, plus the tenacious Joe Dumars, he had plenty of fouls to give and should use every single one. The Bulls were known as less a "thug" team and more finesse. The Jordan Rules worked to perfection. With only Scottie Pippen to help with the slack, Jordan was physically beat up in each series. The following year, I think 1991-2, Jordan came back bigger and stronger, and demanded his teammates do the same. They weren't ever again affected by the Jordan Rules.
The San Antonio Spurs used the same behavior against the Nash-Stoudamire Suns, wearing down Nash and getting Soudamire/Diaw ejected in a key game thanks to an illegal hip check. Not surprisingly, the only time in our playoff history we beat the Spurs for a championship was with Charles Barkley, who himself knew a little about the "Jordan Rules." And it wasn't Jordan who beat us in the final game, but Steve Kerr, left wide open for a 3-point shot.