NBA legend Michael Jordan is considered the GOAT of basketball by many. Even when his team lost, Jordan always fought hard. However, that does not mean the Chicago Bulls legend did not struggle. Notably, MJ had a torrid time playing against the Detroit Pistons. The Bad Boys showed the world that Jordan was a human being after all and he could be contained. But the Pistons were not the fan favorites, and the fans made it clear once again now even after decades.

Jordan hit the ground running after entering the league. However, he was initially not able to lead his team to the NBA Finals for years. One of the biggest roadblocks for MJ was the Pistons.

Michael Jordan’s struggle against the Detroit Pistons?

Michael Jordan struggled to make buckets against the physical defense of the Detroit Pistons. The era was known for its hard-nosed basketball, where no easy layups or dunks were allowed in the playoffs. However, many still felt the Pistons were extremely physical, which earned them their nickname Bad Boys. The Pistons eliminated Jordan and the Bulls for three straight years in the playoffs.

The conference rivals made sure Jordan did not have any easy looks. He was mauled by multiple Pistons stars whenever he took off for a layup or a dunk. At the time, there was no defensive 3-second rule. This meant a big could wait in the paint for MJ to make a move and contest. And in some cases, punish him. Jordan once said that he was “tired of getting beat up” and started working hard.

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The five-time NBA MVP was more than capable of adjusting his shots mid-air and did just that many times. An image of one such finish recently resurfaced on social media. The picture showed Jordan mid-air while he was closely contested by James Edwards and Bill Laimbeer at the ring, with Isiah Thomas ready to pounce as well.

The Pistons’ defense helped them win two NBA championships. However, this came at the cost of fans disliking the team’s style of play. Also, Jordan finally overcame his rivals and won his first of six titles in 1991.

Fans full of praise for Michael Jordan

As the image of Michael Jordan making a tough layup while being sandwiched by Pistons stars went viral, fans went wild. They flooded the comment section and expressed their hatred towards the Pistons. One fan wrote, “I absolutely hated the Pistons, however they MJ even better in the end!” Here are some more reactions:

A lot of fans praised the 6x NBA champion while calling out the Bad Boys for their physical defense. Also, some fans commented about their dislike for Laimbeer.

What are your thoughts on the picture? Let us know in the comments.

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