Were Michael Jordan's stats in the 80's massively exaggerated by his scorekeepers?

[Mr. Friscus]

Michael Jordan won Defensive Player of the year many times. That award is given to not only observation, but by stats, such as blocks and steals.

Jordan made history in 87-88 by winning the MVP and the DPOY in the same season.

However, a recent article noticed some glaring suspect stat-keeping by Bulls stat-takers.

Let's look at Jordan's steals and blocks numbers
At home: 4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game
Away from home: 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

Jordan's Steals/blocks (STOCKS) number was 2x at home more than it was on the road. Combining the 2, it was 82% higher at home than on the road.

A closer look at Michael Jordan's 1988 DPOY award raises questions about its validity. Has LeBron James been chasing a ghost?

New research reveals Jordan's Defensive Player of the Year season likely included home-biased stats.

sports.yahoo.com

sealybobo .. I'm not denying the greatness of MJ, but it appears his home statistical keepers cooked the books for their cash cow.

 

[Polishprince]

Michael Jordan won Defensive Player of the year many times. That award is given to not only observation, but by stats, such as blocks and steals.

Jordan made history in 87-88 by winning the MVP and the DPOY in the same season.

However, a recent article noticed some glaring suspect stat-keeping by Bulls stat-takers.

Let's look at Jordan's steals and blocks numbers
At home: 4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game
Away from home: 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

Jordan's Steals/blocks (STOCKS) number was 2x at home more than it was on the road. Combining the 2, it was 82% higher at home than on the road.

A closer look at Michael Jordan's 1988 DPOY award raises questions about its validity. Has LeBron James been chasing a ghost?

New research reveals Jordan's Defensive Player of the Year season likely included home-biased stats.

sports.yahoo.com

sealybobo .. I'm not denying the greatness of MJ, but it appears his home statistical keepers cooked the books for their cash cow.

Sports promoters have "cooked the books" many times over the years to hype their big money drawers.

Nothing really that remarkable at all.

Bill Goldberg's streak of victories in WCW was considerably overstated. And a number of wrestlers (including Hogan himself) body slammed Andre the Giant before Hulk did it at Wrestlemania 3.

But it was part of the story they were selling, gin up interest in the star players career.

 

[leftwinger]

They used to call palming, carrying the ball, traveling, charging, high dribble, walking, steps etc. The game has changed, nothing like 1983-1999.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Bill Goldberg's streak of victories in WCW was considerably overstated. And a number of wrestlers (including Hogan himself) body slammed Andre the Giant before Hulk did it at Wrestlemania 3.

But it was part of the story they were selling, gin up interest in the star players career.

Dude, you can't compare a predetermined "sport" like pro wrestling to an actual sports statistician cooking the books for a player in the NBA.

 

[candycorn]

Were Michael Jordan's stats in the 80's massively exaggerated by his scorekeepers?​

no

 

[Polishprince]

Dude, you can't compare a predetermined "sport" like pro wrestling to an actual sports statistician cooking the books for a player in the NBA.

The fighting may be fake, but the checks are real in both enterprises. A wrestling promoter and a basketball promoter both have the same goal- make their events seem like a "must see" event.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

no

How do you explain the massive difference between home and road games.

I could get a minimal increase... but that's just insane.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

The fighting may be fake, but the checks are real in both enterprises. A wrestling promoter and a basketball promoter both have the same goal- make their events seem like a "must see" event.

You have no idea.

The goal of an NBA basketball player is to promote points, to win games. He does this by being skilled in speed, passing, shooting, rebounding, blocking, or just a knack for scoring.

The goal of a pro wrestler is to get over with the crowd no matter what. Goldberg's streak was fabricated but everyone knows it's not a "sport" as much as a presentation, much like a movie. You can't compare the 2. Please tell me you're joking.

 

[JoeB131]

Jordan was always a packaged product to promote the NBA because he was good-looking and articulate.

It's why the NBA gave him a pass on his gambling problem.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Dude, you can't compare a predetermined "sport" like pro wrestling to an actual sports statistician cooking the books for a player in the NBA.

he thinks pro wrestling is real.....

 

[lantern2814]

he thinks pro wrestling is real.....

The results may be pre determined but the athleticism is very real (granted there are exceptions to that). But on the topic, I'm sure there may have been times where the scorer couldn't decide who should get a steal, etc. and gave it to Jordan because he was in the vicinity. The rebounding numbers from games with Russell and Chamberlain (many of which have no video to actually check) have been questioned many times as well. Maybe it just falls under the stars getting preferential treatment thing.

 

[Couchpotato]

The results may be pre determined but the athleticism is very real (granted there are exceptions to that). But on the topic, I'm sure there may have been times where the scorer couldn't decide who should get a steal, etc. and gave it to Jordan because he was in the vicinity. The rebounding numbers from games with Russell and Chamberlain (many of which have no video to actually check) have been questioned many times as well. Maybe it just falls under the stars getting preferential treatment thing.

There are games where he had more steals than the other team had turn overs....... This wasn't a scoring error, it was intentional and done to get him his DPOY.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

There are games where he had more steals than the other team had turn overs....... This wasn't a scoring error, it was intentional and done to get him his DPOY.

This was before the true 24 hour news coverage of sports, and the internet.

Nobody is denying Jordan's all-time greatness... but it's embarrassing to have your stats elevated by your home scorer.. it's like your dad making you the starting pitcher on the little league team.

And also, if you look at the article... Jordan was pissed about not getting it the year before. The mythology of Jordan being a working man's man is one created only by Nike, ESPN, and the NBA. Jordan whined constantly, was a diva behind the scenes, etc.

He would have been Kevin Durant if he was a star these days. Probably burner accounts and all.

 

[lantern2814]

This was before the true 24 hour news coverage of sports, and the internet.

Nobody is denying Jordan's all-time greatness... but it's embarrassing to have your stats elevated by your home scorer.. it's like your dad making you the starting pitcher on the little league team.

And also, if you look at the article... Jordan was pissed about not getting it the year before. The mythology of Jordan being a working man's man is one created only by Nike, ESPN, and the NBA. Jordan whined constantly, was a diva behind the scenes, etc.

He would have been Kevin Durant if he was a star these days. Probably burner accounts and all.

With today's technology, one would think games could be reviewed to ensure statistical accuracy. Kind of surprising a department for that hasn't been put in place yet. Granted there's no perfect solution and there would still likely be questions but it would at least look legitimate.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

With today's technology, one would think games could be reviewed to ensure statistical accuracy. Kind of surprising a department for that hasn't been put in place yet. Granted there's no perfect solution and there would still likely be questions but it would at least look legitimate.

The early-mid 80's were still pre-modern sports era. Remember, Wilt scored 100 pts and there's no video of it, because random NBA games weren't that important back then.

One can say "ho-hum" until there's direct proof.. but to have such a MASSIVE discrepancy between home and road.. especially given MJ's quotes in the article... and his clearly supportive brass who wanted to exalt him... let's just not be dumb on purpose here.

 

[lantern2814]

The early-mid 80's were still pre-modern sports era. Remember, Wilt scored 100 pts and there's no video of it, because random NBA games weren't that important back then.

One can say "ho-hum" until there's direct proof.. but to have such a MASSIVE discrepancy between home and road.. especially given MJ's quotes in the article... and his clearly supportive brass who wanted to exalt him... let's just not be dumb on purpose here.

Certainly Jordan got preferential treatment and a lot of "home cooking". No question. Just saying a department to go over film of each game to ensure the stats are accurate would at least give an impression that things are on the up and up. Even if we know differently. Granted there's nothing to be done about games with no film. And likely no big star's stats would get changed even if past years film was reviewed.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Certainly Jordan got preferential treatment and a lot of "home cooking". No question. Just saying a department to go over film of each game to ensure the stats are accurate would at least give an impression that things are on the up and up. Even if we know differently. Granted there's nothing to be done about games with no film. And likely no big star's stats would get changed even if past years film was reviewed.

There comes a point where stats prove that there's "something a foot"

For Example... When the Astros scandal came to be, people looked back at the offensive production.. and when they had control of the situation, and could have a TV in their dugout to send whistles/banging on objects to tip off their batter of the incoming pitch... their offensive production was astronomically greater at home than on the road, unlike any team in history.

You can pretend it's just coincidence, or you can smell something funny. I guess it's up to you.

 

[beautress]

People can rattle on about stats, but the reality is that people from all walks loved the majesty of sportsmanship in Mr. Jordan's playing basketball.

Michael Jordan won Defensive Player of the year many times. That award is given to not only observation, but by stats, such as blocks and steals.

Jordan made history in 87-88 by winning the MVP and the DPOY in the same season.

However, a recent article noticed some glaring suspect stat-keeping by Bulls stat-takers.

Let's look at Jordan's steals and blocks numbers
At home: 4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game
Away from home: 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

Jordan's Steals/blocks (STOCKS) number was 2x at home more than it was on the road. Combining the 2, it was 82% higher at home than on the road.

A closer look at Michael Jordan's 1988 DPOY award raises questions about its validity. Has LeBron James been chasing a ghost?

New research reveals Jordan's Defensive Player of the Year season likely included home-biased stats.

sports.yahoo.com

sealybobo .. I'm not denying the greatness of MJ, but it appears his home statistical keepers cooked the books for their cash cow.

Maybe the statistics on Michael Jordan belong under the bus. Michael Jordan's fame and adoration were the poetry in motion of his plays that made people love everything about him. Nothing can make him less respected than his excellence in every game he played, imho. So what about stats so old the paper underneath the pencils and ink is dull and tattered. Michael Jordan's actions were fabulous and came from his good mind, heart, and mastery of the basketball court. People loved .Michael Jordan because everything he did made basketball a joy to watch this genius icon.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

People can rattle on about stats, but the reality is that people from all walks loved the majesty of sportsmanship in Mr. Jordan's playing basketball.

Maybe the statistics on Michael Jordan belong under the bus. Michael Jordan's fame and adoration were the poetry in motion of his plays that made people love everything about him. Nothing can make him less respected than his excellence in every game he played, imho. So what about stats so old the paper underneath the pencils and ink is dull and tattered. Michael Jordan's actions were fabulous and came from his good mind, heart, and mastery of the basketball court. People loved .Michael Jordan because everything he did made basketball a joy to watch this genius icon.

Are you Michael Jordan's mom?

 

[Pure Comedy Gold]

NBA has the biggest home court advantage of the four major sports. I would guess that has something to do with it. Wasn’t Jordan also a great defensive rebounder? He was for a guard, and probably overall. That has to count for best defensive player.

And, if you are stealing the ball a decent amount, you are also tipping the ball away. Even if the offense recovers, you have still disrupted them. Even at that, what difference does it make? He made the plays.