The Kings' first-round opponent was the aging Jazz.
Despite the Jazz's duo refusing to age gracefully and wanting to go head-to-head with the young Kings.
But time is something you can't defy just because you want to.
If they were in the Eastern Conference, the old Jazz, with their core of Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Russell, plus Andrei Kirilenko who just entered the league this year, might have been able to hold on in the playoffs for a few more years. However, in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, this Jazz lineup was clearly at the end of its road.
The Jazz first lost two games straight to the Kings. In Game 3, with tenacious defense, the Jazz managed to win one game back. But in Game 4, Peja Stojaković went off, and the Kings swept the Jazz away in one go.
The once intimidating home court in Salt Lake City was no longer as invincible as it used to be.
3:1, the Kings cleanly eliminated the Jazz.
In comparison, the Eastern Conference games were much more hard-fought.
The leading Nets were indeed facing a strong challenge from the Wizards, led by Jordan.
Jordan, utilizing his vast playoff experience, scored 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists in the first game!
Fans weren't surprised that Jordan scored 30 points; what was surprising was that under Jordan's leadership, Brad Miller scored 18 points and 10 rebounds, Richard Hamilton scored 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, Tyronn Lue scored 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, and even the reserve Hu Weidong scored 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists!
A train runs fast because the engine leads the way!
Inspired by Jordan's leading by example, the Wizards played their most united and brilliant game of the season!
99:93, the Wizards defeated the Eastern Conference's top seed, the Nets, in the first game of the playoffs!
After the game, Jordan, beaming, told the media, "I told you so, I can still play! My team and I are full of desire for victory. In my career of over a decade, I've witnessed too many miracles, why can't I witness another upset? (Black 8)"
Old Jordan was openly issuing a declaration to the Nets: "We're coming for the upset, are you ready?"
Scott, who lost the first home game, attended the post-game press conference with a grim face. Facing media inquiries, Scott shifted all the blame onto the players: "We had some issues with our tactical execution today! I tried to adjust, but couldn't. We won't make the same mistakes in the next game! We are the Eastern Conference regular season champions, we have the strength to win the upcoming games, and I hope the fans will continue to have faith in us…"
In the next two games, whether it was Scott's own coaching or advice from his think tank, they implemented the "Jordan Rule" against the Wizards!
By locking down the other key players of the Wizards, they focused solely on Jordan!
Kidd guarded Tyronn Lue, Kerry Kittles guarded Richard Hamilton, Kenyon Martin guarded Brad Miller, and Richard Jefferson guarded Hu Weidong…
Once the Wizards' several scoring threats were individually contained, they left an opening for Jordan to go one-on-one!
As a result, in the next two games, Old Jordan was exhausted, scoring 36 points in one and 38 in the other. However, the Wizards could no longer defeat the Nets as they did in the first game!
The "Jordan Rule" worked for Jordan when he was younger, let alone when he was older.
After all, in terms of roster composition, the Nets were indeed more balanced and stronger than the Wizards.
2:1, the Nets regained the initiative.
He Xi Meng, watching on TV, couldn't stand it anymore. The Spurs had already swept the SuperSonics 3:0, so He Xi Meng had more time and energy to pay attention to the progress of other teams.
He Xi Meng called Jordan and suggested that if he still wanted to win, he should break out of the "Jordan Rule" trap by using himself as bait to pass to his teammates!
Life and death, success and failure, it all hinges on this!
After a night of deep thought, Jordan accepted He Xi Meng's advice in Game 4, transforming into a point guard and initiating the Wizards' all-out offensive strategy!
In this game, as many as six Wizards players scored in double figures. Hamilton had a team-high 18 points, Brad Miller had 14 points, Hu Weidong had 14 points, Brendan Haywood had 13 points, and Tyronn Lue had 11 points!
Jordan himself scored 18 points while also dishing out 11 assists!
This was Jordan's highest assist game of the season. The Wizards, with a thrilling display of team offensive basketball, defeated the Nets, one of the teams best at team basketball this season!
This series was thus dragged into a decisive Game 7!
How to play Game 7 was another significant test for Jordan.
Should he continue to use the all-out offensive strategy from Game 4, or revert to his Game 1 approach of charging forward himself to save the team?
Logically, there was no room for hesitation; they should definitely continue the victorious mode of Game 4!
However, the Game 4 strategy had only succeeded once, and the Nets would surely counter. Jordan's ability to draw defensive attention in the next game would inevitably be significantly weakened compared to Game 4…
At the same time, deep down, Jordan still harbored the desire to create an upset victory by leading the Wizards as a "lone hero saving the world."
Although logic kept reminding him that the star player mode was difficult to play, and the losses in Games 2 and 3 were the best evidence, he was past the age of carrying the entire team himself…
Game 5 began. The Wizards indeed continued the strategy from Game 4, but after a slow start, Jordan began to gradually take over the game, wanting to stage a dramatic comeback!
As a result, the big comeback Jordan envisioned did not happen; instead, a big win for the New Jersey fans occurred!
The Nets seized the momentum and, with a dominant performance, won Game 5, successfully avoiding the embarrassment of being upset.
Jordan had been energized for several games, but ultimately, he could not overcome the erosion of time and lost, as expected.
Although Jordan still refused to accept defeat, believing that his Wizards team was only 0.01 millimeters away from advancing, in reality, without He Xi Meng's help, Jordan would not even have had the chance to make the playoffs this comeback, let alone aim for a miraculous upset…