It is important to read what I type here…. so I’ve been asked questions like this: “Bruce, I know defenses were more physical and harder to beat when Jordan played, but why do I see him getting so many good looks with his jumper?” Well folks, I must say, that’s a great question to ask, instead of just making blanket assumptions. First and foremost, thank you to hoopsencyclopedia for the footage I’m using early on in this series, but let me answer that question for everyone…. Michael Jordan had 3 different types of jump shots he liked to use, his ball in hand jumper (basically any jumper he took by creating a look off the dribble), his transition jumper (basically any jumper in transition before the defense could load up on him), and his catch & shoot jumper (you see guys like Ray Allen and Kevin Durant use that today.) With the ball in hand jumper, Michael Jordan was able to use rocker steps, jab steps, step backs, pivots, pump fakes, quick lateral moves, screens, and much more to shake his defenders in order to get a good look. Defenders were afraid of Jordan’s drive to the basket, so all it took was selling body language to appear as though MJ was gonna head to the basket and that alone created separation and put defenders on their heels. Also Michael Jordan’s pull up jumper off the dribble was so hard to defend, because he would head to the basket at full speed, stop on a dime, and pull up for a jumper. So many times with Michael Jordan’s pull up jumper you would …

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