Michael Jordan's Universe - Online Youtube Streaming Collection

The 1989 season began for the Bulls with a trade that was controversial at the time, yet proved to be inspired in the years to come: Charles Oakley was sent to the New York Knicks for their backup center Bill Cartwright. Michael Jordan didn't like the trade at first, as Oakley was his best friend on the Bulls team, and he also proved to be very productive at the power forward spot. The forward position had already been crowded in the previous year by the addition of Pippen and Grant, but the Bulls lacked a strong center that could provide consistent scoring and defense against the league's big men. The move didn't pay the best dividends that year, as the departure of Oakley could not be filled by the young and developing Grant and Pippen, and that showed in the regular season record for the Bulls: 47-35, 3 wins less than in the previous season.
	For Michael Jordan, 1989 might have been his best statistical season overall. Coach Doug Collins used him at the point guard position extensively throughout the year, a move which enabled him to increase his assists dramatically, from 5.5 in the previous season to 8.0. He also helped fill the rebounding department, increasing his rebounds to 8, the number one against guards. His scoring dropped slightly to 32.5 ppg, but his field goal percentage of 53.8 was as strong as ever. His point’s average were still miles ahead of the opposition, which enabled him to win his 3rd consecutive scoring title. Michael Jordan's role as a point guard wasn't evident as first, as he opened the season on a tare, having 3 52-point games in November alone, adding 2 other 50+ point games along the way. Towards the end of the season he would achieve triple double after triple double, proving that he could control the game both as a scorer and as a facilitator.
The regular season didn't end very positively for the Bulls. They had a 6 game losing streak and lost 8 of the last 10 games, and more important they were losses to Pistons (twice), Atlanta and Cleveland (twice), teams which they would likely meet days later in the playoffs. As expected, they opened the postseason against the same team they eliminated the previous year: the Cavaliers. Cleveland was very confident, eager for revenge, had the home court advantage, and had beaten the Bulls in all their 6 regular season games that season. But all that meant nothing, as in game 1 in Cleveland, the Bulls won behind Jordan's 31points and 11 assists. The Cavs would bounce back and win game 2, while holding Jordan to just 30 points. He would score 44 and 50 in the next two games, which the 2 teams also split, setting the scene for a memorable and decisive game 5 in Cleveland. With the Bulls trailing by 1 with 6 seconds to go, Michael would score on a rainbow shot over Larry Nance. The Cavs would bounce back and score quickly on a penetration by Greg Ehlo, which had an excellent 4th quarter until then. With 3 seconds to go and down one, Michael would score one of the most legendary buzzer beaters in NBA history, a lean-in jumper over Ehlo, a Shot whose ghost has haunted the Cleveland fans for years to come, and also propelled the Bulls confidence that they would overcome adversity and win in pressure situations. But More than anything, it established Michael Jordan as the deadly clutch player and belong a series of long game winners that would make Jordan the most feared closer in the history of the game. With the Cavs behind them, the Bulls would go on and face the New York Knicks in round 2. Full of confidence, they won game 1 at Madison Square Garden behind Jordan's triple double (34 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists). The Knicks would easily bounce back and win game 2, with Jordan scoring only 15 points, but he would come back with a vengeance in the next 2 wins in Chicago, scoring 40 and 47 points. The Knicks would win one final game at home, despite Jordan's 38 points 8 rebounds and 10 assist. Back at home, the Bulls would close out the series behind Jordan's 40 point night, which meant they would exceed the previous year's performance by getting to the Easter Conference Finals. Back in the East Finals they would meet a familiar foe, the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were in top shape, having acquired Mark Aguirre for Adrian Dantely in a mid-season trade, and they were making a push for the NBA title which slipped through their fingers in the year passed. As in the previous season, the Bulls won the opener in Detroit behind Jordan's 32 points, but as the series progressed, the tenacious defense of the Pistons and their physical play took their toll on the Bulls. After losing game 2 and winning game 3 in Chicago thanks to Jordan's 46 points, they would lose the final 3 games of the series. The "Jordan Rules" were by then in full effect, with Michael held to just 23, 18 and 32 points respectively. As the Pistons would sweep the Lakers for their first NBA title, the series with Chicago proved for the Bulls that they needed to mature as a team in order to stand a chance of advancing to the NBA's final act. The 1989 season was memorable for the Bulls in the way that it ended. With all the disappointments of the regular season, they managed to stick together through adversity and challenge for the top spot in the East. Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, John Paxson, Bill Cartwright and Craig Hodges, along with Jordan, became the core of what was to become one of the NBA's great dynasties in the years to come.