NOSEBLEED SPORTS MEDIA
MJ Mondays
NO DEBATE. JUST RECEIPTS.
VOL. 1, NO. 14 · JUNE 1, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
43.7 PPG IN THE 1986 PLAYOFFS — INJURED, LIMITED TO 7-MINUTE STINTS, AGAINST THE GREATEST CELTICS TEAM
EVER ASSEMBLED.
Playoff Points Per Game Record — Single Series
MICHAEL JORDAN ELGIN BAYLOR JERRY WEST
In the 1986 playoffs, Michael Jordan averaged 43.7 points per game against the Boston Celtics — the
greatest team Bird ever played on. He was playing on a badly injured foot, returning from 64 games
missed, limited by team management to 7 minutes per half. He ignored the limit. Game 2 was the 63-point
game that Bird called 'God disguised.' The series PPG average of 43.7 is one of the highest in NBA playoff
history — scored by a man who had barely played that season, wearing a foot brace, in his second year.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics 1986-04-20
6 6 22/41 L
POINTS REBOUNDS ASSISTS FG RESULT
God Disguised.
63 POINTS. THE PLAYOFFS. THE GARDEN. BIRD COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
April 20, 1986. Jordan was 22 years old, returning from a broken foot that had cost him 64 regular season
games. Bulls ownership wanted him to sit out the playoffs entirely. Jordan refused. They compromised on 7
minutes per half. Jordan played 53 minutes in Game 2 of the first round at Boston Garden — the most
intimidating building in basketball — against a Celtics team in the middle of a dynasty. He scored 63 points.
In double overtime. Against Bird, McHale, Parish, Dennis Johnson, and Danny Ainge at peak. The Celtics won
the series in a sweep. Jordan's 63-point game is the highest-scoring playoff performance in NBA history.
MJ VS TODAY 03
1986 Celtics vs Greatest Teams Ever
1985-86 CELTICS JORDAN'S DAMAGE AGAINST THEM
RECORD G1
67-15 49 pts
CORE VS G2
Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ 63 pts
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES PPG
Yes 43.7
The 1985-86 Celtics are widely considered one of the five greatest teams in NBA history. Their defensive
versatility, veteran depth, and Bird-era cohesion made them nearly unbeatable in Boston. Jordan averaged
43.7 points per game against that team, in his second year, on a broken foot. Nobody has scored more in a
playoff game since.
Were the '86 Celtics the greatest team Jordan ever faced?
YES — BEST TEAM HE EVER PLAYED '88 PISTONS WERE HARDER '97 UTAH JAZZ WERE MOST COMPLETE
'93 SUNS GAVE HIM THE HARDEST SERIES
THE COLDEST MJ MOMENT 04
THE QUOTE THAT SETTLED EVERY ARGUMENT
Larry Bird Called Him God Disguised.
After Jordan's 63-point performance in Game 2, Larry Bird — whose competitive fire and
refusal to compliment opponents was legendary — sat in the Celtics locker room and said:
'That was just God disguised as Michael Jordan. I've never seen anyone play like that.'
Bird was not prone to hyperbole. He did not give compliments easily. He called Jordan
God in disguise after watching him play. That quote, from that man, carries more weight
than any statistic.
I've never seen anyone play like that. I've played against some of the all-time
greats, but that was something else.
— LARRY BIRD, APRIL 20, 1986
THE MJ STAT VAULT 05
PLAYOFF POINTS — APRIL 20, 1986 VS
PPG — 1986 PLAYOFF SERIES VS BOSTON
BOSTON
63 43.7 Three-game series. He was limited by
NBA record for most points in a single
team management to 7 minutes per half.
playoff game. Still stands. Against the
He played 53 minutes anyway.
greatest Celtics team Bird played on.
JORDAN'S AGE DURING THE 63-POINT PLAYERS TO SCORE MORE IN A SINGLE
GAME PLAYOFF GAME SINCE 1986
Second year in the league. Coming back Jordan's 63 remains the playoff record
from a broken foot. In Boston Garden. almost 40 years later. Nobody has come
Against the defending champions. within 8 points.
CELTICS WIN THE SERIES
Boston swept the Bulls. Jordan's 43.7 PPG wasn't enough with no supporting cast. The championship-level
Bulls team was still years away.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Karl Malone
UTAH JAZZ · 1985–2004
36,928 CAREER POINTS — 2ND ALL-TIME (BEHIND KAREEM, BEFORE LEBRON PASSED HIM)
2x MVP. No Rings. Both Finals Lost To Jordan.
Karl Malone was the second-best power forward who ever played — two-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, 36,928
career points. He lost the 1997 Finals when Jordan hit the Flu Game three. He lost the 1998 Finals when
Jordan stole the ball from him and hit The Last Shot. Both times, Jordan took it from him personally. Malone
went to the Lakers at 40 trying to win a ring and failed. He never got one. The Mailman always delivered.
Except twice against Jordan.
The Jordan Connection: The Last Shot is remembered as Jordan's greatest moment. The play before it —
Jordan stripping the ball from Malone's hands with 18.9 seconds left — is the cruelest moment of Malone's
career. Jordan saw him settling, came from behind, and took it.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
MJ MONDAYS The Jordan Era · 1984–2003
Every Monday. No exceptions.