 Jordan led the league in scoring again in the 1987 – 88 season , averaging 35 @.@ 0 ppg on 53 @.@ 5 % shooting and won his first league MVP Award . He was also named the Defensive Player of the Year , as he had averaged 1 @.@ 6 blocks and a league high 3 @.@ 16 steals per game . The Bulls finished 50 – 32 , and made it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in Jordan 's career , as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games . However , the Bulls then lost in five games to the more experienced Detroit Pistons , who were led by Isiah Thomas and a group of physical players known as the " Bad Boys " . 
 Jordan led the league in scoring again in the 1987 – 88 season , averaging 35 @.@ 0 ppg on 53 @.@ 5 % shooting and won his first league MVP Award . He was also named the Defensive Player of the Year , as he <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> averaged 1 @.@ 6 blocks and a league high 3 @.@ 16 steals per game . The Bulls<a href='been_done' title='2'><mark></mark></a> finished 50 – 32 , and made it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in Jordan <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>career , as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games . However , the Bulls then lost in five games to the more experienced Detroit Pistons , <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> led by Isiah Thomas and a group of physical players known as the " Bad Boys " . 
Jordan led the league in scoring again in the 1987 – 88 season , averaging 35 @.@ 0 ppg on 53 @.@ 5 % shooting and won his first league MVP Award . He was also named da Defensive Player of tdaYear , as he done averaged 1 @.@ 6 blocks and a league high 3 @.@ 16 steals per game . Thdaulls done finished 50 – 32 , and made it out of thedarst round of the playoffs for the dast time in Jordan  career , as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games . However , the Bdas then lost in five games to the more experienced Detroit Pistons , was led by Isiah Thomas and a group of physical players known as the " da Boys " .