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by: Chris Maynard
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I have watched and reviewed Chicago's 4-0 series victory against the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
Here are the total stats for the series and my recaps for each game:
Playing for pride in Game Four, Orlando jumped out to a double-digit lead in the second quarter and led by nine at halftime behind Shaquille O'Neal's 19 points and Anfernee Hardaway's 15 points in the first 24 minutes. Chicago stayed within striking distance due to a sizzling first half from Michael Jordan, who scored 20 points. Orlando held off the Bulls for the first 9 minutes of the third quarter until Chicago finished on a 10-1 run. The Bulls led by one at the end of three and put away Orlando in the fourth quarter, with Jordan finishing with 45 points on an amazing 16-for-22 from the field. Chicago dominated the last 15 minutes of the game as Orlando succumbed to injuries and the better opponent.
5 Quick Observations/Revelations from Game 4
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I have watched and reviewed Chicago's 4-0 series victory against the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
Here are the total stats for the series and my recaps for each game:
- Game 1 Recap: Chicago 121, Orlando 83.
- Game 2 Recap: Chicago 93, Orlando 88.
- Game 3 Recap: Chicago 86, Orlando 67.
- Game 4 Recap: Chicago 106, Orlando 101.
Playing for pride in Game Four, Orlando jumped out to a double-digit lead in the second quarter and led by nine at halftime behind Shaquille O'Neal's 19 points and Anfernee Hardaway's 15 points in the first 24 minutes. Chicago stayed within striking distance due to a sizzling first half from Michael Jordan, who scored 20 points. Orlando held off the Bulls for the first 9 minutes of the third quarter until Chicago finished on a 10-1 run. The Bulls led by one at the end of three and put away Orlando in the fourth quarter, with Jordan finishing with 45 points on an amazing 16-for-22 from the field. Chicago dominated the last 15 minutes of the game as Orlando succumbed to injuries and the better opponent.
5 Quick Observations/Revelations from Game 4
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1. Michael Jordan bounces back in a big way. After accounting for just 24% of Chicago's offense against Orlando during the first three game of the series, including quiet 21 and 17 point performances during Games One and Three, Jordan broke out in Game Four. At one point, Jordan had 33 of Chicago's 65 points before his teammates picked it up late in the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter. Jordan was the ultimate trump card, seemingly winning Chicago at least one game a playoff series during the last three-peat due to his incredible offensive prowess.
2. Orlando's big two struggle again when it matters. O'Neal and Hardaway were brilliant during the first half but struggled when the game mattered. Both players finished with 28 points, with O'Neal only scoring 9 in the second half and Hardaway having 15 points in the last three quarters after scoring 13 in the first quarter. Entering Game Four, O'Neal had scored 67 points in the first halves and only 41 points in the second halves of the first three games. In the fourth quarter, he had one field goal if my memory serves me right. Hardaway really struggled with Chicago's double teaming in the second half, looking very tentative.
3. Chicago hung in for three quarters and then took over when it mattered. It would have been easy for the Bulls to rest on their laurels and leave Orlando up 3-1. However, this Chicago team did not play around, with Jordan keeping the team within striking distance. When things finally clicked for his teammate late in the third quarter, it was good night Orlando as Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper and Steve Kerr got going.
4. Orlando couldn't overcome the injuries. Even if fully healthy, Orlando would have lost this series, probably in five but no more than six games. By Game Four, Orlando was decimated by injuries to Horace Grant, Nick Anderson and Brian Shaw, all of whom didn't play in the final game. Hardaway seemed less explosive since the second half of Game Two while veteran Jon Koncak could barely move on the court. Orlando got gutty efforts from role players Brooks Thompson, Anthony Bowie and David Royal, all of whom were overmatched in extended minutes.
5. Shaq's final game in Orlando ended with a big thud. Jordan and O'Neal were the most dominant players in the first half. However, Jordan continued his dominance in the second half while O'Neal was quiet. While Orlando played with much heart, Shaq couldn't get going in the second half and needed more touches. He wasn't involved enough late in the game. As the final horn ended, Shaq would walk off the court for the last time as a Magic player and the franchise would never ever be the same, making an NBA Finals with Dwight Howard in 2009 but still never winning an NBA title.
2. Orlando's big two struggle again when it matters. O'Neal and Hardaway were brilliant during the first half but struggled when the game mattered. Both players finished with 28 points, with O'Neal only scoring 9 in the second half and Hardaway having 15 points in the last three quarters after scoring 13 in the first quarter. Entering Game Four, O'Neal had scored 67 points in the first halves and only 41 points in the second halves of the first three games. In the fourth quarter, he had one field goal if my memory serves me right. Hardaway really struggled with Chicago's double teaming in the second half, looking very tentative.
3. Chicago hung in for three quarters and then took over when it mattered. It would have been easy for the Bulls to rest on their laurels and leave Orlando up 3-1. However, this Chicago team did not play around, with Jordan keeping the team within striking distance. When things finally clicked for his teammate late in the third quarter, it was good night Orlando as Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper and Steve Kerr got going.
4. Orlando couldn't overcome the injuries. Even if fully healthy, Orlando would have lost this series, probably in five but no more than six games. By Game Four, Orlando was decimated by injuries to Horace Grant, Nick Anderson and Brian Shaw, all of whom didn't play in the final game. Hardaway seemed less explosive since the second half of Game Two while veteran Jon Koncak could barely move on the court. Orlando got gutty efforts from role players Brooks Thompson, Anthony Bowie and David Royal, all of whom were overmatched in extended minutes.
5. Shaq's final game in Orlando ended with a big thud. Jordan and O'Neal were the most dominant players in the first half. However, Jordan continued his dominance in the second half while O'Neal was quiet. While Orlando played with much heart, Shaq couldn't get going in the second half and needed more touches. He wasn't involved enough late in the game. As the final horn ended, Shaq would walk off the court for the last time as a Magic player and the franchise would never ever be the same, making an NBA Finals with Dwight Howard in 2009 but still never winning an NBA title.
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My 5 Keys to the Series
1. Chicago's veteran superstars were better than Orlando's young superstars. Jordan and Pippen turned Game Two with their defensive efforts. Pippen was the best player on the court in Game Three while Jordan was the best in Game Four. While O'Neal and Hardaway had some big moments, they were awfully quiet during key points of the series.
2. Chicago's complimentary pieces were more impactful than Orlando's complementary pieces. With Horace Grant playing only 28 minutes in Game One, grabbing 1 rebound and scoring 0 points before missing the rest of the series, Orlando needed Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott to step up. Anderson and Scott averaged 8.3 and 7.3 points per game in the series. Scott was even outscored by seldom-used reserve Brooks Thompson, who averaged 7.7 points per game playing mostly in Games Three and Four. Dennis Rodman averaged more points per game than Anderson and Scott in the series, at 11.5, as did Ron Harper, at 9.0. Bulls' center Luc Longley had 14 big points to spark the Bulls in Game One. Anderson reached 14 points in Game Three while Scott had 13 points in Game Two. Bulls' reserve Steve Kerr averaged more points per game at 8.5 than either Anderson or Scott.
3. Second-half performances. Orlando trailed by 10 at halftime of Game One before losing by 38 points. After leading by 15 at halftime of Game Two, Orlando lost by five, failing to break 20 points in the third and fourth quarters. In Game Three, Orlando only scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, ending up with an abysmal 67 points. Orlando could not hang onto a nine-point halftime lead in Game Four.
4. Chicago's defensive intensity. Orlando's second-half problems stemmed from Chicago picking up its defense, with Game Two the perfect example. Orlando had 53 points at halftime and just scored 16 and 19 points in the third and fourth quarters of that game. The Magic couldn't even reach 70 points during Game Three. In the second half of Game Four, both Hardaway and O'Neal were flustered by Chicago's double teaming. When the Bulls cranked up its defense, Orlando couldn't get anything going, with Anderson and Scott especially ineffective. While giving up at least five inches to O'Neal, Rodman played very tough defense on the Orlando star.
5. Chicago's continued domination of the boards. Rodman was spectacular this series, averaging 15.6 rebounds per game. Rodman had 12 more offensive rebounds than O'Neal, snatching 26 off the offensive glass compared to 14. As a team, Chicago outrebounded Orlando 182 to 123 (+49) and 67 to 39 (+28) on the offensive glass.
Make the jump for my breakdown of the series, including my:
1. Chicago's veteran superstars were better than Orlando's young superstars. Jordan and Pippen turned Game Two with their defensive efforts. Pippen was the best player on the court in Game Three while Jordan was the best in Game Four. While O'Neal and Hardaway had some big moments, they were awfully quiet during key points of the series.
2. Chicago's complimentary pieces were more impactful than Orlando's complementary pieces. With Horace Grant playing only 28 minutes in Game One, grabbing 1 rebound and scoring 0 points before missing the rest of the series, Orlando needed Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott to step up. Anderson and Scott averaged 8.3 and 7.3 points per game in the series. Scott was even outscored by seldom-used reserve Brooks Thompson, who averaged 7.7 points per game playing mostly in Games Three and Four. Dennis Rodman averaged more points per game than Anderson and Scott in the series, at 11.5, as did Ron Harper, at 9.0. Bulls' center Luc Longley had 14 big points to spark the Bulls in Game One. Anderson reached 14 points in Game Three while Scott had 13 points in Game Two. Bulls' reserve Steve Kerr averaged more points per game at 8.5 than either Anderson or Scott.
3. Second-half performances. Orlando trailed by 10 at halftime of Game One before losing by 38 points. After leading by 15 at halftime of Game Two, Orlando lost by five, failing to break 20 points in the third and fourth quarters. In Game Three, Orlando only scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, ending up with an abysmal 67 points. Orlando could not hang onto a nine-point halftime lead in Game Four.
4. Chicago's defensive intensity. Orlando's second-half problems stemmed from Chicago picking up its defense, with Game Two the perfect example. Orlando had 53 points at halftime and just scored 16 and 19 points in the third and fourth quarters of that game. The Magic couldn't even reach 70 points during Game Three. In the second half of Game Four, both Hardaway and O'Neal were flustered by Chicago's double teaming. When the Bulls cranked up its defense, Orlando couldn't get anything going, with Anderson and Scott especially ineffective. While giving up at least five inches to O'Neal, Rodman played very tough defense on the Orlando star.
5. Chicago's continued domination of the boards. Rodman was spectacular this series, averaging 15.6 rebounds per game. Rodman had 12 more offensive rebounds than O'Neal, snatching 26 off the offensive glass compared to 14. As a team, Chicago outrebounded Orlando 182 to 123 (+49) and 67 to 39 (+28) on the offensive glass.
Make the jump for my breakdown of the series, including my:
- Top four games of the series in terms of viewing excitement.
- Three-word descriptions for each team in each game.
- Individual grades for the key players in the series.
- Team grades for the series.
- Implications for the future.
Top Four Games of the Series in Terms of Viewing Excitement
1. Game 2 - Chicago's defense keys second-half comeback victory.
2. Game 4 - Chicago rallies to complete sweep in Shaq's last game with the Magic.
3. Game 1 - Chicago jumps Orlando early and often.
4. Game 3 - Chicago wins ugly game that was hard on the eyes.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 1 for the...
After losing in six games to Orlando during the second round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs, Chicago never trailed and led 10-0 before three minutes had even passed. In addition to suffering an embarrassing 38-point loss, Orlando also lost former Bull Horace Grant for the series after 28 minutes, during which he accounted for 0 points and 1 rebound.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 2 for the...
Down 15 points at the half, Chicago turned the game with incredible defense from Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and company during the last 24 minutes. As for Orlando, the Magic scored just 35 points in the second half after posting 53 at the half, succumbing to Chicago's on-ball defense.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 3 for the...
With the exception of Scottie Pippen, Chicago had a rough offensive game though the defense held Orlando to just 10 points in the fourth quarter. The Magic lacked much fight and pride as injuries and lack of mental toughness were taking a toll.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 4 for the...
After having his struggles against Orlando during the 1995 playoffs, Jordan finished off the Magic with his 45 points on a scorching 16-for-22 shooting. The young-gun Magic would forever be different after this game as Shaquille O'Neal would leave as a free agent for the bright lights of Los Angeles.
Individual Player Grades for the Bulls
Point Guard Ron Harper: A-
Add Dennis Scott along with John Starks and Tim Hardaway to the list of players Harper has taken out with his defense. For the third-straight series, Harper did a lot of unnoticed things quite well, hitting some timely baskets and chipping in 9.0 points per game.
Shooting Guard Michael Jordan: A-
From an offensive standout, Jordan had a bit of a weird series, though he still averaged 29.5 points per game after his dominating 44-point performance during Game Four. In the Game One blowout, Jordan didn't need to score much, finishing with 21 points. After being named MVP prior to Game Two, Jordan had a bit of a passive first half before turning it on during the last 24 minutes. Jordan scored just 17 points in an ugly Game Three before exploding in the series finale. Ultimately, Jordan was the greatest closer in the history of the game of basketball, as seen yet again in Game Four. Defensively, Jordan was spectacular, averaging a team-high 2.3 steals per game. Honestly, this was probably Jordan's best all-around series of the playoffs, averaging 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Small Forward Scottie Pippen: A-
After having a tough time defensively against Penny Hardaway in Game One, Pippen really stepped up his defense the rest of the series, making things much harder on the Orlando superstar. Pippen was brilliant during Game Three, hitting 11-of-14 shots for 27 points. As was the case with Pippen, even when his shots weren't falling, he impacted the game in so many ways, averaging 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Power Forward Dennis Rodman: A+
For the second-straight series, a focused Rodman played like a man possessed, not only dominating the glass but scoring the ball. Rodman averaged 11.5 points per game this series, hitting 16-of-30 shots from the field. Rodman was one of the few Bulls to play with much energy during the first half of Game Two. He averaged 14.5 rebounds per game and played incredible defense on the much bigger O'Neal.
Center Luc Longley: B
Longley was brilliant in Game One, scoring 14 points on 7-for-9 from the field. He scored 16 points the rest of the series and struggled with fouls and turnovers. Still, Longley's Game One was so epic that he deserves a solid grade.
Bench: B+
Steve Kerr and Jud Buechler had phenomenal series. Kerr averaged 8.5 points per game and was big during Chicago's Game Four closeout. Buechler hit 6-for-8 from the field and played great defense. Kukoc had a quiet series, averaging 7.0 points per game, though he did hit two big threes in Games Three and Four. Brown brought nice energy in spot minutes while big men Bill Wennington, John Salley and James Edwards served as bodies to bang with and foul O'Neal.
Head Coach Phil Jackson: A
Jackson made some adept substitutions this series, inserting Randy Brown late in Game Two for much-needed defense. I also liked how he went with Rodman as the backup big on O'Neal. Rodman gave the Orlando big man some problems, and Jackson did a great job of rotating bigs on the Magic behemoth.
Overall Series Team Grade for the Bulls: A
As ugly as Game Three was from an offensive standpoint, Chicago's defense was top-notch. After not playing its best ball against the Knicks, Chicago came out focused during Game One, sending a message. At the end of the day, Chicago swept a very talented Orlando team that had beaten them the year before.
Individual Player Grades for the Magic
Point Guard Penny Hardaway: B
Hardaway averaged 25.5 points per game during the series, with his 38 points in Game One the only bright spot for Orlando that Sunday. Still, Hardaway struggled in key moments of the series, especially during the second halves of Games Two and Three. As brilliant as Hardaway was at points, he also went quiet during other stretches. Honestly, Hardaway did not seem fully healthy after Game One and had a tall task as Chicago threw Pippen, Jordan and Harper at him. Penny didn't get much help from his teammates beyond O'Neal. It's a shame Hardaway got hurt as he could have been one of the greatest guards the game has ever seen.
Shooting Guard Nick Anderson: D
Anderson just didn't look like a confident player this series before missing Game Four with a wrist injury. He averaged 8.3 points per game and missed a lot of open shots. While Anderson had some moments during Game Three, he needed to do more for an Orlando team without Horace Grant.
Small Forward Dennis Scott: D
Like Anderson, Scott really struggled this series, unable to hit consistently from outside. In Scott's defense, he was probably Orlando's fifth option when the team's starting lineup was fully healthy. He was asked to do a lot more than he was capable of this series. Scott played hard but just didn't produce, though he did average 17.5 points per game during the regular season.
Power Forward Horace Grant: INC
For some reason, I thought Grant played the first two games of this series. I didn't realize that he missed the last three games and that he didn't even score a point in the series. While Grant had his moment in the sun beating the Bulls during the 1995 NBA Playoffs, his return to Chicago this series was an F, with the Bulls' fans serenading him with chants of "Horace, Horace," adding insult to injury.
Power Forward Jon Koncak: C-
A backup center on his best day, Koncak had to start at power forward the last three games. He was clearly hurt and didn't give Orlando much beyond fouls.
Center Shaquille O'Neal: B
O'Neal led Orlando with 27.0 points and 10 rebounds per game, though he didn't have that one dominant performance to get the Magic a victory. He looked to be headed that way following dominant first halves in Games Two and Four, but he struggled in the second halves all series long. Orlando needed Shaq to be Superman to win Game Three, and the big man only had 17 points.
Bench: C
Even when Orlando made the 1995 NBA Finals, the Magic bench always left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Brian Shaw had some moments in Game Two before missing Games Three and Four. Donald Royal and Anthony Bowie had some moments but were bit players. Brooks Thompson did a nice job scoring in Games Three and Four but was shaky handling the ball. Orlando needed better backup bigs than Koncak, Joe Wolf and Anthony Bonner.
Head Coach Brian Hill: D
Orlando seemed to lack much mental toughness this series, with Hill unable to push the right buttons. There definitely seemed to be a disconnect between the coach and his players. In Hill's defense, Orlando was seriously injured, and there wasn't much he could do with Scott and Anderson missing shots.
Overall Series Team Grade for the Magic: D
Orlando was limited by injuries, but the 1995-96 Bulls were motivated and so much better. When push came to shove, Orlando wasn't tough enough to even get one game against this all-time Bulls' team. Orlando was developing a reputation as a team who lacked mental toughness, as evidenced by getting swept out of the last three playoffs.
Implications for Both Teams
For Chicago, the Bulls would have eight full days off before the 1996 NBA Finals. At the time Chicago swept Orlando, Seattle was up 3-1 on Utah in the Western Conference Finals. The Jazz would actually push the Sonics to seven games, giving Chicago a long layoff, a blessing for the oldest team in the league.
For Orlando, the franchise forever changed when O'Neal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 18, 1996. How Orlando let O'Neal go is crazy to think about. Amazingly, the Magic brought back Brian Hill for the 1996-97 season when it was clear O'Neal didn't believe in him. Hill probably should have been fired immediately after the sweep to Chicago with Shaq getting to choose the coach of his liking. Orlando would eventually replace O'Neal with Rony Seikaly, trading for the Golden State big man on November 2, 1996. The Magic would eventually fire Hill mid-season, replacing him with Assistant Richie Abdubato and finishing 45-37. Orlando would lose in five games to the Miami Heat during the first round of the 1997 NBA Playoffs. The Magic would then hire Chuck Daley but finish 41-41 in 1997-98. Hardaway missed much of the season due to injury, and the Magic would miss the playoffs. During the lockout shortened 1998-99 season, Orlando would finish 33-17 before getting upset in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. Daley would retire, and Orlando would trade Hardaway to Phoenix prior to the 1999-2000 season, officially cementing Orlando as an all-time "What if" team.
What if O'Neal had stayed? In my opinion, Orlando's best chance to beat Chicago would have been during the 1997 NBA Playoffs, when the Bulls did not play all that great. Chicago was a much weaker team during the 1998 NBA Playoffs, though that was the season that Hardaway got hurt. Ultimately, I am not sure if Orlando would have gotten by Chicago in 1997 and 1998. Eventually, Orlando could have won a title in 1999 or 2000 if healthy and more mature. Honestly, it seemed like Orlando should have won in 1995, but the team was not playoff-tested enough when things got challenging.
Ultimately, Orlando was that bright star that burnt out way too fast. Failing to resign O'Neal after just four seasons in a Magic uniform is an absurd case of organizational malpractice. Maybe Shaq would have always ended up with the Lakers? Still, the fact Orlando let Shaq get to free agency was ridiculous.
1. Game 2 - Chicago's defense keys second-half comeback victory.
2. Game 4 - Chicago rallies to complete sweep in Shaq's last game with the Magic.
3. Game 1 - Chicago jumps Orlando early and often.
4. Game 3 - Chicago wins ugly game that was hard on the eyes.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 1 for the...
- Chicago Bulls - Sending a message.
- Orlando Magic - Insulted and injured.
After losing in six games to Orlando during the second round of the 1995 NBA Playoffs, Chicago never trailed and led 10-0 before three minutes had even passed. In addition to suffering an embarrassing 38-point loss, Orlando also lost former Bull Horace Grant for the series after 28 minutes, during which he accounted for 0 points and 1 rebound.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 2 for the...
- Chicago Bulls - Defense turns tables.
- Orlando Magic - Second-half disappearing act.
Down 15 points at the half, Chicago turned the game with incredible defense from Jordan, Pippen, Rodman and company during the last 24 minutes. As for Orlando, the Magic scored just 35 points in the second half after posting 53 at the half, succumbing to Chicago's on-ball defense.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 3 for the...
- Chicago Bulls - Pretty ugly victory.
- Orlando Magic - Bruised and battered.
With the exception of Scottie Pippen, Chicago had a rough offensive game though the defense held Orlando to just 10 points in the fourth quarter. The Magic lacked much fight and pride as injuries and lack of mental toughness were taking a toll.
Three-Word Descriptions of Game 4 for the...
- Chicago Bulls - Jordan completes revenge.
- Orlando Magic - Never the same.
After having his struggles against Orlando during the 1995 playoffs, Jordan finished off the Magic with his 45 points on a scorching 16-for-22 shooting. The young-gun Magic would forever be different after this game as Shaquille O'Neal would leave as a free agent for the bright lights of Los Angeles.
Individual Player Grades for the Bulls
Point Guard Ron Harper: A-
Add Dennis Scott along with John Starks and Tim Hardaway to the list of players Harper has taken out with his defense. For the third-straight series, Harper did a lot of unnoticed things quite well, hitting some timely baskets and chipping in 9.0 points per game.
Shooting Guard Michael Jordan: A-
From an offensive standout, Jordan had a bit of a weird series, though he still averaged 29.5 points per game after his dominating 44-point performance during Game Four. In the Game One blowout, Jordan didn't need to score much, finishing with 21 points. After being named MVP prior to Game Two, Jordan had a bit of a passive first half before turning it on during the last 24 minutes. Jordan scored just 17 points in an ugly Game Three before exploding in the series finale. Ultimately, Jordan was the greatest closer in the history of the game of basketball, as seen yet again in Game Four. Defensively, Jordan was spectacular, averaging a team-high 2.3 steals per game. Honestly, this was probably Jordan's best all-around series of the playoffs, averaging 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Small Forward Scottie Pippen: A-
After having a tough time defensively against Penny Hardaway in Game One, Pippen really stepped up his defense the rest of the series, making things much harder on the Orlando superstar. Pippen was brilliant during Game Three, hitting 11-of-14 shots for 27 points. As was the case with Pippen, even when his shots weren't falling, he impacted the game in so many ways, averaging 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Power Forward Dennis Rodman: A+
For the second-straight series, a focused Rodman played like a man possessed, not only dominating the glass but scoring the ball. Rodman averaged 11.5 points per game this series, hitting 16-of-30 shots from the field. Rodman was one of the few Bulls to play with much energy during the first half of Game Two. He averaged 14.5 rebounds per game and played incredible defense on the much bigger O'Neal.
Center Luc Longley: B
Longley was brilliant in Game One, scoring 14 points on 7-for-9 from the field. He scored 16 points the rest of the series and struggled with fouls and turnovers. Still, Longley's Game One was so epic that he deserves a solid grade.
Bench: B+
Steve Kerr and Jud Buechler had phenomenal series. Kerr averaged 8.5 points per game and was big during Chicago's Game Four closeout. Buechler hit 6-for-8 from the field and played great defense. Kukoc had a quiet series, averaging 7.0 points per game, though he did hit two big threes in Games Three and Four. Brown brought nice energy in spot minutes while big men Bill Wennington, John Salley and James Edwards served as bodies to bang with and foul O'Neal.
Head Coach Phil Jackson: A
Jackson made some adept substitutions this series, inserting Randy Brown late in Game Two for much-needed defense. I also liked how he went with Rodman as the backup big on O'Neal. Rodman gave the Orlando big man some problems, and Jackson did a great job of rotating bigs on the Magic behemoth.
Overall Series Team Grade for the Bulls: A
As ugly as Game Three was from an offensive standpoint, Chicago's defense was top-notch. After not playing its best ball against the Knicks, Chicago came out focused during Game One, sending a message. At the end of the day, Chicago swept a very talented Orlando team that had beaten them the year before.
Individual Player Grades for the Magic
Point Guard Penny Hardaway: B
Hardaway averaged 25.5 points per game during the series, with his 38 points in Game One the only bright spot for Orlando that Sunday. Still, Hardaway struggled in key moments of the series, especially during the second halves of Games Two and Three. As brilliant as Hardaway was at points, he also went quiet during other stretches. Honestly, Hardaway did not seem fully healthy after Game One and had a tall task as Chicago threw Pippen, Jordan and Harper at him. Penny didn't get much help from his teammates beyond O'Neal. It's a shame Hardaway got hurt as he could have been one of the greatest guards the game has ever seen.
Shooting Guard Nick Anderson: D
Anderson just didn't look like a confident player this series before missing Game Four with a wrist injury. He averaged 8.3 points per game and missed a lot of open shots. While Anderson had some moments during Game Three, he needed to do more for an Orlando team without Horace Grant.
Small Forward Dennis Scott: D
Like Anderson, Scott really struggled this series, unable to hit consistently from outside. In Scott's defense, he was probably Orlando's fifth option when the team's starting lineup was fully healthy. He was asked to do a lot more than he was capable of this series. Scott played hard but just didn't produce, though he did average 17.5 points per game during the regular season.
Power Forward Horace Grant: INC
For some reason, I thought Grant played the first two games of this series. I didn't realize that he missed the last three games and that he didn't even score a point in the series. While Grant had his moment in the sun beating the Bulls during the 1995 NBA Playoffs, his return to Chicago this series was an F, with the Bulls' fans serenading him with chants of "Horace, Horace," adding insult to injury.
Power Forward Jon Koncak: C-
A backup center on his best day, Koncak had to start at power forward the last three games. He was clearly hurt and didn't give Orlando much beyond fouls.
Center Shaquille O'Neal: B
O'Neal led Orlando with 27.0 points and 10 rebounds per game, though he didn't have that one dominant performance to get the Magic a victory. He looked to be headed that way following dominant first halves in Games Two and Four, but he struggled in the second halves all series long. Orlando needed Shaq to be Superman to win Game Three, and the big man only had 17 points.
Bench: C
Even when Orlando made the 1995 NBA Finals, the Magic bench always left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Brian Shaw had some moments in Game Two before missing Games Three and Four. Donald Royal and Anthony Bowie had some moments but were bit players. Brooks Thompson did a nice job scoring in Games Three and Four but was shaky handling the ball. Orlando needed better backup bigs than Koncak, Joe Wolf and Anthony Bonner.
Head Coach Brian Hill: D
Orlando seemed to lack much mental toughness this series, with Hill unable to push the right buttons. There definitely seemed to be a disconnect between the coach and his players. In Hill's defense, Orlando was seriously injured, and there wasn't much he could do with Scott and Anderson missing shots.
Overall Series Team Grade for the Magic: D
Orlando was limited by injuries, but the 1995-96 Bulls were motivated and so much better. When push came to shove, Orlando wasn't tough enough to even get one game against this all-time Bulls' team. Orlando was developing a reputation as a team who lacked mental toughness, as evidenced by getting swept out of the last three playoffs.
Implications for Both Teams
For Chicago, the Bulls would have eight full days off before the 1996 NBA Finals. At the time Chicago swept Orlando, Seattle was up 3-1 on Utah in the Western Conference Finals. The Jazz would actually push the Sonics to seven games, giving Chicago a long layoff, a blessing for the oldest team in the league.
For Orlando, the franchise forever changed when O'Neal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 18, 1996. How Orlando let O'Neal go is crazy to think about. Amazingly, the Magic brought back Brian Hill for the 1996-97 season when it was clear O'Neal didn't believe in him. Hill probably should have been fired immediately after the sweep to Chicago with Shaq getting to choose the coach of his liking. Orlando would eventually replace O'Neal with Rony Seikaly, trading for the Golden State big man on November 2, 1996. The Magic would eventually fire Hill mid-season, replacing him with Assistant Richie Abdubato and finishing 45-37. Orlando would lose in five games to the Miami Heat during the first round of the 1997 NBA Playoffs. The Magic would then hire Chuck Daley but finish 41-41 in 1997-98. Hardaway missed much of the season due to injury, and the Magic would miss the playoffs. During the lockout shortened 1998-99 season, Orlando would finish 33-17 before getting upset in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. Daley would retire, and Orlando would trade Hardaway to Phoenix prior to the 1999-2000 season, officially cementing Orlando as an all-time "What if" team.
What if O'Neal had stayed? In my opinion, Orlando's best chance to beat Chicago would have been during the 1997 NBA Playoffs, when the Bulls did not play all that great. Chicago was a much weaker team during the 1998 NBA Playoffs, though that was the season that Hardaway got hurt. Ultimately, I am not sure if Orlando would have gotten by Chicago in 1997 and 1998. Eventually, Orlando could have won a title in 1999 or 2000 if healthy and more mature. Honestly, it seemed like Orlando should have won in 1995, but the team was not playoff-tested enough when things got challenging.
Ultimately, Orlando was that bright star that burnt out way too fast. Failing to resign O'Neal after just four seasons in a Magic uniform is an absurd case of organizational malpractice. Maybe Shaq would have always ended up with the Lakers? Still, the fact Orlando let Shaq get to free agency was ridiculous.
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