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by: Chris Maynard
([email protected])
([email protected])
Today is the 30th anniversary of Game One between the Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 1996 NBA Playoffs. I have gone ahead and rewatched this game, listing my observations of what I saw with a fresh set of eyes. Here is some background about the series so far.
What I remember from this day: This Sunday afternoon game feels like yesterday. Tip off was at 2:30 p.m. on NBC. I eagerly sat down in front of the television in my living room, knowing that I could only watch the first half. Eighth-grade me had the championship game of my elementary school's Intramurals basketball league at 4:00 p.m. I was nervous about both games, more so about the Magic and Bulls after Orlando knocked out Chicago during the 1995 NBA Playoffs. I should have been more worried about the Intramurals championship game as my team got its collective butts kicked. I had a horrible shooting game. I remember during one possession of the game I had three three-pointers from the same spot on the floor. I missed all three shots, symbolic of how things went that day. My friend Mike and I played terrible against our eighth-grade classmate Todd, who was the best player on our grade-school team. Honestly, we were lucky to be in the championship game as we should have lost in the semifinals a couple of days before, had it not been for Mike hitting a game-winning layup in overtime. What the Magic were to the Bulls on this day, my team was to my opponent on this day, mince meat. :-)
What I remember from this game: The Bulls came out like gangbusters, absolutely kicking Orlando's butt in the first half of this game, so much so that when I had to leave for my basketball game, I felt very confident the outcome was already decided. I remember Luc Longley getting off to a great start against Shaquille O'Neal, and Dennis Rodman playing with a lot of energy. After limping past the Knicks, the Bulls were a hungry team for several reasons. First, Chicago knew it had to be better than it was against New York last round to defeat Orlando and win the championship. Second, revenge was clearly on the mind of the Bulls as Orlando had knocked them out the year before. It was safe to say the Magic were shell-shocked during Game One, unable to counter punch a Chicago onslaught from the opening tip to the final horn. Talk about a great way to begin the series for the Bulls, which got the United Center rocking early and often during this thumping of the Magic. Additionally, Greg Gumbel called this game for NBC. I always liked Gumbel as a play-by-play man for the NBA back in the day.
What I remember from this game: The Bulls came out like gangbusters, absolutely kicking Orlando's butt in the first half of this game, so much so that when I had to leave for my basketball game, I felt very confident the outcome was already decided. I remember Luc Longley getting off to a great start against Shaquille O'Neal, and Dennis Rodman playing with a lot of energy. After limping past the Knicks, the Bulls were a hungry team for several reasons. First, Chicago knew it had to be better than it was against New York last round to defeat Orlando and win the championship. Second, revenge was clearly on the mind of the Bulls as Orlando had knocked them out the year before. It was safe to say the Magic were shell-shocked during Game One, unable to counter punch a Chicago onslaught from the opening tip to the final horn. Talk about a great way to begin the series for the Bulls, which got the United Center rocking early and often during this thumping of the Magic. Additionally, Greg Gumbel called this game for NBC. I always liked Gumbel as a play-by-play man for the NBA back in the day.
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Here is Game One between the Orlando Magic and the Chicago Bulls. I highly suggest watching the introduction of the Bulls' starting lineups. It will get your pulse running! Also these blue Orlando Magic uniforms were just beautiful. As an aside, I remember my parents getting me a red Dennis Rodman Bulls' jersey and this blue Penny Hardaway Magic jersey for my birthday as an eighth grader. Another family member bought me the black Michael Jordan Bulls' jersey for my birthday. I still have the Jordan jersey. I gave away the Rodman and Hardaway jerseys to younger cousins when I outgrew them. What a great time it was to be a kid!
Make the jump to see the starting lineups and read my observations as I watch this game for the first time in years.
Starting Lineups: Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls
NBC T.V. Commentators: Greg Gumbel with the play-by-play, Matt Guokas and Bill Walton with the color commentary
Notes: Toni Kukoc is back from his back injury, though he will be wearing a brace. Horace Grant is dealing with a right elbow injury suffered during Game Five of the second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks.
- Point Guard: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway vs. Ron Harper
- Shooting Guard: Nick Anderson vs. Michael Jordan
- Small Forward: Dennis Scott vs. Scottie Pippen
- Power Forward: Horace Grant vs. Dennis Rodman
- Center: Shaquille O'Neal vs. Luc Longley
- Head Coach: Brian Hill vs. Phil Jackson
NBC T.V. Commentators: Greg Gumbel with the play-by-play, Matt Guokas and Bill Walton with the color commentary
Notes: Toni Kukoc is back from his back injury, though he will be wearing a brace. Horace Grant is dealing with a right elbow injury suffered during Game Five of the second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks.
First Quarter, Under-10 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 10-0 with 9:29 remaining as Orlando takes a timeout. The United Center is a rockin' as Chicago comes out with guns blazing. What a start for Luc Longley, who plays good positional defense on the first series of the game, forcing a tough half-hook from O'Neal. Longley then grabs an offensive rebound of a missed banker by Pippen and dunks the ball in. He follows up with a steal of an entry pass to O'Neal and then hits a half hook to the baseline. Pippen follows up with a fast-break dunk after Dennis Scott missed a layup inside. Chicago then got on the break with Ron Harper feeding Dennis Rodman for a layup plus the foul. Rodman hits the free throw as does Pippen after an offensive rebound of a Longley miss. Chicago is 4/5 to start the game, Orlando is 0/3. Michael Jordan has not even attempted a field goal. Chicago is outrebounding the Magic 6-1. Pippen is guarding Hardaway.
First Quarter, Under-8 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 13-5 with 7:26 remaining as Chicago takes a timeout. Here's another good sign for Chicago as Pippen hits a three after struggling with his shot against New York last series. Pippen has six points. After finally scoring on a Nick Anderson free throw, Orlando has back-to-back dunks. Penny Hardaway had a nasty one-handed lefty dunk on Longley off a screen and roll and then Shaq had a two-hand slam on a nice over-the-top pass. Jordan missed a fadeaway. Rodman is off to a great start, with four rebounds.
First Quarter, Under-3 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 19-13 with 2:26 remaining as Rodman secures an offensive rebound and calls a timeout while falling out of bounds. Rodman has eight rebounds so far this quarter! All 19 of Chicago's points have come from the frontcourt of Longley (6 points), Pippen (6 points), Rodman (5 points) and Toni Kukoc (2 points). Longley hit a nice jumper and is 3/3 to start the game while Rodman had a lefty tip in dunk of a missed Pippen layup. Both Rodman and Longley missed dunk attempts set up by gorgeous passes from Pippen. Kukoc is back for the first time since Game Two against the Knicks and is not wearing the back brace. He had a nice defensive rebound off the old tap drill and then got downcourt and was fouled on a layup attempt. Kukoc did just miss a three and is now 1/25 from deep in the playoffs. Orlando is getting all of its scoring from O'Neal,who had two nice righty half hooks across the lane, and Hardaway, who hit a tough banker over Pippen and had a backdoor cut for a dunk. That was a beautiful pass by Nick Anderson on that assist to Hardaway. Longley left the game with two fouls, drawing a standing ovation from the Chicago crowd. Phil Jackson is going small, with Rodman now guarding O'Neal. Orlando has a 7-0 advantage in backcourt scoring.
End of First Quarter Observations
Chicago leads 32-19 at the end of the first. Penny Hardaway just hit a ridiculous half-court banker of a three to end the quarter after Scottie Pippen drove into the lane and fed Bill Wennington for a dunk. Pippen leads Chicago with 10 points while Hardaway leads Orlando with 11. Jordan got going during this stretch, hitting a jumper and scoring on a spinning layup in the lane, plus the foul. Kukoc has been very active defensively, stealing an inbound pass after Jordan's make and then scoring on a layup. He also got in the passing lane of a Jon Koncak pass, leading to a Kerr steal and Pippen dunk. Chicago is 7/8 from the free throw line so far, Orlando is 3/6. All six free throw attempts have been taken by Nick Anderson, who was never the same at the free throw line after missing four straight against the Houston Rockets during the end of Game One of the 1995 NBA Finals.
Second Quarter, Under-10 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 36-26 with 9:16 remaining. Orlando began the quarter on a 5-0 run as Hardaway tipped in his own miss and Brian Shaw canned a three off a Jordan double team of a posting O'Neal, who later scored on a nice dip in on Wennington. Jordan broke the run with a jumper that died on the rim and fell in. Pippen had a dunk off a Chicago offensive rebound secured by Kukoc, who made a beautiful pass to the cutting Scottie. At the end of the first quarter, Chicago had an 18-5 advantage on the boards. Just like against the Knicks, Chicago is crashing the offensive glass. Horace Grant has been very quiet so far. He has one shot and one rebound during the first 15 minutes. Grant hasn't scored in 34 minutes of playing time, with his right elbow injury causing a lot of issues.
Second Quarter, Under-7 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 41-37 with 6:37 remaining as Chicago takes a timeout. The Magic have been great so far this quarter, in contrast to my memory of this game. Penny Hardaway just ripped the ball from Kukoc in the backcourt and had a beautiful reverse layup. He leads all scorers with 18 points. Chicago's Wennington, who had a great series against New York, is getting abused by O'Neal during this stretch. O'Neal has several baskets and a nice assist to Anthony Bowie. O'Neal has 12 points. Rodman had a beautiful offensive rebound and putback over Bowie, and Jordan hit a three during this stretch for his 8th, 9th and 10th points. Orlando has responded nicely from a rough start. The Magic are just 2/9 from the foul line and could very well be leading.
Second Quarter, Under-4 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 49-41 with 3:51 remaining as Ron Harper gets an offensive rebound and calls timeout while surrounded by Magic on the floor. Chicago is controlling this game on the glass, with a 27-10 rebounding advantage. Rodman has 12 boards, including a beautiful offensive board and assist to Longley, who made a beautiful back-to-the-basket layup. Longley also had a lefty hook in the lane and is 5-for-7 from the field. What a start for Rodman and him. Orlando has been all Hardaway and O'Neal, who had a ridiculously tough shot on Longley and a beautiful assist to a cutting Brian Shaw. There is a great flow and energy to this game right now. Rodman is apparently dealing with a stomach virus, which would be hard to tell based upon his start. This is as good of a game Rodman has played, in terms of rebounding, passing and scoring.
Halftime Observations
Chicago leads 55-45 at the break. Thank goodness for Hardaway and O'Neal, who have kept the Magic alive. Hardaway has 22 points on 9/12 from the field, including another backdoor dunk, and O'Neal has 14 points on 7/11 from the floor. Chicago found some nice offensive rhythm during this stretch with Kukoc and Jud Buechler hitting some open jumpers on the baseline off nice ball movement. Ron Harper had a beautiful finger roll layup off a steal created by Jordan knocking the ball away from Hardaway. Jordan has forced two turnovers on Hardaway and is playing really stout defense. Kukoc missed two more threes during this stretch and is just 1/27 from deep for the playoffs; however, he has had a great first half. Chicago has a 17-2 advantage on second-chance points while Orlando has two combined points from Anderson (2), Scott (0) and Grant (0). None of these starters have hit a field goal yet! Jordan had 7 of his 12 first-half points during the second quarter.
Third Quarter, Under-7 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 63-54 with 6:53 remaining. The Bulls got off to a great start to the half, with Pippen getting an offensive board of a Jordan miss that didn't even hit rim and scoring on a beautiful back-to-the-basket layup. Ron Harper then drove and found Longley for a dunk, leading to a Magic timeout. Longley also hit a jumper before O'Neal went to work, scoring in the lane and then getting a baseline dunk on a spin move. Longley has picked up his fourth foul and is on the bench. Rodman just had a beautiful offensive tip in of a missed Pippen layup for his eighth and ninth points. While having two turnovers this half, Hardaway is amazing, dunking on a beautiful baseline spin out of the post and hitting a three off an O'Neal post feed and kick out. Orlando is hanging in because of the heroics of Hardaway and O'Neal. Hardaway has 27 points on 11/15 from the field, 3/4 from three. The Magic are getting nothing out of any other starter, with Anderson and Scott missing threes during this stretch.
Third Quarter, Under-6 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 71-56 with 5:07 remaining as Orlando takes a timeout. Ron Harper has just taken over here. Harper comes over from the weakside to steal the ball from a posting O'Neal. Harper then glided in for a beautiful layup. After Pippen missed a three, Harper got the long offensive board and canned a jumper from the free-throw line. He has 8 points. Orlando had the game down to seven after O'Neal hit a baseline push shot over Rodman, but Hardaway was called for a weak technical after pushing Rodman. Jordan missed the free throw, Chicago's first attempt from the foul line since the first quarter, but then hit a beautiful stop and pull up jumper over Anderson. Chicago is on a 6-0 run here. Anderson and Scott are 0/9 from the field. How is this for balanced Chicago scoring: Longley has 14 points, Jordan 14, Pippen 14, Rodman 11, Harper 8 and Kukoc 6.
Third Quarter, Under-3 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 79-58 with 2:06 remaining as Orlando takes a timeout with Grant hurting. The Magic are literally and figuratively falling apart here in the third quarter. Grant is getting tended to as his teammate O'Neal ran into him and wiped out Pippen on a baseline drive by the Bulls' forward, who got up and scored a layup. Grant is being serenaded with chants of "Horace, Horace" by the Chicago crowd. He has 1 rebound and 0 points in 28 minutes of injury-riddled game time. The Bulls have been putting it to Orlando during this stretch. After Scott got caught in the air and threw the ball away, Jordan had a beautiful assist to Pippen for a one-handed slam. Kukoc later hit a beautiful teardrop in the lane and fed Jordan on a ridiculous inbound fadeaway with the shot clock hitting zero. At this point of the game, Rodman has 18 rebounds to Orlando's 17. The Bulls have a 43-17 advantage on the boards. Before a Hardaway floater in the lane, Orlando had five field goals and six turnovers this quarter. It's all Chicago right now as Grant is heading to the locker room holding his left elbow and wrist. O'Neal did not take kindly to a hard but clean foul by Rodman, foreshadowing future problems between the two later in the series.
End of Third Quarter Observations
Chicago leads 81-59 at the end of three quarters. The Bulls finish the third quarter on an 18-5 run. Jordan has a quiet 18 points while Rodman has a loud 11 points and 19 rebounds. Hardaway has 30 points on 12-for-18 from the field, along with 3 steals. Shaq has 20 points.
Fourth Quarter, Under-10 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 88-61 with 9:58 remaining. The onslaught continues as Ron Harper steals an entry pass to Hardaway and feeds Jordan for a layup plus the foul. Steve Kerr then makes a beautiful behind-the-back pass on the baseline to Wennington for a one-handed dunk. After O'Neal misses a dunk and doesn't get back complaining that he was fouled, Kukoc finds Wennington wide open down low for a reverse dunk. How is this for a stat. Chicago has a 43-0 advantage in scoring from the forward position tonight! I don't know if I have ever seen that stat before. Chicago is +30 on rebounds (49 to 19) and +23 in second-chance points (25-2).
Fourth Quarter, Under-7 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 95-71 with 6:27 remaining as Phil Jackson calls a timeout. Orlando should be embarrassed by its defense right now as Steve Kerr has a dribble drive from the top of the key all the way to the basket. I don't remember Kerr ever scoring like that with the Bulls. Kerr also had a beautiful pull-up three off the bounce. Hardaway has 34 points after abusing Pippen in the post, and probably getting away with a hook, to be honest. I don't remember Pippen struggling with someone like he has with Hardaway tonight. There is some good news for Orlando. A forward has scored as Donald Royal has hit two jumpers. Anderson and Scott are watching from the bench after their no-shows so far in Game One.
Fourth Quarter, Under-4 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 107-80 with 3:07 remaining as Orlando takes a timeout. Kerr is filling it up, hitting two threes during this stretch. John Salley also has scored four points, with a nice banker over O'Neal and a stick back off an offensive rebound where Orlando just gave up. Rodman hit a banker curling in the lane to complete his wonderful all-around game. O'Neal finally hit a free throw, and is 1/7 at the line tonight. The Magic are 7/22 from the line as a team. Grant was shown in the locker room with a sling around his chest and left elbow. Apparently, there is no fracture. Grant's facial expression says it all: he looks like a wounded dog ready to be put out of his misery.
Final Score: Chicago Bulls 121, Orlando Magic 83.
Chicago scores 17 points in the final three minutes to complete an offensive blitz. Kerr and Buechler hit threes, Salley has a layup and dunk, Randy Brown has a layup and Kukoc hits a baseline fadeaway during this stretch while Orlando's Joe Wolf fires and fires and fires and fires some more, missing four quick shots. After a rough offensive series against the Knicks, Chicago breaks out in Game One for the 38 point victory, Orlando's largest-ever defeat in a playoff game. Make no mistake. This game was won on the boards where Chicago outrebounded Orlando 62-28. Here is the final box score.
Five Stars of the Game
1. Dennis Rodman, Chicago Bulls. Rodman has been incredible during Chicago's last six playoff games with tonight his finest effort yet. In addition to 21 rebounds, 7 of which came on the offensive glass, Rodman added 13 points on 6-for-10 from the field. That was quite the all-around game from a very focused Rodman, who played great defense on O'Neal as well.
2. Luc Longley, Chicago Bulls. Longley did not even play from the mid-point of the third quarter until the end of the game. Still, his impact was felt immediately coming off a tough series against the Knicks. Longley scored 14 points on 7-for-9 from the field, getting Chicago off to a fast and furious start.
3. Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic. Hardaway was unguardable tonight, scoring 38 points on 71% shooting (15 of 21 from the field)!
4. Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic. With the exception of poor free throw shooting, O'Neal had a great offensive game, going 13-for-21 from the field for 27 points while adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
5A. Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls. Pippen struggled guarding Hardaway but looked much healthier than he did at the end of the New York series, scoring 18 points, grabbing 8 boards and adding 4 assists.
5B. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls. Usually at the top of list after every playoff game, Jordan leads Chicago with 21 points during a game he only needed to take 17 shots, hitting 9 of them. Jordan had a solid all-around game with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
2. Luc Longley, Chicago Bulls. Longley did not even play from the mid-point of the third quarter until the end of the game. Still, his impact was felt immediately coming off a tough series against the Knicks. Longley scored 14 points on 7-for-9 from the field, getting Chicago off to a fast and furious start.
3. Anfernee Hardaway, Orlando Magic. Hardaway was unguardable tonight, scoring 38 points on 71% shooting (15 of 21 from the field)!
4. Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic. With the exception of poor free throw shooting, O'Neal had a great offensive game, going 13-for-21 from the field for 27 points while adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
5A. Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls. Pippen struggled guarding Hardaway but looked much healthier than he did at the end of the New York series, scoring 18 points, grabbing 8 boards and adding 4 assists.
5B. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls. Usually at the top of list after every playoff game, Jordan leads Chicago with 21 points during a game he only needed to take 17 shots, hitting 9 of them. Jordan had a solid all-around game with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Duds of the Game
Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott, Orlando Magic. With Grant really hurt, Anderson (2 points from the foul line) and Scott (0) gave Orlando nothing, going 0-for-10 from the field. Grant also put up a goose egg, though it looked like he shouldn't have been on the court with his injured elbow.
Here are the highlights of Chicago's annihilation of Orlando in Game One.
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