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Today is the 30th anniversary of Game One between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in the First Round of the Eastern Conference 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 on this game.
What I Remember From This Day: I remember being pumped for this game. It was a Friday, I was in eighth grade, and my class was going on a field trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois. As we were leaving on the old yellow school bus from my elementary school St. Bartholomew on Chicago's Northwest Side, I remember passing this famous mural of Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Ryne Sandberg on the Kennedy Expressway. Many eighth graders burst out cheering, mostly for Rodman, who was the most popular player among the kids back then. The field trip to the Brookfield Zoo was not that memorable, though I remember getting into an argument with a girl I liked at the time. Angry on the bus ride home, my dumb self flipped off a high school kid waiting for the bus at nearby Riverside-Brookfield High School. He responded in kind with a similar/much-deserved gesture. Oh, how I was a jerk at age 14. Not much has changed at age 44.
What I Remember From This Day: I remember being pumped for this game. It was a Friday, I was in eighth grade, and my class was going on a field trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois. As we were leaving on the old yellow school bus from my elementary school St. Bartholomew on Chicago's Northwest Side, I remember passing this famous mural of Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Ryne Sandberg on the Kennedy Expressway. Many eighth graders burst out cheering, mostly for Rodman, who was the most popular player among the kids back then. The field trip to the Brookfield Zoo was not that memorable, though I remember getting into an argument with a girl I liked at the time. Angry on the bus ride home, my dumb self flipped off a high school kid waiting for the bus at nearby Riverside-Brookfield High School. He responded in kind with a similar/much-deserved gesture. Oh, how I was a jerk at age 14. Not much has changed at age 44.
What I Remember From This Game: I missed the first half of this game as I had to go to a wake for either my grandmother's sister or her sister's husband. After the wake, my family gathered at my Uncle John's and Aunt Donna's house to eat and watch the Bulls' game. I remember freaking out as I turned the game on right at the start of the third quarter. The Bulls were actually losing at this point, with the underdog Heat being led by Chicago native Tim Hardaway, who was going off from deep. However, the Bulls would rally and take care of business, eventually winning this game by a comfortable double-digits, if my memory serves me correct. :-)
The Starting Lineups: Miami vs. Chicago
Head Coach: Pat Riley vs. Phil Jackson
Announcers: Verne Lundquist on play-by-play, Danny Ainge on color.
Below is Game One between the Heat and Bulls, from the first round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
The Starting Lineups: Miami vs. Chicago
- Point Guard: Tim Hardaway vs. Ron Harper
- Shooting Guard: Rex Chapman vs. Michael Jordan
- Small Forward: Walt Williams vs. Scottie Pippen
- Power Forward: Kurt Thomas vs. Toni Kukoc
- Center: Alonzo Mourning vs. Luc Longley
Head Coach: Pat Riley vs. Phil Jackson
Announcers: Verne Lundquist on play-by-play, Danny Ainge on color.
Below is Game One between the Heat and Bulls, from the first round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
Make the jump to read my observations of Game One between the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls.
First Quarter, Under-7 Timeout Observations
Miami leads 12-11 with 6:59 remaining as the Bulls take a timeout. Bulls center Luc Longley is the best player on the court so far, with two blocks on Chris Gatling and Kurt Thomas on successive plays, a beautiful give-and-go assist to Michael Jordan (who has 5 points on 2-for-2 shooting) and drawing two quick fouls on Alonzo Mourning, whom the Bulls always frustrated in the playoffs. Speaking of frustration, Heat rookie Kurt Thomas makes amends for an elbow of Jordan that led to a technical with a little half hook in the lane to give the Heat the lead. Miami has been buoyed by Rex Chapman who has five points on two ridiculous jumpers. Everyone in Chicago's lineup has scored with the exception of Scottie Pippen. Toni Kukoc began the game with a nice drive on the rookie Thomas. Kukoc is starting for Rodman, who is about to enter the game. Both teams have been a bit careless with sloppy turnovers.
First Quarter, Under-4 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 19-17 with 3:25 remaining as Miami takes a timeout. Well that was a chippy segment as Rodman's entry into the game leads to a lot of chaos. Rodman has four quick rebounds, two on the offensive glass, gets two double fouls with the rookie Thomas, and is called for a technical after laying down on the floor after the second double foul. Miami Assistant Coach Bob McAdoo is also called for a technical foul from the bench as is Gatling a few possessions later on the court. Chicago's Steve Kerr benefits with two makes on technical foul shots. Kukoc was awesome during this stretch, with a beautiful up-and-under on Walt Williams and a nice curling floater out of the triangle. After missing three straight shots, Jordan hit a banker over Chapman and is now 3-for-7 from the field. Pippen has been quiet, having his one shot attempt blocked by Williams, who has thrown up two bricks at the rim and missed a three. The Heat are definitely succumbing to Rodman's antics, looking like the less experienced playoff team.
End of First Quarter Observations
Chicago leads 29-22 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulls finish the first quarter on a 13-5 run, getting some nice offensive rhythm. The underrated Kukoc has been the best player on the court with 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting, great passing, active hands in the passing lane, and nice work on the defensive boards. Kukoc had four points in this stretch, including a tip-in of a Bill Wennington miss. Scottie Pippen got on the board, banking in a shot plus the foul on a postup of the smaller Hardaway and later stealing a Hardaway pass for an and-one layup. Pippen is 0-for-2 from the free throw line and apparently playing through an injury. Jordan has 9 points through the first quarter, including a nice jumper he canned over Keith Askins within this stretch. Williams canned a three from the top of the key to keep the Heat within single digits at the end of the first.
Second Quarter, Under-10 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 31-25 with 9:53 remaining. Miami has 8 turnovers so far to the Bulls' 5. The Bulls were shooting about 48% to Miami's 41% at the start of the quarter. This was a bit of a choppy stretch, with Jordan missing several shots against Askins. Back in the game, Longley scored on a nice half hook over Mourning, who was looking to avoid a third foul. Hardaway canned his second three from the Heat. Mourning has yet to score, missing a half-hook in the lane off of the famous Georgetown shuffle and then getting called for a double dribble. Phil Jackson has really been using his bench, with Randy Brown, Kerr, Wennington, Rodman and Jud Buechler all seeing time. Kukoc has not sat out yet.
Second Quarter, Under -7 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 35-30 with 6:49 remaining as the Bulls take a timeout. Back in the game, Rodman is flustering Mourning, who scored his first two points on a nice baseline fadeaway but then threw up a wild running hook and picked up his third foul on a charge of The Worm, much to the delight of the late Gene Siskel. Chicago cannot buy an outside shot, as Pippen has two free throws and Jordan made a put in off a missed three from Kukoc, who still hasn't come out yet. Miami got a three from Rex Chapman and is hanging around with the three ball. The Heat have five for the game so far. The Bulls have yet to hit one. Longley had a bit of a rough stretch, getting called for a travel and picking up two quick fouls. Miami's lack of depth is showing with Tony Smith, Sasha Danilovic and Danny Schayes all playing. This Heat team made a lot of trades this season under Riley to bring in Mourning at the start of the season and Hardaway at the trade deadline.
Second Quarter, Under-3 Timeout Observations
The game is tied at 45 with 2:15 remaining as Miami calls timeout. Hardaway has taken over the game for the Heat, scoring 11 straight points. On one possession, Hardaway stripped Jordan at halfcourt, leading to a layup. Hardaway is getting to the lane at will, hitting bankers with ease, as this is Tim after the serious knee injury in Golden State. Jordan had a rough stretch, getting pilphered by Hardaway and then committing an offensive foul on a screen of Hardaway the next possession. Chicago's offense has stalled out this second quarter. The Bulls are being kept alive by a 13 to 3 advantage in foul shouts. Chicago got some nice contributions off the bench from Buechler, who hit a corner three, and John Salley, who fed Jordan out of the post for a backdoor dunk. Scottie Pippen just had a nasty dunk over Gatling. Pippen is starting to get more assertive and drive to the basket as Chicago has gone cold from the field this quarter.
Halftime Observations
The game is tied at 54 at the break. Randy Brown hits a corner jumper at the buzzer to nod the game after Hardaway buried another three. Hardaway has 26 points at the break, on 5/6 from three and 10/12 from the field. The Chicago native has been the best player on the court. Jordan has a quiet 19 points. Chicago is 13/17 from the free throw line, Miami 4/7. Hardaway has been unstoppable, hitting a three as Brown went under a screen, and then driving and dishing to Gatling for an and-one opportunity. Brown had a nice steal of Hardaway in the last minute leading to a Pippen corner jumper. Hardaway has been cooking and kept Miami in this game with Mourning having more fouls, 3, than points, 2. Phil Jackson received a technical during this stretch, but Hardaway missed the free throw.
Third Quarter, Under-12 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 58-54 as Miami takes a quick 20 second timeout not even a full minute into the half. After not playing much in the first half, Ron Harper comes out a blazing, hitting a beautiful shot off a curl, forcing a turnover off Walt Williams, and then hitting a leaner, leading to Pat Riley seeing enough and taking a timeout. The Bulls have 14 points off Miami turnovers. Miami is shooting 67% from the perimeter, Chicago 52%. Miami is 8/13 from three, Chicago just 1/8.
Third Quarter, Under-10 Timeout Observations
The game is tied at 63 with 9:53 remaining as the Heat have to take a full timeout. Mourning was fouled by Pippen after a Hardaway drive. It looks like Mourning might have dislocated a finger. Hardaway is also dealing with an ailing eye as Harper accidentally poked him there. Longley picked up two quick fouls and now has four, leading to Rodman entering. Chicago has given up two drives to the basket, one on a Walt Williams dunk and the other on a Hardaway feed to Mourning, who was fouled. Mourning has picked up three fouls on the Bulls this half. Jordan hit his first jumper of the half, and the Bulls started 3-for-3 from the field, but haven't hit since.
Third Quarter, Under-4 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 74-65 with 3:46 remaining as Miami takes a timeout. Ron Harper has been huge this second half, scoring eight points on 4-for-4 from the field. He has 10 points for the game and hasn't missed a field goal. After traveling, Harper comes up with a steal of a Hardaway pass and dribbles full court for a dunk. Harper also had a big offensive rebound and fadeaway jumper after a missed three. Chicago finally got its second three of the game from Toni Kukoc. The Bulls have been ratcheting up the defense, with Miami throwing the ball away and taking quick shots. Hardaway has taken only two shots this half, hitting one. Jordan is starting to get going and is looking to post at will. Mourning picked up a bad fourth foul that led to him going to the bench. The Bulls haven't been playing pretty but they have been gritty here in the last few minutes, especially on the defensive end. Kukoc and Gatling were called for the third double foul of the game. This is what is known as danger time for Miami.
Third Quarter, Under-3 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 74-65 as Miami has to take another timeout after Gatling twisted his ankle. Pippen stole a pass by Gatling and Chicago got on the break. Harper missed a banker, and Rodman missed a tip, but the Bulls are getting all the loose balls as Rodman sprawls out on the floor and keeps a possession alive by tapping a missed Kukoc three to Harper. Kukoc missed another three while matched up on the lame Gatling, leading to the timeout. Miami has 6 turnovers this quarter and just 11 points on 3/7 from the field.
Third Quarter, Under-2 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 77-65 as the Bulls take a timeout. Immediately out of the Gatling injury, Harper steals the inbound pass. Jordan scores on a driving layup and hits the free throw for a three-point play. Miami is imploding as Chapman follows up with an air ball from three. Walt Williams laters throw up an air ball three as Chicago nearly forces a 24-second violation. Jackson calls a timeout as the game is getting a bit sloppy, with Harper turning the ball over on a baseline drive. Jordan is on the bench with 29 points. Miami has 4 points in the last 9:01.
End of Third Quarter Observations
Chicago leads 79-67 at the end of the third quarter. Rodman had an offensive tip in while Gatling scored on the block. This game was tied at 60 at one point, but the Bulls finish the quarter on a 19-7 run. Hardaway has just two points in the third quarter as Chicago picks up the defense and Miami throws the ball all over the place. Chicago outscores Miami by 12 points in the third quarter. Miami had 11 turnovers in the first half, 8 in the third quarter. The Heat were 0/5 from three after going 8/13 from deep in the first half.
Fourth Quarter, Under-10 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 85-71 with 9:30 remaining. Mourning has scored four quick points but the Bulls are getting easy baskets. Jordan penetrates to feed Kukoc for a gimme shot in the mid-range and then Rodman makes a beautiful no-look assist to a wide open Wennington for a dunk. Jordan hardly breaks a sweat, hitting a jumper off a curl for his 30th and 31st point. Rodman's activity has been excellent this segment, fighting on the glass twice to have Gatling knock the ball out of bounds. Hardaway is not looking to score enough as the Bulls seem to have this game in control.
Fourth Quarter, Under-9 Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 85-71 with 8:20 remaining. Chicago is blitzing Mourning with double teams, with Pippen and Kerr forcing steals on back-to-back possessions. Rodman is all over the floor, jumping onto the scorer's table to nearly save a ball and then getting down on the floor in front of the Heat bench to extend a Bulls' possession, with Jordan calling timeout to resettle things. Miami looks like its soul has been taken in the second half.
Fourth Quarter, Under- Timeout Observations
Chicago leads 97-79 with 2:57 remaining as this game gets out of control. Jordan cans a jumper and Mourning gets called for another moving screen. Jordan hits two free throws as Tony Smith is called for a questionable foul. It looked like Smith stripped the ball on Jordan's fadeaway attempt. Jordan is called for two quick fouls and has five for the game. He goes to the bench and does not return the rest of the game. This has been a very choppy part of the game as Longley fouls out and the Heat keep committing turnovers. The Heat have 24 turnovers on the game. Hardaway has 7 turnovers. It seems like there is a foul being called on every possession for both teams. After Kukoc hits a jumper and Sasha Danilovic hits a three, Kukoc gets fouled on a three point attempt by Gatling. Kukoc hits one of three free throws. Mourning fouls out as well, with six cheap fouls. Mourning finishes with 10 points and 2 rebounds. Mourning gets ejected after fouling out as Pippen says something to him. Pat Riley then gets ejected with his second technical of the night. Kukoc drives by Thomas for an and-one dunk, and Gatling shoves Harper. The Heat are unraveling as The Village People's YMCA plays us into commercial.
Final Score: Chicago Bulls 102, Miami Heat 85.
Gatling plows through Salley, gets called for an offensive foul and fouls out. Gatling then gets ejected with a technical foul. Kerr buries a three off of Miami's 26th turnover. The Heat finish with 27 turnovers. Jordan leads all scorers with 35 points. Hardway leads the Heat with 30 points, 26 of which came in the first half. Chicago takes a 1-0 lead. Here is the box score.
Five Stars of the Game
1. Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls. The Greatest of All Time puts up a "quiet" 35 points on 13-of-22 from the field and 9-of-12 at the line.
2. Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat. The Carver High School product returns to his hometown of Chicago and keeps the Heat in the game during the first half with 26 of his 30 points.
3. Ron Harper, Chicago Bulls. Harper changed the game at the start of the second half with his 8 points in the third quarter and pesky defense on Hardaway.
4. Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls. Kukoc finishes with 21 points and 7 rebounds, getting the Bulls off to a great start with 10 first quarter points and showing that he is more than capable in a physical game that he starts in place of Dennis Rodman.
5. Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls. Pippen finishes with just 13 points on a quiet offensive night but contributes 8 rebounds and 5 steals.
2. Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat. The Carver High School product returns to his hometown of Chicago and keeps the Heat in the game during the first half with 26 of his 30 points.
3. Ron Harper, Chicago Bulls. Harper changed the game at the start of the second half with his 8 points in the third quarter and pesky defense on Hardaway.
4. Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls. Kukoc finishes with 21 points and 7 rebounds, getting the Bulls off to a great start with 10 first quarter points and showing that he is more than capable in a physical game that he starts in place of Dennis Rodman.
5. Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls. Pippen finishes with just 13 points on a quiet offensive night but contributes 8 rebounds and 5 steals.
Bums of the Game: Miami Heat Composure
Miami is whistled for seven technicals, with Mourning, Head Coach Riley and Gatling all getting ejected in the fourth quarter, foreshadowing a team that is not mentally ready against the superior Bulls, which will be evident during Game Two a few days later.
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