 |  |  |
by: Chris Maynard
([email protected])
([email protected])
With an opponent, the Seattle SuperSonics, set for the 1996 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls were seen as overwhelming favorites for reasons well beyond their dominant regular season and playoff run.
Chicago was the more experienced team when it came to playing in the NBA Finals, with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen the lone holdovers from the Bulls' first three-peat in 1991, 1992 and 1993. In addition to Chicago's dynamic duo, Dennis Rodman, John Salley and James "Buddha" Edwards had appeared in three NBA Finals with the Detroit Pistons in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
In contrast, Seattle had only one player to play in an NBA Finals, Jordan's former North Carolina teammate Sam Perkins, who was on the Los Angeles Lakers team that the Bulls defeated during the 1991 NBA Finals. Of course, Perkins had a huge moment in that series, hitting the game-winning three in Game One to give Los Angeles its first and only victory in the series.
With Chicago's victories against the Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns during the 1991, 1992 and 1993 NBA Finals, respectively, in mind, I thought it would be interesting to revisit each of those series based on different categories:
Chicago was the more experienced team when it came to playing in the NBA Finals, with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen the lone holdovers from the Bulls' first three-peat in 1991, 1992 and 1993. In addition to Chicago's dynamic duo, Dennis Rodman, John Salley and James "Buddha" Edwards had appeared in three NBA Finals with the Detroit Pistons in 1988, 1989 and 1990.
In contrast, Seattle had only one player to play in an NBA Finals, Jordan's former North Carolina teammate Sam Perkins, who was on the Los Angeles Lakers team that the Bulls defeated during the 1991 NBA Finals. Of course, Perkins had a huge moment in that series, hitting the game-winning three in Game One to give Los Angeles its first and only victory in the series.
With Chicago's victories against the Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns during the 1991, 1992 and 1993 NBA Finals, respectively, in mind, I thought it would be interesting to revisit each of those series based on different categories:
- Best game of the series.
- Underrated game of the series.
- Legendary Jordan performance of the series.
- Turning point of the series.
- Surprising Bulls' loss in the series.
- Iconic game/ moment of the series.
 |  |  |
Make the jump to revisit Chicago's first three appearances in the NBA Finals based upon this criteria.
1991 NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls 4, Los Angeles Lakers 1.
Best Game of the 1991 NBA Finals
Game Three: Friday, June 7, 1991
Chicago Bulls 104, Los Angeles Lakers 96
With the series tied at one game apiece, Los Angeles led by double digits in the third quarter before Chicago came back, with Jordan hitting a cold-blooded jumper to send the game to overtime, where the Bulls prevailed to take a 2-1 series lead.
Underrated Game of the 1991 NBA Finals
Game 5: Wednesday, June 12, 1991
Chicago Bulls 108, Los Angeles Lakers 101
A hobbled Lakers' team without James Worthy and Byron Scott played with a lot of heart this tense game that went back and forth until late in the fourth quarter when the Bulls pulled away on the heroic shooting of John Paxson, giving Chicago the series and its first title.
Legendary Jordan Performance of the 1991 NBA Finals
Game 2: Wednesday, June 5, 1991
Chicago Bulls 107, Los Angeles Lakers 86
After losing Game One, Chicago came out and dominated Game Two, with Jordan scoring 33 points on 15-for-18 from the field, including his incredible layup where he showed the ball with his right hand and improbably switched to his left hand before flipping it in late during the fourth quarter, leaving the jaws of his teammates open in disbelief.
Turning Point of the 1991 NBA Finals
Game Four: Sunday, June 9, 1991
Chicago Bulls 97, Los Angeles Lakers 82
After stealing Game Three in overtime, Chicago came out focused and cruised to a Game Four victory that never felt close, essentially putting this series on ice as the Lakers looked old and cooked.
Surprising Bulls' Loss of the 1991 NBA Finals
Game 1: Sunday, June 2, 1991
Los Angeles Lakers 93, Chicago Bulls 91
Despite playing poorly and looking like a team that had never played in the NBA Finals, Chicago was up late in Game One before Perkins hit a dagger of a sidewinder three to give the Lakers a shocking win.
Iconic Moment of the 1991 NBA Finals
Game 2: Wednesday, June 5, 1991
Jordan's Impossible Layup
Words cannot describe this poetry in motion.
1992 NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls 4, Portland Trail Blazers 2
Best Game of the 1992 NBA Finals
Game 6: June 14, 1992
Chicago Bulls 97, Portland Trail Blazers 93
This series appeared to be heading to a Game 7 with the Blazers leading by 17 points at the end of the third quarter before Chicago stormed back in the fourth, beginning with Jordan on the bench, as Scottie Pippen and reserves Bobby Hansen, B.J. Armstrong, Stacey King and Scott Williams rallied the Bulls to a victory and back-to-back titles.
Underrated Game of the 1992 NBA Finals
Game 4: Wednesday, June 10, 1992
Portland Trail Blazers 93, Chicago Bulls 88
Chicago jumped on the Blazers quickly, with Portland's frustration evident when Jerome Kersey pushed teammate Danny Ainge, before Portland rallied in the second half to even the series at two games apiece.
Legendary Jordan Performance of the 1992 NBA Finals
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3, 1992
Chicago Bulls 122, Portland Trail Blazers 89
Jordan hit six threes in a first half during which he scored 35 of his game-high 39 points, famously shrugging to NBC announcer Magic Johnson about his sudden stroke from deep, as Chicago jumped out to a 1-0 series lead.
Turning Points of the 1992 NBA Finals
Game 3: Sunday, June 7, 1992
Chicago Bulls 94, Portland Trailblazers 84
Game 5: Friday, June 12, 1992
Chicago Bulls 119, Portland Trail Blazers 106
With the series tied at one and two games apiece, respectively, Portland had two home opportunities to go up on Chicago, but the Bulls controlled Games Three and Five, looking like the more composed, battle-tested and championship-worthy team.
Surprising Bulls' Loss in the 1992 NBA Finals
Game 2: Friday, June 5, 1992
Portland Trail Blazers 115, Chicago Bulls 104
Chicago seemed heading to a 2-0 lead in the series when Portland star Clyde Drexler fouled out halfway through the fourth quarter with the Bulls leading comfortably; however, Jordan got a technical that seemed to turn the momentum, with Portland rallying behind Danny Ainge and Kevin Duckworth to win in overtime.
Iconic Moment of the 1992 NBA Finals
Game 1: Wednesday, June 3, 1992
Jordan Shrugs to Magic after Hitting Another Three
At this point in Jordan's career, he was not known as a three-point shooter!
1993 NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls 4, Phoenix Suns 2
Best Game of the 1993 NBA Finals
Game 3: Sunday, June 13, 1993
Phoenix Suns 129, Chicago Bulls 121
Down 2-0 in the series, Phoenix needed three overtimes to finally get over the hump against the Bulls and keep any hopes of an NBA title alive.
Underrated Game of the 1993 NBA Finals
Game 1: Wednesday, June 9, 1993
Chicago Bulls 100, Phoenix Suns 92
Beginning the Finals on the road, Chicago came out like gangbusters, punching Phoenix in the mouth early, before the Suns woke up and made the game competitive, though it was ultimately too little, too late.
Legendary Jordan Performance of the 1993 NBA Finals
Game 4: Wednesday, June 16, 1993
Chicago Bulls 111, Phoenix Suns 105
With Phoenix back in the series after the Game 3 classic, Jordan put the Bulls on his back in Game Four, scoring 55 of the team's 111 points to give Chicago a commanding 3-1 lead.
Turning Point of the 1993 NBA Finals
Game 2: Friday, June 11, 1993
Chicago Bulls 111, Phoenix Suns 108
After winning Game One in Phoenix, Chicago did not rest on its laurels in Game Two, with Scottie Pippen blocking a Danny Ainge three late to secure the road victory and give the Bulls a 2-0 lead heading home for three straight games.
Surprising Bulls' Loss of the 1993 NBA Finals
Game 5: Friday, June 18, 1993
Phoenix Suns 108, Chicago Bulls 98
The city of Chicago was preparing to celebrate a three-peat, but Charles Barkley proclaimed before the game that the Bulls would not be clinching that night, proving right as the Suns dominated and Chicago continued to struggle at home during the 1993 NBA Finals.
Iconic Game/Moment of the 1993 NBA Finals
Game 6: Sunday, June 20, 1993
Chicago Bulls 99, Phoenix Suns 98
Like Game Six in the 1992 NBA Finals, this series seemed headed for a seventh game as Chicago went cold in the fourth quarter before John Paxson hit his legendary three to give the Bulls the lead and Horace Grant sealed the series and three-peat with his block of Kevin Johnson.
RSS Feed