 |  |  |
By: Chris Maynard
([email protected])
([email protected])
After holding serve and winning the first two games of the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals within the friendly confines of the United Center, the Chicago Bulls prepared to battle the Orlando Magic in Game Three at the Orlando Arena, one of the toughest venues in all of the NBA at the time.
With the Bulls heading to Orlando for Games Three and Four during Memorial Day Weekend, I started thinking about a strange game earlier that season between the Bulls and Magic.
On Sunday, April 7, 1996, the Bulls visited Orlando, with the game broadcast on NBC at 2:30 p.m. Central Time. I remember sitting down and watching this game intently, as the Bulls were 65-8 at the time and trying to get to a record-breaking 70 wins.
With the playoffs around the corner, and the opponent being a Magic team that had eliminated the Bulls the prior playoffs, this game figured to be a big measuring stick for Chicago.
Ultimately, the Bulls defeated the Magic 90-86 on this day, though that was not the story of the game.
For once that season, the Bulls had to take a backseat as Orlando Magic star Shaquille O'Neal had returned after missing two games following the death of his grandmother. From what I remember, Shaq arrived late to the game, which was the dominating narrative throughout the first quarter. Looking back, Shaq was apparently there pregame but did not take a seat on the bench until there was 3:30 remaining in the first quarter.
I remember watching this game and getting a bit annoyed as all NBC Commentators Marv Albert and Matt Guokas talked about was Shaq's whereabouts. To me, this game was a preview of a certain playoff rematch between the Bulls and Magic and deserved more focus.
As the Bulls got out to a hot start, the discourse was all about Shaq, who would finally enter the game early in the second quarter. O'Neal's presence wouldn't matter as the Bulls seemingly controlled this game from start to finish.
Eighth-grade me was ecstatic that the Bulls had beaten Orlando on the road, giving me confidence Chicago could do so in the playoffs. I also got a sneaky suspicion that something was off with the Magic, specifically how the Shaq situation was handled, allowing him to play in this game. Whatever the circumstances regarding Shaq's mysterious late entry into the game, I felt very confident that Chicago would beat Orlando in the playoffs coming out of this contest.
Whereas the Bulls were laser-focused, the Magic seemed very distracted, which would portend good things for Chicago in the playoffs. Apparently, Head Coach Brian Hill did not want to put O'Neal in this game but was pressured to do so by Orlando's management. Was this the beginning of the end for Shaq in Orlando?
Read the description of this video from LamarMatic, apparently a Lamar Odom fan, for more detail on the Shaq drama from this game.
With the Bulls heading to Orlando for Games Three and Four during Memorial Day Weekend, I started thinking about a strange game earlier that season between the Bulls and Magic.
On Sunday, April 7, 1996, the Bulls visited Orlando, with the game broadcast on NBC at 2:30 p.m. Central Time. I remember sitting down and watching this game intently, as the Bulls were 65-8 at the time and trying to get to a record-breaking 70 wins.
With the playoffs around the corner, and the opponent being a Magic team that had eliminated the Bulls the prior playoffs, this game figured to be a big measuring stick for Chicago.
Ultimately, the Bulls defeated the Magic 90-86 on this day, though that was not the story of the game.
For once that season, the Bulls had to take a backseat as Orlando Magic star Shaquille O'Neal had returned after missing two games following the death of his grandmother. From what I remember, Shaq arrived late to the game, which was the dominating narrative throughout the first quarter. Looking back, Shaq was apparently there pregame but did not take a seat on the bench until there was 3:30 remaining in the first quarter.
I remember watching this game and getting a bit annoyed as all NBC Commentators Marv Albert and Matt Guokas talked about was Shaq's whereabouts. To me, this game was a preview of a certain playoff rematch between the Bulls and Magic and deserved more focus.
As the Bulls got out to a hot start, the discourse was all about Shaq, who would finally enter the game early in the second quarter. O'Neal's presence wouldn't matter as the Bulls seemingly controlled this game from start to finish.
Eighth-grade me was ecstatic that the Bulls had beaten Orlando on the road, giving me confidence Chicago could do so in the playoffs. I also got a sneaky suspicion that something was off with the Magic, specifically how the Shaq situation was handled, allowing him to play in this game. Whatever the circumstances regarding Shaq's mysterious late entry into the game, I felt very confident that Chicago would beat Orlando in the playoffs coming out of this contest.
Whereas the Bulls were laser-focused, the Magic seemed very distracted, which would portend good things for Chicago in the playoffs. Apparently, Head Coach Brian Hill did not want to put O'Neal in this game but was pressured to do so by Orlando's management. Was this the beginning of the end for Shaq in Orlando?
Read the description of this video from LamarMatic, apparently a Lamar Odom fan, for more detail on the Shaq drama from this game.
Make the jump to review the highlights of this April 7, 1996 game between the Bulls and Magic. I have always wanted to rewatch this game in its entirety but have never seen it fully posted on YouTube. Still, the highlights provide a good feel for the Shaq drama that dominated this game.
RSS Feed