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by: Chris Maynard
([email protected])
([email protected])
With an 87-75 victory against the Seattle SuperSonics during Game Six of the 1996 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls officially won their fourth title in six seasons and capped off one of the greatest seasons in professional basketball history.
With the 4-2 series victory against Seattle, Chicago improved at the time to 3-0 during Game Sixes of the NBA Finals. Chicago won its second and third titles during Game Sixes against the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns in the 1992 and 1993 NBA Finals, respectively. Chicago's first title came in five games against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1991 NBA Finals.
During Chicago's six championship seasons, the Bulls were 5-0 during Game Sixes, though the clinching victories were often quite difficult.
Make the jump to review my rankings of Chicago's Game Six victories during the 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals, from most difficult to least difficult.
With the 4-2 series victory against Seattle, Chicago improved at the time to 3-0 during Game Sixes of the NBA Finals. Chicago won its second and third titles during Game Sixes against the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns in the 1992 and 1993 NBA Finals, respectively. Chicago's first title came in five games against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1991 NBA Finals.
During Chicago's six championship seasons, the Bulls were 5-0 during Game Sixes, though the clinching victories were often quite difficult.
Make the jump to review my rankings of Chicago's Game Six victories during the 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals, from most difficult to least difficult.
Most Difficult Clincher: 1998 NBA Finals, Game Six
Chicago Bulls 87, Utah Jazz 86
With Scottie Pippen ailing with a bad back, Chicago seemed destined to blow a 3-1 lead and head to a seventh game in Utah before Michael Jordan took over the game in the final 41.9 seconds, scoring on a quick layup, stealing the ball from the blindside of Karl Malone, and then sizing up Bryon Russell for the game- and championship-clinching jumper off a crossover dribble. If Chicago loses this game and has to play Game 7 in Utah with a severely limited Pippen, the Bulls could have been in real trouble. It took 45 points from Jordan to seal the series.
Second Most Difficult Clincher: 1992 NBA Finals, Game Six
Chicago Bulls 97, Portland Trail Blazers 93
Trailing by 15 points entering the fourth quarter of Game Six of the 1992 NBA Finals, Chicago seemed destined for Game Seven, which would have at least been at home, before Scottie Pippen and an odd group of reserves - B.J. Armstrong, Bobby Hansen, Stacey King and Scott Williams - rallied the Bulls back to an improbable victory.
Next Most Difficult Clincher: 1997 NBA Finals, Game Six
Chicago Bulls 90, Utah Jazz 86
After stealing Game Five in Utah behind the heroic performance of a flu-ridden Jordan, Chicago rallied during the fourth quarter of a nip-and-tuck Game Six during which Steve Kerr hit the game-winning jumper. Of all of Chicago's Finals appearances, the 1997 NBA Finals was honestly the closest to a loss for the Bulls, with Games 1, 4, 5, and 6 all being decided in the last seconds.
Next Most Difficult Clincher: 1993 NBA Finals, Game Six
Chicago Bulls 99, Phoenix Suns 98
Chicago actually controlled the first three quarters of Game Six of the 1993 NBA Finals before a disastrous fourth quarter had Phoenix very close to forcing a Game Seven; however, foreshadowing Game Six of the 1998 NBA Finals, Chicago had a miraculous finish in the last minute, with Jordan making a layup, the Bulls forcing a shot-clock violation, John Paxson hitting a three and Horace Grant blocking Kevin Johnson at the horn.
Least Difficult Clincher: 1996 NBA Finals, Game Six
Chicago Bulls 87, Seattle SuperSonics 75
Chicago did not play all that well during Game Six of the 1996 NBA Finals, but the game was pretty comfortable from the middle of the third quarter to the finish as Jordan capped his return to the game of basketball with his fourth championship and the Bulls finished a series that was looking like it was going to be a sweep.
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