1997 NBA Finals

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The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA Playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season. The Utah Jazz of the Western Conference took on the Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, so the first team to collect four game victories wins the series.

The Bulls won the series 4 games to 2. For the fifth time in as many Finals appearances, Bulls guard Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player of the series.

Contents 1 Background 2 Series scoring summary 3 1997 NBA Finals roster 3.1 1997 Chicago Bulls Playoff roster 3.2 1997 Utah Jazz Playoff roster 4 Schedule 5 Game 1 6 Game 2 7 Game 3 8 Game 4 9 Game 5: The Flu Game 10 Game 6 11 Quotes from the Finals 12 Trivia 13 See also 14 External links

[edit] Background

In the 1996–97 season, Michael Jordan led the Bulls to a 69–13 record. The Bulls reached the Finals after sweeping the Washington Bullets, and defeating both the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat four games to one. In 1996–97, Utah was led by John Stockton and Karl Malone, posting a franchise best 64–18 record. They reached the NBA Finals for the first time ever after sweeping the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, winning over the Los Angeles Lakers 4–1, and Houston Rockets 4–2 to meet the Bulls in the Finals. A clutch three-pointer at the buzzer by John Stockton over Charles Barkley in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals sent the Jazz to the NBA Finals. This shot remains one of the highlight shots of the Jazz franchise.

The series between the Bulls and Jazz featured two of the more memorable clutch efforts of Michael Jordan's career. He won Game 1 for the Bulls with a buzzer-beating jump shot. The Jazz would eventually fight the first four games to a 2–2 tie. In Game 5, Jordan scored 38 points despite suffering from a stomach virus that had rendered him feverish and dehydrated at the start of the game as the Bulls pulled out a 90-88 win at the Delta Center. The Bulls went home up 3-2 in the series and came from behind to win the contest 90–86 after Steve Kerr made the go-ahead basket, and then Scottie Pippen made a steal followed by when Toni Kukoč made the clinching dunk. The Bulls won the series in six games.

[edit] Series scoring summary

The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.

Team	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Wins
Utah (West)	82	85	104	78	88	86	2
Chicago (East)	84	97	93	73	90	90	4

[edit] 1997 NBA Finals roster

[edit] 1997 Chicago Bulls Playoff roster

Head Coach:Phil Jackson
Michael Jordan | Scottie Pippen | Dennis Rodman | Luc Longley | Steve Kerr | Jason Caffey | Ron Harper | Toni Kukoc | Brian Williams | Randy Brown | Robert Parish | Jud Buechler |

[edit] 1997 Utah Jazz Playoff roster

Head Coach:Jerry Sloan
Karl Malone | Jeff Hornacek | John Stockton | Bryon Russell | Antoine Carr | Greg Ostertag | Shandon Anderson | Howard Eisley | Chris Morris | Adam Keefe | Greg Foster | Stephen Howard |

[edit] Schedule

• Game 1 - June 1, Sunday @Chicago, Chicago 84, Utah 82: Chicago leads series 1-0
• Game 2 - June 4, Wednesday @Chicago, Chicago 97, Utah 85: Chicago leads series 2-0
• Game 3 - June 6, Friday @Utah, Utah 104, Chicago 93: Chicago leads series 2-1
• Game 4 - June 8, Sunday @Utah, Utah 78, Chicago 73: Series tied 2-2
• Game 5 - June 11, Wednesday @Utah, Chicago 90, Utah 88: Chicago leads series 3-2
• Game 6 - June 13, Friday @Chicago, Chicago 90, Utah 86: Chicago wins series 4-2

The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage's (Chicago's) home court (United Center).

[edit] Game 1

Sunday, June 1, at the United Center

Scottie Pippen was easily the most valuable player of the game. Despite having a foot injury earlier, he helped the Bulls to a 84-82 win over Utah on the Sunday night. Pippen scored 27 points while Jordan scored 31. The Bulls trailed 79-78 in the fourth quarter, yet were able to come back after Pippen blocked Antoine Carr's jumper shot and after an assist from Ron Harper when Pippen would make his third 3-pointer of the night. With the game tied, and only seconds remaining, Karl Malone was fouled and had a chance to give the Jazz the lead. But he missed both free throws and the Bulls rebounded and quickly called time-out. Scottie Pippen famously told Karl Malone that "the mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays" while Malone was at the free throw line with a chance to extend the Jazz's lead at the end of the game. With the game on the line, Chicago put the ball into the hands of Michael Jordan. M.J. dribbled out most of the waning seconds and then launched a 20 footer that swished in at the buzzer, as the Chicago Bulls took the first game of the 1997 NBA Finals.

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah	18	24	22	18	82
Chicago	17	21	24	22	84

[edit] Game 2

Wednesday, June 4, at the United Center

Michael Jordan simply dominated Game 2. Jordan scored 38 points. After a hard fought first quarter, the Bulls took control of the game with a 12-0 run in the second quarter with Michael Jordan whipping a great pass to Scottie Pippen for a one handed dunk. The Jazz's 31 points was only one above an NBA low. Karl Malone, who missed two key free throws in the last game, would have another bad night, going only 6 for 20 shooting. Dennis Rodman nailed a late 3-pointer to put the Bulls up 97-83. The game gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead.

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah	20	11	28	26	85
Chicago	25	22	31	19	97

[edit] Game 3

Friday, June 6, at the Delta Center

The Chicago Bulls would start off the first three quarters with mediocre play, despite Scottie Pippen tying the NBA Finals record with seven 3 pointers. Utah was led by Karl Malone who scored 37 points and had 10 rebounds. Chicago attempted a 4th quarter comeback, but ultimately Utah would win their first game of the series. The Jazz fans welcomed their prod Western Conferences champs with force. During the starting lineups of the Jazz, The Bulls players plugged their ears, due to the loud cheers and fireworks within the Delta Center. With the Bulls trailing by 24 points in the second quarter Michael Jordan threw down an alley oop slam which drew loud boos from the crowd.

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Chicago	22	23	15	33	93
Utah	31	30	15	27	104

[edit] Game 4

Sunday, June 8, at the Delta Center

At tight game with many lead changes throughout, the Jazz led by 5 at quarter time, trailed by 5 at halftime and the scores were tied going into the fourth quarter. The Bulls got back in front and late in the game Michael Jordan dunked to give the Bulls a 71-66 lead, but John Stockton made a massive 3-pointer at the top of the key to cut the Jazz' deficit to 71-69. Jordan made a jumper for the Bulls who took a 73-69 lead. The Jazz continued the fight back and pulled to within 1 when Stockton made 2 free throws. Then on the next possession John Stockton grabbed a rebound from a Jordan miss and threw a full court pass to Karl Malone for a layup which put the Jazz in front for the first time since early in the fourth quarter 74-73 which sent the crowd crazy. After some Bulls misses, Karl Malone made two free throws with 17 seconds left, despite taunting by Scottie Pippen to put the Jazz up by 3 points, helping them to tie the series. After Michael Jordan's 3-pointer which rattled in and out that would've tied the game for the Bulls, Stockton grabbed the rebound and threw another full court pass to Bryon Russell who escaped the intended foul and drove in and dunked in front of the roaring crowd. The Jazz had stolen the game with a 12-2 run. The Jazz fans grew so loud during the final moments of the game, that NBC's Marv Albert was hard to hear or understand. The 78-73 score was one of the lowest scores in NBA Finals history.

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Chicago	16	24	16	17	73
Utah	21	14	21	22	78

[edit] Game 5: The Flu Game

Wednesday, June 11, at the Delta Center

Game 5, often referred to as "The Flu Game", was one of Michael Jordan's most memorable. Just 24 hours earlier, on June 10, 1997, Michael Jordan woke up nauseated and sweating profusely. He hardly had the strength to sit up in bed and was diagnosed with a stomach virus or food poisoning. The Bulls trainers told Jordan that there was no way he could play in the game. The Jazz had just won two in a row to tie the series, and Chicago needed their leader in this critical swing game. Against all odds, Jordan rose from bed at 3:00 p.m., just in time for the 6:00 tip-off at the Delta Center.

Jordan was visibly weak and pale as he stepped onto the court for Game Five. At first, he displayed no energy whatsoever, and John Stockton, along with reigning MVP Karl Malone, quickly led the Jazz to a 16-point lead. But in the second quarter, Jordan started to sink shots despite lacking his usual explosive speed and hardly being able to concentrate. He scored 17 points in the quarter as the Bulls hit the front with a furious rally before halftime. The Jazz though reclaimed their lead and pushed it to 8 points early in the fourth quarter. But the Bulls went on a 10-0 run to take the lead again and the game would remain tight the rest of the way.

Luc Longley and Scottie Pippen did their best to keep the Bulls in the game while Jordan was fatigued again in the third. But Jordan turned it on again, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter. With less than a minute to go he was at the free throw line, he made the first but missed the second. But the Bulls got the offensive rebound and Jordan swished a three-point shot with the game tied and under a minute left that put the Bulls up by three points. Chicago then withstood a late Utah push and held on for a narrow victory when John Stockton missed the first of two free throws in front of the stunned crowd with an exhausted sweat-soaked Jordan briefly throwing two fists into the air as the buzzer sound.

Jordan finished the game with 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Malone was the highest-scoring Jazz player with 19 points but suffered from some dreadful shooting, throwing up an off balance airball on the possession prior to Jordan's big 3. Malone would finish the second half 1 for 6 from the field. Jordan stayed on the court for 44 minutes, resting for only four minutes while being perpetually at the brink of fainting. With only a few seconds remaining and the game finally at hand, Jordan collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms.

• Game Recap
• Box Score

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Chicago	16	33	18	23	90
Utah	29	24	19	16	88

[edit] Game 6

Friday, June 13, at the United Center

Game 6 could simply be remembered as the Shandon Anderson blunder show. Anderson missed several easy layups that could have easily forced a game 7. Michael Jordan was not fully recovered from the flu, but was feeling much better and led the Bulls with 39 points. Chicago struggled in the first half scoring just 37 points and 9 of 27 from 2 point range With the Bulls struggling in the third quarter Michael Jordan dunked after a steal, bringing the crowd to its feet and Jud Buechler buried a great 3 point shot to help give the Bulls the momentum. The Bulls trailed by 9 points early in the fourth quarter but went on a 10-0 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes when Steve Kerr hit a 3-pointer, but the Jazz would regain the lead and the game will remain one possession until the final score. In the final minutes, Jordan's fadeaway on the baseline put the Bulls up by 3, before Bryon Russell hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 86-86. The two teams would fail to score on their next possessions. With 28 seconds left after Shandon Anderson missed a reverse layup, the Jazz expected Jordan to take the final shot. Instead, Jordan passed off to Steve Kerr, who hit a jumper with 5 seconds left to send the United Center crowd into a frenzy. The Jazz looked for one final shot to stay alive, but Scottie Pippen made a massive defensive play as he knocked away Bryon Russell's inbound pass intended for Shandon Anderson and was able to pass the ball over to Toni Kukoc, who dunked the final 2 points of the game before the roaring crowd to bring the Finals to an end. Afterwards, Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP.

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah	23	21	26	16	86
Chicago	17	20	27	26	90

[edit] Quotes from the Finals

“

The mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays. — Scottie Pippen, to Jazz power forward Karl Malone before he took two free throws near the end of the first game. Karl Malone would later go on to miss the two key free throws with under a minute left in the fourth quarter, allowing the Bulls to keep the game tied with Jordan's heroic last shot winning the game.

”

• MJ, top of the circle, against Russell. Michael hangs, fires...SCORES! He knocked it in at the buzzer, Bulls win! How many times has he done that?-Bulls announcer Neil Funk after Jordan's jumper at the buzzer gave Chicago an 84-82 win in Game 1.

• Down to one, here's Jordan....YES! It is all over, the Chicago Bulls, have won, at the buzzer, in game 1 of the best of 7... - NBC commentator Marv Albert

• Stockton fires down to Malone....And the Jazz have taken a one point lead! - Marv Albert during a long pass from Stockton to Malone in Game 4}}

“

A courageous, classic performance by the flu-ridden Michael Jordan. - Marv Albert after Michael's improbable performance.

”

• Kerr, still with the dribble. Looking...dump to Pippen. Scottie, bumped by Shandon Anderson. Hand it to Michael. Six seconds (on the shot clock)...five. Michael, in traffic, to Kerr. Fifteen footer...YES! He knocked it in! Kerr buried the jumper, five seconds left! The Bulls lead is two! Stevie Kerr knocked it in! He took the pass from Michael and stuffed the jumper! Wow.-Neil Funk after Steve Kerr nailed a fifteen-foot jumper to give the Bulls an 88-86 lead in Game 6.

[edit] Trivia

• The Bulls won their second straight title from their first three-peat in similar fashion, winning Games 5 and 6 with the series tied 2–2, and clinching the series at home, like they did in the 1992 NBA Finals series with the Portland Trailblazers.
• Dennis Rodman became the first player in NBA history to win back-to-back titles with two different franchises.
• Rodman also drew criticism from Bulls fans and Jackson for skipping practice to become involved with World Championship Wrestling (he was subsequently fined by the NBA). Rodman was featured as a tag team partner of Hulk Hogan and an honorary member of the nWo. Hogan and Rodman teamed in a loss to Lex Luger and The Giant at the Bash at the Beach event, and teamed the following year in a victory over Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page.

[edit] See also

• 1997 NBA Playoffs

[edit] External links

• NBA History