Today's finals review profiles the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Could the Jazz break through and win their first NBA title? Or would Michael Jordan and Co. end their spectacular run with their sixth NBA title in eight years? Let's find out!

In the 1997 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz staged a tough battle for the NBA title. The series stretched to six games, and featured the expected moments (Michael Jordan's buzzer beater in game 1) to the classic (Jordan's flu game in game 5) to the unexpected (Steve Kerr hitting the game-winner in the deciding game 6). It may have been the toughest Finals the Bulls had ever been in. But the 1997-98 season held siginificance, because it was expected to be the Bulls' "Last Dance" as a unit; Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and coach Phil Jackson were all free agents after the season, and most expected some if not all to leave. Could the team of the 90s do it one more time?

The Jazz themselves had questions of their own; they had several mental breakdowns in their loss to the Bulls, and many wondered if the aging Jazz, in particular John Stockton and Karl Malone, could maintain their championship-caliber level. Those were just some of the questions that dominated the 1997-98 season.

The Bulls overcame an injury-plagued season from Pippen (he missed 38 games due to injury) and finished 62-20, their fifth 60-win season of the 1990s. Jordan won his third straight scoring title and tenth of his career (28.7 PPG) and won his fifth MVP, tying Bill Russell for second most all-time (behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's six). Jordan was All-NBA 1st Team and All-NBA 1st Team defense with Pippen. Rodman also won his seventh straight rebounding title (15 RPG). Meanwhile, the Jazz also finished 62-20 and won home court advantage by winning the season series with Chicago despite losing Stockton for 18 games with injury. Malone finished third in scoring (27 PPG) and Stockton fifth in assists (8.5 APG).

The Bulls' run to the title started off simple enough; they swept the New Jersey Nets 3 games to 0, then defeated the Charlotte Hornets 4 games to 1. But they got a serious scare from the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals. Buoyed by Reggie Miller and coached by former Celtics great (and 1998 Coach of the Year) Larry Bird, the Pacers extended the Bulls to seven games for only the second time during their run. In the end, a late-game collapse in game 7 allowed the Bulls to win 88-83 and advance to the Finals. The Jazz got an early scare from the Houston Rockets in round one, but won the series 3 games to 2, then stomped the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 1, and dominated the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep to return to the Finals. For the first time, the Bulls faced a return opponent, and for only the second time, they didn't have the home court advantage.

Game 1 at the Delta Center in Utah saw both teams fire blanks early; Chicago shot only 37% in the first quarter and Utah 35% as the teams were tied at 17. Utah eventually pulled out to a five-point halftime lead as Stockton scored four straight to end the half. With Jazz coach Jerry Sloan using six different players to defend Jordan, the MVP struggled, shooting only 2 for 7 in the third. The Jazz eventually built a 75-68 lead with 4:02 left in regulation when Chicago went to work; they tied the game at 75, and eventually forced overtime with the score knotted at 79. There, Stockton dominated, scoring seven of the Jazz' nine points in the period as the Jazz won 88-83. Jordan and Pippen scored 54 of the Bulls' 83 points (only one other Bull, Luc Longley, scored in double figures) while Stockton (24 points and 8 assists) and Malone (21 points, 14 rebounds) led Utah. Game 2 saw Jordan, Pippen and Toni Kukoc carry the Bulls' offense; they shot 62 of the Bulls' 80 field goal attempts, and scored 71 of their points (though Kukoc didn't score in the second half after scoring 13 in the first). The Jazz were sloppy in the game; they turned over the ball 20 times (leading to 33 Bulls points) and gave up 18 offensive rebounds (five each to Kukoc and Rodman) leading to 19 second-chance points. Though Utah took a late 86-85 lead, Chicago recovered and took a 93-88 decision behind Jordan's 37 points. The series was now tied at one heading back to Chicago.

Game 3 was a disaster of epic proportions for Utah. The Bulls played suffocating defense held Utah to 17 points or fewer in every period. Pippen scored 10 points to lead Chicago in the first half, while only Malone had any touch for the Jazz. Utah trailed 59-31 at halftime, and things only got worse in the second half; they scored a paltry 23 total points after the half. With Jordan scoring an efficient 24 points and Kukoc 16, the Bulls won in a 96-54 rout. The 54 points remains a record-worst for any team in the Finals, and after Malone's 22 points, no other Jazz player scored better than 8 points (Shandon Anderson). Game 4 was more competitive; Chicago led 39-37 at halftime behind Pippen hitting three triples. Chicago led by seven early in the fourth period before Utah rallied behind Stockton to take a 70-69 lead. Eventually, Jordan and (most improbably) Rodman held off the Jazz; Jordan scored three baskets and Rodman hit four free throws to allow Chicago to win 86-82. The Bulls now stood just one win away from another title.

However, the Jazz didn't go quietly. Game 5 saw Chicago take a lead early in the first half, as Jordan and Kukoc led the way, before settling into a 36-30 halftime lead. However, Malone took over in the third quarter; he scored 17 of the Jazz' 29 points and forced Rodman and Longley to the bench with four fouls each. The Jazz led by four after three, then rode a strong performance by reserve Antoine Carr (eight points in the fourth) and Malone's 39 points to win 83-81. The series shifted back to Utah for game 6, and the Bulls came out firing to a 17-6 lead early, only to see Utah go on a 17-5 run to take a 25-22 lead. In the second, Pippen left the game with a back injury (the same injury that affected him during the season) and wasn't effective when he returned. Though Jordan scored 15 in the period. Malone was very effective in the first half with 20 points, leading the Jazz to a 49-45 halftime lead. But he was held to 11 points in the second half as Rodman played tough defense. Utah still led by three after the third quarter (depsite two controversial calls that may have swung the game; a Howard Eisley shot called no good despite beating the 24-second clock, and a Ron Harper shot called good after the buzzer) and led 86-85 late when Jordan (who scored 16 points in the fourth) pulled one more magic trick out of his sleeve; he stole the ball from Malone, took the ball down court, and after juking out Bryon Russell, drained a jumper with five seconds left, prompting NBC commentator Bob Costas to quip "That may have been the final shot Michael Jordan will ever take in the NBA". When Utah couldn't get off a desperation heave, the Bulls won 87-86 to take the series four games to two. Jordan capped off the series by winning his record sixth Finals MVP. After the series, as expected, the Bulls were dismantled; Jordan and coach Jackson retired, Pippen was signed and traded to Houston, and Rodman signed with the Lakers, ending the NBA's preeminent dynasty of the 1990s.

1998 NBA Finals Leaders: Scoring per game
Chicago: Jordan, 33.5 PPG; Pippen, 15.7 PPG; Kukoc, 15.5 PPG
Utah: Malone, 25.0 PPG; Jeff Hornacek, 10.7 PPG; Stockton, 9.7 PPG

1998 NBA Finals Leaders: Rebounds per game
Chicago: Rodman, 8.3 RPG; Pippen, 6.8 RPG; Longley, 4.8 RPG
Utah: Malone, 10.5 RPG; Russell, 5.0 RPG; Adam Keefe, 3.4 RPG

1998 NBA Finals Leaders: Assists per game
Chicago: Pippen, 4.8 APG; Ron Harper, 2.8 APG; Kukoc, 2.7 APG
Utah: Stockton, 8.7 APG; Malone and Howard Eisley, 3.8 APG; Hornacek, 2.7 APG

In the NBA, many players are very conscious of their image and won't give teams any bulletin board material. Today's profilee is not one of those people. He was his biggest self-promoter, but nonetheless was a key defender and rebounder for five NBA title teams, and won two Defensive POYs and seven consequitve rebounding titles. He is "the Worm", Dennis Rodman.

Dennis Rodman was born May 13, 1961 in Trenton, New Jersey. His father left the family when Rodman was three, and the young man eventually grew up in the ghetto of Dallas, Texas, where he was listed on the high school team of South Oak Cliff High School, but rarely played. Rodman would attend Cooke County Community College, but he flunked out due to poor grades, and then attended Southeastern Oklahoma State, where he was a three-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American, averaging 25.7 PPG and 15.7 RPG. When he won MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational following his college days, he caught the eye of the Detroit Pistons, being selected with the third pick of the second round (27th overall) of the 1986 NBA Draft.

Rodman joined the Pistons at a critical time, as the team transformed from a finesse, offense-oriented team, to a tough, defensive minded team known as the "Bad Boys". Rodman had a pedestrain rookie season, with averages of 6.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG, and made more waves for calling Larry Bird overrated because he was white than for his play. Rodman steadily improved over time; he averaged 11.6 PPG (a career best) and 8.7 RPG in year two, and was a defensive standout off the bench during the Pistons' first title run in 1988-89. By his fourth year, Rodman got serious recognition, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1989-90 and earning his first of two All-Star selections (the other was in 1992), and helping Detroit repeat as champions.

In 1990-91, Rodman won his second straight Defensive POY, but the Pistons lost in the conference finals to the Chicago Bulls. As the aging "Bad Boys" began to decline, Rodman started to become a fearsome rebounder. In 1991-92, he averaged a staggering 18.7 RPG (the highest average since Wilt Chamberlain pulled in 19.2 RPG in 1971-72) and made his second All-Star team. However, by 1992-93, things began to fall apart personally for Rodman. The first blow came when coach Chuck Daly resigned in May 1992, causing Rodman to lose the man he looked at as a surrogate father. He then married and soon after divorced Annie Bakes, and by May 1993, he was found in his car with a loaded rifle. While this served as an epiphany for him personally, his relationship with the Pistons soured, and he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Sean Elliott.

Rodman played well on the court for the Spurs, winning the rebounding title in each of his two years there, and earning All-NBA 3rd Team honors in 1994-95. But he soon strained his relationship with Spurs management, and after that season, he was traded again, this time to the Bulls for Will Perdue and cash. Rodman gave the Bulls the needed toughness and rebounding void left by former Bull Horace Grant, even though his behavior left something to be desired; he appeared in a wedding dress to hype his autobiography, and headbutted a referee in March 1996, though he wasn't suspended. Rodman won yet another rebounding title with 14.9 RPG and helped Chicago to the greatest season in NBA history, with a record 72 regular season wins and another NBA title.

Rodman's next two seasons were less than ideal in many respects. He was suspended 11 games for kicking a camerman in Minnesota during January 1997, and he was less than effective during the 1996-97 season, despite another rebounding title. He also made several sabbaticals to wrestle for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) alongside pal Hulk Hogan, which earned him some scorn from people who thought he should focus on basketball. Still, Rodman remained a factor as the Bulls won two more NBA titles. After leaving the Bulls after the 1997-98 season, Rodman bounced around in his final two seasons, playing 23 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1998-99 and 12 games for the Dallas Mavericks the following year before NBA teams lost interest in him. While Rodman's bizarre behavior may turn some people off, there's no doubt that he will be remembered as a fierce rebounder and defensive presence who won five NBA titles and was a key cog on two of the greatest teams of all-time.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1986-87: 77 GP, 1 GS, 6.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 54.5 FG%, 58.7 FT%
1987-88: 82 GP, 32 GS, 11.6 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 56.1 FG%, 53.5 FT%
1988-89: 82 GP, 8 GS, 9.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 59.5 FG%, 62.6 FT%
1989-90: 82 GP, 43 GS, 8.8 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 0.9 APG, 58.1 FG%, 65.4 FT%
1990-91: 82 GP, 77 GS, 8.2 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 49.3 FG%, 63.1 FT%
1991-92: 82 GP, 80 GS, 9.8 PPG, 18.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 53.9 FG%, 60.0 FT%
1992-93: 62 GP, 55 GS, 7.5 PPG, 18.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 42.7 FG%, 53.4 FT%
1993-94: 79 GP, 51 GS, 4.7 PPG, 17.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 53.4 FG%, 52.0 FT%
1994-95: 49 GP, 26 GS, 7.1 PPG, 16.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 57.1 FG%, 67.6 FT%
1995-96: 64 GP, 57 GS, 5.5 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 48.0 FG%, 52.8 FT%
1996-97: 55 GP, 54 GS, 5.7 PPG, 16.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 44.8 FG%, 56.8 FT%
1997-98: 80 GP, 66 GS, 4.7 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 43.1 FG%, 55.0 FT%
1998-99: 23 GP, 11 GS, 2.1 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 34.8 FG%, 43.6 FT%
1999-2000: 12 GP, 12 GS, 2.8 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 1.2 APG, 38.7 FG%, 71.4 FT%

Today's NBA Finals review takes us back to the 1996 Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Seattle Supersonics. These two teams combined for the most wins ever by opponents in the Finals (136 regular season wins between them), but who would emerge as champion? Let's find out!

The Chicago Bulls were the preeminent team of the early 1990s, winning three straight titles from 1991-93 behind the brilliance of Michael Jordan. Then, Jordan retired from the team, and the Bulls slipped a notch. By the middle of the 1994-95 season, they were barley above average when Jordan decided to return to the game. Jordan sparked the Bulls into the second round of the 1995 playoffs, but made critical mistakes as the Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in six games. Could Jordan and his mates rebound in 1995-96?

Meanwhile, the Seattle Supersonics had demons of their own. After coming within one game of the 1993 NBA Finals, the Sonics had been eliminated from the postseason in round one in each of the two previous years. In 1994, they were the first #1 seed ever eliminated by the #8 seed (Denver Nuggets), then squabbled and floundered in losing to the Los Angeles Lakers a year later. Could Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton lead their team from under such a dark cloud?

Both teams responded with brilliant campaigns in 1995-96. The Bulls set a new NBA record with a sizzling 72-10 regular season, bettering the previous record for wins (the 1971-72 Lakers) by three wins. Jordan won the scoring title for a record eighth time with a 30.4 PPG average and also won All-Star game and regular season MVP honors. Three Bulls (Jordan, Scottie Pippen and newcomer Dennis Rodman) were All-NBA 1st Team Defensive players, and Rodman won his fifth straight rebounding title. The Sonics weren't too shabby, either, winning a Western Conference best 64 games. Payton won the Defensive Player of the Year award, and Kemp averaged a then-career best 19.6 PPG and 11.4 RPG (fifth in rebounds).

In the playoffs, the Bulls were barely challenged; they rolled over the Miami Heat 3-0, stomped the New York Knicks 4 games to one, and in a rematch with the Magic, the Bulls showed no mercy, sweeping them 4-0 and basically ending the Magic's run of dominance over the East, as Shaquille O'Neal would leave the team after the series. The Sonics beat the Sacramento Kings 3-1 in round one, swept the two-time defending champion Houston Rockets 4-0, and beat the Utah Jazz in a tense seven-game series to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1979.

In game 1 of the Finals, the Bulls used an early 14-4 run to take a nine point lead. The Sonics rallied, but Jordan then went to work, scoring 12 points in the finals 7 1/2 minutes to secure a 53-48 halftime lead. The third quarter saw an ugly incident as Frank Brickowski was ejected for arguing a flagrant foul he committed against Rodman. But the Sonics rallied behind a combined 23 points in the period by Kemp and Detlef Schrempf to cut Chicago's lead to two. But the Bulls started the 4th with 14-5 run, with ten of the points scored by Sixth Man of the Year Toni Kukoc, to seal a 107-90 victory. Game 2 was an ugly affair; after a first half which saw the Bulls ahead 46-45, Kukoc and Rodman had excellent third quarters, as Kukoc hit two big three pointers, and Rodman had eight points and ten rebounds (seven offensive) in the period, giving the Bulls an eleven point lead. The Sonics were kept in it as Jordan struggled from the field and the Bulls missed 14 of their 42 free throws. With Kemp leading the way with 29 points, the Sonics closed within three late in the game, but they couldn't control a rebound of a Pippen missed free throw, and Rodman hit a freebie to seal the game for the Bulls 92-88. The Bulls now had a 2-0 lead going back to the Pacific Northwest.

Game 3 was dominated by Chicago for the most part, as Jordan attoned for his poor game 2 with 12 points and five assists in the 1st period. Kukoc, starting the game for the injured Ron Harper, wasn't as hot as he had been the previous games, but did score 14, and Luc Longley had 19 points and seven rebounds as the Bulls led by 24 at halftime (62-38). The Sonics briefly rallied to within 14 by the end of three, but didn't get no closer as the Bulls won in a rout 108-86. The game saw Brickowski get ejected once again for arguing a flagrant foul he committed against Rodman, and it looked grim for the Sonics. With visions of a sweep in many people's heads, the Sonics rallied for an inspiring win in game 4. Payton had his first big offensive game with 21 points, and Kemp had 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Sonics led 53-32 at halftime. The Bulls would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way as Seattle won 107-86 to stave off elmination. But Seattle faced the reality that no team had ever won an NBA playoff series down 3-0. Could they break that trend?

Game 5 saw the Sonics' defense shine; Chicago shot a horrific 3-23 from three point range, and shoot just 29-77 form the field the entire game. Nonetheless, the game was tight throughout until the fourth, when the Sonics made an 11-0 run to take a thirteen-point lead. The Bulls did cut the lead to 84-78, but Jordan missed a chance to cut into the lead further, and Seattle hung on to win 89-78. But game 6 saw the end of the Sonics' hopes for a miracle; Jordan scored 6 points, grabbed 6 boards, and had 3 assists as Chicago led 24-18 after one quarter. The Bulls led by as many as 12 during the second despite Jordan and Pippen being held scoreless for the period. After leading by seven at the half, the Bulls used a 12-2 run during the third to take a 64-47 lead before the Sonics rallied to trail by only nine after three. But they wouldn't overtake the Bulls, especially after Kemp fouled out with 4:39 to go in the game. The Bulls won 87-75 to claim their fourth NBA title in six years. Jordan won Finals MVP and became the first player since Willis Reed in 1970 to win all three major MVP awards in the same season. And once again, the NBA faced a dreaded scene; the Bulls were back on top of the NBA mountain!

1996 NBA Finals leaders: Points per game
Chicago: Jordan, 27.3 PPG; Pippen, 15.7 PPG; Kukoc, 13.0 PPG
Seattle: Kemp, 23.3 PPG; Payton, 18.0 PPG; Schrempf, 16.3 PPG

1996 NBA Finals leaders: Rebounds per game
Chicago: Rodman, 14.7 RPG; Pippen, 8.2 RPG; Jordan, 5.3 RPG
Seattle: Kemp, 10.0 RPG; Payton, 6.0 RPG; Schrempf, 5.0 RPG

1996 NBA Finals leaders: Assists per game
Chicago: Pippen, 5.3 APG; Jordan, 4.2 APG; Kukoc, 3.5 APG
Seattle: Payton, 7.0 APG; Schrempf, 2.5 APG; Kemp, 2.2 APG

Today's profilee has been profiled by countless people, but as the headliner of the potential Hall of Fame candidate, he will be profiled again! He is a five-time former MVP, ten-time scoring champion, a former Defensive POY, a former Rookie of the Year, a 14-time All-Star, and most importantly, a six-time NBA champion (and six-time Finals MVP!). He is considered the greatest player in NBA history. He is Michael Jordan!

Michael Jordan was born Feburary 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was little, and young Jordan grew up to love sports. At Emsley Laney High School in Wilmington, Jordan played baseball, football and basketball, but when he initally tried out for the varsity basketball team as a sophomore, he was cut because the team deemed him too short to be effective. Jordan grew four inches by his junior year, and after making the team, he averaged over 20 PPG each of his two years on the team. He earned McDonald's All-America honors after averaging a triple-double (29.2 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 10.1 APG). Jordan then took an athletic scholarship at the University of North Carolina to play for legendary college coach Dean Smith.

As a freshman on a loaded Tar Heels team (which included James Worthy and Sam Perkins), Jordan jumped into the national spotlight when he hit a medium-range jumper to help North Carolina beat Georgetown (and future adversary Patrick Ewing) 63-62 and give Smith his first national title. Jordan's next two seasons were spectacular, culminating in his winning the John Wooden and Naismith awards as a junior (for college POY) in 1983-84. After his junior year, Jordan declared for the 1984 NBA Draft, but not before he claimed a gold medal for the United States in the Olympics that year. He would be selected third overall (after Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie) by the Chicago Bulls, who were struggling on and off the court.

As a rookie, Jordan lifted the Bulls out of the doldrums, averaging 28.2 PPG and increasing their win total from 27 in 1983-84 to 38 and the playoffs, where they lost to Milwaukee in four games. For this, Jordan won Rookie of the Year honors and became the first rookie to start in the All-Star game since Magic Johnson in 1980. His second year saw him suffer a devestating foot injury that sidelined him for 64 games. When he returned, the Bulls strictly limited his minutes, sometimes to their detriment, until they limped into the playoffs at 30-52, the second-worst record to qualify ever (82 game season). Though the Bulls were swept by the Boston Celtics, Jordan put on a performance for the ages in game 2 at Boston, scoring a playoff-record 63 points in a double-overtime loss. After the game, Celtic star Larry Bird said 'It was God disguised as Michael Jordan". It was a harbinger of things to come.

Jordan's third season was one of the greatest offensive and defensive years of all time; in addition to scoring 37.1 PPG and over 3,000 points for the season (the average is the second highest ever, and he joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to score 3,000+ points), he managed 200 steals and 100 blocks. Despite this, he had little talent around him, and he ran into a roadblock; the Detroit Pistons of the late 80s, a group of players known as the "Bad Boys". The Pistons beat the Bulls each year from 1988-1990, twice in the conference finals, as Jordan didn't trust his teammates enough to pass the ball, which made the Pistons' "Jordan Rules" work effectively even when players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant were added.

By the 1989-90 season, Jordan's greatness was questioned as the Bulls were beaten again by the Piston in the conference finals. Jordan didn't conform with new coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense, and after a bitter loss in game 7 of the series, he vowed never again to lose to the Pistons. The fruits of that dedication came in the 1990-91 season, where the Bulls rolled to a 61-21 record and Jordan won his second MVP (the other had come in 1988; he would add three more MVPs in 1992, 1996 and 1998). In the playoffs, the Bulls went 15-2, sweeping the Knicks, smashing the 76ers 4-1, and finally exorcising their Piston demons with a four-game sweep. In the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago lost the first game at home, then won the next four for their first ever title. Jordan was the unanimous Finals MVP, and thew victory put aside all doubts about his ability to lead a team. The Bulls were now the leaders of the NBA, and Jordan led them to two more NBA titles, winning Finals MVP both times. In the first game of the 1992 Finals, in his matchup with Clyde Drexler's Portland Trail Blazers, he hit six threes in the first half (tying the then-Finals record) and scored 35 points to break Elgin Baylor's playoff record as the Bulls won the title in six games. After leading the Bulls to a third straight title (and winning his seventh scoring title to tie Chamberlain's record), Jordan shockingly retired after his father was murdered in North Carolina.

Jordan decided to try and play minor league baseball in 1994, and while the stats weren't spectacular (a .202 batting average for the Birmingham Barons), he called the experience theraputic emotionally. After refusing to be a replacement player during the baseball strike in 1995, Jordan announced his return to the NBA. He sparked the Bulls into the playoffs and to an upset over the Charlotte Hornets before he stumbled against the Orlando Magic; he had a turnover that proved costly in game one, and even after he donned #23 again (he had worn #45 during his comeback), the Bulls lost the series in six games. After the series, Jordan rededicated himself to the game, and with the addition of Dennis Rodman, the Bulls had the greatest season in NBA history, winning a record 72 games as Jordan returned to the top as league MVP and scoring champ. The Bulls beat the Heat (3-0), Knicks (4-1), and the Magic 4-0 in Shaquille O'Neal's last game with the team, then defeated Seattle 4-2 to regain the NBA title. Jordan became the first player since Willis Reed in 1969-70 to win regular season, All-Star game, and Finals MVP in the same season. The Bulls ran off with another three-peat, with Jordan's first defining moment coming in game 5 of the 1997 Finals against the Utah Jazz. With the series tied at three and Jordan ailing from the flu, he delivered a vintage performance, scoring 38 points and leading the Bulls to a 90-88 win and the title in game 6. His second defining performance came in what many expected to be his last pro game (game 6 of the 1998 Finals) where, after stealing the ball from Karl Malone, Jordan hit the Finals-winning shot over Bryon Russell. The title was the Bulls' sixth of the decade, the most since Boston won nine titles in the 1960s. During the lockout that followed the season, with the Bulls being dismantled, Jordan decided to retire again, and he was "99.9% sure" it would stick. It didn't.

Three seasons later, during the 2001-02 season, Jordan made his third NBA comeback, this time with the Washington Wizards, where he was hired to run the basketball operations on January 19, 2000. Jordan's second comeback was only moderately successful; though he led the team in scoring, assists and steals during his first season, he only played 60 games, the fewest since 1985-86, and he announced that the 2002-03 season would be his final season. He averaged 20 PPG and started 67 of 82 games and scored 40+ points in a game three times. After the season, Jordan retired for good. He had scored 32,393 points (30.1 PPG, third in points as of 2008-09) and is eligible for the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Michael Jordan earned his place among the best NBA players of all time, and among the greatest winners of all-time.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1984-85: 82 GP, 82 GS, 28.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 51.5 FG%, 84.5 FT%, 17.3 3P%
1985-86: 18 GP, 7 GS, 22.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 45.7 FG%, 84.0 FT%, 16.7 3P%
1986-87: 82 GP, 82 GS, 37.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.6 APG, 48.2 FG%, 85.7 FT%, 18.2 3P%
1987-88: 82 GP, 82 GS, 35.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 53.5 FG%, 84.1 FT%, 13.2 3P%
1988-89: 81 GP, 81 GS, 32.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, 53.8 FG%, 85.0 FT%, 27.6 3P%
1989-90: 82 GP, 82 GS, 33.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 52.6 FG%, 84.8 FT%, 37.6 3P%
1990-91: 82 GP, 82 GS, 31.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 53.9 FG%, 85.1 FT%, 31.2 3P%
1991-92: 80 GP, 80 GS, 30.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 51.9 FG%, 83.2 FT%, 27.0 3P%
1992-93: 78 GP, 78 GS, 32.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.5 APG, 49.5 FG%, 83.7 FT%, 35.2 3P%
1993-94: did not play (retired)
1994-95: 17 GP, 17 GS, 26.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.3 APG, 41.1 FG%, 80.1 FT%, 50.0 3P%
1995-96: 82 GP, 82 GS, 30.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 49.5 FG%, 83.4 FT%, 42.7 3P%
1996-97: 82 GP, 82 GS, 29.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.3 APG, 48.6 FG%, 83.3 FT%, 37.4 3P%
1997-98: 82 GP, 82 GS, 28.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 46.5 FG%, 78.4 FT%, 23.8 3P%
1998-99: did not play (retired)
1999-2000: did not play (retired)
2000-01: did not play (retired)
2001-02: 60 GP, 53 GS, 22.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 41.6 FG%, 79.0 FT%, 18.9 3P%
2002-03: 82 GP, 67 GS, 20.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, 44.5 FG%, 82.1 FT%, 29.1 3P%

 

There is one more profilee to come in my Hall of Fame tribute this week; Michael Jordan, the best player of his generation. To keep people interested until tomorrow, here's is a review of Air Jordan's first trip to the Finals in 1991, and the matchup of the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Michael Jordan entered his seventh season in 1990-91 as the NBA's premier individual player. He had won a league MVP, four straight scoring titles, and even a Defensive Player of the Year. But for all of his great individual deeds, the Chicago Bulls were always the bridesmaid and never the bride. The previous two years had been particuarly painful; the Bulls lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the physical Detroit Pistons. Jordan didn't mesh well with the new offense first-year coach Phil Jackson employed, and it became clear that things needed to change for the Bulls to realize their potential.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the Los Angeles Lakers were the team of the 1980s, winning five NBA titles with their blazing "Showtime" offense. By 1990-91, however, many wondered if their time had passed; the team was beaten in the second round of the 1990 playoffs, and legendary coach Pat Riley resigned. In his place stepped Mike Dunleavy, who was only five years removed from being a full-time player. Dunleavy wanted to change the team's style, scrapping the running style in favor of more post-ups of stars Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and newcomer Sam Perkins. Could the Lakers remain a power in the West with Portland, the defending conference champs, looming and an overhaul on the horizon?

For the Bulls, the 1990-91 season went swimmingly, as they won 61 games and claimed their first ever Central division title. Jordan would win his second league MVP and, more importantly, trusted Jackson's offense enough to allow it to run properly. The Lakers, meanwhile, got off to their worst start since 1978 before eventually finishing 58-24, losing the Pacific to the Portland Trail Blazers, their first time losing the division since 1981. In the playoffs, the Bulls rampaged through their first two opponents, sweeping the New York Knicks and beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1. In a third straight conference finals rematch against Detroit, the Bulls showed no mercy, sweeping the battered Pistons 4-0 (Jordan predicted as much) and moved on to their first NBA Finals. The Lakers swept the Houston Rockets 3-0, eliminated the Golden State Warriors 4-1, and outwiled the Blazers 4-2, with Magic Johnson showing his savvy on the court, tossing the ball down the court after a Terry Porter miss to run out most of the clock in the deciding game. The league had a real showcase matchup for their first NBA Finals on the NBC network; Magic vs Michael.

Game 1 was played at a Lakers-style pace; primarily a half-court style that used most of the shot clock. While Jordan domianted early with 15 1st quarter points, the Laker frontcourt of Worthy, Perkins and Vlade Divac dominated the Bulls frontcourt, outscoring them in game 1 60-31. Magic, meanwhile, waited until the 3rd quarter to deal scoring damage, hitting a last-second shot and a pair of threes to give L.A. a 75-68 lead going into the 4th. The Bulls eventually surged ahead 91-89 before the Lakers showed their veteran poise; Johnson found Perkins wide open for a three, and Perkins hit it, giving L.A. the lead. Jordan had a chance to score, but he missed, and the Lakers stunned Chicago 93-91 to take the home-court advantage. Game 2 wasn't close after halftime; the Bulls decided to have Scottie Pippen guard Magic, saving Jordan's energy for the offensive end. After scoring just two points in the 1st half, Jordan hit 13 straight shots in the second half (including a breathtaking layup that lives on in replays) to put Chicago ahead to stay. The Bulls won 107-86 to even the series, but experts felt L.A. still had the advantage going back to the Forum for three games.

Game 3 was a game of runs; the Bulls dominated the paint in this game, and the Lakers set a Finals record-low for rebounds, but the game was tight until the 3rd, when L.A. outscored Chicago 18-2 to take a thirteen point lead. The Bulls countered with a 20-7 run to tie the game at 74. The final sequence of regulation was hectic; after Horace Grant gave the Bulls a 90-87 lead, Perkins hit a layup, then Divac scored on a fumbled ball and was fouled; his free throw gave the Lakers a 92-90 lead and led to Pippen fouling out. But Jordan made amends for his game 1 failure; he hit a jumper over Byron Scott with 3.7 seconds left to force overtime, where he then scored 6 of the Bulls' 12 points to help Chicago win 104-96. Game 4 saw L.A. lead 28-27, the first time the Bulls trailed after the 1st in the 1991 playoffs, but Chicago rallied and smothered the Lakers' offense, holding them to 37% shooting for the game and to 12 for 41 shooting in the second and third quarters. With both Worthy and Scott leaving with injuries that would sideline them for game 5, the Bulls won 97-82, taking a 3-1 lead over the stunned Lakers.

In game 5, Dunleavy rode his horses hard; only seven players played for the Lakers in the game, and they hung tough with Chicago through three quarters, with the game being tied at 80 after three. In the fourth, Jordan passed his final test, as he deferred the late game offense to Pippen and John Paxson. Pippen led the Bulls with 32 points, and Paxson scored 10 points in the final 3:54 of the game to help Chicago seal it 108-101 and take their first NBA title 4 games to 1. Jordan won the Finals MVP without a dissenting vote, and the victory finally ended the debate of his greatness; he was now the dominant force over the NBA.

1991 NBA Finals leaders: Points per game
Chicago: Jordan, 31.2 PPG; Pippen, 20.8 PPG; Grant, 14.6 PPG
L.A. Lakers: Worthy, 19.3 PPG; E. Johnson, 18.6 PPG; Perkins, 16.6 PPG

1991 NBA Finals leaders: Rebounds per game
Chicago: Pippen, 9.4 RPG; Grant, 7.8 RPG; Jordan, 6.6 RPG
L.A. Lakers: Divac, 8.8 RPG; E. Johnson, 8.0 RPG; Perkins, 7.6 RPG

1991 NBA Finals leaders: Assists per game
Chicago: Jordan, 11.4 APG; Pippen, 6.6 APG; Paxson, 3.4 APG
L.A. Lakers: E. Johnson, 12.4 APG; Divac and Worthy, 2.0 APG; Scott, 1.8 APG 

Today is Valentine's Day. And in that mold, the Zone has decided to spread a little love in the air. Actually, it's a profile of one of the great players from the early history of the Chicago Bulls. He is Bob Love!

Bob Love was born December 8, 1942 in Bastrop, Louisiana. He starred at Morehouse High School in Bastrop, Love attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There, he became a two-time All-American (1963 and 1965). He was selected in the fourth round (29th player selected overall) in the 1965 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, but didn't make the team. He spent the 1965-66 season with the Eastern Basketball League, where he won their Rookie of the Year with a 25 PPG average.

One year later, Love tried out again with the Royals, and this time, he stuck. His two years in Cincinnati (as a reserve) produced only modest statistics; he averaged 6.5 PPG and 3.5 RPG during his tenure. After the 1967-68 season, Love was exposed and selected in the Expansion Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Later that season, the Buck traded him to the Chicago Bulls, where he would begin to build a legacy as a high scorer as the Bulls began to become a contender in the Western Conference.

Love's first full season in Chicago (1969-70) saw him average over 20 PPG for the first of six straight seasons (career best of 25.8 PPG in 1971-72). He made the first of three All-Star teams in 1971 (he also made it in 1972 and 1973), and also averaged at least 6 RPG each year in Chicago. Love also was a solid defender, making the All-Defensive 2nd Team in 1974 and 1975. Love led the Bulls to the Western Conference Finals in 1975, the last time the team made the conference finals until 1989.

Love spent his final season on three teams, as the Bulls traded him to the New York Nets, who then sent him to the Seattle Supersonics, where he finished the 1976-77 season before retiring. For his career, he scored 13,895 points (17.6 PPG career) and grabbed 4,653 rebounds (5.9 RPG), and his number 10 was retired by the Bulls (the second one retired by the franchise).

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1966-67: 66 GP, 6.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.7 APG, 42.9 FG%, 63.3 FT%
1967-68: 72 GP, 6.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 42.4 FG%, 68.4 FT%
1968-69: 49 GP, 5.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.3 APG, 39.7 FG%, 74.0 FT%
1969-70: 82 GP, 21.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 46.6 FG%, 84.2 FT%
1970-71: 81 GP, 25.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 44.7 FG%, 82.9 FT%
1971-72: 79 GP, 25.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 44.2 FG%, 78.4 FT%
1972-73: 82 GP, 23.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 43.1 FG%, 82.4 FT%
1973-74: 82 GP, 21.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 41.7 FG%, 81.8 FT%
1974-75: 61 GP, 22.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 42.9 FG%, 83.0 FT%
1975-76: 76 GP, 19.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 39.0 FG%, 80.1 FT%
1976-77: 59 GP, 7.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 37.9 FG%, 82.6 FT%

The next week will be a special week for the player profiles. Instead of the traditional player career-only profiles, we will spotlight head coaches who also had a playing career, and will highlight both aspects of their careers. The first coach to be spotlighted is the longest tenured coach in modern professional sports, the Utah Jazz' Jerry Sloan.

Jerry Sloan was born March 28, 1942 in McLeansboro, Illinois. He attended McLeansboro High School, then went on to attend the University of Evansville (Div. II school) in 1961. During his four years there, he average 15.5 PPG, leading Evansville to two appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, earning All-America honors as a senior. The Baltimore Bullets selected him as a junior eligible in 1964, but Sloan stayed in college (this was the same rule the Celtics used to draft Larry Bird in 1978, and the rule has since been removed). The Bullets eventually snagged Sloan with the sixth overall pick in the 1965 NBA Draft.

Sloan had a decent rookie season, averaging 5.7 PPG and 3.9 RPG in limited minutes. However, the Bullets left him exposed in the expansion draft after his rookie season, and he was the first player taken by the team drafting alone in that draft, the Chicago Bulls. This earned Sloan the nickname "The Original Bull". Sloan became a solid player for the young Bulls, leading the team to the playoffs in their first two seasons, and between 1966-67 and 1971-72, Sloan averaged at least 13.3 PPG and 7.0 RPG as the Bulls became a contender in short order in the Western Division/Conference. Sloan earned two All-Star berths (1967 and 1969), was named to four All-NBA Defensive 1st teams (1969, 1972, 1974-75), and led Chicago to the 1975 Western Conference Finals before retiring after the following season.

Sloan got into scouting with the Bulls immediately following his retirement, then became an assistant coach in 1977. In 1979, he was named head coach of the Bulls, but was only moderately successful; he led the Bulls to a playoff series win in 1980-81, but was only 94-121 before being fired 50 games into the 1981-82 season. He spent the following year as a Utah Jazz scout, then coached the CBA's Evansville Thunder before returing to Utah as an assistant in 1984 to coach Frank Layden. Seventeen games into the 1988-89 season, Layden retired and ceded the reigns to Sloan. It was the beginning of a long-term relationship.

Sloan had the good fortune to coach the Jazz during the peak years of future Hall-of-Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone, but Sloan also put his stamp on the Jazz; they were a reflection of Sloan the player in that they were physical, intense and detail-oriented. As of the 2008-09 season opener, the Jazz have had twelve season of better than 50 wins (three of 60 or more), have won six division titles, made the playoffs in seventeen out of twenty seasons, and made the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, losing to the Bulls both times. He has finished runner-up in the Coach of the Year twice, and is the only coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one team, achieving this on November 7, 2008 against Oklahoma City. Such is the profile of Jerry Sloan; a man of simplicity, who has done the most he can with any team he's been given.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Player):
1965-66: 59 GP, 5.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 41.5 FG%, 70.5 FT%
1966-67: 80 GP, 17.4 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.2 FG%, 79.6 FT%
1967-68: 77 GP, 13.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 38.5 FG%, 74.9 FT%
1968-69: 78 GP, 16.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, 41.7 FG%, 74.5 FT%
1969-70: 53 GP, 15.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 42.1 FG%, 65.1 FT%
1970-71: 80 GP, 18.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 44.1 FG%, 71.5 FT%
1971-72: 82 GP, 16.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 44.4 FG%, 66.0 FT%
1972-73: 69 GP, 10.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 41.1 FG%, 70.7 FT%
1973-74: 77 GP, 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 44.7 FG%, 71.1 FT%
1974-75: 78 GP, 12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.9 FG%, 74.8 FT%
1975-76: 22 GP, 10.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 40.0 FG%, 70.5 FT%

Season-by-Season Statistical Review (Coach): (Regular season record first, then playoff record and final result)
1979-89 Chicago: 30 Wins, 52 Losses (did not make playoffs)
1980-81 Chicago: 45 Wins, 37 Losses (2-4, lost conf. semifinals)
1981-82 Chicago: 19 Wins, 32 Losses (fired after 51 games)
1988-89 Utah: 40 Wins, 25 Losses (0-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1989-90 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1990-91 Utah: 54 Wins, 28 Losses (4-5, lost conf. 1st round)
1991-92 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (9-7, lost conf. finals)
1992-93 Utah: 47 Wins, 35 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1993-94 Utah: 53 Wins, 29 Losses (8-8, lost conf. finals)
1994-95 Utah: 60 Wins, 22 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
1995-96 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (10-6, lost conf. finals)
1996-97 Utah: 64 Wins, 18 Losses (13-7, lost NBA Finals)
1997-98 Utah: 62 Wins, 20 Losses (13-7, lost NBA Finals)
1998-99 Utah: 37 Wins, 13 Losses (5-6, lost conf. semifinals)
1999-2000 Utah: 55 Wins, 27 Losses (4-6, lost conf. semifinals)
2000-01 Utah: 53 Wins, 29 Losses (2-3, lost conf. 1st round)
2001-02 Utah: 44 Wins, 38 Losses (1-3, lost conf. 1st round)
2002-03 Utah: 47 Wins, 35 Losses (1-4, lost conf. 1st round)
2003-04 Utah: 42 Wins, 40 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2004-05 Utah: 26 Wins, 56 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2005-06 Utah: 41 Wins, 41 Losses (did not make playoffs)
2006-07 Utah: 51 Wins, 31 Losses (9-8, lost conf. finals)
2007-08 Utah: 54 Wins, 28 Losses (6-6, lost conf. semifinals)
2008-09 Utah: 48 Wins, 34 Losses (1-4, lost conf. 1st round)

Occasionally here in Player Profiles, I like to profile players who maybe didn't have a stellar career, but who nonetheless had productive NBA tenures. Today is one of those days. Today, we will focus on a player in the middle, literally, of the first Chicago Bulls three-peat in the early 1990s, center Bill Cartwright.

Bill Cartwright was born July 30, 1957 in Lodi, California. He attended Elk Grove High School, then attended the University of San Francisco, where he became the school's most accomplished center since Bill Russell. The Dons won at least 22 games in each of Cartwright's four years there, as he averaged double-double numbers in his junior and senior seasons (highs of 24.5 PPG and 15.7 RPG as a senior). Cartwright led the Dons to the Sweet Sixteen in both 1978 and 1979, and left as San Francisco's all-time leading scorer. He was then drafted #3 overall (behind Magic Johnson and David Greenwood) in the 1979 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.

Cartwright had a rookie season (stats wise) that compared favorably to highly touted rookies Johnson and Larry Bird, averaging 21.7 PPG and 8.9 RPG (both would remain his career highs) as the focus of the Knicks' attack. Cartwright was selected to his only All-Star Game that season, scoring 8 points and grabbing 3 boards in the East's win. Cartwright put up solid numbers over his first four years (never averaging below 14.4 PPG or 5.8 RPG) as the Knicks played respectable ball over that period, but things changed after the 1983-84 season. He fractured his left foot four times, missing the entire 1984-85 season and all but two games the following year. By that time, the Knicks had drafted Patrick Ewing, and with neither center comfortable as a backup or at power forward, the Knicks struggled.

After spending the 1987-88 season as Ewing's backup, Cartwright was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Charles Oakley. Though many people in Chicago (including star guard Michael Jordan) questioned the move, Cartwright played soldily for the emerging Bulls, providing badly needed size at center. Though his playing time decreased over his tenure in Chicago, Cartwright started on all three Bulls titlist teams from 1991-93. He played in Chicago through the 1993-94 season, then concluded his career in 1995 with the Seattle Supersonics. When he retired, he had scored 12,713 points (13.2 career PPG) and grabbed 6,106 rebounds (6.3 RPG). He has since become a coach, briefly head coaching the Bulls from 2002-04, and is currently an assistant with the Phoenix Suns.

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1979-80: 82 GP, 21.7 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 54.7 FG%, 79.7 FT%
1980-81: 82 GP, 20.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 55.4 FG%, 78.8 FT%
1981-82: 72 GP, 50 GS, 14.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 56.2 FG%, 76.3 FT%
1982-83: 82 GP, 82 GS, 15.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 56.6 FG%, 74.4 FT%
1983-84: 77 GP, 77 GS, 17.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 56.1 FG%, 80.5 FT%
1984-85: missed entire season with injury
1985-86: 2 GP, 0 GS, 6.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 42.9 FG%, 60.0 FT%
1986-87: 58 GP, 50 GS, 17.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 53.1 FG%, 79.0 FT%
1987-88: 82 GP, 4 GS, 11.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 54.4 FG%, 79.8 FT%
1988-89: 78 GP, 76 GS, 12.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 47.5 FG%, 76.6 FT%
1989-90: 71 GP, 71 GS, 11.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 48.8 FG%, 81.1 FT%
1990-91: 79 GP, 79 GS, 9.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 49.0 FG%, 69.7 FT%
1991-92: 64 GP, 64 GS, 8.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 46.7 FG%, 60.4 FT%
1992-93: 63 GP, 63 GS, 5.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 41.1 FG%, 73.5 FT%
1993-94: 42 GP, 41 GS, 5.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, 51.3 FG%, 68.4 FT%
1994-95: 29 GP, 19 GS, 2.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.3 APG, 39.1 FG%, 62.5 FT%