May
17
SOME MORE GAME SIX NUGGETS
Filed Under Chicago Bulls
BULLS-PISTONS TO SQUARE OFF IN UNDER AN HOUR!
Game Sixes have had much relevance in the history of both the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. With this unlikely Game Six battle about to take place at the United Center, here’s a cool look at decisive sixth games for these two pillars of the Eastern Conference.
Detroit Pistons’ Game Six History:
Without question, Detroit’s most frustrating Game Six performance had to be during the 1988 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. Leading the series 3-2, the Pistons seemed on their way to its first NBA title in this classic game in which Isaiah Thomas played with a severely swollen ankle and went off for 25 points in the third quarter (an NBA Finals record). Detroit led 102-99 with a 1:02 to go. The NBA Championship trophy was wheeled into the Pistons’ locker room, and CBS cut to the Pistons’ bench celebrating as if the game was over. It wasn’t, of course, as Byron Scott hit a jumper to cut the score to one with 52 seconds left. After a fruitless Detroit possession, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was fouled by Bill Laimbeer. Jabbar made both free throws, and Joe Dumars later missed a game-winning shot. Detroit would lose in Game Seven but repeat as champs in 1989 and 1990. People forget that the Bad Boys could have three-peated.
When did this current rendition of the Pistons show what they’re capable of? In Game Six of the 2004 Second Round Series against the New Jersey Nets, who were the defending two-time Eastern Conference Champions. After losing a heartbreaking Game Five that went to double overtime at the Palace of Auburn Hills and thus falling behind 3-2 in the series, Detroit knocked off the Nets in Game Six at Continental Airlines Arena and then won the series at home in Game Seven. The Pistons would of course go on to beat the Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals and then run out the Lakers in the NBA Finals for the surprising championship.
Chicago Bulls’ Game Six History
Prior to the Michael Jordan era, the best Bulls team was the 1974-1975 squad featuring Norm Van Lier, Jerry Sloan, Chet “The Jet” Walker, Bob “Butterbean” Love, and Tom Boerwinkle. The Bulls were in the Western Conference back then and had reached the Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, which featured Rick Barry. The Bulls took a 3-2 lead in the series with a ten point victory in Game Five at Golden State. Just when it seemed like Bulls would advance to their first NBA Finals or “Championship Series” as it was called back them, the team lost at the raucous Chicago Stadium by 14 points in Game Six. Golden State prevailed by four points in Game Seven and went on to sweep the Washington Bullets in four games for the title.
Game Sixes were good for the Bulls during the 1990s. Chicago won five of its six titles in Game Sixes. After knocking off the Lakers in five games in 1991, Chicago repeated against the Portland Trailblazers the next year. Trailing by double digits entering the fourth quarter of Game Six, the Bulls were sparked by a Bobby Hanson three-pointer and went on to win the game. In one of the most memorable shots in not only Bulls’ but also NBA history, John Paxson gave Chicago a three-peat in 1993 when he hit a three-pointer with under five seconds left against the Phoenix Suns. Horace Grant followed that play by sending back a Kevin Johnson shot to preserve the Bulls’ place in history.
Jordan and the Bulls began its second-repeat on Father’s Day 1996 when they took care of the Seattle Sonics. That game is most notable for the scene of Jordan crying on the floor of the Bulls’ locker room as it was his first championship without his father James, who was murdered shortly after the 1993 title. The Bulls sent the Utah Jazz home in Game Six of the 1997 NBA Finals when Steve Kerr hit a jumper from the free throw line and Toni Kukoc deflected an inbounds pass that Scottie Pippen shoveled over to the Croatian sensation for the dunk and the series. Jordan ended his career with the Bulls in typical M.J. fashion during Game Six of the 1998 Finals against the Jazz. With Chicago trailing by three with 41 seconds to go, Jordan scored a quick layup, swiped and stole the ball from Karl Malone and then crossed over Bryon Russell for the game-winning shot and sixth title in eight years.
While Game Sixes were very nice to the Bulls during the 1990s, they haven’t been so the last two years. The Bulls have been knocked out of the playoffs the last two years in Game Sixes. The Bulls were eliminated by the Wizards in D.C. in 2005 and sent home packing by the Miami Heat at the United Center last year. Here’s hoping the Bulls can extend this series tonight with a huge Game Six victory.
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