1991-92 Bulls' repeat overshadowed by Magic's news.
1991-92 Bulls' repeat overshadowed by Magic's news.
Just a few days before the season, Magic Johnson announced a shocking
news. He made a public statement that he had contracted the HIV and would retire
from the NBA and devote his time to educating the public about AIDS. A dream
career which included five NBA titles and three MVP's was simply over. The
season would also prove to be the last for Larry Bird, who, suffering from back
pain, made only 45 appearances, averaging 20.2 ppg. While the two greatest stars
were leaving the scene, the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan were getting
into the spotlight. Not satisfied with the 61-21 record , the Bulls charged up
to 67-15 ( the fourth-best in NBA history). The incandescent Jordan won his
third MVP and sixth straight scoring title, despide averaging only 30.1 ppg (his
lowest in six seasons). More than ever, Jordan was also active in polishing
talents of Scottie Pippen (21 ppg) and Horace Grant (14.2 ppg, 10 rpg).
Cleveland, led by Mark Price and Brad Daugherty, won 57 games like the Portland
Trail Blazers. The Cavaliers played well during the season, but in the Finals
they couldn't find a way for the Bulls and lost in six games. Portland, hungry
for the Finals after a disappointing Playoffs the year before, bested the
Lakers, Phoenix and Utah with John Stockton and Karl Malone, to make the Finals
for the second time in three seasons. Just like in 1990, the Blazers tied the
first two games. But Chicago took two of three in Portland to win the title at
home in a six-game series.
With the Blazers disappointing their fans in Oakland, most expected an easy
victory for the Bulls in Game 6. But after three quarters, Portland had a 79-64
lead and was getting ready for another one. But a lineup of Pippen, Scott
Williams, B.J. Armstrong, Bobby Hansen ,and Stacey King pulled the Bulls out of
the hole to recover the losses now at 81-78 at the end of the quater. From that
moment on, the load went to Jordan and Pippen who scored the last 19 points for
their team, defeating the still-in-shock Blazers.
"We needed something that would bring some freshness into the game. That's what
we got from those young guys. They had plenty of power and a will to fight. This
desicion was either daring or stupid", Phil Jackson (Bulls coach ) said after
the game.
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