OT: The Last Dance moved up! ESPN April 19th
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28974799/michael-jordan-series-espn-moved-april
I been waiting for this forever it feels like. I've seen everything on this team so I'm excited to see new footage and takes about the last go around. Any other 90s bulls fans?
Side note I am plowing through the 1994 Bulls vs Knicks series. Pete Myers replaced Jordan. Holy Lord is he bad. Your starting SG is Michigan Jordan one day and then the next it's Pete Myers.. life happens fast.
Also Scottie Pippen was unbelievable that season. Should have gotten the MVP. Took the Knicks 7 games to beat a team trotting out Mike Myers and no Jordan. That says everything about how good Pippen was.
Sorry if I botched the picture.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
Michigan Jordan?
March 31st, 2020 at 12:47 PM ^
That's what I get for using my phone and "swipe". I'm terrible.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:51 PM ^
Hell yes.
I watched a few old Bull's finals series' the past few days.
'93 and '96
I'm in.
March 31st, 2020 at 12:59 PM ^
1993 finals is probably my favorite finals ever. Apex Charles Barkley, the last time we see Jordan before he changes his game to a fade away mid range killer. Also the great 3 OT game and Jordans 56 pt game.
Yep. But I think I liked MJ's game better in '91 overall. So explosive.
To me, it's no question he is the greatest player in the history of the game. He was absolute money, and had the true killer mentality. He was able to completely rework his game later on to work with his aging body, and still dominated. Lebron isn't even close.
I was just talking the better overall series. The Laker series did have its moments. Pippen switching on magic. The changing hands by Jordan. But yes he was probably at his apex. That or 92.
The switch hand crossover layup! That will always be my most memorable Jordan moment, I was in awe.
But I agree the series with Phoenix was better overall.
Best Jordan move was against the Knicks in 91. When he was in the corner, made a move on two knicks to then dunk on Ewing ...
I hated Jordan/the bulls (but obviously appreciated his immense talent). Are you from Chicago or thereabouts, or were you also a big fan of the yankees in the late 90s?
I was 9 in 1991 when the bulls beat the Laker. I will say I've stuck as a fan ever since. I watched a lot of Eddy curry games.. I'll just say that.
The Fab five and the dream team also definitely helped my love for basketball but the 91 bulls started it.
I feel you Shredder. I had season tickets for two years during the "Corey Benjamin era."
Why do you have to be from Chicago to be a fan?
As a kid I was captivated by Jordan. His energy, competitive fire, outrageous skills, and just the feeling of watching him play. That's why I was a Bulls fan, before they won anything. My appreciation only grew as they had more success.
I remember the first "be like Mike" commercial giving me literal chills as a kid.
You don't have to be of course, but I imagine the favorite NBA team mgoblog sitegoers would be the Pistons, and they were not exactly rooting for the Bulls.
I'm here to defend Pete Myers who was obviously no Michael Jordan. But when Jordan came back in 1995, the way I recall it, the team often played better with Myers on the floor. (He probably played better in '95 than '94 being his 2nd season with the team.) Pippen was so good at that time, and managed both the offense and defense cohesively. But, understandably, they had little time to adapt to his return, and things frequently got bogged down with Jordan on the floor. I don't have the +/- at the ready, so this is both long-ago memory and feelingsball. Anyway the Bulls obviously got it sorted out the next year.
PS - Bulls were absolutely robbed in Game 5 vs the Knicks. Hue Hollins called a ridiculous phantom foul on a Hubert Davis 3-pointer which turned out to be the most important moment of the series.
PPS - Hollins did it again in the Bulls' last home game of the season in 1996, giving them their 10th loss and 2nd home loss.
In sum, I don't like that dude.
Your memory is sharper than mine. I do remember the Bulls struggling during Jordan's first year back, but I guess I don't remember it being so bad. Won't get a better time to refresh myself than now! Back to the cave I go...
The Hollies call was horrible. There was no foul and it cost them the series.
Myers sat on every bench in the NBA for nine seasons. Left for Italy for 2 seasons since no one wanted him. Bulls were in a pinch and signed him after Jordan retired on October. 1994 he avg 7.9 ppg and 1995 he avg 4.5 ppg. That guy can't be playing starter mins. He was really bad. I'm living through the Jordan rust no matter what if he's the other option.
User name checks out, but I agree. I hated the Bulls, and everything Jordan, but I was a Pistons fan.
I can't wait for this!
NBA TV was killing it the other day with all the Bulls/Knicks games from the 90's.
Yeah the tv was stuck there all day. Some of my favorite series in NBA history.
They just hated each other, totally respected one another but it was pure hate. Incredible basketball, incredible intensity, so many great moments.
If I had to rank them 92,93,94,91 all filled with great moments. 91 had the Jordan baseline move. 92 had the game one shock of the Knicks winning. 93 had the Smith getting block by everyone to win game 5 and 94 had the pippen dunk on Ewing. I still say one of the best playoff dunks ever.
My favorite was when they got in a brawl right in front of Commissioner Stern. That was great.
Those games were like 5 on 5 boxing matches until they turned into actual brawls. That was the 90s NBA.
But still f--- NBA officiating. Jordan got every freaking call, every time. I know that Donaghy claimed that there were games (and even '02 Lakers-Kings WC Finals) that were fixed but I would bet it was going on even earlier than that.
I was always convinced Stern hated the Knicks.
It was incredible. Derek Harper throwing Jo Jo English to the ground pass the sideline and to the feet of those in the first row, Phil Jackson grabbing John Starks by the back of his jersey, shit I will never forget witnessing!
Stern might not have liked the Knicks because they were brawlers. They had no problem throwing them with the Bulls or the Suns or the Heat. They definitely epitomized the characteristics of the City they played in and represented it well. I LOVED watching the Knicks during those years.
All great points. What was the last really intense and hot series? Knicks and heat in 98? I guess Sac and LA was in 00. I think the aau circuit has killed that a bit.
The players definitely don't hate each other anymore. Ewing, Barkley, Jordan, etc. would be all chummy on the golf course or whatever but I literally thought they might try to kill each other once they stepped on the court.
POrtland-Lakers in '00 was great (and maybe also fixed?) and that '02 Lakers-Kings wasn't bloody but it was very heated and hard fought. With the exception of the Pistons trips to the Finals I started to lose interest after that.
Pippen sucks
That is quite the hot (awful) take.
Not like your mom does, though.
The Bulls were one of the few teams to press. Why when asked? We have Scottie Pippen.
* except when poor Scottie has a headache
Jordan baseline on Ewing
Pippen dunks on Ewing. Tells Spike to sit down.
Two of the greatest dunks in playoff history and poor Patrick was the victim on both.
One the other way, John Starks dunking Horace Grant AND Jordan!
Oh hell yeah, In your face, Jordan.
Um ... no. Not even close.
YES! I was a big 90's Bulls fan and absolutely loved MJ who was a once in a generation player.
Documentary? Sports? The? I'm in!
This is definitely not “OT” and is potentially the best sports related news since this madness started. Set your DVR’s, VCR’s and Betamax’s. This is must see TV. Go Blue!
Where is Tony Kukoc in that picture? He was a terrific passer in the triangle offense, and could light it up in scoring on any given night. And, he was also a great ball handler that could bring the ball up the court when Pippen was getting hounded. And speaking of Pippen, Kukoc was the dude that hit the game winning shot against New York in the playoffs after Pippen refused to go back in. Kukoc was an important piece to those final three championships. All that I'm saying is that he should be in that promo pic too.
Good article on Pippen sitting down: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-spt-bulls-scottie-pippen-1994-playoffs-sits-20190513-story.html
Yeah have Kerr in the picture and not kukoc is odd but it has to be just for Kerr has become post playing days.
Kukoc biggest issue was playing consistent. I think in the 96 playoffs he was like 2 for 20 something from three but then vs the Sonic's he went bananas in a game. He was unbelievable at times and other times he would leave you wondering what hell guy?
The Pippen thing was handled by Bill Cartwright in the locker room. Pippen broke down which they claimed to bring the team closer to together.
Fuck Chicago
This is going to be great. Hard to believe that he’s been retired so long. Easy to forget that young fans have never seen him play.
Bulls did bear the knicks that year ... phantom foul. Worst call maybe ever in an NBA playoff game.
I guess they...saved The Last Dance. I’ll show myself out.