Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beater had just won Game 1 of the NBA Finals Sunday night. The capacity United Center crowd stayed to revel in the moment.
It was a safe bet that nobody in the delirium cared one percentage point that for the 12th straight playoff game, the Bulls failed to shoot better than 50 percent. It was an even safer bet Jordan himself cared even less.
“You guys have been asking me about (offensive inconsistency) ever since we’ve been playing in the playoffs,” said Jordan, whose team shot 44.7 percent. “And yet, here we are, one game up in the Finals.”
Point taken. Still, the Bulls have failed to shoot better than 50 percent since Game 2 of their first-round series against Washington. That was 12 Dennis Rodman technical fouls ago. A drunk on a dance floor displays more rhythm than the Bulls have offensively in the playoffs.
“Our lack of rhythm is a concern,” said Jordan. “I missed some easy shots tonight. Toni (Kukoc) hit his first couple shots but couldn’t really get anything generated after that. But I think to some degree, our rhythm was better than the past Game 1 games.”
Part of the reason for the offensive woes can be attributed to playoff basketball, which tends toward lower scoring and more physical play. Another explanation is Utah’s half-court offense and veteran players, who are able to control a game’s tempo. Finally, Scottie Pippen’s tender foot prevented the Bulls from taking advantage of the few fast-break opportunities that were presented.
“Utah really limited our chances to run,” said Bulls coach Phil Jackson. “They can control the tempo with (John) Stockton manipulating the half-court offense almost to perfection down the stretch. But I think Scottie will be better the next time out as far as pushing the ball.”
All of these reasons, though, are excuses, which the Bulls have used liberally to explain their offensive struggles in the previous series.
Against Washington, the return of injured players Kukoc and Rodman was blamed. Against Atlanta, the layoff resulting from the Bulls’ first-round sweep was noted. In the Eastern Conference finals, Miami’s physical defense got the nod.
Entering Sunday’s game, the Bulls were shooting 43 percent and just 30 percent from three-point range in the playoffs.
“As long as we’re getting good shots and guys are seeing the basket, not rushing it, doing those types of things, I think we’ll be all right,” Jackson said. “I thought there was some tentativeness in our offense today that bothered us. We have to be a little more decisive in what we’re trying to do, and I thought we were down the stretch.”
Indeed, the Bulls shot 53 percent in the fourth quarter, by far their best output of the game. They shot 40 percent in the first half and 47.4 percent in the third quarter. And a 6-0, fourth-quarter run with less than 6 minutes to play–when it counted–proved decisive.
“The reality is that these two teams felt each other out a little bit today,” Jackson said. “Both teams kind of came in here a little bit tentative.”
Added Jordan: “You need fluidity in your offense, especially against a veteran team like Utah. For us to come out and seem flustered and not find a rhythm for the game, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. But hopefully, we got a good feel for this team and can play better in Game 2.”
Unlike the Bulls’ shooting, that outlook is right on the money.
