Forget all the conversation about Indiana’s superior bench depth and the heroics of Pacers guard Reggie Miller.
If the Bulls had made their accustomed percentage of free throws Saturday, they would be in position to wrap up another Eastern Conference championship here Monday afternoon.
The Bulls connected on 29 of 39 (.744) free throws in Saturday’s 107-105 loss, while Indiana made 28 of 34 (.834).
More significant, the age and fatigue of the Bulls’ veterans may have been a factor in their poor free throw shooting late in the game. Michael Jordan was 10 for 12 from the line, but missed two in the fourth quarter.
“You can make all kinds of excuses if you want,” Jordan said Sunday. “But we know that in the closing minutes you have to concentrate on your free throw shooting. We didn’t (Saturday). Fatigue could be a problem, but that’s just an excuse. We lost the game, I think, at the free throw line.”
Bulls coach Phil Jackson said he noticed Jordan was tired going into the weekend.
“Michael, I think, was fatigued,” Jackson said. “I’m not sure if anyone else was fatigued. I took him out in the third quarter too early, with about 3:50 to go. I thought he had a little trouble finishing the game. He was tired Friday when he came here. He didn’t feel as rested as I would have liked to have seen him.”
Scottie Pippen made only 3 of 7 free throw tries Saturday.
“I got off to a bad start,” Pippen said. “That’s one thing that we feel as a team that we sort of let ourselves down (Saturday). We thought we didn’t capitalize on all the opportunities we had at the foul line. When we go back and see that we only lost by two points, that’s part of the biggest factor.”
Although Jordan won another NBA scoring title, his free throw percentage (.784) was the worst of his career. In this postseason, Jordan is 98 for 119 (.824).
“One thing that takes a toll is the physical play (in the playoffs),” said Indiana’s Chris Mullin, one of the top free throw shooters in the league. “By the time you get there (to the free throw line), your neck is out of whack and your shoulder is sore. But for the most part, guys who shoot free throws well shoot them well all the time.”
The Bulls’ Luc Longley has made 23 of 25 free throws in the playoffs, ranking second only to Seattle’s Gary Payton in postseason foul shooting. But Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr, usually very reliable from the line, missed key fourth-quarter free throws Saturday.
Kukoc and Kerr each was fouled attempting three-point shots in the fourth quarter. Kerr made two of three attempts and Kukoc made just one of three.
Jackson told the media how difficult it is to make three straight free throws.
“It shouldn’t be,” said Kerr. “I’d rather get three (attempts) than two. I should have made them, but I missed one of them.”
“Free throws do win games,” said the Pacers’ Jalen Rose. “And if you have a guy in the game who is not going to make them, he can be a detriment to the team. Some guys are going to foul him when you give him the ball. We’re glad we’re a team that’s making them right now.”
