With Sunday’s victory, the Bulls have won their last five championships in Game 6. Two have been on the road. The Bulls have won the five Game 6s by a combined total of 22 points and are undefeated in their five Game 6 appearances. The Bulls have now won two titles on June 14, the other coming in their 1992 victory over Portland in Game 6 at Chicago Stadium.
DEFINING MOMENT
If you need to be told, you weren’t watching. Michael Jordan’s final 42 seconds. After John Stockton’s three-pointer gave Utah an 86-83 lead, Jordan drove on Bryon Russell and banked home a layup. Then Jordan sneaked over on a double team and stole the ball from Karl Malone in the post. Without taking a timeout, the Bulls attacked and Jordan shook Russell at the top of the key and swished home an 18-footer. Stockton’s final shot rimmed out. Ballgame.
TREND-SPOTTING
Since the NBA adopted a 16-team playoff format in 1984, eight teams have needed seven games to win their conference finals series. The Bulls joined the 1990 Pistons and the 1988 Lakers as the only teams to then advance from the seven-game struggle to win an NBA title. . . . Only one team–Utah in Game 5–had shot better than 50 percent during the Finals. Both teams did so on Sunday. . . . Jordan played 44 minutes and logged more than 40 minutes in every game except for the Game 3 blowout.
BY THE NUMBERS
Scottie Pippen gutted out 26 minutes with an extremely sore back. . . . Jordan’s 44 minutes produced 45 points. . . . Jeff Hornacek, averaging 9 points in the series, matched that figure in the first quarter. . . . The Jazz shot just 21 percent from three-point range in the series. . . . The Bulls outscored Utah 26-20 in the fourth quarter.
NEXT GAME
Not counting Tuesday’s Grant Park rally, it’s time to consult the 1998-99 NBA schedule, which typically is released near the end of July. The Bulls won’t play a for-real game until November. Opponent to be determined. Time to be determined. Heck, Bulls roster to be determined.
