be a war.
Before game one, Michael reassured his younger teammates. “They’re beatable,” he told them. “We just have to find a way.”
The way to beat Detroit, the Bulls now knew, was through teamwork and defense.
Game one was a typical Chicago-Detroit matchup — rough, tough, and low scoring. After three periods, the Bulls led, 68–65.
In previous years, this was the time of the game when Detroit’s defense had always taken control. They had swarmed over Michael
Jordan and watched as the other Bulls made mistakes and committed turnovers, leading to easy baskets for the Pistons.
But this year was different. The Bulls were a different team. While the Pistons focused on Michael, a couple of Bull reserves,
Craig Hodges and Cliff Levingston, keyed a fourth-quarter run that put theBulls ahead to stay. Although Michael Jordan scored only 22 points in the game, the Bulls won, 94–83.
The big loss shattered Detroit’s confidence. The Bulls defense was intimidating the Pistons, while the offense spread points
up and down the lineup. Chicago swept Detroit in four games and earned the right to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA
Finals.
The Lakers, led by guard Magic Johnson, had won the NBA championship three times in the last decade and were known as the
“Team of the 80s.” Even though the 1980s were over, they were still a formidable opponent.
Magic Johnson rivaled Michael Jordan for the title of best player in the league. He deserved much of the credit for L.A.’s
performance. The unselfish point guard made everyone on his team a better player and keyed L.A.’s vaunted fast break, known
as “Showtime.” He had plenty of help from teammates James Worthy and Sam Perkins, Michael Jordan’s former teammates at North
Carolina. The Lakers, with previous championship experience, were favored to win.
The finals opened in Chicago. In game one, the Lakers taught the Bulls a lesson and demonstrated why they were champions.
Los Angeles out-thought and out-hustled the Bulls for a full 48 minutes.
Instead of running their fast break, the Lakers slowed down and played a patient half-court offense. The strategy shook up
the Bulls and allowed the Lakers to control the pace of the game. The Bulls’ fast break never got on track. In the final seconds,
Sam Perkins hit a three-pointer to put L.A. up by two, and when Michael Jordan’s desperation 18-footer rattled out of the
basket, L.A. escaped with a 93–91 win.
Michael took matters into his own hands in game two. But instead of turning the game into a demonstration of Team Jordan,
he acted as playmaker. Throughout the first quarter, he passed up shots of his own to set up his teammates for easy baskets.
By involving everyone in the game, he was able to disrupt the Lakers’ slow-down strategy. At halftime, the Bulls led, 48–43.
By the third quarter, the Bulls offense was working on all cylinders. Michael Jordan had pulled a Magic Johnson and made everyone
on the team better.The Lakers didn’t know who to guard anymore. In the third quarter, the Bulls scored 38 points to turn the game into a rout.
Michael Jordan even got into the act. Over the last part of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, he hit 13 straight
shots in one of the most remarkable performances ever in the NBA Finals.
One play in particular left fans talking for days. Early in the fourth quarter, Michael took a pass on the break and charged
down the lane to the hoop. As he rose for a shot, he lifted the ball high in the air with his right hand and appeared poised
for a dunk.
But his old Tar Heel teammate Sam Perkins had other ideas. Perkins, who was six foot ten and had the longest arms in the league,
moved in front of Michael. In perfect position, Perkins jumped up to swat the ball away.
His hand found only air. The ball was gone. When Michael saw Perkins reach out, he calmly pulled the ball down, switched it
to his left hand, then
Before game one, Michael reassured his younger teammates. “They’re beatable,” he told them. “We just have to find a way.”
The way to beat Detroit, the Bulls now knew, was through teamwork and defense.
Game one was a typical Chicago-Detroit matchup — rough, tough, and low scoring. After three periods, the Bulls led, 68–65.
In previous years, this was the time of the game when Detroit’s defense had always taken control. They had swarmed over Michael
Jordan and watched as the other Bulls made mistakes and committed turnovers, leading to easy baskets for the Pistons.
But this year was different. The Bulls were a different team. While the Pistons focused on Michael, a couple of Bull reserves,
Craig Hodges and Cliff Levingston, keyed a fourth-quarter run that put theBulls ahead to stay. Although Michael Jordan scored only 22 points in the game, the Bulls won, 94–83.
The big loss shattered Detroit’s confidence. The Bulls defense was intimidating the Pistons, while the offense spread points
up and down the lineup. Chicago swept Detroit in four games and earned the right to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA
Finals.
The Lakers, led by guard Magic Johnson, had won the NBA championship three times in the last decade and were known as the
“Team of the 80s.” Even though the 1980s were over, they were still a formidable opponent.
Magic Johnson rivaled Michael Jordan for the title of best player in the league. He deserved much of the credit for L.A.’s
performance. The unselfish point guard made everyone on his team a better player and keyed L.A.’s vaunted fast break, known
as “Showtime.” He had plenty of help from teammates James Worthy and Sam Perkins, Michael Jordan’s former teammates at North
Carolina. The Lakers, with previous championship experience, were favored to win.
The finals opened in Chicago. In game one, the Lakers taught the Bulls a lesson and demonstrated why they were champions.
Los Angeles out-thought and out-hustled the Bulls for a full 48 minutes.
Instead of running their fast break, the Lakers slowed down and played a patient half-court offense. The strategy shook up
the Bulls and allowed the Lakers to control the pace of the game. The Bulls’ fast break never got on track. In the final seconds,
Sam Perkins hit a three-pointer to put L.A. up by two, and when Michael Jordan’s desperation 18-footer rattled out of the
basket, L.A. escaped with a 93–91 win.
Michael took matters into his own hands in game two. But instead of turning the game into a demonstration of Team Jordan,
he acted as playmaker. Throughout the first quarter, he passed up shots of his own to set up his teammates for easy baskets.
By involving everyone in the game, he was able to disrupt the Lakers’ slow-down strategy. At halftime, the Bulls led, 48–43.
By the third quarter, the Bulls offense was working on all cylinders. Michael Jordan had pulled a Magic Johnson and made everyone
on the team better.The Lakers didn’t know who to guard anymore. In the third quarter, the Bulls scored 38 points to turn the game into a rout.
Michael Jordan even got into the act. Over the last part of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, he hit 13 straight
shots in one of the most remarkable performances ever in the NBA Finals.
One play in particular left fans talking for days. Early in the fourth quarter, Michael took a pass on the break and charged
down the lane to the hoop. As he rose for a shot, he lifted the ball high in the air with his right hand and appeared poised
for a dunk.
But his old Tar Heel teammate Sam Perkins had other ideas. Perkins, who was six foot ten and had the longest arms in the league,
moved in front of Michael. In perfect position, Perkins jumped up to swat the ball away.
His hand found only air. The ball was gone. When Michael saw Perkins reach out, he calmly pulled the ball down, switched it
to his left hand, then
Similar Books
