Before Game 7 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan declared that the Bulls will win.
It’s weird seeing someone drive to the bucket without falling to the ground like they just got bumped by Thanos.
watching Paolo does get annoying despite his great game
Why you bringin up Paolo?
He’ll give you the AYY, he’s elite in the AYYpm… but he don’t flop.
There’s a huge list of floppers you can complain about, Paolo ain’t one of them. Talk about flair bait.
I hope Paolo never foul baits. He’s one of the few remaining players who plays like real men.
Definitely not he’s 6:10 2:50 and built compact, dudes are bumping off him He’s not falling to the ground like a certain 7 ft 280 lb center that I know of
I’m a Philly fan Joelle is that dude but I mean damn he’s on the ground a lot
Is he really the prime example of flopping to you?
You would have hated to watch Jordan shoot 9⁄25 from the field but take 15 free throws this game then.
I saw it live.
These dudes just be talking lmao
I watched it when the game aired, zoomer.
Then you know that everyone that wasn’t a Bulls fan complained about MJ’s free throw rate back then
It’s weird seeing someone dribbling the ball without travelling
I sound like a boomer but games just dont feel the same. Look at the footwork and physicality. Today they’d be replaced by FTs
That’s why I laugh at people saying the NBA is more skilled than ever… While I watch Karl Anthony Towns get guarded by point guards.
They’re probably “better” because of advancements in science, health etc but the game is definitely not higher quality. Especially with the infusion of analytics. Now the best shots are FTs and 3s
Jordan made 74 FTA attempts in this series, including 10 in this game.
What does that have to do with what I posted?
Foul baiting has been a part of basketball for its entire history. It just isn’t put in highlight reels. If you watch a full game you’ll see plenty of guys exaggerating hits to draw fouls on a drive.
LOL there wasn’t much foul baiting in this series. It was extremely physical.
The fouls being handed out weren’t exactly ticky tack for the most part. More of the “no layups allowed” kind of fouls.
So you didn’t watch this game then, got it.
So basically, your answer is nothing.
Pain. IIRC, Indy had a five-point lead late in the fourth. No lead was safe against Chicago. Props to them.
You must be thinking of a different game. Pacers only had a two points lead max in the fourth quarter of Game 7.
They did, however have a 10 point lead for much of the first quarter (back when 10 point leads felt huge)
nah they were up 5
they were not up 5 late in the fourth tho, bulls kept offensive rebounding, one found Kerr who tied it at i wanna say 74-74 and the bulls got up 5 with 2 mins left off an insane circus shot by pippen
I believe that Kerr three is what Reggie called their momentum shot, and when he knew they were about to let the game slip away
Pacers were up 3 several times in the 4th and Kerr tied up the game at 77 with a three. Y’all have great memories!
Yep, the end of this game is a core memory for me. Pacers were up 5 in the fourth and just could not hold on. I recall Kukoc being lights out this game too.
I did misremember. Looks like they had a 3 point lead in the fourth at 72-69.
Wasn’t this the game toni Kukoc was just cooking the pacers
Yep, he basically took over the 3rd quarter.
I think that’s right. He was a tough cover for Indy, especially if they had McKey on Jordan.
Kukoc was lethal for the Bulls
Especially against the Pacers and the Jazz, Toni played big time. Kukoc made a lot of necessary buckets down the stretch, the Bulls could count on him as the second scorer, especially against the Pacers and then the Jazz. Pippen re-tweaked his back during the playoffs. At least during the Finals, every day in the paper it was like “Pip’s back is at 75% he’s going to play the next game anyway.” Pippen definitely wouldn’t have been playing if it was the regular season, for the Finals, and maybe he re-tweaked his back against the Pacers, but I don’t think he was 100% for that series either. And of course Rodman flaked during the Finals, went to Vegas with Carmen Electra and then wrestled Karl Malone. Jordan put the team on his back and carried the Last Dance Bulls across the finish line, but Toni Kukoc got a huge assist with crucial buckets.
Yeah he shot like garbage in the 96 and 97 playoffs, but he really came through for us in 1998 when we needed him most.
That 1998 team was too reliant on MJ for scoring
Honestly - we probably should have lost that game. I remember it well (I was a senior in college finishing up one last class that summer to graduate) and it was the only time during the 2nd threepeat I was legitimately worried we were going to lose.
The bulls basically willed themselves to victory despite some poor shooting (including poor FT shooting) by out efforting the Pacers. IIRC we destroyed you guys on the offensive glass and MJ completely shut down Miller in the latter part of the game. I think Kukoc actually shot pretty well (1998 was his one good postseason - and given how little reliable scoring we had at that point outside of MJ we really needed it)
That Pacers team was so tough - I think you guys beat Utah if you manage to pull out this game.
Always the Bridesmaid, never the Bride, unfortunately
Wrong game mate. Bulls started the 4th with a 4 points lead then Pacers tied up and then scored on a foul but that 3 points difference didn’t last long.
3 point lead - you’re totally right!
My uncle has it on tape and we watched it a lot when I was younger.
Random as fuck but I almost know the play-by-play.
I don’t know ball that much besides that lol.
He had a rough shooting night but 8 assists, 9 rebounds and he held Reggie Miller to 0 points in the 4th quarter of that game, he did what was needed for a win even when his shot wasn’t falling
The whole team did really - this is one of my favorite games from the 2nd threepeat. It’s probably the best example from all those great Bulls teams of them just willing themselves to victory in a game they probably should have lost.
MJ and Pippen worked their tails off. Crashed the boards. To me that video doesn’t mention the offensive rebounding enough.
Yeah that’s basically the main reason they won that game. It was like 22 to 4 or something ridiculous for offensive rebounds.
That offensive rebound shown in the video is so indicative of MJ as a player.
Not having a great scoring night? Fuck it, I’ll go get some rebounds. Hard crash to the boards and getting the offensive rebound against two bigger guys.
That was critical since it allowed them to run off a bunch more clock. He’d do whatever it took in crunch time. That’s why he’s the GOAT.
I literally don’t think you could construct a better shooting guard in his era and at his size. Clearly the best scorer of all time for any era. One of the best defenders ever for a guard. And while he was behind the absolute best passers of all time, he was still extremely good for his position.
That’s shit you don’t force. It’s not even trash talk, dude just exudes greatness organically.
I wake up in the morning and I just piss excellence
Turns out MJ was just a big bald-headed american winning machine
He just exudes confidence effortlessly.
Michael Aura Jordan
Aura
The man just exudes aura
like in the truest sense, he doesn’t play anymore, but every fuckin day there is someone or the other nba player (retired or active) talking or discussing or fighting about him, even the way MJ carried himself in press conferences and events excluding the games have upheld his legacy so strong
Ya ain’t nobody talk shit like that and back it up to this day since then or before him he was just different and knew how to will his way to a win no matter what. Also couldn’t have happened to a better team that he clapped them after calling it 😂
Didn’t Stephen Curry say “Enjoy Y’all last win” to Boston in 2022 finals? Shit I remember he said the season before “You don’t wanna see us next season,” and I’m no oldie, but Larry Bird was known for that too. But Idk, it’s been years.
yea Steph making those 2021 comments after losing in the play in coulda aged like milk but he went nuclear in the 2022 playoffs
It’s been some time since I studied every team. But the finals are easier, and I recalled he said that. I only remember it because the camera showed an angry smile on Steph face when the team lost those 2 gut punching games. Then they proceeded to win 3 in a row. It’s what I remember the most about that.
Yeah there are countless examples of other stars talking similar shit before and after Michael. He was the best player ever, but his trash talk wasn’t particularly unique. Hell, Jason Terry even got a 2011 Finals tattoo before the season even started which blows all these other interview comments out of the water.
Duncan said “we’re gonna win this time” when meeting the Heat in the finals for the second year in a row.
Doesn’t always pan out when people make guarantees like that.
I was pulling so hard for Indy. I was in physical pain after the game was over.
God I sports-hated Jordan so much.
i still have my plastic bull horns from that year!
this was a physical ugly game i miss. the one takeaway from this is 31 missed free throws between the 2 teams. the nitpickers would take that as a terrible game unfortunately
“I dont even make promises to my wife”
What a guy 🤖
Promise nothing, deliver something.
As opposed to the many players who predicted before a game 7 that their own team would lose.
I heard Jud Buechler said he expected a tie
And the man followed through on his words. You cannot deny greatness, and he exemplified exactly what it took to be great.
Lebron wants to be that so bad.
Kobe had to teach him growing balls in the all star game in Orlando, was it 2012 or 2013 ?
even when his shot was off, he contributed everywhere else and locked down his man to help get the win.
I miss spinning fadeaways so much.
90s and 00s basketball was peak to watch
Was he supposed to say they’re gonna lose ?
Aura farming and I love it
Let the record show “Bill Murray was in attendance”.
And he delivered. Unlike LeFraud, who would’ve buckled under pressure, made a pass for the game winning shot and then all the fans absolve him with “he made the right play. “
Buddy was already looking old, hey
This was the game after Reggie Millers push-off 3 game winner right
No…push off was game 4.
I didn’t hear the part wer he blamed his teammates
They should’ve lost this game to 🐐
Bill was there in case they needed a last-minute substitute.
“I don’t make promises to my wife” that line didn’t end well 😬
Bro what else is he supposed to say lmao
“Idk, we might win or we might not”
22 offensive rebounds to 4 god damn
also nearly 80 freethrows shot but this is what yall miss
You’re talking about one game which was a bit of an anomaly.
League average in 1997–98 (regular season): about 49 combined FTAs per game.
1998 playoffs average: typically 50–55 combined FTAs per game (slightly higher due to tighter playoff defense and officiating).
Game 7 Bulls–Pacers (78 FTAs): nearly 25–30 more attempts than a typical game.
I’ll add that for the 2024–25 NBA regular season, the league averaged 21.7 free-throw attempts per team per game — so about 43–44 combined FTAs per game.
So in 1998 the league averaged about 5 more than today’s games.
the pace is 98.8 now
it was 90.3 back then
so it’s 5 more freethrows in a slower pace
this current season had the lowest freethrow rate of all time
that 98 season is one of the highest
I don’t see a lot of people hating on the number of free throws as much as they hate on the way those free throws are earned. There’s certainly an argument and counter argument as to whether the league was more physical and whether fouls were more “real” back in the day, but comparing FTA’s is not the best way of having that discussion.
i feel like no one, regardless of if they were earned or not, would enjoy watching 80 freethrows in a slow paced game
or 55 freethrows a game in a dead paced era
Because of big play and the way the paint was attacked.
It wasn’t foul baiting on jump shots from 3 45 times a night.
per 100, teams shot 29 fts, that’s kinda insane, like top 5 all time
it’s 22 a game now
Teams do shoot a hell of a lot of 3s now. FT attempts on 3s has to be pretty low. Even with all the 3s, 4 point plays are rare. So I’m sure some of the difference has to do with styles of play.
shots in the paint are about the same as always
the big difference really is just post play, which tended to be more just two huge dudes banging into each other
awful basketball because while we love Hakeem, Duncan, and others, not as fun watching teams throw it to their below average C for post ups
And shot the ball really bad and almost choked away the game. He knew he’d be carried to another title.
If they lost to the pacers it wouldn’t be a choke. That was a good team.
Jordan choked bro just admit it
When was said choke? Choke means losing when they should have won.
MJ shot 36% in this game, these highlights make it seem like he played well.
Kukoc and Kerr shot lights out and Rodman was +13 off the bench.
He did play well, he just didn’t shoot well. Shot wasn’t falling but he was rebounding, passing, & defending very well - held Reggie to 0 points in the 4th quarter.
Have a hard time giving MJ 100% of the credit for keeping Miller scoreless. MJ sat the first 3 minutes and after that the Pacers couldn’t get Miller the ball because Pippen, Kerr, and Harper kept stealing the ball first. There were two plays MJ was guarding someone other than Miller and that person scored.
Why are people downvoting comments like these lol its a fair comment
I mean, it’s a game that Bulls failed to reach even 90 points and it was game fucking 7. Usually even superstars aren’t greatly efficient during those games.
You think Kobe played like shit during game 7 of the 2010 finals? He shot 25 percent from the field that game you know.
cause shooting isnt all there is
Because it’s stupid box score watching. Everyone has off shooting nights - but great players can find other ways to contribute when their shot isn’t falling.
This sub is full of dumb kids who think TS% is the only stat that matters.
So he did play Game 7s, so what do Jordans fans say nonsense like “wHaTs a GaMe sEVeN?”
he never did in the finals, I think
OK, but then he shot like 9-25 in this game and missed 5 free throws
He’s still the GOAT and has plenty of other mind-blowing moments in his career, but there’s no need to mythologize every single thing
You play to win nerd. Go back to math class
John Havlicek won more. Havlicek must be better
You thought you did something there. Leave the sports to the jocks, nerd
You clearly weren’t alive at the time and didn’t watch that game in real time. You can’t just look at box scores and understand how the game went. MJ did have an off shooting night but he was an absolute demon on defense and the offensive glass (as were some of the other Bulls). He completely shut down Reggie Miller in the 4th quarter.
Honestly the Bulls probably should have lost that game, but they basically willed themselves to beat the Pacers by out-hustling them (destroyed them on the offensive glass, etc). I remember that game vividly (it was the only time during the 2nd 3 peat I was legit worried we might lose) and it’s honestly one of the more impressive games the Bulls dynasty put up in the postseason. It was really a legit example of a championship team just willing themselves to victory.
You clearly weren’t alive at the time and didn’t watch that game in real time.
I was and I did. I was 20 years old working overnight security on weekends and was able to catch this whole game right before getting ready to leave for my Sun-Mon shift. I was rooting for the Bulls; actually owned the reversible Scottie Pippen jersey (remember those?), the one where the “away” side was the black alternate with red pinstripes.
You can’t just look at box scores and understand how the game went.
You can’t just go by memory either; 1998 was 27 years ago. And FWIW, many of the “you never actually saw it in real time” crowd are usually even younger than me, recalling childhood memories from when their favorite players were larger-than-life superheroes who never had an off night.
The things that I referenced in my previous post (and yes, had to look up for accuracy) are things that happened, and things that we saw happen when you and I were watching in real time. None of what you pointed out invalidates any of the facts I pointed out.
MJ did have an off shooting night but he was an absolute demon on defense and the offensive glass (as were some of the other Bulls). He completely shut down Reggie Miller in the 4th quarter.
An absolute demon on defense and the on offensive glass who shut down Reggie Miller in the 4th quarter…but still would’ve lost the game if Indiana hit their FTs at their normal clip or Kerr/Kukoc weren’t 67% from three. He lucked out this one time, and folks shouldn’t get defensive when it’s pointed out. Worse players with better performances have been called out on it when their team didn’t win.
Saying he lucked out is silly - the Bulls shot even worse from the FT line than Indiana FFS.
I was an adult then myself FWIW (just finished my senior year in college - around the same age as you). I remember this game vividly and I’ve watched the whole thing several times since (I know I watched it within the last few years) - so I’m not just going off memory.
The Bulls won this game by doing some classic Phil Jackson things. Limiting turnovers (IND had almost twice the TOV rate CHI did) and pounding the offensive boards (CHI destroyed IND on the offensive glass).
agree. Jordan was goated by his actions, not every last one. Same for the bron. Everyone consistantly downvotes me because they think i’m some inchoate hater, no. I recognize this clown’s greatness, Bron’s, I do; he’s had his great moments, etc. I don’t find much to idolize in the game, but I do respect his consistancy, longevity (PED inspired or otherwise).
Still, he ain’t no Jordan. They are very different men. As a man, Jordan is much more old school, something I can get down with. As a man, Bron, is not. His passive aggressive shit, constant dicking around in the media and the like, is just fuckin’ weak. Jordan, if he did shit like this, at least kept it more understated so he’s goat there too.
9⁄25
9.5 BPM
+8 in a 5 Point win.
Highest gmescr accross both Teams: 19.2
28/9/8
28⁄88 Points scored
8⁄18 Assists, just 2 tov
People focus too much on shooting percentage. MJs turnover rate in the 1998 postseason was absolutely insane. 6.7% on that kind of usage is basically close to impossible.
Jordan actually had the 2nd lowest tov% in the regular season as well.
coulda done without the 9⁄25 still, and the 10⁄15 at the line
also, i’m consistent on this, i did it with tatum as he was winning the title
the rebounds and assists are cool, it’s also not too much to ask not to go 6⁄22
edit: using bpm oh god i didn’t even notice that, Reggie and Kukoc were higher
highest gamescore, yeah no fucking shit he took 25 shots and 15 freethrows, he’s the goat obviously he was going to make some of them
He also held Reggie Miller to 0 points in the 4th, he overcame a poor shooting night by doing everything else
he had a fine game
he was still 9⁄25, and 10⁄15 at the line idk why saying that means i just called him hitler
i watched Tatum go 6⁄22, but have 9 rebounds and 12 assists in the finals, it was still not a good game, and that’s fine
Yeah you provided context and in response other people are doing the same, no one said you called him hitler
there’s been 0 context provided to anything, he went 9⁄25, it happens
he made a bad game into a fine game by rebounding and passing, just like tatum did
but all i know is if they had lost that game, people woulda been killing him, no one would be talking about oh but he rebounded!
because we all know, it wasn’t a great game
Rebounding, passing and holding their best player scoreless in the 4th, thats the context you were missing when you only highlight his fg%. Those things led to a win despite the poor shooting, I dont know why you keep bringing up Tatum. Did he prove himself the way Jordan did through his career?
yeah he had a fine game
it doesn’t have to be tatum, it can be kobe, game 7 of the finals, 8⁄24, but he had i wanna say 18 rebounds
you bring it up now, and people like will say omg he did everything despite the bad shooting night! a true winner!
but if he had that exact same game, played the exact same way, and they lost? he’d be getting killed, no one would be talking about the rebounding
because we all know, it wasn’t really a good game
Hypotheticals like this is dumb because if you are going to change the result then everything else wouldn’t stay the same either. Pacers winning would probably mean that Reggie had to score in the 4th, or Jordan having some crucial turnovers, or many other things, and then you could point to Jordan not doing enough. Give the Pacers a 10 point lead to start the 4th then who says that Jordans statline would have stayed the exact same? Its pointless to even discuss, cause what we know is that he did everything he could for a win and it worked.
6⁄6
11⁄11
*11⁄12
you gotta be a real hater to count a finals he was injured, missed two full games, and another he had to leave early cause he got injured
but i would respect the hate lowkey because i def do the whole ya’ll only got like 12 titles and give the wolves back theirs
8 assists, 9 rebounds.
9⁄25, 10⁄15 from the line
i’m a celtics fan, when Tatum was going 6⁄22 in the finals but had 7 boards and like 9 assists, that’s great that he did that
doesn’t really change the 6⁄22, or the 9⁄25
Best player in a slugfest game 7 to clinch the series
At the end of the day most fans only really care about the W. It doesn’t really matter how you get there.
and that’s the problem
a player will play the exact same way but the team context will be bad, they lose = losing player
team context is good, they win = winner
you’ll see it with KD this year, same people saying he’s not a winning player anymore will watching him with the rockets and be like wow, amazing, as if he’s not gonna play the exact same way
It’s not a problem really. True greatness is winning despite playing poorly, MJ was having an off night with his shot so he stepped up in other areas of the game. It’s a team sport and being able to elevate/get more out of your teammates is what great leaders do.
it’s not really stepping up in other areas if you’re still taking 25 shots and 15 freethrows
He averaged 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 1998 so he blatantly did step up as he dished 8 assists and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Not sure what’s upsetting you really. He said they would win and they did. That’s what the post is about.
and he did go 9⁄25, idk why you’re all getting upset
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Pippen and MJ both shot poorly (pippen was even worse than MJ at 6 for 18)… but both of them played all out in other areas. Between them they accounted for 11 of the Bulls 22 offensive rebounds (5 for MJ, 6 for Pip) and were the Bulls two leading rebounders. MJ had 8 of the Bulls 18 assists.
That’s what great players do…anything it takes to win. You aren’t always going to shoot well, but you can still give that extra effort on defense and on the boards. Being able to impact the game in other ways even if your shot isn’t falling is very valuable.
Had an off-night shooting yet still finished with a +8 (+/-)
Did you just start watching the league lmfao
Game 7s are always brutal slow inefficient slugfests😂😂 9⁄25 foh, and 3 pts per made bucket lmao
for the role players
also i’m not sure that’s as true you think it is in your head
just recent game 7’s
OKC/Pacers - slugfest for sure
Denver/OKC - OKC put up like 130
Denver/Clippers - Denver put up like 120
Warriors had like a 120 offensive rating vs Houston
Pacers set the all time record vs the knicks i’m pretty sure in game 7 last year
Orlando/Cavs - slugfest, but the whole series was
Boston/76ers - killed the 76ers
Miami/Celtics - killed the celtics
Warriors/Kings - killed the kings
edit:
Jordan in his other 2 game 7’s
31/8/9 on 13⁄27, 5⁄5 at the line
42/6/4 on 15⁄29, 12⁄13 at the line
actual great games
this one just wasn’t
And the W
Right. Not to take away from the fact that he did other things to help the team win, but this wasn’t some sort of transcendent do-or-die takeover like it’s being presented in the clip. Indy missed 14 free throws, Kukoc was 7-11 incl. 3-4 from three, Kerr was 3-5 from 3, Pippen added 6 off rebounds…MJ had a lot of luck and a lot of help
nah you’re wrong, this is one of the all time greatest game 7 performances of all time, he’s the goat, never had a mid game