Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals

Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals
Utah Chicago
86 87
1234 Total
Chicago 22231626 87
Utah 25241720 86
Date June 14, 1998
Venue Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Attendance 19,911

Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals was a professional basketball game that took place on June 14, 1998 between the visiting Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bulls won 87–86, winning their sixth NBA championship in eight years. Game 6 was the final game with the Bulls for Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson (both would retire from the National Basketball Association (NBA), then eventually return). This game earned the highest TV ratings of an NBA game of all time. Michael Jordan hit a jump shot with 5.2 seconds left in the game to give the Bulls an 87–86 lead. Chicago then held on to win after John Stockton missed a 3-point field goal.

Background

The Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls finished the regular season tied for the best record in the NBA at 62-20. The Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, and the Bulls defeated the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, setting up a rematch of the prior year's NBA Finals, which the Bulls had won in 6 games. The Jazz swept the season series against the Bulls 2–0, giving them the tiebreaker for home-court advantage throughout the NBA Playoffs.

In the finals series, the Jazz had won Game 1, while the Bulls had won Games 2-4. At the United Center in Game 5, Michael Jordan missed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, allowing the Jazz to stave off elimination with an 83-81 victory and return to Utah for Game 6, and a Game 7. None of the previous 5 Finals appearances for the Bulls had gone to a Game 7.

Game summary

Scottie Pippen scored the opening basket on a slam dunk that aggravated a back injury, causing him pain and difficulty moving throughout the game.[1] Pippen was limited to 8 points on 4–7 shooting in 26 minutes played.[2] Michael Jordan took 35 of the Bulls' 67 shots, leading the team in scoring and minutes played with 45 points in 44 minutes.[2] Karl Malone led the Jazz in both categories with 31 points in 43 minutes.[2]

In the first half of the game, while the Jazz led 28-24 with just under 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Jazz guard Howard Eisley saved a pass that almost sent the ball out of bound. As the shot clock was running down, Jazz forward/center Antoine Carr passed the ball a long distance to Shandon Anderson, but the ball flew over Anderson's hands.[3] Eisley caught the ball and hit a 3-pointer, but referee Dick Bavetta ruled that Eisley released the ball after the shot clock expired.[4] Replays showed that the ball had left Eisley's hands with a second left on the shot clock.[5] (This game took place 4 years before the NBA instituted instant replay to review calls.[6]) Calling the game for NBC, Bob Costas narrated a replay of Eisley's shot: "See if the ball isn't out of his hand. One second...it's on the way, and they missed the call."[3] In the second half, Bulls guard Ron Harper made a jump shot as the shot clock went off that tied it at 79; at the NBC play-by-play, Costas announced that Harper released the ball on time, but commentator Isiah Thomas, narrating a replay of Harper's shot, considered it to be "a tough call."[7]

Although the Jazz held a 49-45 lead at halftime and a 66-61 at the end of the 3rd quarter, they let them slip away in the fourth.[8] John Stockton hit a 3-pointer with 41.9 seconds left to give the Jazz an 86–83 lead.[9] Michael Jordan scored a layup on the following possession to cut the lead to one. With 18.9 seconds left and the Jazz in possession, Jordan stole the ball from Karl Malone in the low post and dribbled down the court.[10] Bryon Russell guarded Jordan as time wound down. Jordan drove inside the 3-point line, executed a quick cross-over, possibly pushing off Russell,[11][12] although the officials did not call a foul, and hit a 20-footer to give the Bulls an 87–86 lead with 5.2 seconds left. Neil Funk made the call for the Bulls' radio network.

“ Screens across. Malone to the post. Malone...stripped by Michael, to the floor, stolen by MJ! Michael the steal! 16 seconds left, Bulls down one...Michael against Russell, 12 seconds...11...10. Jordan, Jordan, a drive, hangs...fires...SCORES! HE SCORES! The Bulls lead 87-86 with five and two-tenths left, and now they're one stop away! Oh my goodness...oh, my goodness! ”

Bob Costas, calling the game on television for NBC, had this call.

“ Jordan with 43. Malone is doubled. They swat at him and steal it! Here comes Chicago. 17 seconds. 17 seconds, from Game 7, or from championship #6. Jordan, open, CHICAGO WITH THE LEAD! Timeout Utah, 5.2 seconds left. Michael Jordan, running on fumes, with 45 points. ”

Then as the replays of Jordan's shot were being shown, Costas added.

“ That may have been, who knows what will unfold over the next several months, but that may have been the last shot Michael Jordan will ever take in the NBA. ”

Utah called timeout to set up the final play of the game. John Stockton took the inbound pass, and missed a game-winning 3-pointer, and the Bulls celebrated.[4] It was mentioned by Costas that Ron Harper may have blocked the ball with his fingertips. Antoine Carr was open during the shot, but the rebound went just out of his reach. The final score of the game was Jordan's final shot as a Bulls player and his 25th game-winning shot for Chicago.[13]

Broadcasting

In the United States, the NBC television network broadcast the game and all other 1998 NBA Finals games live under the NBA on NBC series. The game registered a 22.3 Nielsen rating and 38 share with average 35.9 million viewers - the highest rated and most watched game in the history of the NBA, 72 million people in the US watched at least part of the game.[14] The previous record was a 21.2 rating and 37 share for Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons.[15]

Legacy

Michael Jordan's game-winner to put the Bulls up 87–86 with 5.2 seconds left is remembered as one of the greatest plays in NBA history. In 2010, John Hollinger of ESPN ranked Jordan's last shot as a Bulls player fourth among 50 best single-game performances.[16] The shot was recreated for the 2006 television ad "Second Generation".[17]

The officiating of this game continues to be discussed to this day. In 2008, Tim Buckley of the Deseret News (a daily newspaper published in Salt Lake City) wrote in a profile of Jazz coach Jerry Sloan that the calls involving Howard Eisley and Ron Harper "to this day continue to be discussed and debated by disgruntled Jazz faithful."[18] AskMen.com ranked the no-call on Michael Jordan's last shot of this game sixth on a top-ten list of bad referee calls.[19] Bryon Russell remarked in 2009: "Whether he pushed off or not, he was making that shot."[20]

In 2009, Jordan mentioned Russell in his Hall of Fame induction speech, recalling an interaction they had during Jordan's first retirement in 1994: "[A]t this time, I had no thoughts of coming back and playing the game of basketball. Bryon Russell came over to me and said, 'Why did you quit? You know I could guard you.' ... From this day forward, if I ever see [Russell] in shorts, I'm coming at him." In response, Russell challenged Jordan to a game of one-on-one for charity.[21] Such a match-up has not yet taken place, though the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League did stage a halftime game between Russell and a Jordan look-alike. The Flash offered refunds to fans who expected Jordan actually to appear.[22]

After Michael Jordan retired, interest in the NBA declined, especially after the 1998–99 NBA lockout. Commenting on how the 1999 NBA Finals had the lowest TV ratings for a Finals series since 1981, Eric Boehlert wrote in Salon.com: "Viewers stayed away because the season had been shortened; Michael Jordan had just retired; the Spurs and the Knicks faced each other in the Finals." Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals had only half as many viewers as Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.[23] However, Game 5 of the 2001 Finals, when the Los Angeles Lakers won their second consecutive championship under former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, had the highest ratings of a championship-winning game on the network since Game 6 of the 1998 Finals.[24] NBC's broadcast rights to NBA games expired after the 2002 NBA Finals, when the Lakers won their third consecutive championship under former Bulls coach Phil Jackson. The 2003 NBA Finals had even worse ratings (9.8 million), and only 11.5 million watched the 2005 Finals; the San Antonio Spurs won both years.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Banks, Lacy (1998-06-15). "Pippen's Pain, Sweat and Tears". Chicago Sun-Times via NBA.com. Archived from the original on 2000-08-18. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "1998 NBA Finals Game 6 Boxscore". NBA.com. 1998-06-14. Archived from the original on 1999-02-20. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  3. 1 2 Buckley, Tim (June 19, 2008). "Utah Jazz: Sloan long ago moved on from 1998". Deseret News. pp. 2. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Sheridan, Chris (June 15, 1998). "Jordan's jumper with 5.2 seconds left gives Bulls 6th title". CNN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ Jorgensen, Loren (January 1, 2006). "Best finals games ever in Delta Center". Deseret News. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Pro Basketball; N.B.A. Will Use Replay To Review Buzzer Shots". The New York Times. July 30, 2002. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  7. ↑ Buckley, Tim (June 19, 2008). "Utah Jazz: Sloan long ago moved on from 1998". Deseret News. pp. 3. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  8. ↑ Wise, Mike (June 15, 1998). "THE N.B.A. FINALS; A Steal, a Shot and One More Crown". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  9. ↑ Hamilton, Linda (June 15, 1998). "Stockton thought last shot was in". Deseret News. p. 1. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  10. ↑ Roberts, Selena (June 15, 1998). "THE N.B.A. FINALS; Pippen's Pain Pushes Jordan to Greatest Feat". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  11. ↑ Kerber, Fred (2007-07-17). "Former NBA Ref Blasts Officiating". New York Post. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
  12. ↑ Knott, Tom (2006-12-08). "Someone has to win Eastern Conference". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  13. ↑ "Michael Jordan Game-Winners: How many has Michael made?". NBA.com. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  14. ↑ "72 million saw Bulls take the prize". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. June 17, 1998. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  15. ↑ "NBA Players Removed from U.S. Rosters". Los Angeles Times. 1998-06-17. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  16. ↑ Hollinger, John (June 11, 2010). "Best single-game performances: No. 4". ESPN. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  17. ↑ Rovell, Darren (March 2, 2006). "The Jumpman in us all". Page 2. ESPN.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ Buckley, Tim (June 19, 2008). "Utah Jazz: Sloan long ago moved on from 1998". Deseret News. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  19. ↑ Golokhov, Dave. "Top 10: Bad Referee Calls". AskMen.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  20. ↑ Lawrence, Mitch (2009-02-15). "Trade winds swirl around Vince Carter". Daily News. New York. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  21. ↑ Markazi, Arash (November 13, 2009), "Russell: Jordan 'afraid' to play him", Sports Illustrated, retrieved January 2, 2010
  22. ↑ "D-League owner offers refunds to fans". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 8, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  23. ↑ Boehlert, Eric (2000-06-20). "NBA in disarray". Salon.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  24. ↑ "NBC's Ratings Highest Since 1998". The New York Times. June 17, 2001. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  25. ↑ Romano, Allison (June 24, 2005). "ABC Rises on Falling NBA Ratings". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
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