NBA On TNT - Sonics @ Bulls 1997 Great Game!

In the '90s, no two NBA teams were more successful, but while the Sonics have grown accustomed to winning under George Carl, their playoff ledger still contains painful memories of underachievement. He endured first-round disappointments of 94 and 95 last year. Seattle ignored its doubters and advanced to the finals, rose to meet Chicago's challenge, but fell in six

game

s. Chicago has long placed fortunes in the hands of one man, and his postseason heroics have allowed the Bulls to capitalize on their regular-season dominance by turning hard work into hardware. Last season's championship run limited Jordan's triumphant return to the

game

he loved and gave Chicago its fourth title in the last six seasons.

Will they do it again this year? We know it well. It's possible that when the NBA schedule was released last summer. I took a look at March 18 and said, "Hey, that seems like a good night to stay home." Well, that night is here and we are at the United Center, 2 miles west of the speedway in downtown Chicago, Illinois, for the second meeting of the season between the two teams that met for the NBA Championship a year ago. year in their second game in

1997

between the Seattle Sonics and the Chicago Bulls Road Trip game 4 heading home tonight Chicago second straight at home most recently blasted Atlanta here Saturday night everyone's getting old it's what that everyone says they are struggling is what everyone says they have been s and 3 in the last 10 that is not struggling for me today interesting here is the rebound in the hands of Larry Stewart and the quick exit that F chose off of Harper three on two Pippen has it and finds Jordan who gets fouled by Larry Stewart and will shoot two down on Jordan mlan throws it here he comes Seattle Percy Hawkins has it playing at home he's a Chicago native from the corner Larry Stewart for two, he's doing, He is giving us a credible shot on the night they tied so early here is Longley and she takes it Hawkins has pton on the left side Gary pton up there is no good rebound Rodman out with a Pippen pass here is Michael Jordan who passes Michael ban hello, well , that answers all the questions about dead legs, he can still get up, Hercy Hawkins 43, I got it, you can't give Hery Hawkins time, he hits the front rim and here comes Gary Pton, it's a two on three, Milan is down in the corner, here's Payton's jumper. well you're going to watch this all night now here's mlan trying to defend well yeah trying is the key that's a tough position for anyone no comment he didn't stay for long oh boy what a beauty of you and Pippen.

I can see Pippen's eyes right now from the beginning of this game. He wants to make a statement that he can play tonight. The Bulls will allow him to throw an ENT pass to Longle, who turns and goes to the baseline. Now the up and down movement here is fine. backs down to pick up mlan, good jump stop and Kamp's jump and the basket is good. Jordan double team comes in on the first dribble under a nice PI pass, take a look at Scotty Pippen here first, there's a baseline move here, but he does it. in many other ways, not just passing and scoring.

Look, that's a big pass for Luk. Lone will likely be out until the second half. Camp blocked by Longley blocked again by Longy and this time a 24 second shot clock violation. Luke Longley with two fines. Defensive CL, yes, and he has been for Seattle, three against three, Hawkins below, Larry Stewart has to alter the shot because of Le long, but the point is good and it is Seattle, they attack from below, he is protected by it, Hawkins Hatton He has his back to Jordan, here he is for three lry. Stewart arrived too late in Chicago, but Rodman returned to Kamp's hands.

Now pton mlan didn't look like he wanted it, but he didn't want it, he didn't want to shoot it, but he did the road trips. watch out they have a

great

chance to win the West chasing Utah right now Camp Beauty here's km's latest move yeah check out Sean km here this is one of those up and down moves he's moving the only one AG who has over everyone who is going to protect him because he is faster, he is more athletic, here is Rodman, he finds Longley, mlan, a little late to get there, Longley puts him in, he kicks Larry Stewart, then John Kemp with a jumper and, like you said, they let him have that mlan, whoa, whoa, smooth move from the Marquette kid's backdoor cut by Randy Brown takes the jumper and shoots it, yeah, he's capable, he himself is as good as FL for Seattle, guarded for a long time by Perkins, shoots it over him and puts him on the dribble.

The cumin doubles and it's not there for Jordan. the a goes but the follow up shot is good and Luke Longley got away with it with another push on the fast break the T no basket interference good call by Billy or good call I think he was going in anyway team with him Payton comes with the trap here is Randy Brown and the steal of Gary pyton Jordan behind it is a three against one Percy Hawkins for two and we arrive at the end of the first quarter Luke Longley inspires Chicago five of six from the field 10 points but it is Chicago that Bulls who are behind by two at the end of a 2220 find out why the Bulls are losing, they are human, that's why well at home they have 31; one, here's Terry Cummings for two games.

Cummings long with the blocking and Jason Cy could have helped play big. them right now, well, he's 72, that's the point, sorry, Jason Cappy marks it, Terry Cummings off limits. Chicago Ball, good defensive play by Cathy for Jud. Buser is active and has Terry Cummings defensively, Graham for three with Cappy in his face, but he hits him and they. Let's make him shoot too now Graham with Jordan Perkins Fade Away got it Sonic here's Cummings short on the glass Jordan with a rebound Pusher Jordan Winnington on the other end Cy receives the pass and makes it

great

pass great catch move to the final getting back to a one point margin with 520 left biting for the first n seconds of the first two at the beginning wennington puts it on the ground and puts it in the basket, yes, but four n for Seattle is a good sign George Carl Also They told us before this game that they have two keys: getting Shan km out early and making outside shots.

Kemp had a good game and Cummings will try for a three-point effort. A beautiful pass from Sean Kemp and this time the Bulls decided to double team. and you see what happens when you double team, that's why I feel like Jackson doesn't like it. The Bulls aren't used to double teaming, they'd rather not look into Michael Jordan's eyes just a moment ago, yeah, when you can look away and throw the. ball 60 feet per cent that means you can play baseball without turning the ball over right now Seattle is winning that war Cummings after the loss of Jordan they put it in the hands of Hery Hawkins and they foul him hard and we're going to go free calm shot control here the answer is yes John buler in and out piping lefty returned good pass buler on the shot clock he returned no now buler with the next good alert play from Jud Bushler yes, it really was no and that scares them and and and If he doesn't come back, it's a big loss for Bo Bushler, he comes with a double team and Rodman and Cumins come down and save a good ball movement to pton for three no and Rodman with another rebound, he has 72 more minutes left.

Camp guarded by Long Buler comes with a double that leaves Lingate open for three in the report, the team was fouled when Camp makes the basket and will have the opportunity for a three-point play. 106 to go in the half, oh God, Sean km is attacking the basket now and he's giving the Bulls fits from the beginning, you saw him making those jump shots settling well, he's not settling anymore, he's going straight for the basket , he's faster, he has that advantage and he's starting to take advantage of it and using it happens because he's the best. The player on the floor right now for the Bulls has been Luke Long Cur for three, they'll take some of that Payton on Cur Rod, the Longley open can, what a smart play, everyone in the gym knew he wasn't going to shoot the ball , but he forced Los to double team, he gave an open shot to Luke Longley, that's a great play by Dennis Robin and a good way for the Bulls to end the first half and Milan picks up Longley who takes the first shot of the second half and Jordan was there.

Great positioning and the putback is a good screen from Milan to Kemp, quickly to a Hawkins three-point effort, which is good, yeah, and the Bulls had a mix-up on defense. His average per game since Camarón left has increased six points. 12 to 18 good movement in the L and we talk about taking over the relief that he has done and that returns outside to Pippen under Rodman an unusual offensive movement attracts the foul goes to the line that's probably why he got the call, no one expected it, especially the referees. so they had to make a call and Jordan goes to the post again now Hawkins confronts him and they find him in the alley and this is something the Bulls talked about in the halftime adjustment Hawkins with a little advice from Runner is not a good rebound Rodman and there's Gary Payton to steal it leads the league and steals but misses the shot he has four steals in the game that was great Luke Longley had it hang in the air and put it in there oh wow not sure what he was doing mlan but he looked like a matador that went unnoticed here's Ron Harper back to Longley for lack of mlan and the emotions are starting to come we talked in the first half neither team showed much emotion Seattle showed more but now you can see it coming look watch this a lot here for Michael Jordan that play was set up by Luke Longley cutting to the free throw line throwing it over the Bulls made that adjustment at halftime four to go into the third quarter of the game with a two point lead Seattle Haws lo got Payton hard shot wadman big rebound yes you can see Dennis coming into this game now let's go back and take a look at a healthy Dennis Rodman yes we talked about being a great athlete that's athleticism but even more importantly look at this pass Outlet, that's how it's drawn In the Chicago schoolbooks there's Longley, a nice pass from P.

Jordan underneath gets fouled hard and will go to the free throw line underneath Perkins Rodman guarding Perkins for two and that's the kind of guy which Dennis Robin had problems with. who is taller than him gets it inside the field in the hands of Ron Harper Pippen asks for it and gets it by three yes get back to a one point game they need more of that from Scotty pipp Hawkins with the counterattack why attack wide that's what Seattle does it again Payton, little Runner Rodman tries to save him but he's on the line, he's in a photographer's lap and everyone's holding their breath, the photographer was saying he was sorry, which is a change, oh, give up your body and Dennis with a Ry. smiles recognizing familiar territory less than 5 minutes left in the third quarter a four point lead for Seattle, they lose by three in the turnaround Fade jumper for Michael Jordan Jordan pushes out of bounds Offensive foul called they were delayed I think It was Michael Jordan who kind of started the action and got away with it, there's the push, the first sh, yeah, and you can see Le trying to hold on for a long time, that was a great acting job, also from Gary Cumins, he's on the ground again, there's another turnover by Scotty Pippen Cummings and Steve.

Kerr ducks and mixes it up and Perkins saves it for Seattle as he takes it to Nate McMillan Hawkins in the low post. An offensive foul is called again and that will be on his Hawkins the entire time. Two point game again, that's for two. Dennis Rodman does it in every way playing defense and you will still see him getting the rebound. He is taking over this game with his Sam Perkins effort. They haven't scored for the last three minutes. Gary pyton is two for 11 in this ball game. from the corner, Hery Hawkins Hawkins for three, that's off the mark Rodman with another rebound and a foul is going to be called on Terry Cumins, watch out for the technical foul on Cummings and Rodman stays calm.

Rodman knew Terry Cummings was upset, so that's why he stood up. on top of him, that's a smart move by Dennis Robins, he knew Terry Cummings was upset about it and he perpetuated it by standing up, you can see it right here, you see it, he does it on purpose and you knew you'd get a reaction. I knew you'd get a reaction because it's Dennis Rodman here's Jason Cappy and Nate McMillan read that perfectly Nate McMillan read that but Luke Longley should have cut off the remaining B3 in the fourth here's Gary pton back to Cummings off the dribble strong rley is there Hawkins at the buzzer that will make KN count for a long time with the excellent defensive effort, his fourth stop, fourth block of the ball game, but here Hawkins with 10 points in the third quarter and as we approach the fourth quarter, Seattle still leads Now by one, very good, Greg stops the By the time he sits down, Shan Kemp is back on the court and Terry Cummings opens the fourth with a double.

Now Jordan scoresto Pton on the shot clock. Pton takes it in deep fights for the rebound. It will be Payton and Longley. Michael Jordan will pass quickly. to curve for a three touch pass to Cumings awkward but good, good move, good strong move Jerry pyton goes by the other guy and there's a steal for Chicago. Here comes Steve Cur Michael, who played just 29 in that Saturday night win, nails the jumper. It's tied again for the seventh time he's done it in his career, but Michael Jordan is fine and will fight for the playoffs and another chance to lead, it would be the first of the night, here's Jordan, this to lead, not Cummings.

Cathy hits it hard, it's a tough shot, Kerr left it open, you leave it open and that's what's going to happen. Yes, he's stepping up right now. It's a great pass from Steve Kerr and a tough, tough shot, and he looks at Terry Cummings. You can't play better defense right here. He takes the bun and still pushes it in the face.he makes the shot which is a good shot by Terry C Simkins the guards Kamp Buler comes to help, they kick it Hawkins then to pton for three beautiful ball movements beautiful pass eight times we haven't seen a Chicago advantage that passed right into the hands of Gary pton another steal for pton five on the shot CLA ah Beautiful movement excellent movement by Shan km he heard us here yes sha km in the post and this is where they want the ball to the They want to give him the ball in the post and to make a quick move before the double team arrives, you can see Michael Jordan arriving on the field a little late minutes 2 seconds Jordan Wing scores another steal from Percy Hawkins in trouble returns him to the km who was playing mark km Camp takes it to the baseline and Rodman picks up the foul Windgate now switches to take Steve Kerr double team on Michael 40 feet away from the basket receives the return pass and puts it in and it still didn't work Rodman has Camp double team bushler offensive foul that's five fouls on Kemp's laugh Kent is upset but that was a great move by Dennis robins move your feet in the post people think post defense is just hitting sometimes That's moving your feet and anticipating that Dennis Robin did a great job, there was a little failure, look where this tra is, it's almost in the middle of the court and it's trapped.

A rule never allows the guy to break the trap. Michael Jordan recovered the ball and made a layup. alyo Rodman offense yes offensive foul on Dennis Rodman yes, he pushed to stop Sean km back and Kemp scores both free throws the lead is five 410 to go Sam Perkins back in FL Windgate is on the bench here is Michael two now Jordan passes by Gary Payton takes the jumper, short point, a chance for his first lead of the night, Cur Longley got it long underneath. Jordan Camp's foul was given to Scotty Pippen and that's six, he's out, yeah, and you could see to Scotty right away that the foul could have been given to either of them. guy and it's unusual for the star kid to get it Scotty got the foul which is a big foul just the second disqualification of the season for Scotty Pi we look at these two guys Hershey Hawkins and Steve Cerry everyone talks about both of them on offense but that's great defense by Steve Curry right there and he backs it up with a great pass cutting out Luke Longley.

Good shot that is difficult for a big man to catch the ball in motion and finish the shot. What role have Steve Cerr and Luke Longley played here in the In the fourth quarter, Jordan took six steals from Gary Pton, but a reckless attempt to get him the ball and that play was given away by Michael Jordan, forced Gary Peyton to try to get rid of of the ball earlier than he wanted at Rodman's baseline. in control as he crossed the baseline, it will be Seattle's ball, he tried to call a timeout and thought it was a foul.

Spikes in for Shawn Kemp oh, hard effort from TP and a foul is called on the post guarded by Hawkins Hey pton Jordan's foul that could be on Kemp if so, he left, it's Kemp's turn to try to go for the three, it would be her Hawkins enters Terry Cumins Cummings recovers it for Perkins takes it, he didn't get it, loose ball Cummings has it in the corner for Payton, his foul is called UNL and he will shoot three free throws, oh, what a great decision, they had time in the clock. pyton gets the first, he has two more chances for the season, a 70% free throw shooter, he's three of three tonight they made the first two easy, you normally don't criticize the player for trying to make a play for the tie with 20.8 left, we're marked at 78, now this is where they're going to miss Scotty Pippen, you can see them. taking the ball out of Michael's hand for a long time guarded by Perkins eight missing Kerr left side Harper commits no foul it's called a loose ball we're going to overtime fourth Ron Harper guarded by his teammate McMillan Rodman Jordan lack of communication that one is out of the limits and It will be Seattle's ball fouled out, so they have not been an offensive giant.

Here's Harper's trap for Perkins. Yes, and again approaching three minutes in overtime. Longley Cerr, many points. It's hard not to look at that, but he's a great defender. He has a great defender on him right now and will go to the free throw line. They ask Payton for his room. They are playing very well. The defense is so tight here now. Before you could call him right there. It is a difficult decision. That's a difficult decision. I would say that it is not a very good decision because you can make it at any time. Well, they have two shots from Terry that they would probably like to get back in their last two times against Hawkins, oh man, oh what a great shot. shot and great pick Great Pickman now Payton here's Hawkins for three again oh my goodness one minute Mark in overtime Jordan for three Off the mark, Rodman's T back to Perkins 43 no fumble foul who they gave him a Terry Cummings for him he leads 30 points Michael Jordan t on the shot clock now here is Gary pton guarded by Michael Jordan the play broke down so they go to Gary pton OMG what a shot wow he almost made that shot this one It's a good move and it's with his left hand to the people so close and now the Bulls are saying where the foul was that Michael hit him with his body and I think it was a good decision one more to take the lead three free throws from Gary Pton force this into overtime he has the triple double the sixth of his career 14 points 12 rebounds and 15 assists his first miss from the line tonight and it's good not to call a timeout because now Seattle doesn't have a chance to prepare his defense.

I can't believe in that trap. immediately, oh, clean block, no foul is called. McMillan is going to be penalized for the foul. I thought I had all the balls. Wow, I thought that was a squeaky clean block. They're asking Gary Peyton. It was a late decision. take a look now, you can do a hand check right there, but they didn't call that he did it, it was a good call, it hit Michael Jordan in the arm, I don't know who they gave it to, but it was a good call. 10 of 11 on the line tonight, you know, Seattle now feels like they're getting robbed, they think they're playing by Jordan's rules, but it was a good decision, all you can say is that he had no chance of make the shot now.

If it's me who shoots, that's true, but that was Michael Jordan, he could have made that shot with a two point lead for Chicago with 3 seconds left in overtime. 3 seconds left in overtime Hawkins defended by Curry puts no to T no wow BS well wow and he saw it very well too, they got their first lead with 220 left in regulation, they won in overtime and let's move on to Craig Sager with Michael Jordan, well Michael, that's a tough PA that you didn't get the lead on late in the game. ball game and then you had to carry the load with Tony hurt and also Scotty in foul trouble and also Luke in foul trouble tough game, it was a tough game, I mean it was a visceral game for us and you know a lot of calls could I've won in a lot of different ways and I think the home field advantage was in our favor tonight and you know it was a good game.

Pippen didn't have a great offensive game and I didn't shoot the ball particularly well. that tells you how much we miss coach Tony K in that lineup, he could certainly come in and pick up when Scotty and I aren't able to handle the little guy offensively, but we got a great game out of Luke and that was a big help for us, you lost two games recently, people said that maybe Michael Jordan's legs were tired. You have Seattle as a finalist from last year. Was this a message game for you? It's a game of messages. I think you know we're starting to get back into a good rhythm for that, you know, last week was a bad week for us and every team goes through that.

I mean, we're not immune to that and you know, but now we seem to have a good feel for ourselves, our offense is starting to come. Around us we are starting to practice more so we can get a rhythm together and when it's time for the playoffs we will return. I don't want to change the subject. We had a tribute to Dean Smith at halftime. I know you couldn't be there because you had a game on Saturday night, but you're thinking about Smith. I am very happy for the coach. I mean, he downplays a lot of things and you know, I show the modesty that he has.

You know, we, like all the players that went through that program, respect. him as a father in some ways and we certainly feel that he is one of the greatest coaches of all time and certainly deserves that respect. Thank you very much for being with us. Now back to the Doc and Luke version.