1992 NBA Finals

NBA Finals summary


caption =
year = 1992
runnerup = Portland Trail Blazers
runnerup_coach = Rick Adelman
runnerup_games = 2
champion = Chicago Bulls
champion_coach = Phil Jackson
champion_games = 4
date= June 3 - June 14
MVP = Michael Jordan
(Chicago Bulls)
television = NBC (U.S.)
announcers = Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, and Magic Johnson
HOFers = Clyde Drexler (2004)
Coaches:
Phil Jackson (2007)
radio_network =
radio_announcers =
referees_1 = Dick Bavetta, Hue Hollins, and Jake O'Donnell
referees_2 =
referees_3 =
referees_4 =
referees_5 = Game 5:
referees_6 = Game 6:
ECF result = Bulls defeat Cavaliers, 4-2
WCF result = Blazers defeat Jazz, 4-2The 1992 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1991-92 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls of the East Conference took on the Portland Trail Blazers of the Western Conference for the title, with Chicago having home court advantage.

The two teams appeared headed to face each other for most of the season and comparisons were made between Drexler and Jordan throughout the season. A month earlier "Sports Illustrated" had even listed Drexler as Jordan's "No. 1 rival" on a cover the two appeared on together before the playoffs. The media, hoping to recreate a Magic-Bird type rivalry in Jordan-Drexler, compared the two throughout the pre-Finals hype.

The Bulls would go on to win the series in six games. Michael Jordan was named Finals Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row, to go with his sixth straight regular season scoring title.

Background

Chicago Bulls

Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls continued their dominance in the 1991-92 season, finishing with a 67-15 record. Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award with a 30.1/6.4/6.1 season. After a physical seven game series over the emerging New York Knicks in the second round and finishing off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals.

Portland Trail Blazers

In the 1991-92 campaign, the Blazers repeated as Pacific champions. They steamrolled through the Western Conference playoffs en route to the epic showdown with the Bulls. The 1992 NBA Finals would cement the reputations of both Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler (placing the latter firmly in the former's shadow).

1992 NBA Finals Roster

1992 Chicago Bulls

Head Coach:Phil Jackson
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
Horace Grant
John Paxson
B.J. Armstrong
Bill Cartwright
Stacey King
Will Perdue
Craig Hodges
Cliff Levingston
Scott Williams
Bob Hansen
Chuck Nevitt

1992 Portland Trail Blazers

Head Coach:Rick Adelman
Clyde Drexler
Terry Porter
Jerome Kersey
Clifford Robinson
Buck Williams
Danny Ainge
Kevin Duckworth
Alaa Abdelnaby
Robert Pack
Mark Bryant
Ennis Whatley
Lamont Strothers
Wayne Cooper

eries Summary

"Bulls win series 4-2"

Game 1

"Wednesday, June 3, at the Chicago Stadium"

Michael Jordan dominated from the beginning, breaking the record for most points in a first half in the playoffs once held by Elgin Baylor (Michael had 35, Baylor had 33). This included six first-half three-pointers. This was needed as Portland made their first 7 shots and ran to an 8-point lead in the first half, only to go down 28-29 to the Bulls at the end of the quarter. Portland was leading by 1 at 44-45, only for Chicago to take control and go on a 23-6 run to a 67-51 lead. The game was decided, and the Bulls earned a 122 to 89 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Game 2

"Friday, June 5, at the Chicago Stadium"

Portland built an 8 point lead in the first quarter, and also built a 9 point lead in the half. However, as in Game 1, their lead started to disappear as the Bulls made their run - Jordan would score 14 points while Paxson would score 9 points in the third quarter, taking a 7 point lead in the third quarter. Chicago was looking to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series when Clyde Drexler fouled out with 4:36 remaining. With the Bulls up by 10, Jordan starting to lose his poise, committing a foul and then a technical foul. This would help Portland build a 15-5 run pushing the game into overtime. In overtime, Portland dominated, especially Ainge who scored 6 points with 1 minute remaining.

Game 3

"Sunday, June 7, at the Memorial Coliseum"

Chicago had lost home court advantage, but regained it as they dominated Portland, holding them to numerous franchise playoff lows: 84 points in a game, 39 2nd half points and 28 field goals. Chicago would go on a 30-13 run in the first half to gain a 44-30 lead which Portland would cut to 3 with 7:09 left in the third before the Bulls went to another 12-3 run. Portland would then go on a field goal drought not scoring from the 4:33 mark in the third quarter until the 9:36 mark of the 4th, a 6:57 stretch.

Game 4

"Wednesday, June 10, at the Memorial Coliseum"

Portland was still playing as they were during Game 3, not scoring for 4 minutes and finding themselves down 10-0. The Bulls would be up 22-9 before the Blazers climbed up and starting to cut the deficit to 3 at half but found themselves down again in the 3rd period. While Jordan had an amazing third quarter, scoring 13 points, he would not score in the game's final 10:26. Portland would go on a 15-6 run to even the series at 2 games.

Game 5

"Friday, June 12, at the Memorial Coliseum"

Game 6

"Sunday, June 14, at the Chicago Stadium"

Portland started strongly as they held Michael Jordan scoreless for the game's first 11 minutes, and would be a 43-28 lead miday through the 2nd quarter before Chicago ended it with a 16-7 run and cut the deficit to only 6 points. Portland also dominated the third quarter, building a 79-64 lead. Phil Jackson would go with 4 reserves and Scottie Pippen to start the fourth quarter, cutting Portland's lead to 3 after only 3 minutes. Jordan returned and had two steals and converted them to hoops to give Chicago a permanent lead. The Bulls defense would hold Portland to only 6 in the final 4 minutes, leading the Bulls to their second straight Championship.

Quotes

"Here's Jordan for three...YES! Did you see that look? Michael indicating he can't believe it!"-Marv Albert, calling Michael Jordan's sixth and final three-pointer of the game, to which Jordan looked over at Magic Johnson and shrugged his shoulders.

"This is the greatest performance, maybe ever, in a single half, playoff, or in the history of this league!"-Bulls announcer Jim Durham on Michael Jordan's performance in Game 1.

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19911992.html NBA History]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7-AjsQTVnQ&feature=PlayList&p=F447632DBF95A967&index=0&playnext=1 Game 1 on Youtube.com]