1990-1991: In their
25th season the Bulls stumble slightly out of the gate losing
their first 3 games, but it would only be a minor hurdle as
the Bulls were about to go on a rampage that would not be
stopped. The Bulls would not lose 3 in a row the rest of the
season on the way to an impressive 61-21 record, which landed
them their first Division Title in 16 years. Along the way
Michael Jordan was as spectacular as ever winning another
scoring title and his 2nd MVP award. In the playoffs the Bulls
would make quick work of the New York Knicks sweeping them
in 3 straight. In the 2nd Round it would be more of the same
as the Bulls knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games
to set up a rematch with the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern
Finals. The much-anticipated rematch would turn into a mismatch
as the Bulls dominated the Pistons winning in 4 straight for
their first ever berth in the NBA Finals. Facing the Los Angeles
Lakers in the Finals much hyped surrounded the match up of
Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. However, as Game 1 showed
stopping Magic was not enough as the Lakers won on a last
second 3-poiter by Sam Perkins, a UNC teammate of Jordan.
However, Jordan likes a challenge and for the next 4 games
he would be simply unstoppable averaging 30 points and 10
rebounds as the Bulls captured their first Championship in
5 games.
1991-1992: Coming
of their first NBA Championship the Bulls would go on another
rampage with winning streaks of 14 and 13 on the way to a
league best 67-15 record. Along the way Michael Jordan captured
his 2nd straight MVP, and 6th straight scoring title. In the
playoffs the Bulls would make quick work of the Miami Heat
sweeping them in 3 straight. However, it was clear with Game
1 of the 2nd round that this years playoff run of the Bulls
would not be as easy as they were stunned by the New York
Knicks. The Bulls would gain control of the series by winning
the next 2 but the Knicks would again even the series. After
winning Game 5 the Bulls would find themselves in a must win
Game 7 after the Knicks took Game 6. Game 7 was tight for
3 quarters as both teams beat up on each other, but in the
end Michael would take over leading the Bulls to the Eastern
Finals. In the East Finals the Bulls would beat the Cleveland
Cavaliers in 6 games. In the Finals for the 2nd straight season
the Bulls got off to a fast start as Michael Jordan showed
an unexpected touch from 3-point range, as the Bulls got the
jump on the Portland Trailblazers. However, the Blazers would
even the series in Game 2. With the next 3 games in Portland
the Bulls had to become road warriors to come home with a
3-2 series lead. However, the Blazers would not go down easily
taking a 15-point lead into the 4th Quarter of Game 6. Facing
Game 7 the Bulls would got on a 14-2 run to start the final
period and would not look back winning their 2nd straight
title with a 97-91 win at Chicago Stadium.
1992
Olympics: The Bulls were not only the toast of Chicago
but the toast of the world as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
stared on the Dream Team as the NBA All-Stars went to the
Summer Olympics for the first time. The Americans were never
challenged and Michael was treated like a rock star while
in Barcelona. Indeed Michael was a star all over the world
his jersey were seen in the 4 corners of the world, while
it seemed back home you could not watch TV without seeing
one of his many commercials, indeed he had become a cooperation
on top himself, becoming the richest athlete with nearly $30
million in endorsements alone.
1992-1993: One side
effect at being on the top of the world is that you become
the target of everyone. The Bulls would not cruise through
the season winning the Central Division by just 3 games while
posting a 57-35 record. Michael Jordan would win his 7th straight
scoring title but would not repeat as MVP. In the playoffs
the Bulls would get off to a quick start sweeping the Atlanta
Hawks in 3 straight. In the 2nd Round the Bulls began to gather
momentum as they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in 4 straight.
However, things would come much tougher in the Eastern Finals
as they faced a hungry New York Knicks team. The Bulls would
quickly find themselves down 2 games to 0 as they lost the
first 2 games in New York. Adding to the frustration were
rumors that Michael Jordan spent the day in between games
gambling away several thousand dollars in Atlantic City. Angry
Jordan shut off the press and stomped on the Knicks as the
Bulls won 2 straight at home to even the series. In a pivotal
Game 5 the Bulls battled the Knicks all the way leading by
1 point with 10 seconds left. There the defense took over
denying Knicks forward Charles Smith 4 times under the basket
before winning the game by 3 points on a breakaway. The Bulls
would go on to close out the Knicks at home in Game 6.
1993 Finals: Facing
the Phoenix Suns the Bulls quest for a 3-peat was overshadowed
by growing rumors of Michael Jordan and gambling as worked
of him betting on golf circulated. On the court it only seemed
to spur Michael on as he averaged a Finals record 41 ppg,
as the Bulls took the first 2 games in Phoenix. With the series
coming to Chicago the Bulls were set to put the nail in the
coffin, but the Suns would prove pesky winning Game 3 in triple
overtime, and Game 5 to send the series back to the desert.
In Game 6 the series appeared destined to reach Game 7 as
the Suns had a 4-point lead with under a minute to go. The
Bulls would cut the lead in half and hold the suns off the
scoreboard setting up a final shot with 5 seconds left. However,
with all eyes on Jordan it was John Paxon who end up the hero
hitting a game winning 3 pointer form the top of the key,
giving the Bulls their 3-peat, as Jordan won his 3rd straight
Finals MVP. However, the joy for Michael would be short lived
as his father was murdered in a carjacking a month later.
Devastated over the summer Jordan decided to retire from the
NBA prior to the start of the next season, stunning the entire
world.
1993-1994: Playing
their final season in Chicago Stadium the Bulls would have
to win their 4th straight title without Michael Jordan. Without
Jordan Scottie Pippen would shine in the spotlight having
his finest season and winning All-Star Game MVP, while leading
the Bulls to a solid 55-27 record that was just 2 games short
of a division title. In the playoffs the Bulls would make
quick work of the Cleveland Cavaliers sweeping them in 3 straight.
Facing the New York Knicks in the 2nd Round the Bulls found
themselves in a defensive war, each game was tight and seemed
to be on the brink of turning into an all out brawl as the
series went to a 7th game. However, without Jordan the Bulls
would fall on the road ending their championship reign.
1994: While the Bulls
quest for a 4th Championship was going down in flames, Michael
Jordan decided to try a new career, by playing baseball with
Chicago White Sox. Often making a fool out of himself, Jordan
became a laughing stock first in Spring Trading and then in
the minors with Birmingham Barons. In truth Jordan may at
one time been a good baseball player, but having not played
the sport in 13 years he was rusty hitting around .200. However
Jordan was not done with basketball as he played in and hosted
a charity game to close out Chicago Stadium, with many of
his friends and ex-teammates through out the league.
1994-1995: It was
clear the new United Center was the Arena that Michael Jordan
built, and one of its first events was an all-star gala to
retire his number 23. That night a statue was also unveiled
outside the new arena featuring Jordan flying through the
air. In their 2nd season without Jordan the Bulls struggled
at times as they sat on the playoff bubble. However, at the
same time Jordan began to feel an itch to return, and on March
18th with the words "I'm Back" the Bulls were a
whole team again. Wearing number 45 in honor of his late father.
Jordan showed some rust in his first game against the Pacers
in Indiana. However, with in short time he would be his old
self again hitting a last second game winner against the Hawks
in Atlanta, and hanging 55 points on the Knicks in his return
to Madison Square Garden. With Jordan getting his legs back
the Bulls posted a 9-1 record in April to finish with a 47-35
record good enough for the 5th seed in the playoffs. In the
first round the Bulls would swat the Charlotte Hornets in
4 games. However, in the 2nd Round the Bulls would be haunted
by ex-teammate Horace Grant as they fell to the Orlando Magic
in 6 games. Along the way Jordan showed some fatigue, but
made another change, returning to number 23 after a remark,
by Magic gaurd Anferne Hardaway, that number 45 was not the
same player as 23.
1995-1996: With
Michael Jordan returning for a full season the Bulls strengthen
their team by acquiring the often enigmatic Dennis Rodman,
who despite constant distraction with his unusual off-court
behavior, which included cross-dressing and changing hair
colors was the league's premier rebounding. The Bulls would
come flying out of the gate winning of their first 11 games.
After a late November loss to the Supersonics in Seattle the
Bulls played even better winning 31 of their next 32 games
as they set their sites on the record of wins in a season
sitting at 41-3. The Bulls were simply unstoppable all year
as Jordan returned to his post as the best player in the NBA
winning the scoring title and MVP. The rampage continued all
season as the Bulls lost consecutive games just once and did
not lose their first home game until April on the way to an
incredible 72-10 record, which bettered the old mark by 3
games. A true champions knows that a great regular seasons
is whipped out if you fail in the playoffs and the Bulls were
not about to let that happen as they blitzed through the Eastern
Conference, sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round before
beating the New York Knicks in 5. In the East Finals the Bulls
would get revenge on the Orlando Magic as number 23 made Anferne
Hardway pine for the days on number 45 in a 4 -game sweep.
In the finals the Bulls appeared to be heading for a sweep
as they won the first 3 against the Seattle Supersonics. However,
the Bulls would stumble and the Sonics would win 22 straight
to send the series back to Chicago. Back in the windy city
for Game 6 Jordan would not be denied winning his 4th Finals
MVP as the Bulls closed out the Sonics on Father's Day, an
emotional Michael Jordan dedicated the Championship to his
late father.
1996-1997: The Bulls
were a traveling circus at times with Dennis Rodman whose
bizarre behavior led to a suspension after he hit a cameraman.
However, with Michael Jordan winning the scoring title for
the 9th time in his career the Bulls again were unstoppable,
falling 1 game short of another 70-win season at 69-13, tying
the old single season win record they had broken a year earlier.
In the playoffs the Bulls quickly shot down the Washington
Bullets in 3 straight. The Bulls would go on to reach the
Finals again by beating the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat each
in 5 games. In the Finals the Bulls would find things much
harder as they faced the Utah Jazz, coached by former Bulls
great Jerry Sloan. Facing Karl Malone, who beat him out for
the MVP, Jordan took over the first 2 games winning Game 1
with a buzzer beater, and scoring 38 points in Game 2. However,
as the series shifted to Utah the Bulls found themselves in
a battle as the Jazz rallied o even the series. Hours before
Game 5 it was doubtful Michael Jordan would even played as
he hampered by a stomach virus. However, Jordan would go out
and as his legend grew beyond leaps and bounds, often wobble
legged Jordan show ho scored 39 points including a last minute
3-pointer to give the Bulls a 3-2 series lead. Back in Chicago
for Game 6 the Bulls found themselves in another battle before
Steve Kerr nailed the series winner from 3-point range in
a shot reminiscent of John Paxon's Game winner 4 years earlier.
1997-1998: With Scottie
Pippen starting the season on the injured list the Bulls would
get off o a slow start. However, Michael Jordan would carry
the team on his back all season, winning his 10th scoring
title and 5th MVP while leading the Bulls to another Division
Title with a 62-20 record. As the playoffs started it became
apparent the team would be broken up following the season
as troubles between GM Jerry Krause and Coach Phil Jackson
came to a head. Despite the distraction the Bulls swept the
New Jersey Nets before beating the New York Knicks in 5 games
to advance to the Easter Finals. However, the Eats Finals
would not be as easy as they need 7 games to fend off a pesky
challenge from the Indiana Pacers. In a NBA Finals rematch
with the Utah Jazz, the Bulls split the first 2 games in Utah,
after winning Game 3 and 4 back at home the Bulls appeared
ready to have another United Center Celebration. However,
Jordan's last second shot missed the mark and the series went
back to Utah. In Game 6 the Bulls would be in the same situation
down by 1 with 10 seconds left. On dense Jordan kept the game
close by stealing the ball from Karl Malone. Then with time
winding down he hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulls their 6th
title in 8 years. In what would be his last shot as a Bull
Michael Jordan ended his Bull career in grand style his 6th
finals MVP.
1998-1999: While
the players and owners were embroiled in a 5-moth lockout
that wiped out half the season the Bulls Dynasty was beyond
destroyed from within. Coach Phil Jackson was not offered
a new contract, Scottie Pippen, Luc Longley and Steve Kerr
left in sign-and-trade deals, and Dennis Rodman and Jud Buechler
signed elsewhere as free agents. While Michael Jordan retired
again. With new coach Tim Floyd the Bulls were shell of their
former selves. The break up was started by GM Jerry Krause
and Owner Jerry Reisndorf who felt they did not get the credit
they deserved in building the Championship teams, while refusing
to offer contracts to the people who were responsible namely
Phil Jackson, who if he had been resigned would have meant
the rest of the team would have wanted to stay too. However,
instead the team left behind was terrible finishing in last
place with a 13-37 record.
1999-2000: First
Round Draft pick Elton Brand has a stellar rookie season,
sharing Rookie of the Year honors while averaging 20 points
and 10 rebound a game. However, the Bulls struggle continued
as they finished in last place with a terrible 17-65 record.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles Phil Jackson emerged form a 1-year
sabbatical to lead the Lakers to a NBA title. Even more embarrassing
Michael Jordan joined the Washington Wizards front office
after not being offered a job by the Bulls.
