Source: In all Airness - Michael Jordan-era NBA history
1991 NBA Eastern Conference Finals (30th anniversa
May 20, 2021 · 4m 57s
This is Behind the Game. Episode 7. Today, as I record this, marks the 30 year anniversary of Game 1 of the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago vs. Back-to-Back NBA Champion Detroit. The balls owned the number one seed in the East thanks to a dominant 61 and 21 record. Chicago brought out the broom to dispose of round one opponent's New York three games to none. The balls
then handed Sir Charles and his 76s are gentlemen's sweep, eliminating Philly from the Eastern Conference semifinals in five games. The pistons, meanwhile, entered the playoffs as the East's third seed at 50 and 32. Their record was misleading, however, as Team Captain Isaiah Lord Thomas III underwent surgery on his right wrist in late January. He ultimately missed 32 games. The team went 18 and 14 in his
absence, returning to the pistons line up in early April. Detroit went the distance in round one, holding off Dominic Wilkins' hooks, three games to two. The aging Boston Celtics extended Detroit to six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals before finally bowing out. For context, Chicago and Detroit had met in each of the previous three post-season. In 1988, it was the Eastern Conference semis. The pistons of
the Eastern Conference advanced four games to one. In 1989, Chicago went one better, meeting Detroit in the Conference Finals, however, the pistons prevailed four games to two. In 1990, Chicago took Detroit to the brink of extinction in the Eastern Conference Finals, before Detroit's experience and a deciding game seven at the Palace of Auburn Hills saw the pistons advance to and win the NBA Finals for the
second time in a row. The Eastern Conference Finals in 1991, whilst often physical, were largely a non-event. Chicago cruised to a three-neil lead, with the opportunity to close out the series in Detroit and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. The bruising nature of the series was punctuated in the second quarter of game four, a Scotty Pippin drove to the hoop,
only to be confronted by two of the men responsible for Detroit's iconic bad boys, Monica. The play went by, and it's getting very, very tough out there. Again, an unnecessary hit taken by the pistons, as Scotty Pippin was racked up. A great back door play that the boys loved to run, and they really let the guy have it, and then Rodman did pussy. I think that's
a clear cut, cheap shot. All right, no question. Clear cut. Paul, I'm Lane Beer, and you'll see the combination of Pippin goes to the drive. It's Rodman from behind, and Lane Beer from the side. The Chicago Bulls bench started to make a move toward the court, led by Phil Jackson. Down 23 points with less than five minutes left in game four, Pissons coach Chuck Daly subbed
out Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumas. Detroit's reign as NBA champion was over. With under 10 seconds left in the series, most of the pistons left the floor, not waiting around for the final buzzer. Less than a handful remain to congratulate the Bulls on their victory. Postgame Daly said, quote, at this point, I think Chicago's a better club than we are. Any club that can handle us
for straight deserves to go to the finals. From the ever philosophical coach of the Bulls, Phil Jackson, quote, to say that this is unexpected to sweep this team is an understatement. We're losing to this team for three years. I think we deserve a shot. Michael Jordan added, quote, we wanted to go through Detroit. There can't be any tarnish now on what we do from here on
in because we went through Detroit. The day after the pistons were eliminated in a cleverly titled headline of four gone conclusion that Detroit free press printed that the pistons were just the fourth team in NBA history through 1991 to have their championship reign end with a sweep the following year. The others, the 1957 Philadelphia Warriors and the 1983 and 1989 Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, for Chicago,
years of frustration finally put the rest, the Bulls look towards the 1991 NBA finals. The beginning of a magical run that would result in six championships in eight years.
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