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History of the NBA Finals

Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers - 1992

Courtesy Chicago Bulls

Jordan's 12 fourth-quarter points in Game 6 sparked Chicago and wrapped up the title.

The first one was for the city itself.

"We wanted it for the people of Chicago," Michael Jordan said after the Chicago Bulls won their first National Basketball Association championship in 1991.

The second one, in 1992, was different.

"This one is for the players and coaches," Jordan declared.

Who's to argue? After all, the world's greatest individual basketball player proved last spring to be its most impressive team player as well. His magical handiwork enabled the Bulls to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games to become only the fourth team (after the Lakers, Celtics and Pistons) to win two championships in a row. But it's doubtful any of those teams relied as heavily on the talents of a single player as the Bulls did.

Although it appeared Chicago may have been ripe for an upset after grueling series with the New York Knicks (seven games) and Cleveland Cavaliers (six) prior to the Finals, it never happened. In truth, both the physical Knicks and the pesky Cavs gave the Bulls a rougher time than the Trail Blazers, who probably should have been ousted in four or five games. Two inexplicable fourth-quarter collapses by Chicago (in Games 2 and 4) made this series seem a lot closer than it really was. The Trail Blazers never did stop Jordan, even though they had the league's second-best player, Clyde Drexler, guarding him. Jordan averaged 35.8 points in the series, the second-highest total ever in a six-game NBA Finals.

"Going into the series, I thought Michael had 2,000 moves," Drexler said. "I was wrong. He has 3,000."

Jordan's performances were particularly memorable in Games 1,5 and 6. In the opener, he scored a record 35 points in the first half and 39 in the game in a 122-89 Bulls romp at Chicago Stadium. He tied a Finals record with six three-point baskets as Chicago rolled to a commanding 66-51 halftime lead. In Game 5 at Portland, with the series tied 2-2, Jordan exploded for 46 points in a 119-106 victory that put the Bulls back in control of the series. And in the decisive Game 6 -- after scoring just two points in the first quarter -- Jordan scored 12 of his game-high 33 points in the fourth period, including Chicago's last six points of the game.

It surprised no one when Jordan was unanimously named the series' Most Valuable Player, becoming the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons.

The tone of the '92 Finals was established in the first game when Jordan, who made just 27 three-point field goals during the regular season (and only five more in Chicago's first 16 playoff games), connected for six in the first half alone. Jordan's performance surprised even him.

"Sometimes I fascinate myself," he said. "I can't explain it. I just felt good and I kept shooting. I got into a zone. But I don't expect it to happen again."

The Bulls, whose 33-point margin of victory in Game 1 was just two shy of the NBA Finals record, were well on their way to another victory in Game 2 as well before a late collapse cost them the win. Chicago led, 92-82, with 4 minutes, 36 seconds left before Portland went on a 15-5 tear to force overtime and eventually won the game, 115-104.

The Trail Blazers, who often had been criticized for their inability to execute in pressure situations, proved to be much more proficient in that area than the Bulls. And the Blazers made their comeback with Drexler, their leading scorer with 26 points, on the bench after fouling out. Center Kevin Duckworth's jumper with eight seconds left sent the game into overtime, where reserve guard Danny Ainge scored a Finals record-tying nine points to help Portland pull out the victory.

The series moved to Portland's Memorial Coliseum for Games 3, 4 and 5, which may not have been as great an advantage for the Blazers as it seemed on paper. Although they were undefeated (8-0) at home in the 1992 playoffs, the Blazers had lost three straight games at home to Detroit in the 1990 Finals. And the league's Western Conference representative had lost its last eight games at home in the NBA Finals since 1989.

The streak soon reached nine. Despite the importance of the game and the need to maintain momentum, the Blazers inexplicably came out flat in Game 3. Jordan led the Bulls with 26 points and Scottie Pippen contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 94-84 Chicago victory.

Portland shot just 35.9 percent from the field and finished with its second-lowest playoff point total ever.

"I can't explain it," forward Jerome Kersey said of the Trail Blazers' lackluster effort. "We knew we had to win it but we didn't play like it. We need to increase our intensity or we're in trouble."

The Blazers got their act together for Game 4, but it still almost wasn't enough. The Bulls led throughout before Portland scored 19 of the game's final 27 points to come away with a series-tying 93-88 victory. Drexler and Kersey scored 21 points apiece and reserve forward Cliff Robinson added 17.

Jordan, who again led Chicago with 32 points, did not score in the final 10:26. And the Bulls, who felt they should have been celebrating a four-game sweep, instead found themselves in a 2-2 deadlock.

"This series by all rights and purposes should be over," Bulls Coach Phil Jackson said. "We are in control of this series. ..."

Jackson's players were equally upset.

"I think it's important they feel that way," Jackson said. "I agree with them. I am angry, too."

What was the Blazers' response to the Bulls' attitude?

"Arrogance," guard Terry Porter said bluntly. "All I know is the series is tied. You've still got to win this thing on the court, not by talking."

Chicago backed up its talk with a very solid performance in Game 5, taking back the home-court edge with a 119-106 win. The Bulls put together runs of 10-0, 7-0 and 12-4 in the first half en route to a 56-44 halftime lead.

Jordan shot 14-for-23 from the field in racking up his 46 points while Pippen again was a major contributor with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

Pippen's performance, in fact, may have been as important as Jordan's. When he played well in what for him was a roller-coaster 1992 postseason, the Bulls rarely were challenged; when he played poorly, they struggled.

"You've got to hand it to them," Portland forward Buck Williams said. "They said they had to win and they did. But this isn't over yet."

It was over in Chicago two days later. The Bulls, who trailed by 17 points late in the third quarter and 79-64 entering the final period, put together the biggest fourth-quarter rally in NBA Finals history to win the game and the championship, 97-93.

The way the Bulls won Game 6 was perhaps as stunning as the victory itself. With a tired Jordan on the bench, Jackson opened the fourth quarter with four reserves -- Scott Williams, B.J. Armstrong, Bobby Hansen and Stacey King -- on the floor along with Pippen. The Bulls outscored the Blazers, 14-2, in the opening minutes of the period to cut Portland's lead to 81-78. Jordan, who reentered the game with 8:36 left, then combined with Pippen to score the Bulls' last 19 points.

"We needed a different matchup," Jackson said. "That's what we got from those young guys. They had fresh legs. Either it's daring or stupid, depending on which way it comes out."

"Our guys just ran out of gas," said Portland Coach Rick Adelman, whose team was held to only 14 points in the final quarter. "When the game was on the line, the Bulls turned the intensity up and took control."

The Trail Blazers, who entered the NBA Finals brimming with confidence after impressive playoff triumphs over the Lakers, Phoenix and Utah, simply committed too many turnovers and played too inconsistently to dethrone the Bulls. Although Portland thought it had the one player, Drexler, who could neutralize Jordan in a one-on-one matchup, Jordan's dominance over the six games only served to illustrate that the gap between him and all other players in the league is huge.

"To see him up close like this for a long series, you realize how great he is," Williams said. "He is the best there ever was. No question about it. When they need him, he produces. You can't stop him. The pressure on him is unbelievable but he still comes through. You've got to appreciate that."

You sure do.