1997 NBA Playoffs
The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1996-97 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning the NBA championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2. This was the Bulls' second championship in a row, and fifth overall (They would complete the three-peat by beating Utah again in 1998). Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the fifth time.
This was the first Western Conference championship for the Jazz in their 22-year history.
The Heat's run to the Eastern Conference Finals marked the farthest the franchise had reached in the playoffs up to that point; they would not return to the East Finals until 2005, but would win the NBA Championship in 2006.
The Wolves made their playoff debut after failing to win more than 30 games in any of their first seven seasons. For them, it was also the first of seven consecutive seasons in which they would make the playoffs only to lose in the opening round.
This was the first (and, as of 2011, only) instance since the ABA–NBA merger prior to the 1976–77 season that none of the four former ABA teams (San Antonio, Denver, Indiana, New Jersey) managed to make the playoffs, even more remarkable considering the rarity with which the Spurs have missed the playoffs at all (as of 2011, only 4 times since the ABA–NBA merger).
It was also the first season in which all four of the 1988 and 1989 expansion teams (Minnesota, Miami, Orlando and Charlotte) made the playoffs. This would happen again in 2001.
The two #8 seeds in this tournament (the Washington Bullets and Los Angeles Clippers) broke long playoff droughts with their appearances in the 1997 playoffs. (The Bullets' last playoff appearance had been in 1988; the Clippers', in 1993). Unfortunately for both teams, it would be a long time before either would appear in the playoffs again; the renamed Wizards made their return in 2005; the Clippers in 2006.
The Bullets qualified by defeating the Cavs in a regular season finale game that saw both teams fighting for the #8 seed.[1]
Game 4 of the Bulls–Hawks series was the last game ever played at The Omni. The Hawks' home playoff games for 1998 and 1999 were played at the Georgia Dome while the Omni was demolished to make way for Philips Arena.
Game 3 of the Bulls–Bullets series was the last game ever played at the Capital Centre (was named USAir Arena at the time). As the Bullets also changed their name as well as their arena after this season, the same game also marks the last time the team was officially nicknamed the "Bullets."
Contents |
[edit] Bracket
| First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Utah | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | L.A. Clippers | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Utah | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | L.A. Lakers | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | L.A. Lakers | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Portland | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Utah | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Houston | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Houston | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Minnesota | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Houston | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Seattle | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Seattle | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Phoenix | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Utah | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chicago | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Atlanta | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Atlanta | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Detroit | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Miami | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Charlotte | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | New York | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Miami | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Miami | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Orlando | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
[edit] Playoff qualifying
[edit] Western Conference
[edit] Best record in conference
The Utah Jazz clinched the best record in the Western Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
[edit] Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:
- Utah Jazz (clinched Midwest division)
- Seattle SuperSonics (clinched Pacific division)
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Clippers
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] Best record in NBA
The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.
[edit] Clinched a playoff berth
The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:
- Chicago Bulls (clinched Central division)
- Miami Heat (clinched Atlantic division)
- New York Knicks
- Atlanta Hawks
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
[edit] Memorable moments
The 1997 NBA Playoffs featured several important clutch shots.
- April 30: Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Bullets, Game 3
Scottie Pippen made the series-winning dunk with 7.4 seconds left as the Bulls sweep the Bullets 96–95 and advance to the semifinals.[2]
- May 1: Seattle SuperSonics vs. Phoenix Suns, Game 4
With his team trailing 107–104 in the final seconds, Phoenix guard Rex Chapman took the inbounds pass, launched a three-pointer while falling out of bounds, and converted it for the tie. However, the Sonics would go on to win in overtime 122-115.
- May 6: Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks, Game 1
Scottie Pippen broke a tie game at 97 by hitting a 3 with 43.9 seconds left. Neither team scored after that, and the Bulls beat Atlanta 100–97.
- May 25: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets, Game 4
Houston's Eddie Johnson nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the series at 2.
- May 29: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets, Game 6
Utah's John Stockton capped off a spectacular 4th quarter performance by hitting a 3 at the buzzer to send his team to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
- June 1: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz, Game 1
With the game tied at 82 with 9.2 seconds left, Jazz forward Karl Malone missed two crucial free throws. Chicago regained possession and Michael Jordan hit a jumper at the buzzer to give his team the victory.
- June 13: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz, Game 6
With most viewers (and Utah defenders) thinking Jordan would take the last shot with the game tied at 86, Jordan instead passed to Steve Kerr who sank a 15-foot jump shot with 5 seconds remaining. On the next play, Scottie Pippen stole Bryon Russell's inbound pass and rolled the ball to Toni Kukoc, who clinched the title with a dunk.
[edit] Notes
- For the first time since 1992, a #5 seed did not beat their #4 seeded opponent in the first round.
[edit] Western Conference
Champion: Utah Jazz
[edit] First Round
[edit] (1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers
Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3–2)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(UTAH-LAC) |
Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 24 | Utah | 106 | L.A. Clippers | 86 | 1-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 1 | |
| 2 | April 26 | Utah | 105 | L.A. Clippers | 99 | 2-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 2 | |
| 3 | April 28 | L.A. Clippers | 92 | Utah | 104 | 3-0 | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California | 3 | |
| Utah wins series 3–0 |
|||||||||
[edit] (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers
Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference First Round (Portland won 3–1)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(LAL-POR) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | L.A. Lakers | 95 | Portland | 77 | 1-0 | Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California | 1 | TNT |
| 2 | April 27 | L.A. Lakers | 107 | Portland | 93 | 2-0 | Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | April 30 | Portland | 98 | L.A. Lakers | 90 | 2-1 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland, Oregon | 3 | TNT |
| 4 | May 2 | Portland | 91 | L.A. Lakers | 95 | 3-1 | Rose Garden Arena, Portland, Oregon | 4 | TNT |
| L.A. Lakers win series 3–1 |
|||||||||
[edit] (2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Phoenix Suns
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference Finals (Phoenix won 4–3)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(SEA-PHO) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | Seattle | 101 | Phoenix | 106 | 0-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 1 | |
| 2 | April 27 | Seattle | 122 | Phoenix | 78 | 1-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 2 | |
| 3 | April 29 | Phoenix | 110 | Seattle | 103 | 1-2 | America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona | 3 | |
| 4 | May 1 | Phoenix | 115 | Seattle | 122 | 2-2 | America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona | 4 | TNT |
| 5 | May 3 | Seattle | 116 | Phoenix | 92 | 3-2 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 5 | NBC |
| Seattle wins series 3–2 |
|||||||||
[edit] (3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
| Game | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Score | Record
(HOU-MIN) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 24 | Houston | 112 | Minnesota | 95 | 1-0 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 1 | |
| 2 | April 26 | Houston | 96 | Minnesota | 84 | 2-0 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | April 29 | Minnesota | 120 | Houston | 125 | 3-0 | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota | 3 | |
| Houston wins series 3–0 |
|||||||||
[edit] Conference Semifinals
[edit] (1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4-3)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(UTAH-LAL) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 4 | Utah | 93 | Los Angeles | 77 | 1-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 1 | NBC |
| 2 | May 6 | Utah | 103 | Los Angeles | 101 | 2-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 2 | |
| 3 | May 8 | Los Angeles | 104 | Utah | 84 | 2-1 | Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California | 3 | |
| 4 | May 10 | Los Angeles | 95 | Utah | 110 | 3-1 | Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | May 12 | Utah | 98 | Los Angeles | 93 | 4-1 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 5 | TNT |
| Utah wins series 4–1 |
|||||||||
[edit] (2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Houston Rockets
Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Semifinals (Seattle won 4-0)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(HOU-SEA) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 5 | Houston | 112 | Seattle | 102 | 1-0 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 1 | |
| 2 | May 7 | Houston | 101 | Seattle | 106 | 1-1 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 2 | |
| 3 | May 9 | Seattle | 93 | Houston | 97 | 2-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 3 | |
| 4 | May 11 | Seattle | 106 | Houston | 110 | 3-1 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | May 13 | Houston | 94 | Seattle | 100 | 3-2 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 5 | |
| 6 | May 15 | Seattle | 99 | Houston | 96 | 3-3 | KeyArena, Seattle, Washington | 6 | TNT |
| 7 | May 17 | Houston | 96 | Seattle | 91 | 4-3 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 7 | NBC |
| Houston wins series 4–3 |
|||||||||
[edit] Conference Finals
[edit] (1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets
Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-2)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(UTAH-HOU) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 19 | Utah | 101 | Houston | 86 | 1-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 1 | NBC |
| 2 | May 21 | Utah | 104 | Houston | 92 | 2-0 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | May 23 | Houston | 118 | Utah | 100 | 2-1 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 25 | Houston | 95 | Utah | 92 | 2-2 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | May 27 | Utah | 96 | Houston | 91 | 3-2 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 5 | NBC |
| 6 | May 29 | Houston | 100 | Utah | 103 | 4-2 | The Summit, Houston, Texas | 6 | NBC |
| Utah wins series 4–2 |
|||||||||
- In Game 4, Eddie Johnson hits the game-winning 3-pointer.
- In Game 6, John Stockton hits the series-winning 3-pointer.
[edit] Eastern Conference
Champion: Chicago Bulls
[edit] First Round
[edit] (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Washington Bullets
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(CHI-WAS) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | Chicago | 98 | Washington | 86 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | TNT |
| 2 | April 27 | Chicago | 109 | Washington | 104 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | April 30 | Washington | 95 | Chicago | 96 | 3-0 | US Airways Arena, Landover, Maryland | 3 | TNT |
| Chicago wins series 3–0 |
|||||||||
[edit] (4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons
Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Eastern Conference First Round (Detroit won 3-2)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(ATL-DET) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 25 | Atlanta | 89 | Detroit | 75 | 1-0 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 1 | |
| 2 | April 27 | Atlanta | 80 | Detroit | 93 | 1-1 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 2 | |
| 3 | April 29 | Detroit | 99 | Atlanta | 91 | 1-2 | The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan | 3 | |
| 4 | May 2 | Detroit | 82 | Atlanta | 94 | 2-2 | Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan | 4 | |
| 5 | May 4 | Atlanta | 84 | Detroit | 79 | 3-2 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 5 | NBC |
| Atlanta wins series 3–2 |
|||||||||
[edit] (2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Orlando Magic
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(MIA-ORL) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 24 | Miami | 99 | Orlando | 64 | 1-0 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 1 | |
| 2 | April 27 | Miami | 104 | Orlando | 87 | 2-0 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | April 29 | Orlando | 88 | Miami | 75 | 2-1 | Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida | 3 | TBS |
| 4 | May 1 | Orlando | 99 | Miami | 91 | 2-2 | Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida | 4 | TNT |
| 5 | May 4 | Miami | 91 | Orlando | 83 | 3-2 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 5 | NBC |
| Miami wins series 3–2 |
|||||||||
[edit] (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals (New York won 4-1)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(NYK-CHA) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 24 | New York | 109 | Charlotte | 99 | 1-0 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 1 | MSG |
| 2 | April 26 | New York | 100 | Charlotte | 93 | 2-0 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | April 28 | Charlotte | 95 | New York | 104 | 3-0 | Charlotte Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina | 3 | TNT |
| New York wins series 3–0 |
|||||||||
[edit] Conference Semifinals
[edit] (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks
Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 3-0)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(CHI-ATL) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 6 | Chicago | 100 | Atlanta | 97 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | TNT |
| 2 | May 8 | Chicago | 95 | Atlanta | 103 | 1-1 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | TNT |
| 3 | May 10 | Atlanta | 80 | Chicago | 100 | 2-1 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 11 | Atlanta | 80 | Chicago | 89 | 3-1 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | May 13 | Chicago | 107 | Atlanta | 92 | 4-1 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 5 | TNT |
| Chicago wins series 4–1 |
|||||||||
[edit] (2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(MIA-NYK) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 7 | Miami | 79 | New York | 88 | 0-1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 1 | TNT |
| 2 | May 9 | Miami | 88 | New York | 84 | 1-1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 2 | TNT |
| 3 | May 11 | New York | 77 | Miami | 73 | 1-2 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 12 | New York | 89 | Miami | 76 | 1-3 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 4 | TNT |
| 5 | May 14 | Miami | 96 | New York | 81 | 2-3 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 5 | TNT |
| 6 | May 16 | New York | 90 | Miami | 95 | 3-3 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | 6 | TNT |
| 7 | May 18 | Miami | 101 | New York | 90 | 4-3 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 7 | NBC |
| Miami wins series 4–3 |
|||||||||
- Game 5 featured a fight between P.J. Brown and Charlie Ward, with John Starks, Larry Johnson, Patrick Ewing, and Allan Houston leaving the bench. Brown was suspended for the rest of the series; Ewing, Houston, and Ward were suspended for Game 6, and Johnson and Starks were suspended for Game 7.
[edit] Conference Finals
[edit] (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat
Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 3-0)
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(CHI-MIA) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 20 | Chicago | 84 | Miami | 77 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | TNT |
| 2 | May 22 | Chicago | 75 | Miami | 68 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | TNT |
| 3 | May 24 | Miami | 74 | Chicago | 98 | 3-0 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | May 26 | Miami | 87 | Chicago | 80 | 3-1 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | May 28 | Chicago | 100 | Miami | 87 | 4-1 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 5 | NBC |
| Chicago wins series 4–1 |
|||||||||
[edit] NBA Finals
[edit] Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz
| Game | Date | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Record
(CHI-UTAH) |
Venue | Recap | Television |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 1 | Chicago | 84 | Utah | 82 | 1-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 1 | NBC |
| 2 | June 4 | Chicago | 97 | Utah | 85 | 2-0 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 2 | NBC |
| 3 | June 6 | Utah | 104 | Chicago | 93 | 2-1 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 3 | NBC |
| 4 | June 8 | Utah | 78 | Chicago | 73 | 2-2 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 4 | NBC |
| 5 | June 11 | Utah | 88 | Chicago | 90 | 3-2 | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah | 5 | NBC |
| 6 | June 13 | Chicago | 90 | Utah | 86 | 4-2 | United Center, Chicago, Illinois | 6 | NBC |
| Chicago wins NBA Championship series 4–2 |
|||||||||
- In Game 1, Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
- In Game 3, Scottie Pippen tied a then-Finals record with 7 3-pointers.
- In Game 4, John Stockton threw a full-court pass over Michael Jordan to Karl Malone to give Utah the lead for good.
- In Game 5 (The Flu Game), Michael Jordan plays 44 minutes and scores 38 points despite being visibly weak.
- In Game 6, Steve Kerr hits the game-winner with 5 seconds left, then Scottie Pippen steals Bryon Russell's inbounds pass and rolls the ball to Toni Kukoč, who dunks it with 6 tenths left to bring the Finals to a close.
[edit] References
- ^ "Bullets Beat Cavs, Earn Playoff Berth". Eugene Register-Guard. 21 April 1997. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WYAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2esDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5384,5460039. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ Roberts, Selena (1 May 1997). "Bulls Prevail, but Bullets Go Out Fighti". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/01/sports/bulls-prevail-but-bullets-go-out-fighting.html. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
[edit] External links
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