Countdown To The 2018 NBA Finals - No. 5: 1993 Chicago Bulls vs Phoenix Suns
As of May 22, 2018 – the start of this countdown – we’re officially 10 days away from the NBA Finals. So with that in mind I started thinking about the best Finals since I really remember started watching the games. I was born in 1987, which basically goes in line of remembering Jordan’s first trip to Finals in 1991. So we’ll use that as our starting point. What were the 10 best NBA Finals since 1991. Each day we’ll reveal one as we countdown to No. 1 on the start of the NBA Finals.
No. 10 – 2008
No. 9 – 2004
No. 8 – 2005
No. 7 – 2011
No. 6 – 2010
No. 5 – 1993 Finals – Chicago Bulls 4, Phoenix Suns 2
MVP: Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls)
Notable Players: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong, Horace Grant, Charles Barkley, Dan Majerle, Kevin Johnson
Head coaches: Phil Jackson (Chicago Bulls), Paul Westphal (Phoenix Suns)
Best game: Game 3 (Suns won 129-121 in 3OT)
Biggest moment: At the end of game 6, the Bulls were losing 98-96 despite leading 37-28 after the first quarter. The ball was swung to Horace Grant when Danny Ainge decided to double, a reason that I still have no idea why. Grant saw John Paxson open at the 3-point line where he made the kickout pass. With less than 4 seconds left, Paxson drilled the open three to give the Bulls a 99-98 lead and ultimately win the Finals. If that shot doesn’t go in, the Bulls are forced to go on the road for Game 7.
Background: The Bulls were trying for a 3-peat led by Jordan and Pippen – yeah, I know, everyone knows that. It was the first 3-peat since the Celtics did it during their run of the late 50s and early 60s. The Bulls almost didn’t get out of the Eastern Conference though as they fell behind 2-0 to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. For us Knicks fans, this of course was the Charles Smith game that ultimately handed the Bulls a road win. Goddamnit. Okay, the Suns. The Suns were in the middle of a complete overhaul of the franchise. Kevin Johnson was an All-Star and they traded for Charles Barkles during the 1992 offseason. The Suns won a franchise record 62 games this year and Barkley won the MVP. They were able to get to the Finals by beating the Sonics (RIPIP) in 7 games.
Historical standpoint: As I mentioned, this was a historical win for the Bulls as they were able to become the first team to 3-peat since the Celtics did it from 59-66. As for Jordan this was starting to push him into that greatest of all time conversation as it was 3 titles with him being the dominant player for all 3 times. We also saw a rare triple overtime game during game 3, in which Paul Westphal became the first person involved in two 3 OT’s – as he was a player during the 1976 NBA Finals. Ultimately, this series cost Barkley a ring – something that Shaq reminds him of all the time now during pre and post game shows.
Video highlights of the series: