Creative Sports: A History of Hoops: The Story of the Chicago Bulls
3 HAWKS BULLS 5 BULLS 14 15 BUJA 5
9 4 BULLS CONTENTS Going Out on Top Michael Jordan Arrives Three Peat I Three Peat II The Bulls Stampede Again Index LEGENDS OF THE HARDWOOD Local Guys Make Good Repeat Performance Working the Angles Close Call A Rose That Never Fully Bloomed A Talent Out of This World 15 16 21 24 32 10 17 20 25 26 29
06.6 JORMA 23 NBA
98 Michael Jordan's last shot of his Bulls career GOING OUT ON TOP The Chicago Bulls stood on the verge of history as the 1997 National Basketball Association NBA regular season ended No team had won three straight champion ships twice since the Boston Celtics took eight straight titles between 1958 and 1966. To accomplish their second three peat the Bulls had to defeat the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals The Bulls had a 3 games to 2 lead In the final moments of Game 6 the Jazz led by three points If they won the final game would be played on their home court before their rabid fans Bulls shooting guard Michael Jordan scored on a lay in with 37 seconds left That narrowed Utah's margin to a single point With the shot clock winding down burly Utah power forward Karl Malone took a pass in the low post Jordan stripped the ball and dribbled downcourt We all knew what was coming next said basketball writer Mitch Lawrence It was just a matter of how Jordan would do it Utah small forward Bryon Russell perhaps his team's best defender picked up Jordan at the top of the key Jordan's teammates cleared out space for him He dribbled to his right then suddenly accelerated Russell slipped and fell back ward onto the court He desperately tried to scramble to his feet Too late Jordan pulled up and launched a 15 foot jump shot with 5.2 seconds remaining No doubt about it Jordan raised his right arm in triumph It was his last basket as a Bulls player He announced his retirement soon afterward Many people consider him the greatest basketball player in history Certainly he is the most famous 380 CHICAGO BULLS
