Pacers @ Bulls, 1998 Playoffs, G5: The Blowout

HIGH QUALITY VERSION: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZXfyN1K_jY&fmt=18 Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan led a first-half assault as the Chicago Bulls put together their best game of the playoffs, trouncing the Indiana Pacers, 106-87, in Game Five to regain control of the Eastern Conference finals. Pippen, who missed two crucial free throws at the end of Game Four, scored 17 of his 20 points in an outstanding all-around first half. He shot 7-of-12 from the field and again smothered Pacers point guard Mark Jackson, who managed five points. "Dealing with Monday night's loss was very tough for me personally," said Pippen, who had been shotting less than 40 percent from the field and under 50 percent from the line in the series. "I wanted to go and attack the basket tonight, use all the energy I had, to make up for the mistakes I made on Monday." Jordan, who missed a three-pointer at the buzzer in Game Four and joined coach Phil Jackson in criticizing the referees afterwards, also scored 17 first-half points. He shot 12-of-20 from the field and finished with 29 points. "We came out tonight with something to prove," Jordan said. "We decided to be the aggressors. Scottie and I had good energy going toward the basket and we were able to make it happen." "I did not emphasize that in practice," Jackson said. "I did not say that you have to go to the basket or that we have to go to the basket. But our players knew what they didn't do in the previous two games. Scottie and Michael took it upon themselves to prove a point today." Consecutive three-pointers by Miller and Jackson gave the Pacers a 10-7 lead just over 3 1/2 minutes into the contest, but it was all downhill from there. Indiana did not score again from the field until midway through the second quarter. "The Bulls wanted this game more than we did," Miller said. "All 12 guys suited up tonight feel embarrassment. So the total team lost. We played awful." Indiana missed a remarkable 18 straight shots until Smits made a jumper with 6:12 remaining, cutting the deficit to 39-22. The Bulls responded with a 10-2 run that featured baskets by Pippen and Jordan and three-point plays by Luc Longley and Ron Harper that built a 49-24 lead with 3:54 left. "We never allowed them to establish the low post, which was a key," Jordan said. "In Game Four, Smits did that and opened up the perimeter for their shooters." Not this time. Chicago shot 50 percent (41-of-82) from the field and held Indiana to 34 percent (23-of-67) in its biggest win of the postseason. "The Bulls were hyped up for this game," Pacers coach Larry Bird said. "But I don't think they played any better than past games. The problem was that we were passive. We just didn't play and that was the difference. I'm shocked that we came out in the biggest game of the year with nothing, no energy. I have no answer for why not." Pippen finished the half with a flourish, scoring all the points in an 8-2 burst that gave Chicago a 57-32 halftime lead. He had 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the first half. Jordan added 10 more points in the third quarter, which ended with Chicago holding an 87-56 lead. Pippen opened the final period with a layup, giving the Bulls their largest lead of the game. "I think all of us raised our level of play tonight," Pippen said. "We were the hungry team. We were the aggressive team and we were more determined. It ended up showing on the scoreboard." Jordan's driving layup with 7:11 to play gave him 35,000 career points, including the regular season and playoffs. He departed just over two minutes later. "I told the team I was not satisfied with how they played tonight," Bird said. "We're going to have to pick it up to the level of the last two games if we're going to stay in this series." Game Six is Friday at Indiana, where the Pacers have not lost in seven playoff games. However, Chicago has not been pushed to a Game Seven since the 1992 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.

» View the original video «

YouTube | October 16, 2007

Tags:. .assists. .nba. .biggest. .previous. .mistakes