Bulls x Nets 1998 ECFR Game 2

this is Bob Costas at the United Center coming up next Game three of our triple header it's Game two of the Nets bull series the eight seed New Jersey for Chicago to overtime in Game one before the poles escaped New Jersey and Chicago coming up Nets [Music] with Doug Collins Isiah Thomas and Ahmad Rashad Bob Costas in Chicago a look at the lineups Keith van Horn back in for New Jersey missing most of Game one with a stomach virus and strep throat you saw the rest of the starting fives for each team New Jersey with the tip trailing the series by a game after taking the Bulls from overtime on Friday night in Game one coming from 14 down in the fourth quarter to do it in fact the game was still tied in the last minute of your time here's Van Horn guarded by Q coach Tim Duncan Van Horn would have been a cinch this year as the league's Rookie of the Year Jordan wastes no time but Jordan recognized the mismatch very early that Sherman Douglas Douglas was guarding him took him right down to the post the double-team came late and he was able to put it right in the basket but I would expect Chicago to really try to come out here early with their defense and knock this New Jersey team back on their heels as New Jersey team got a lot of confidence the other night even in the overtime loss and as Isaiah said Michael recognizes the mismatch and buries the little eight-foot fadeaway here's what Michael did in Game one played 47 of the 53 minutes scored 39 did not shoot well from the field 11 of 27 but got himself to the free-throw line 23 times as you saw both the shot clock and the game clock above one of the baskets has gone psychedelic which leads us to a mantra shot appropriately enough go Ahmad alright thanks Bob the help report on the New Jersey Nets is Keith van Horn who was very sick on Friday told me before the game today he feels very well he's ok ready to play Chris Gatlin has to touch of that very same virus he said he really feels under the weather but he's available to play now Sam Cassell has a badly pulled groin he was uncertain whether or not he would play I think the plan for him is to write an exercise back bike in the tunnel to stay warm and if they need him that he would be available Bob thanks a lot in fact what John Calipari told us earlier today is that if the game is one way through the fourth quarter he bring Michelle in at that point and so Sam win the game for us yeah I talked to the sale before the game he said he would probably wouldn't start writing that exercise bike until halftime because he didn't want to burn himself out in the first and second floor order bride in the body the clock is still malfunctioning but we'll go ahead sermon Douglas the veteran point guard finds Kittles who swings it out to Gayle and Kendall give it up with it and crew coach hazard I thought Gil excuse me Kendall should have taken that shot passed up a shot to get a tougher shot for Gil Harper misses loose ball out is a bit gun-shy after shooting three for 17 in Game one if he has anything like his normal shooting night the Nets pulley upset [Applause] rodman looking for the cutters its Kukoc from 20 [Applause] the boys open with a four nothing lead [Music] horn / Kukoc that's a matchup that New Jersey would try to exploit Van Horn on Kukoc Kukoc doesn't have the foot speed that we're trying to put it on the throwing go around them or pull up and shoot their j-jordan Kittles on him doesn't get the bounce rebound Van Horn's the regular season the Moose stood for games against the Nancy then they won the opener of this series [Music] piddles with two seconds to shoot those are the shots you don't want to have to take again Chicago leading the shot clock Bob Ezrin set fee for 1700 on you start out the game you pass up a good one then have to take those kind of shots that's where your confidence starts to wane from coaching Michael Jordan when he's guarding you he really shuts you down but he takes your best score and he shuts him down as he did with Kerry Kittles and the double-pump and missus New Jersey's philosophy is to try to keep the pressure on they are second in the league in field goal attempts so they shoot a low percentage so they get a lot of shots they do not going to get into a half-court game Sherman Douglas from behind the Williams screen but there's an offensive rebound for Williams who led the league in that category second overall in rebounding to Dennis Rodman in New Jersey led the league in offensive rebounding Kendall Gill spins around Jordan and scores now Kendall Gill playing against Michael Jordan he grew up idolizing Michael Jordan two unused to spend a lot of time working with him in the summer so he relishes the challenge of playing against him in the play the adrenaline has to be pumping forgive he's on Jordan here who goes right to the basket on him trying to answer what guilty to him at the other end and he draws the foul but when we speak of Kendall Gill he's a Chicago native went to the University of Illinois this is quite a stage for him at the United Center you see Kendall Gill with the power going to the basket and the one thing you have to be able to do is you have to be able to go at Michael and Scottie make them guard on both ends you see Michael with the answer and getting to the free-throw line and Michael's the kind of player as you know Isiah that his jump shot is not falling he'll find other ways to score if you take the last game of the regular season ender he shot 24 free-throws against New York the other night 23 so 47 free-throw attempts when that jumpers not falling he will find ways to get his team points he's such a smart offensive player you know he's struggling right now with his shooting because he has a big bump on his index finger his index finger is swollen up and that's why he's happened to problem shooting the basketball so understanding that he's taking a ball to the basket and going to the foul line at his age if he has to do that throughout the playoffs won't the wear and tear eventually take a toll goodman rebounds Douglass's miss [Applause] loose ball in front of us and Pippin recovers it eventually he will start to wear down however Jordan is such a great athlete you never worry about him but to worry about Claire's 5 to 12 I started to say you might worry about Rodman taking that shot but when it goes you say okay well with all the distractions and everything that's going on in the Chicago organization you never worry about the big three Rodman Pippen and Jordan however the effect that it will have on the rest of the team the bench players in a row players that's what Phil Jackson is very concerned with will they be able to supply them with the energy in the emotion Rodman picked up his first in fairness though don't you sometimes have to worry about where Rodman is emotionally and mentally I mean even Phil Jackson said after Game one he's not playoff ready a Keith van Horn is a terrific offensive player he can post he can take you out he can play small forward power forward you saw the post up in the left-handed power Jam over the smaller flare [Applause] here is Kukoc floating through the lane and missing Brodmann battling for the rebound he had only eight rebounds in Game one 221 for Jason Williams of the Nets the deep post position on Ron Harper you see how he gets him underneath the basket so deep that no help can get there in time and Keith van Horn the leading scorer on this team and the guy they will go to in the clutch if Sam Cassell does not play the thing I love about Keith van Horn is he's so smart he read the mismatch he had a smaller player took him underneath [Music] [Applause] [Applause] the Nets looked a tie with a basket here [Applause] [Music] Vanhorn baseline - way short Harper bothered by back spasms of late [Music] gets it back from Pittman swings it to Kukoc who overshot it Rodman on the offensive glass [Applause] and a foul before the shots are taken with step away just the start of things in Chicago the NBA on NBC is brought to you by Miller Lite who reminds you that whenever you feel good it's Miller time and buy genuine Chevrolet the cars more American struts [Music] springtime in Chicago means playoff time at the United Center in their five championship seasons dating back to 1991 the Bulls have never lost a first-round game 15 and oh and in fact they only lost one in one of the years when they didn't make it all the way to the finals in 1995 right after Michael returned from baseball so they're 22 and won in the first round since 1991 and they have the ball here as play resumes [Applause] [Music] unconventional looking shot lucious Harris is checked into the game replacing Kendall Gill and again you must keep the pressure on Michael Jordan Scotty who's in the game for New Jersey then must continue to make those guys play both into the floor lucious Harris is number 12 a veteran from Long Beach State why the substitution at this point coach Kerry Kittles has to leave that's a different matter a little bit of blood on his hand and as you know it's a league rule and Sam Cassell who we were told would not play unless the game was on the line in the fourth quarter peels off the warmups the Sam Cassell is a competitor and I knew it would be very difficult for him to stay out of this basketball game let's go to Ahmad all right Bob I talked to the next trainer of Teddy ours on ago and he told me that if Sam had his druthers no matter how bad that drawing wasn't [Applause] well if you've got to expend some energy might as well do it on the court as Rodman did there Douglas missed Rodman rebounded and tumbled out of bounds let me answer my own question from a moment ago Gil goes out following the timeout because he picked up two quick fouls now see Sam Cassell actually can play to guard and Sherm Douglas can be your point guard he's really their leading scorer so I'm not so sure he's not most effective off the ball playing as a shooting guard Tippin comes loping back pull-up three [Applause] [Music] this is a different Rodman in the game one I think he is taking this challenge personally today with Jason Williams he apologized the Phil Jackson after the game he said I'll be better on Sunday so far he has been Cassell mrs. Meyers on his first attempt hitman weaving through traffic the bank was closed on that one Jordan on Cassell Brunson Williams screen and misses the jump shot [Applause] low scoring first period to this point shorten the catch [Applause] rebound out the cassell who races back the other one misses put pip and fouled it you can go online to msnbcsports.com for complete NBA playoff coverage bill walton analyzes how michael jordan ranks against other NBA greats in five important categories and you can vote for the team you think will win the NBA title all at msnbcsports.com Bob it's sort of amazing that we look at the score eight to six right now that New Jersey is in the game of both Chicago and Jersey shooting poorly 3 for 14 for Jersey 3 for 15 for Chicago so both teams have gotten off to very cold start Cassell quickly out Chris Gatling off the bench he scored 24 in Game one speaking of Gatling and Sherman Douglas is also back in I think the depth factor definitely goes to New Jersey you can already see John Calipari has gone to his bench lucious Harris is in the game Chris Gatling in the game we saw Sam Cassell for a few moments like you go to see John Calipari try to keep fresh guys at Chicago the entire game to keep the pace of this game up we played more than six minutes the score is tied at 8 the Nets during the regular season with highest scoring team in the league averaging 99 a Jordan lost it and the Bulls touched it last Michael hit his first shot cold since then [Music] with Dickie Simpkins leaning on it forces one in the crowd and connects when the other night Gatlin really gave them problems on a low post they came late with the double-team the Gatlin was able to split the double-team and score off the feed you're playing Michael Jordan away from the basketball you can never let body-contact get to where he can reverse you you've got to push him out that time he reversed him for the alley-oop now the reason why Dennis Rodman had trouble rebound in the other night because he was matched up against Gatling twits the left Jason Williams free to roam on the board lucious Harris misses from just inside the three-point arc Rodman clear sir Jordan into the lane double pumps book misses Kittles has it for New Jersey [Music] Miss Powell as Harris reached in let's go back to the Pittman alley-oop from Michael great vision there by Scottie Pippen and great eye contact but if you watch Michael Jordan without the ball he will reverse it looks like he's going to use the screen by Rodman and Kerry Kittles did not get his body on him you must get your body on Michael and give him a little bump you cannot give him that kind of room to roam he's too smart you'll find the open areas Jordan back to the line where he's been spending plenty of time of late [Applause] we mentioned this earlier the last couple of games he's been to the free-throw line 47 times shot under 50% in both of those games well under in Game one of this series but topped 40 points in one of those games and had 39 and the other let's see if John Calipari tries to get Kerry Kittles off against Scott Burrell it squirts away from Van Horn but Kittles picks it up Gatling Rockland tips the rebound of PIPA Jordan has a mismatch with Sherman Douglas Cardinal let's see if they recognize it [Applause] about Rodman being in the post play in the center position Phil Jackson loves having Robin in the post because he's such a great passer she feels that Robin is a better passer - Luke lonely in the post timeout New Jersey the Bulls weighted 1410 [Music] fundamentals practice teamwork the ball goes into post you'll see right here now what's the footwork Dennis Rodman is going to inside reverse pivots green Gatling and Scotty's going to make his cut and the dentist is going to give him the over-the-top pass what's with the bump right there Jason Williams helps for a moment then Scotty gets free that's a lot of games together a lot of practice and reading defense and Dennis Rodman as Isaiah said is an excellent passer he's also when I play with him he was one of the most fundamentally found players can I ever play with and Phil Jackson told me the other day that Dennis doesn't get enough credit for his intelligence on the offensive end of the court Kerry Kittles with a three the nets did not hit one in the entire game on Friday night they were over six more importantly Kerry Kittles needed that Bobby was sitting on a three for 1704 two in this game a 1413 Chicago lead here Steve Kerr Justin after the last timeout to Jordan bumps off Kittles up top Burrell for a three fighting for the rebound Rodman and kiddos and Dennis touched at last but it's been a good first quarter for Dennis he had his first shot from the field he had the great feed to Pippen and he has six first quarter rebounds Phil Jackson would love to see some energy and bench production he now has gone to his bench he is going to need them for the long run here come play offs Gatlin driving on Rodman [Applause] tumbles right into the lap of a photographer and simply wishes him a pleasant day how about the hustle of Dennis Rodman he goes out there every rebound with two hands and slips and he died for the rebound giving up his body you gotta love playing with a guy like that because he gives you second-chance opportunity he also gives you the hustle defensively that you need all right now the chess game has begun Rony Seikaly comes in phil jackson covered with bill Whittington all right Whittington an excellent shooter Seikaly a low post player let's see if the Bulls double-team in the block when he gets the ball sempkin John Gatling who is not shy about putting it up and in this case missing rebounded Jordan [Music] slicing he too defenders but missing on the run wedington on his 35th birthday rebound speed put back sit in New Jersey not rebounding the ball now to the best offensive rebounding team in the league went to the second worst defensive rebounding team in the league you cannot get those multiple shots slightly nice Bowl the see Phil Jackson knows that cycling can hurt him I talked to him earlier in the year about the first round playoffs and he said cycling is a guy that has hurt us in the past we might have to double-team him he can especially with them in the absence of Luc Longley Pirellis just inside the line throws up a true brick way off the mark today was a tough shot you have a defendant running at you that's a simple pump fake improve your position for a better shot Gatling the fadeaway airball and Burrell takes it it's a very poor shot by Chris Gabrielli selfish on that play shortened all the way [Applause] really trying to get to trying to get to the free-throw line they're pushing at every opportunity they possibly can Jordan understanding that that finger is very sore can't get the type of pressure that he wants and his index finger so he's trying to get to the foul line every opportunity he can and a whistle away from the ball back to the last play the thing that is sustained Chicago with their poor shooting has been the fact they've gotten six offensive rebounds in this first period after only eight in Game one there it is Scott Burrell with the follow up and again Bob if you're gonna play good initial defense you must come up with the ball solid Wennington was his first cycle he goes back to work on him loses the ball some contact with a whistle [Music] Perry is very upset Steve Korea's hurt him all season long a season season was 21 against his New Jersey team does not want to give him open shot [Applause] pulls by six the corners biggest lead Douglas into the lane contact on a foul with 4.2 seconds left later on Dateline Jerry Springer is the subject his side of the story whatever that may be Dateline tonight on NBC [Music] Sherman Douglas was shoot - bill Wennington celebrating his 35th birthday today is the only true Center who phil jackson has at his disposal tonight luc longley is on the playoff roster there's an outside chance he could play in this series there's Luke but their hope is he's simply around once they advance as expected past New Jersey see this way I think Chicago is very vulnerable and very weak as they go into the latter rounds of the playoffs you're gonna need big people and when you look at their front line once you get past lonely and Rodman they really have small players and that will hurt them as we get further and deeper into the playoffs Jordan catches the Rodman fling but couldn't quite get off a legitimate shot as he juggled into the lane that he was found [Music] Michael with nearly half of the Bulls first quarter output they lead it by four after one [Music] well the Bulls are capitalizing on the floor defensive rebounding of New Jersey they have seven offensive rebounds after only eight in the entire first game and what it's done is protected him against their poor shooting they're only shooting 31% New Jersey only 27 percent but the multiple shots they got 26 shots at the basket as opposed to only 22 by the New Jersey Nets second quarter begins with Jordan on the bench / brings it out of the backcourt against Sam Cassell calipari quickly ditching his plan to use Cassell only in the fourth quarter if they needed [Music] Bareilles this fouled by Harris or possibly Cassell they had him surrounded and it's Sam who picks up the foul now with Cassell playing with this groin injury he's going to be severely hampered he's not going to be able to get to the basket the way normally does and defensively he's got to be a liability if I was Chicago I would go at him every single time down court wedington exceptional range for centered he'll take it if you give it to him but also what happens Ronnie cycle he's not going to go out there and guard and we saw that a few weeks ago with Elijah Juan and wedington step down in about five open J's so you got to get out and recognize this guy's not a post-up player with Longley sidelined by the deep bone bruise on his left knee Wennington becomes more important at least for the time being we earlier has this would spin out the van horn is there to clean things up it took two tries but he stuck with it you gotta love Keith van Horn he's so close to he still wears the high white socks where's the short shorts he believes in the old school mentality and that also is why he worked so hard he has a very good work at the country needs a glass wedington again well you know I said what I think is really unique also about Keith van Horn it took one practice for him to have the complete admiration and respect of his team normally it takes him rookie a lot longer that in this league to get that kind of respect the shell from the foul line whistle before the shot no basket [Applause] [Music] and Sam is called for the offensive foul you know Jason William told us earlier today and watching Showtime that the only reason that he would stay in New Jersey is because of the respect that he had for Keith van Horn well he said immediately as soon as van Hoorn joined the team Tippin hitting on the move as soon as he saw Van Horn Williams immediately said this is the best player I've ever played with he said veterans won't want to hear it but he's the best all-around player we have cycling heads Rony Seikaly can score he can score he's done in his entire career and the Bulls are going to have to do a good job of swarming and make him get that ball up he does not like to be double-teamed he'll turn the ball over hip and spinning clock stops with 954 to play in the half we'll be right back the NBA on NBC is brought to you by Budweiser now is the perfect time to enjoy a fresh cold beechwood aged Budweiser by the United States Army Reserve be all you can be and by the blue line of vehicles from Mitsubishi built for living [Music] back at the United Center 530 second consecutive sellout for the Bulls between the old Chicago Stadium and this building in truth though the atmosphere here tonight is not jumping we've seen it a lot livelier four regular season games there's a feeling with the tools gunning for championship number six wedington short new jersey with it Cassell picking it up this is just kind of a tune-up yesterday we were at Market Square Arena Indiana up 1-nothing in their first round series against the Cavaliers and the place was much louder that's the difference between quotes and expectations new jersey with the turnover ferrell back for Chicago Jordan's still getting a breather wedington [Applause] proactivity the field Jackson is looking for from his bench the other night big Tony scored seven points [Applause] rodman brings it back the other way in Game one New Jersey's bench outscored Chicago's 31 seven-month her home they shot in the arm for the Chicago Bulls their bench much livelier today much more aggressive looking for their shots the New Jersey's gonna have to call timeout and talk about [Applause] New Jersey six and an eight-point lead right now the game's biggest at twenty nine twenty one bill Whittington has hit an open jump shot so you close out on him and then he beat you on the drive Rony Seikaly runs at him and Bill Whittington takes the ball by him for the slam dunk and then Steve Kerr something don't normally see Isiah beating you off the dribble he feels very confident it gets his New Jersey team a little leaping leaner off the glass and Michael Jordan looked at his teammates and said guys I'm gonna need some help thank you very much well with Michael on the bench they've doubled their lead from four to eight if you're John Calipari you said to yourself well as long as Michael is getting a breather maybe now is the time when we can pick up some points it hasn't happened that way with the sounds into me you would never see Steve Kerr take them off this off the dribble however understanding that the cell is having a very difficult time moving Steve Kerr puts it on the floor take them to the basket embankment right off the glass if Sam Cassell is not going to give you some points and he's going to hurt you defensively as a coach you gotta start thinking is he gonna be a liability for us today we'll see him as an excellent player but he's also gonna put some points on the board at least neutralize the guy that he's playing against that when we talked to Coach Cal Calipari before the game he told us that he was worried about chairman Douglas because he didn't think he would be able to go 48 minutes and they don't have an adequate backup at the point guard position the turnovers really killed the nets in Game one and they give it away here on this trip down the floor [Music] pipin backing in on scottie pippen at 6/8 with those long arms when he posts in there and he spins out that little jump hook very very difficult to get to even if you try to double-team him chicago's with his ten kiddos cuts it to seven with his second three of a half [Music] Kukoc bounces it to curve whose rebound in Paris he may have child rodman in the rebounding battle [Applause] this is the third game of an NBC triple header but it's a quadruple header for basketball fans because tonight at 9:00 Eastern Time on TNT name two of the Timberwolves and the Sonics Seattle won Game one easily at Key Arena and VIN Baker had a big first playoff game a lot of questions about how would Ben Baker respond to the playoff pressure 25 points in his first playoff game so I'm sure the Seattle fans were excited about that the foul is charged to Jason Williams first plus the foul Kukoc is exceptionally good in the low post he's a much better low post player than he is on the perimeter in Europe he played a lot in the low post he gives van Horn to fake spins right off of him and uses his left hand to lay it in Toni Kukoc when you play him you must be physical with him you must bang him you must bump him around he does not like that kind of contact he is a finesse player and if you're gonna let him get that kind of position he'll throw up a big number engage - while Michael Jordan sat out the first four and a half minutes of the second quarter the Bulls increased their lead they're up by nine now [Music] [Applause] [Music] somewhat them not get out about will we seek to sell again Zeke and should we see him again I think you'll see him again only in spurts Calipari wants to play I'm only in spurts and that's just to rest Sherman Douglas he doesn't think that Sherman Douglas can go 48 minutes he doesn't believe he has that type of stamina and Kendall Gill asked for a timeout rather than risk the five-second call 704 to play in the half back to Chicago in a moment after the timeout the Nets habit with nine seconds to shoot in trail it by nine having trouble getting it in finally to Van Horn to the lane left hand canteen light has had a lot of good shots and there just has not been able to convert nine first half rebounds for Dennis Rodman [Music] Kukoc with daylight it's shortened [Music] if it chases it to the back [Applause] as it all himself in that sequence New Jersey's defensive rebounding really is the key right now are their lack thereof the Bulls are really cleaning up on the offensive board sort of gave him a taste of the medicine they tasted from New Jersey the other night with Jason Williams getting 11 offensive rebounds Chicago by 11 Kendall Gill makes it 9 Kukoc slings it back outside the curb [Music] on the move and a New Jersey foul identity Van Horn's third the thing you have to be careful of with Van Horne he hasn't practiced in the last week because he had a stomach virus and coach Calipari is really concerned about his stamina a conditioning picked up his third foul right now he has to sit down and that's because when you get tired you start to reach and you don't really move your feet as effective one of the areas of concern to the Chicago Bulls free-throw shooting the other night 24 439 the only shots 61% and Michael and Scottie missed six each in that particular game and we've talked so much about how come playoff time that free-throw line really comes into play late in games Chicago's 4 for 7 at the stripe today all the misses belong into Kukoc will miss to their heel from 20 fouled as he released it a moment ago we saw Keith van Horn on the bench he's always rather pale but he was so sick on Friday night his coach John Calipari said I looked at him in the second quarter and he was transparent what's on NBC tonight after all the basketball you asked well it's Merlin Sam Neil Isabella Rossellini miranda Richardson Martin Short Helena Bonham Carter the world premiere of Merlin tonight on NBC magic not in the playoffs but magic tonight nonetheless on NBC desperately in search of a segue we plunge forward Chicago's lead down to seven hip and can't take it back to double figures but Kukoc is there for the follow it's nine offensive rebounds we've only played about a quarter and a half [Music] Douglas with qur'an it gatling to Gill into three defenders and he loses it Chicago at number Jordan back all the way himself strip to the ball finely controlled New Jersey needs to be extremely careful here they need to get a score because Chicago is really trying to put them away before the hands is out they want to go in with a 10 12 14 point Jason Williams from Sherman Douglas big basket for the Nets right here back to within seven coming up to four and a half minutes to play until halftime and Chicago asked for time [Applause] the bowls 37 the Nets 30 [Music] after this Doug as Hubie Brown might say okay you're John Calipari you're only losing by seven despite the fact that there's three fouls on Dan horns you should be 35% from the floor you have only four offensive rebounds you've turned the ball over six times to the Bulls four and Sam Cassell has played only three minutes and has done nothing Kukoc gets walloped here Gatling picks up the foul and let's go back and see how it happened caught them right around the neck [Applause] Tony shakes it off and a display of poor sportsmanship by Chris Gatling he walked over and said you know Tony um you know I didn't mean anything by that that's why you got to talk on those back screens you're out there playing the ball on the on the perimeter and someone steps up in back screens if you don't get talked to when you're gonna get smoked by that big guys coming up the floor and screen your big man not talking you get laid out pretty easily like that yeah you tell the big man scream and scream loud back pick back pick Kukoc you have missed his last three in succession rattles that one in he makes the boat the nets are over the limit at this point in the quarter the Bulls have just won team foul and a whistle away from the ball so let's go back to the earlier question should Calipari be heartened by this or does it does it merely portend a difficult remainder of the game well I think he has to be thrilled that he's only down nine but I think right now with about four minutes to go they're gonna have to really strap it on because the bigs love the finished quarters and as Isaiah said maybe put you away here before the half is over so they got to start making some shots the ball in the Congo is such an experienced team they play well enough just to beat you they don't waste any energy when you would think that you're right in the game and before you know it there have a two three minutes worth that knocks you right out [Music] it goes to fade away in short just before the shot clock sounds Gatling has it for New Jersey the bills are doing a really good job Jimmy rebounders on New Jersey run Kerry Kittles and pull something mrs. fines curve all along [Music] [Applause] figures [Music] Williams from Douglas juggled it what stays with it but it spills out [Applause] [Music] a tough last few minutes not to the floor first by gatling and out kettles and it's going to be a flagrant foul so they're going to get two shots and the ball eunuchs Pfleger he did not play the ball the smart founder is a smart thing to file but you don't want to get a flagrant foul right here because now he gets to in the balls and this is the spirt that we were referring to was Chicago now is going to try to knock you out and before you know it this thing could balloon to 20 and you're going and thinking that you play the good first half and you look up at the scoreboard and before you know it you're down 20 points see new jersey is one of the most potent offensive teams in the NBA but Chicago just totally shut them down because they've gotten second shots and they've jammed the rebounder so New Jersey is getting no fast break opportunities all it's become a half-court game and they're shooting miserably so everything that Chicago has wanted to do they've scripted it perfectly New Jersey's gonna have to find some answers kettles out to sell in they'll plate to sell in Douglas at the same time and as Calipari says our starting point guard Cassell is really a shooting guard as well as we can play the ball and be just fine [Applause] [Music] Kukoc stumbling and losing it here comes Douglas to sell on its right cell is the sellers labor he was limping on that break down the floor he has a hard time running when you have a groin injury it's very difficult for you to put one foot in front of the other and try to run it's hard for you to extend so therefore you put a lot of pressure on your back and I wouldn't be surprised that at some point in this game if it's back starts farther he's grimacing as he comes back the other way you have to wonder how many more minutes he can give John Calipari tonight's and Gatling hammers him [Applause] Sam Cassell is going out once again it's frustrating for him and I'm I'm sure John Calipari does not want to put him in a position to fail I guess he's hoping for maybe a ray of sunshine that can sell can make a couple shots and energize his team right now Bob they just they can't find anything that's working at all offensively against the Chicago Bulls the only point guard on the league who scores more points per game than Sam Cassell is the Sonics Gary Payton and without him in the lineup they give up so much firepower when you look at New Jersey's offensive thrust its at their guard positions and the perimeter players and that goes that plays right into the hands of Chicago's defense of Scottie Pippen the other day they had a poll of the players they voted the top five defensive players in the game they had they voted Michael Jordan's of two thorns Scottie Pippen is at three Rodman as the fire force we've got three of the top five defensive players in the game there's Gatling driving on Simmons now with Jason Williams playing with that broken thumb every time he gets it underneath Chicago is not gonna let him have an easy putback Dickie Simpkins took a whack at that thumb to make sure that he doesn't get a easy three-point play he missed the last 11 games of the regular season with that injury back to the playoffs 21 rebounds in Game one what a big year in remember he's just behind rot in pregame but Dennis only scores four or five points a game while Williams keeps in 13 or 14 Chicago by a dozen Jordan against Harris God [Music] 12 for the game he's able to answer what the Williams follow again on the offensive glass he's a relentless worker he keeps moving he never stands it again you've got to try to get your body on him but it makes it hard because he never stands still long enough for you to do that Jordon again and he's fouled lucious Harris picked up his second running at Michael this is the last basket now what Jordan sees that the baseline is clear he doesn't trust his jump shot because of his finger and he wants to get to the basket every chance and every opportunity he has he wants to get to the basket to convert well what happened on that time - they iced that thing down to the baseline and lucious Harris was expecting Chris Gatling when he make him spin to be right there on top of him Gatling did not get down there quickly enough to give him any help when Michaels goes baseline you've got to ruin they're behind him and try to pin him in down there you know we talked earlier about Jordan having the bum index finger but the smart veteran players they won't let you know that they're injured normal guys would put a wrap on that finger so everybody will feel sorry for him but Jordan understanding that he doesn't want anybody to feel sorry for because they'll try to hit that thing lucious Harris way off with the free Simpkins with the rebound [Music] partner is such an unsung player on this team he's a very good defender he could score easily 15 16 points a game for another team he's just under 10 this year which is his highest ever as a bull but he knows his role so well that was great paces by ron harp on the fast break he held the ball for a second and caught the defender and Scotty boom rail for the layup tough drive by Sherman Douglas the jersey is down 14 [Music] Jordan he was chasing after the loose ball but it's out of bounds to the bowls Williams is a real leader on this Nets team they take their cues from him but they need to really take some of his energy right now this this New Jersey team appears to be very flat Isiah there's no life to them almost a little dispirited like I think they expected more out of their game today and Chicago is sort of taken their heart away from begging to get something to get excited about before they go into halftime we talked hago would try to come out early and take the life out of New Jersey and I think they've been very successful at doing that this first half game clock overlapping the shot clock on just a few seconds it's Jordan he hits that one he's just 5 of 13 from the floor in this first half under 50% for the year by a considerable amount first half ends with the nets down by 16 [Applause] stay tuned for the potential halftime report after these messages you're watching the NBA on NBC this is Hannah storm in New York it's halftime in Chicago at the Bulls leading the Nets 52 to 36 coming up for most of you except in the Pacific and mountain time zones an extended break for your local news after that we'll update you on the two early games in the NBA but first these messages from your local station this is the Prudential halftime report brought to you by Prudential bringing strength and stability to America's families to insurance healthcare real estate and financial services cap time in Chicago with the Bulls leading the New Jersey Nets by 16 which is how many points Michael Jordan has scored hi everybody Hannah Storm back in New York quickly through the highlights in the first game of the day the New York Knicks were in Miami looking to tie their best of five series with the Heat Tim Hardaway the game one hero held to just 15 points by the Knicks defense as the Knicks erased a 14-point deficit using a run in the fourth quarter to take command Allan Houston had 24 moments later Houston off the steal feeds John Starks for two plus the foul Stark's led the Knicks with 25 points off the bench and put him up by 9 New York by 5 late Houston dishes to Chris child's child sits the three-pointer to put the finishing touches on the Knicks victory 96 to 86 they even the series at a game apiece and steal home court advantage for Miami here are some comments from both sides after the game when you have somebody down double digits at home in the first half and you don't sort of complete it you know then and we let him catch it than anything is going to be up in here in the second half and it was about six minutes ago in a game they made their run and that was it in the second quarter we knew how important this game was we didn't want to go back down to New York it was like we were just hanging on by thin thin rope and we came back and wanted to fight back and make sure we kept ourselves in the game I'm very confident in our play and make some adjustments we're gonna come out we'll come out like like rabid dogs games three and four will be at Madison Square Garden Tuesday and Thursday night in Los Angeles the Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 108 to 99 to take a two games to none lead the Blazers have lost 13 straight playoff games on the road in the second quarter watt Williams drives the lane Williams hits the scoop shot gets the foul the three-point play part of a 14 run by Portland but the Blazers trailed by 2 at the break 3rd quarter Eddie Jones nails the three after struggling in Game one yet a playoff career-high of 21 points in the fourth Robert Horry setting up Shaquille O'Neal for the jam Shaq finished with 19 points and nine rebounds again the final 108 to 99 as the Lakers go for the sweep Tuesday night in Portland meanwhile it's halftime in Chicago with the Bulls leading the Nets by 16 we'll send it back for the second half right after these messages this has been the Prudential halftime report brought to you by Prudential bringing strength and stability to America's families through insurance health care real estate and financial services [Music] with Ahmad Rashad duck Collins and Isiah Thomas Bob Costas back in Chicago here's a look at the Miller Lite halftime stats Bob I really believe when you look at the halftime trans the field goal percentage set the whole tone for New Jersey they shot three of the first 14 they got dispirited they got out rebounded by nine after a 14 rebound differential when they were winning the battle the board's in game 1 and then the bench points 16 as Steve Curren company came off the bench with good numbers New Jersey totally frustrated in that first half yeah and it goes explain to it when you look at the scoring chart no one has stepped up to really take the scoring load and when you look at Chicago Jordan is leading them again however he's getting most of his points from the free throw line when you look at his shot chart everything is driving inside getting inside the paint he's only made one 15-foot jump shot and that's indicative of how playing the last couple of weeks while he was 5 of 13 in the first half hit his last shot to bring it to that figure he was 11 for 27 in 46% for the year from the field in the course quitting his 10th scoring title by a very slim margin over Shaquille O'Neal for his career he's a 51% field goal suitor so it has dropped a bit in the latter stages of his career he's still the game's best player but if you want to measure it in tiny increments he may be off a little bit in this category or that second half begins with the Bulls up by 16 Rodman fires a jumper that's short while he gets it out of his system firmly usually in each have sandy New Jersey bob has got to push that ball they've got to try to get something easy every time down the floor they're working against a half-court deep into the Bulls for 80 points and thinking about it against Pitman who's now driving on him for the jumper but rolls around and drops if in fact they come up short of 80 points consider it in perspective they're the highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference at 99 points a game there are four teams led by the Lakers out west who averaged better than 100 the western style is generally more open more of a running style no team in the East averages and triple digits that's just shy of it at 99 new jerseys the kind of team that their offense triggers for defense whereas the Bulls beat that's triggered their offense so when your offense is not going like New Jersey you're not getting the defensive stops necessary there's kettles into the lane to the left hand and he's coming to the line let's quickly check in with him on all right thanks Bob John Calipari Taylor's team made it very simple said they weren't talking on enough on defense and certainly not aggressive I asked about Sam Cassell whether or not he may come in the game he may return to the game because they're looking for a spark of some kind maybe he can provide that Phil Jackson told his team that they're playing hard and doing a good job on defense very concerned about the free-throw shooting and he wants them to try to put this game away right now thanks him on the first minute in 15 seconds of the third quarter but at stake a 16 point deficit down to 11 [Music] Jorden putting it on the floor against Kendall Gill into the lane put cuoco [Applause] a dozen for Tony and the assist to Michael looking across the way to the New Jersey bench Sam Cassell is not there see without the sale he supplies so much of their offense he's their second leading scorer and he creates opportunities for others missed and Kukoc clears it you know Van Hollen cannot at a hundred percent to sales not at 100% and that's their two leading scorer they supplied them with 19 points tonight Michael overshot its Kittles takes it away from Rodman at the other end he's double team that fouled hipot and Kukoc had him surrounded it's Scottie who picks up his third well New Jersey overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter in Game one to send the game to overtime here they trailed by 16 and a half 13 now Kittles into the paint had been to the rebound Harper studying that just beautiful basketball five-man fast-break everybody filled their lanes we had to on the wings two trailers just beautiful it's a perfect fast-break basketball 20-second timeout a score by New Jersey if they were making a modest move Chicago has answered pretty quickly a fitment drive down the lane everyone has everybody sealed from the Chicago side Tony has his man sealed Tony drives through cuca drive through it and Pippen has a wide open lane for easy dunk [Music] so you see all the hustle stats tonight are going to Chicago the other night New Jersey had some of those hustle stats they were able to out rebound the Bulls by 14 there were the aggressors and getting some steals some turnovers today the Bulls have turned all that around and again Bob I think the core shooting start that New Jersey got in this game they had such great expectations as we see Sam Cassell on the bike I think it really dispirited them when they just couldn't put the ball in the basket to start this game Kukoc takes Douglas on the switch [Music] [Applause] and it's out of bounds to Chicago [Applause] fouled as he makes his move off the ku klux pass the sound system here is trying to get the crowd into it but the fact is that comparatively this is a flat United Center crowd Jason Williams who played so well in Game one when the Nets almost pulled off the upset said after the game look we're not some club fighter just providing the champion with a tune-up before a title bout we're here to try to play and win but the fact remains that the Bulls in their championship run have never lost a single game in the first round of 15 and oh now 16 and OH in first round games [Applause] I think you've got to make rhonda harper make that shot they had New Jersey and full rotation a guy left Scottie Pippen he gotta make Ron Harper take that shot he has not taken only one shot in the game and it's not scored and has back spasms you want to let make the extra pass to Pippen Douglas with Harper all over it muscles it up and in and the fact remains as well when you look at it from New Jersey's perspective there have been 28 first round series between the eight seed in the 1 seed under this format and the 1 seed is 27 and one in those series and Harper will try Harper you know he is the weakest shooter on a team however Doug he's a great scorer and he had the scores mentality and when challenged team will put the ball in a hole for Chicago Douglas wide open and cuts it to 17 [Applause] no basket but the foul [Music] [Applause] who follows on Kendall Gill is third you get a chance here now watch on the rotation of the ball here here's your Scottie Pippen over here right here and watch what happens now as they get it to the rotation his man leaves here and right there - Scottie Pippen the open shot I still think you have to make Harper make that shot even though he did come back and make the next one Pippen made the first Kukoc goes out birthday boy Phil Wennington 35 today checks back in the veteran from st. John's you can document this run back to five minutes to go in the second quarter Chicago came out with the type of energy and intensity trying to knock New Jersey out of the game they went in at half time making adjustments and continued to run another New Jersey turnover roll out he thinks that that's touched at last and he's right you can see the bull's philosophy naughty sight that comes in the game they're not gonna let him post up and get some baskets they're immediately going to the double-team and again he does not like to be double-teamed turned the ball over that time for the past past Jordan rather on the bullet passed from Rodman but this time the Bulls lose it see what has happened here Chicago has scored a lot of points on transition man breaks easy basket and they're making New Jersey play five on five New Jersey is not scoring in an open court they got to get some easy baskets in the transition Gatlin working with cycling but before he can get a shot away a whistle blows and a New Jersey foul on the rebound cycling picks it up calipers expression says it all Miller Genuine Draft presents even more basketball one of the streaks of the Chicago Bulls has been their offensive rebounding today it's been the real difference in the game new jersey one of the poor defensive rebounding teams and chicago has capitalized although lili shot 43 percent in the first half 14 second-chance points a real focus for them today was to win the battle of the boards after being embarrassed by 14 in Game one they have rectified that situation today and you can see what the numbers say in Game two and in recognition of this look inside the game Miller Brewing Company who donated $1,000 to the Thurgood Marshall scholarship fund those go back to work it's Jordan into the lane three blue shirts surround him and Michael will come to the line it's three on Kittles the give Jordan wants to attack the basket wants to get to the foul line he sees the lane and drives right to the basket and Kittles comes over the top for the hack Michael a 78% free-throw shooter for the year misses it long the only time an eight seed has beaten a number one seed under this format for the whole series was in 1994 when Denver shocks Seattle other than that 27 and one and then that's best chance to make this one interesting may have slipped away from them when they lost all the time [Music] Douglas from cycling Gatling at a big game one with 24 points relatively quiet tonight [Music] Gatling has all the cool points [Applause] when you have a team down on their heels and they're coming out Preston you want to spread the floor give good thought moving beautiful Michael with 19 it's on a four eighth of the basket and he was fouled when you watch the Chicago Bulls they are so beautiful without the ball the give and go they have excellent passers Michael with the strong finish after the pass from Dennis Rodman you see Kendall Gill turn and look for the ball Michael cuts against his vision you got to keep your body on Michael Jordan you know that he's going to work against your vision is the best in the game at doing that plus his entire career he's seen double and triple teams in order to get the ball back he's got to find a way to get open [Applause] [Applause] Chicago's late is still 20 as Douglas missed the first now he hits the second New Jersey knocks it away see John Calipari desperately trying to get his team up to pressure get up let's let's pressure the Bulls they're getting into their offense and easily it's set to flow for them right now in Game one they disrupted their timing a little bit today they have not been able to do that and again a whistle sounds giving us a chance to tell you that next weekend the NBA Playoffs continue on NBC starting Saturday with Showtime at 3:00 Eastern then it's either a do-er tie game 5 or a second-round game 1 at 3:30 Eastern Time then on Sunday coverage begins at noon eastern with Showtime there'll be a triple header following that so for more NBA playoff games Saturday and Sunday of next week on NBC Michael made the first giving 20 in out 21 [Applause] which is Chicago's lead 21 points cycling [Applause] Douglas follows though and the little guy hits in the lane [Music] Michael in traffic touch last by Rodman as it goes out see when you're playing against Chicago and you extend pressure that plays right into the triple post the strength of the triple post they spread you out they're able to have be able to cut make sharp cuts to the basket to pass the ball well it's very difficult to keep the Nets in it Rodman's pass hit the backside of the backboard and the ball will belong to New Jersey I think Phil Jackson thought that one of the New Jersey players was underneath Rodman's foot and sort of bumped him as he tried to throw that ball in let's see if one of the players actually was Michael Jordan you see Sherman Douglas is laying on the floor but actually Michael bumped into Rodman as he tried to throw the ball inbound [Music] Douglas who takes into the lane around Weddington no basket Douglas trying to assert himself in the last several minutes I talked about next week on NBC is another game still to come tonight on TNT it's Game two of the Minnesota Seattle series out west with the Sonics leading the world one set now we have to remember Chicago had a nice lead about 14 points in the third quarter the other night and they allowed New Jersey back to the game they cannot lose the aggressiveness that's given this given them the 17 point lead foul was on wedington his fourth Douglas yet again [Applause] that's his 12th rebound of the money [Music] to the [Applause] right into this drink the deepest is extended out wide it opens up the lane Jordan goes and penetrates right down the middle of the lane draws the foul gets to the basket and finishes for the possible three-point play see I said one of the great things of Michael Jordan you could let so many of them people do not realize how powerful this man is to be able to take that kind of contact and then be able to finish the shot a lot of players get the contact but they do not have the wherewithal of the strength or the concentration to get greedy and finish off the three-point play Michael is the king of that foul was on Gatling his fourth and if you mentioned earlier Zeke with the jump shot not falling these days he is consciously taking it to the hoop much more often than he usually does at this stage of his career that about Michael Jordan you let him steal and you love his fundamentals but what I admire the most about him is his offensive mind he's very creative when it comes to soaring kettle's guns a three and unintentionally thanks at home just as the shot clock sound [Music] and now the polls give it back to New Jersey Dodd was running before to a get off the glass this time as he intended this is when New Jersey is at their best for symptom turnovers they forced someone almost 19 on the season and then getting out and running we have seen very little of that today because they have not been able to force any turnovers back to within 15 they trailed by 21 a moment ago [Applause] Harper short with the three here comes Kendall Gill Douglas is ahead of the pack I forgot there to bother the shot but cycling hustling all the way cleans up the mess and they're within 13 again New Jersey must go in Francis and they can't afford to come down and set it up and play five on five against Chicago's defense in the playoffs the key to winning basketball games the scoring in transition understands everything that you gotta run and New Jersey will have it but still the nets are making a movie [Music] the NBA on NBC is brought to you by Miller Genuine Draft who reminds you it's time for better beer bread by Paramount Pictures Deep Impact starts Friday May 8th rated pg-13 and by Ford f-series the best-selling trucks are built for done [Applause] it's now down to 13 the nets at present are on a 701 and they'll have the ball out of bounds you can see what's happened as New Jersey is starting to shoot the ball better that gettin excited about playing defense they forced some turnovers excellent set play that lob to Kerry Kittles and quietly we have 11-point game remember now in Game one the Bulls led by 10 at the end of three and New Jersey forced in overtime so they run the play perfectly off the timeout Jose now has 16 an I know they want rodman to take that williams came out and got a piece of it they can get at the single digits jump off [Applause] here's the LOB that worked a moment ago well it's a set play they normally downstream this time they reversed and Kerry Kittles where the athletic go with us over the head dunk and Sherm Douglass maybe throws that alley-oop better than any guard in the Indian Darington the second-year man from Villanova who played so poorly in Game one has come back and acquitted himself tonight he knows not only shot three for 17 it was he who had the ball stolen from him in the last minute of overtime by Jordan with the score tied that turned the game Chicago's way wedington is open [Applause] bill he's 35th 35 today told me that dump was his birthday done I said don't overextend yourself billiards 35 that would mean he only does it once a year it's his birthday dunk Kittles not his birthday but he's got 18c gittel Kittles it's really getting into the game now he's getting more aggressive you can see his confidence starting to soar as he's playing against Michael [Music] Chicago's leaders 11 Burrell cannon stay right here a loose ball foul on the Nets letzte Calipari discussed Jason Williams had ahold of Dennis Rodman short so it'll be a two shots out for Dennis Rodman and the second on Williams later on Dateline the subject is Jerry Springer that follows the game in-depth discussion of Springer's contribution to the national dialogue Rock'em makes one of two [Applause] last minute of the third Douglas try to work on curve stays with him cyclists spinning on Rodman and just fighting his way to who brought Minh contends that he had him tied up in a jump ball should have been called [Applause] but rodman is really a beefed-up small forward trying to guard a sinner inside in cycling that time soon power than he did the nets are within ten but a whistle up the other end for a New Jersey foul see Robin when he first came into this league he was a small forward and he has a hard time playing against the bigger sinners in this league in that time cycling just overpowered him GBC Rony Seikaly does not want to pass that ball he's thinking score he actually had three guys around him it was very fortunate that he was able to pick up that loose ball actually got away with shuffling his feet when he first came into the lead with the Detroit Pistons he was a smaller forward then he put on about 15 pounds of muscle and he moved to the power four position but when he plays against guys like Karl Malone the bigger power forwards in the league he struggles and then when you try to move him over to the center position he just gives up too much weight he has the heart of a champion and courage however but when you give it up that much weight it's hard for you to battle down there makes one of two at the Kendall Gil's fourth foul the Bulls lead is 11 1 star Jason Williams right now Hera's takes it to the baseline idea Chicago can get off the last shot New Jersey ends the quarter on a 17-7 run to make it a game again back after this from your local station you're watching the NBA on NBC this copyrighted telecast of the National Basketball Association may not be retransmitted reproduced to rebroadcast without the express written consent of the NBA [Music] [Applause] with down 10 after 3 eventually that Chicago leads you to 14 in the fourth but the Jersey came back and forth over time here they've written a 21-point deficit down to 11 after three and New Jersey has the ball as we begin the final 12 minutes of regulation [Applause] [Music] Douglas splits two defenders misses the floater butts I cleat imps it in Michael beginning the 4th on the bench so one of the problems that Chicago has is that they've had so much success in the past that it's very difficult for them to sustain concentration they have a very difficult time putting teams away Pippen the rebound the Kittles it's a nine-point game make it seven do you see the difference in the energy level of Kerry Kittles since the start of this game he's hit some shots that bounce the aggressiveness just a total confidence and now we have a seven-point game the Bulls are now going to be into a fight here if they're not careful Kukoc with a long run inside that's a bad matchup cycling on Toni Kukoc Toni can either step away and shoot the jump shot or he can beat him with the drive that takes it back to 9 Kittles dollars while Sherman Douglas really coming on late in the third and now on the fourth but they're attacking the basket right now because they recognize out on the floor that Chicago really doesn't have shot blockers out of the floor so they want to give to the basket and make layups who gives it up to curl three seconds to shoot Kukoc with a three that's off the rebound of the round [Applause] - that's a dagger you thought - within seven shot clock winding down against you they take a bad shot see Kermit the three and they push it back to ten the NBA on NBC is brought to you by the United States Postal Service we deliver by the irresistible taste that makes you say did somebody say McDonald's and buy Acura the true definition of luxury yours [Music] so time earlier today we talked about Chicago's been scoring a game one they were out for thirty one to seven field Jackson was very concerned about it he made a concerted effort to get his bench involved and tonight they've given him 22 points thus far off the bench Keith van Horn has played only three minutes in the second half is back in now this is the rookie with the ball pimping and knocking it away into the hands of Kirk [Applause] [Music] hitman he swings at the curb bounces to cook faison on the floor new jersey is up pressing they passed the ball around the horn and get an easy layup on dribble penetration also - when you try to post the Bulls right now like what Van Horn is you might get one dribble but you're not going to be able to bounce two or three times because it would have to three guys in your lap Scottie Pippen forces another turnover here but Isaiah they're so athletic and so rangy they can dig back get into your lap maybe knock the ball away or get you to pick it up and still recover to the three-point shooters what a big defensive play by Pippen he managed to swipe it and then as he was tumbling out of bounds tossed it behind his back off Sherman Douglas his body looked out long Scottie Pippen's arms are he's about 611 when you take his arms in to play as a 6/8 player but terrific defender [Music] third or Rodman now Kukoc with the communiques or Rodman has it though [Applause] [Music] pipin to the foul line now Kukoc finishing [Applause] and kiddos protects the loose ball again they have new jerseys so spread out what New Jersey has to do right here is get the ball into cycling and let him try to go 101 against Rodman in the post so the Corey's got him pushed off to now they're gonna double-team turnover [Music] thinned-out Micah sells strain blind he's been relatively ineffective tonight and Van Horn's still feeling the effects of strep throat and the virus they may have expended more energy than they had and reserved just to whittle at 21-point lead down to seven and they may not have much left in the tank and then but what happens if you give up an offensive rebound and Steve Kerr throws that dagger in you to put you back up ten all the while Michael Jordan is resting he now comes back in so he's frenched with eight minutes to go now to make this little finishing push for his team no matter how this one turns out Calipari deserves a lot of credit he brings a team in that as viewed as just three and out no chance maybe not even tuned up for the Bulls not even able to make them work very hard takes them to overtime in Game one and doesn't quit down 21 tonight Kukoc from the six target practice right now playing with four guards in the small forward which creates all types of mismatches for the New Jersey Nets now watch it with Van Horn the minute he starts to put it on the floor he's gonna get helped into a bad shot by Gil [Applause] been away from him and the phallus on Michaels New Jersey's a team that through the season has placed a lot of one-on-one even though there are very high scoring team they're a team that doesn't get a lot of assists they only averaged 20 assists and they're in the game which is 23rd in the league so with the house they play a lot of one-on-one against Chicago that really plays into their hands but you can't change the style of play that got you here this is what has made them successful first foul tonight nice pass and another whistle van Horn will be shooting when we come back Kukoc the guilty party this is the NBA on NBC you hear about Michael Jordan sometimes being tough on teammates listen to this see I say I love that I think that when a player your leader your great player does that that's leadership when a coach does that players get tired of hearing him it unit becomes more criticism your great players yourself on championship teams the Michael Jordan's the Magic Johnson's the Larry Bird's these are the things they do that relieve a lot of the pressure so the players don't hear the coach's voice too often but what I see happening here right now get Chicago right now is already playing for Game three but they're trying to do is destroy New Jersey's confidence because they know the nets are going back home and they know they're gonna have a tough game right now is trying to destroy their confidence and don't concede anything defensively for office jordan working on Jim tries to get rid of it in the lane Rodman kicks it and Douglas recovers it we have a Sam Cassell sighting he's on the bench ready just in case let's get close enough to make it worthwhile delusion [Applause] [Music] contact away from the ball offensive foul on George Michael got caught there with the second blow Sherman Douglas actually pushed him when he was screening for her he said right here he's sitting at setting a screen for Steve Kerr and he pushes into Michael and Michael says nah I'm not gonna take that from you nice little flop there by by sharing Douglas as well exactly six minutes to play Van Horn fakes shoots and it's short hard to believe he's not still feeling the effects of the illness of the last 72 hours this is a very atypical Van Horne night now people are not getting to see the real Keith van Horn the that played so well during the record season floater hazard [Music] and a foul on the Chicago Bulls here which is met with disbelief by Phil Jackson now after the game tonight it's Dateline at 9:00 Eastern 8:00 central no that's wrong forget about the times it's just whenever the game is over Jerry Springer on Dateline I understand an honor of his presence there'll be a wild chair throwing fight between Stone Phillips and Jane Pauley you won't want to miss it but Springer gets to tell his side of the story then that's followed by Merlin TV Guide says it's a spectacular delight that would be Merlin Dateline which is after the basketball time and kiddos misses at the line looking for his 21st point and he brings his team back to within 11 that was interesting a technique Michael Jordan just used underneath to try to block out Jason he didn't even turn his back to him he's totally safe Gardens trying to get him out of the lane there is Rodman [Applause] I went to Michael Jordan as he tried to block out Jason Williams return is his whole body towards them because Jason Witten is such a good rebounder look at the fight let's do it really going at it and that's what you have to do with the great offensive rebounders what do you have to do it you say you know what he's not going to get the ball so one of my teammates is gonna have to come up with this miss and again that's Michael Jordan doing what he has to do for his team he's the man on the inside there blocking out Jason Williams who's their premier rebounder michael has him both and the trend continues he's just 7 or 17 from the floor the 12 of 13 at the line [Music] [Applause] five left in the game Chicago by 13 that's what you call getting lucky and and suddenly they're back to within nine this is what I say it was talking about the balls getting a little bit of a lead getting careless because sometimes they get this interest if they get bored knowing that you come up with the big prize and a quick to New Jersey just when you're about to wipe them off they come back John Calipari has to be really proud of this team Bob they continue to fight as you're playing uphill [Applause] offensive foul is called [Music] now what's Rodman make sure he jumps right in front of Douglas gets above the dotted line and takes the charge Calipari said we didn't need that right now we needed a good shot he thought then it's moved in I thought Robert was there by the charge [Music] thanks for add Rica 4 minutes 16 seconds remaining the Nets have refused to go away but Chicago's lead is at nine [Music] they've been in the front court [Music] once lit by as many as 21 missing the three but its Ruttman on the glass [Music] [Applause] Jordan in the second shot you get great initial defense do within nine you've got a chance to rebound the ball and Dennis Rodman with a great hustle play he has answered the bell today for Chicago he apologized to Phil Jackson after Game one he said coach I will be better and today he has been tremendous Jason wood was so concerned about Dennis Rodman that he let Michael Jordan drive right down the lane Williams with the layup at the other end and the Nets still trailed by nine Jordan has 28 points just about matching his regular season average [Music] clock winding down toward three minutes to play Tippin rebound battle is won by Kendall Gill and New Jersey asked for time out before the Bulls had a chance to tie Gila [Music] we'll step aside for just a moment to to play [Music] [Applause] just inside three minutes to play and New Jersey at least Megan Chicago work they like to cut at the seven or maybe six if they had afraid [Applause] Jason Williams where's Michael [Music] [Applause] Kukoc so the Bulls came out of that timeout New Jersey tried to run a play that they liked to get a three-point shot from Van Horn the Bulls scouts had to play scout at a completely random off the time it didn't hit the rim so it's 24-second violation see Bob the importance of scouting especially in playoff situations they love to run a little stack up high with Van Horne Kurla guy popped him back for three the bees had it scouted Jason Williams ended up taking a tough shot they forced him out of the possession that's what scouting does come playoff time especially that stomach virus Vanhorn by the way has hit only plea of 11 from the field in this game was intended for Van Horn [Music] and a Pippin foul that's his fourth inside Minister as Douglas drives baseline to a crowd now it's Kendall Gill with the jump would have been a tune that had fallen the rebound of Kukoc and that made just about closed it out [Applause] [Music] keep in mind no matter what happens even if they're swept New Jersey improved its records at 17 games mrs. they want only 26 a year ago they won 43 this year this has been ever since the merger between the APA and the NBA it's dumped us in the lane with the bucket a star-crossed franchise they were a championship team in the latter stages of the ABA right after the merger more than 20 years ago they sold dr. J they've never been the same since they've never really been a contender since they've had trouble establishing an identity in New Jersey there are some hopeful signs now there's a good personnel on his team and they've been proved in terms of wins and losses significantly this year and at least they've been competitive in these first two games [Applause] [Music] New Jersey asked for time trailing by nine back after this from your local station [Music] we're in Chicago last minute of the Bulls Nets game for those of you tuning in now for Dateline it comes your way as soon as the ball game is over and Jerry Springer is the subject of tonight's Dateline [Music] costas go Colin says eya Thomas Ahmad Rashad tonight Chicago about to put John Calipari Nets in a no 2 whole game free is Wednesday in New Jersey the fourth game will be Friday also in New Jersey if it's necessary [Applause] Sherman Douglas with the floater no good Van Horne tried to tap it in and Rodman battling to the rebound and let's see what the decision is announced that's important for New Jersey to finish going here he's 43 seconds to go they got another game back in New Jersey for Game three it's important for them to finish this last 43 seconds and some type of good notes my mistake can give it to New Jersey Williams slams off the inbound and then pushes Rodman you got T number nads Danny Crawford ruled there was a little bit too much contact after the play watch on the dunk and then watch what he does he pushes Dennis after the play that's the technical foul so Steve Kerr will shoot the T and then the Bulls will get the ball back with a new 24-second clock prior to that one officialdom indicated she caught the ball that he was overruled the Jersey got it back out of bounds for the Williams dunk but then the technical and kurz the natural choice to shoot [Applause] Bob just to what you were talking about the New Jersey Nets this year I think it was so critical for them to be able to make the playoffs this year after they had such a good season who had been very disheartened for this team to miss out on the playoff give him the satin in mysterious going into next year they can keep the team together they should grow from this Phil Jackson takes Dennis Rodman out of the game perhaps to avoid any further difficulties you know Rodman gets hit with a lot of technicals but he also draws a lot from the opposition because he gets under their skin so much he now takes his usual sheet all the way at the end of the bench few bolts also have their best free-throw shooters and the best ball handlers in the game right now they'll want to spread the floor and move it as much as they can Kukoc fouled almost immediately by Kendall Gill 5 on Kendall 37 seconds to play bulls 91 Nets 84 [Music] making quick work of the Nets is a priority for the Bulls because they are a veteran team and they would like the rest so even going to New Jersey and losing one is not something that they would consider not a problem I'd like to get it over as quickly as possible they will play on the road then they do at home the basketball team that you're watching tonight play here at home to go to New Jersey in their player who's twice as much intensity and twice as much energy in New Jersey better be ready for that or else they're going to find themselves down in a big hole at the start of the game hon game 3 Scottie Pippen committed his fifth foul it's so Cassell sidelines for most of the game by a groin injury Sherman Douglas there's Sam I am Sherman Douglas has played 43 minutes 15 points 11 assists four steals in another player who really bounced back today was carried Kittles after the 3 for 17 and being stripped by Michael licking the overtime nine for 14 today for 23 points so Kerry Kittles really doing a good job today of bouncing back and putting that game one nightmare behind it and they have to follow Michael right away it's a six-point game which is as close as than its who been how often has it happened in a best-of-five series not that frequently considering how many there have been most recently 1994 the most shocking upset maybe in NBA playoff history because Denver was the number eight seat against the number one seed Seattle the only time under this format that the eight has defeated the one in the search Lieber also to 93 when the Phoenix Suns lost the two home games to the Los Angeles Lakers and had to go to LA went to and then came back and won that series get to the NBA Finals for almost got knocked out of that first round Jordan as he makes one of two and an immediate timeout for New Jersey they trail it by seven 26.2 on the plot talking about rodman who relatively speaking has been on his best behavior this year is only in the middle of the pack when we considered the league leaders in technical fouls Paul Malone and Charles Barkley actually had the most Rodman's contract structured in such a way as to encourage him not to go too far off the reservation all of these incentives he had a base salary of four and a half million but he could just about double it by meeting certain incentives he did lead the NBA in rebounds he did play the 80 games he missed only two during the regular season he can earn an extra million if he plays in every playoff game I loved playing with Dennis Rodman Dennis Rodman is that sometimes he'll leave home early in terms of his mind he'd get very bored and you need to have something to give him and sent up to play but I say I think he's also the kind of player that you have to have strong players on the team with him you have to have a Michael Jordan Scottie Pippen guys before because otherwise he could be a distraction for a fragile team he fits perfectly with what this team is about with their mental approach to basketball no question about it you know Dennis Rodman the thing that you know when I talked to Jordan earlier this year he said really depend on night Rodman's because he know that but the 48 minutes that he's out on the court he's going to give his all rather than winning or losing I say just to follow up that graphic on Rodman I have gotten Bob Costas his contract that we will have a graphic on his incentives if he's able to go through the playoffs this year without any suspension so might have flirted with one tonight [Laughter] the Bulls by seven New Jersey has the fall stranger things have happened is the way the cliche goes but offhand I can't recall any much stranger than this would have to be for New Jersey to pull it off van horn spins arrests Kukoc and cuts it to five didn't waste much time doing it either when the playoffs you play every minute every second because as you said strange things happen Reggie Miller and that playoff game a few years ago at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks hit the three then stole the inbound backed up behind the line hit another three that was found scored eight points and something like six or seven seconds I remember a regular-season game when Rodney Rogers is playing for Denver against you taught that he scored nine points at three threes in about eight seconds so it will happen you know not very often but just as a coach that you will always remember [Applause] Michael doing most of his damage as he did in Game one from the free-throw line [Applause] some they trail by six leaving for a three it's Douglass who hits it [Applause] just under 16 seconds left New Jersey with the backcourt pressure and they go to Pippen for the foul Pippen missed six free throws in Game one as did Jordan for that matter this is a good finish fun New Jersey because now if they do lose this basketball game then go back for Game three and feel very confident about themselves [Applause] now Scottie Pippen gave the New Jersey Nets a great compliment after Game one he said he what they've played harder against us than any team all season longer study steps up and makes the big free throw but he gave him a terrific comp compliment the other day with how hard this team has competed against and especially on Friday night [Applause] the latest for [Music] New Jersey has to hurry it Skittles forcing it out of bounds off Chicago hip and touch the last seven and a half seconds left [Applause] we give out the dolls filling them by Jordan and that used up two and a half seconds [Music] look at Douglas and Jordan jarring at each other Sherman tries it again it falls into the arms of Scottie Pippen who's fouled with eight tenths of a second to go and Chicago is gonna take the two games at home but it turns out to have been much more difficult they and their fans would have anticipated in fact Michael Jordan said before game 1 that it would require all the Bulls falling asleep for New Jersey to win even a single game in this series well they haven't won one yet but they've been in both of them right to the end - Chicago right now they don't care if the game is the only thing they're concentrating on and concerned about is if they win or lose they've had so much success in this league that they don't match they measure if they win or lose [Applause] Michael allowing himself a smile he was really going at it with Douglas would he knock the ball away from him a moment ago Tintin misses on both porn sounds and that's it [Music] [Applause] for those of you in Houston and central time zones will take you directly to Dateline for duck columns upon Rashad and Isaiah Thomas I'm Bob Costas the Bulls lead the series Tuesday and so long from Chicago [Music]

Channel: Tremendous Upside

Views: 27,984

Rating: 4.8585858 out of 5

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Id: 7BkxP78uMaY

Length: 107min 9sec (6429 seconds)

Published: Tue Apr 09 2019