Harman Patil (Editor)

1997 NBA Playoffs

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Season
  
1996–97

Teams
  
16

Champions
  
Chicago Bulls (5th title)

Runner-up
  
Utah Jazz (1st finals appearance)

Semifinalists
  
Houston Rockets Miami Heat

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 defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2. This was the Bulls' second straight title, and fifth overall (They completed the 3-peat by beating Utah again in 1998). Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the fifth time.

Contents

This was the first Western Conference title for the Jazz in their 23-year history.

The Heat's run to the Eastern Conference Finals marked the farthest they had reached in the playoffs up to that point; they did not return until 2005, but won the NBA Finals in 2006.

The Minnesota Timberwolves made their playoff debut after failing to win more than 30 games in their first 7 seasons. It was also the first of 7 straight years in which they made the playoffs only to lose in the first round.

This was the first (and so far, only) time since the ABA–NBA merger that the 4 former ABA teams (Spurs, Nuggets, Pacers, and Nets) missed the playoffs, even more remarkable considering the rarity with which San Antonio has missed the playoffs at all (only 4 times since the merger).

All four 1988/89 expansion teams (Minnesota, Miami, Orlando and Charlotte) made the playoffs for the first time. This would happen again in 2001.

The two #8 seeds in this tournament (the Bullets and Clippers) broke long playoff droughts (Bullets eight years, Clippers only just three) with their appearances in the 1997 Playoffs. (The Bullets' last playoff appearance was in 1988; the Clippers in 1993). Unfortunately for both teams, it would be a long time before they made 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 that saw both teams fighting for the #8 seed.

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, which would open in September 1999.

The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena hosted its final NBA playoff game in Game 3 of the Clippers–Jazz series. When the Clippers returned to the playoffs in 2006, they had moved to the Staples Center, their home since the 1999–2000 season. As of 2014, the Sports Arena remains active, presenting high school basketball championships, concerts, and conventions.

Game 3 of the Bulls–Bullets series was the last playoff game ever played at the Capital Centre (named USAir Arena at the time). They moved into a new arena the next season. In addition, the Bullets changed their team name to the Wizards on May 15, making it the last time the team was officially named the "Bullets".

After losing in the Western Conference Finals, the Houston Rockets would not win a playoff series until 2009 and would not return to the Conference Finals until 2015.

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.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

  1. Utah Jazz (clinched Midwest division)
  2. Seattle SuperSonics (clinched Pacific division)
  3. Houston Rockets
  4. Los Angeles Lakers
  5. Portland Trail Blazers
  6. Minnesota Timberwolves
  7. Phoenix Suns
  8. Los Angeles Clippers

Best record in NBA

The Chicago Bulls clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

  1. Chicago Bulls (clinched Central division)
  2. Miami Heat (clinched Atlantic division)
  3. New York Knicks
  4. Atlanta Hawks
  5. Detroit Pistons
  6. Charlotte Hornets
  7. Orlando Magic
  8. Washington Bullets

Memorable moments

The 1997 NBA Playoffs featured numerous clutch shots and other moments.

  • April 30: Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Bullets, Game 3

    • Scottie Pippen made the series-winning dunk with 7.4 seconds left as the Bulls swept the Bullets 96–95 and advanced.

  • May 1: Seattle SuperSonics vs. Phoenix Suns, Game 4

    • With his team trailing 107–104 with 4.3 seconds left, Phoenix guard Rex Chapman took the inbounds pass, launched a 3-point shot while falling out of bounds, and made the shot to tie the game. The Sonics would however win in OT 122-115.

  • May 6: Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks, Game 1

    • Scottie Pippen broke a 97-97 tie by making a 3-point shot with 43.9 seconds left. Neither team would score after that, and the Bulls beat Atlanta 100–97.

  • May 14: New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat, Game 5

    • A courtside brawl erupted when Heat forward P.J. Brown body-slammed Knicks guard Charlie Ward causing both teams' benches to clear. For the Knicks, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Allan Houston and Larry Johnson left the bench. All of the players involved were suspended. The Knicks, under-manned by the suspensions, lost the series in 7 games to start the Heat-Knicks rivalry.

  • May 25: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets, Game 4

    • Eddie Johnson made a 3 as time expired to tie the Western Conference Finals at 2.

  • May 29: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets, Game 6

    • John Stockton capped off a spectacular 4th quarter performance by hitting a 3 as time expired to send Utah 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 as time expired for the Bulls to win 84–82.

  • June 13: Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz, Game 6

    • With most NBC viewers (and Utah defenders) thinking Jordan would take the last shot with the game tied at 86, he instead passed to Steve Kerr, who made a 17-foot shot with 5 seconds left. On the next play, Scottie Pippen stole Bryon Russell's inbound pass and rolled the ball to Toni Kukoč, who clinched the title with a dunk.

    Western Conference

    Champion: Utah Jazz

    (1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Los Angeles Clippers

    This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting.

    (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers

    This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.

    (2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (7) Phoenix Suns

    This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning two of the first three meetings.

    (3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

    This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Timberwolves.

    (1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers

    This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting.

    (2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Houston Rockets

  • Seattle and Houston individually tie their regular season records with 57 wins apiece. Although the Sonics won the Pacific division, the Rockets won the regular season series over the Sonics 3-1, and gained home-court advantage.

    • This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first five meetings.

    (1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets

  • In Game 4, Eddie Johnson hits the game-winning 3-pointer.
  • In Game 6, John Stockton hits the series-winning 3-pointer.

    • This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning two of the first three meetings.

    Eastern Conference

    Champion: Chicago Bulls

    (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Washington Bullets

    This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Bullets/Wizards franchise.

    (4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Detroit Pistons

    This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning three series apiece.

    (2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Orlando Magic

    This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Magic.

    (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets

    This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.

    (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks

    This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Hawks winning two of the first three meetings.

    (2) Miami Heat vs. (3) New York Knicks

  • 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; Johnson and Starks were suspended for Game 7. Miami becomes the 6th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

    • This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Knicks.

    (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat

    This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first two meetings.

    Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz

  • 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 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.

    • This was the first NBA Finals meeting between the Bulls and the Jazz.

    References

    1997 NBA Playoffs Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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