This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning three of the first four meetings. This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning six of the first eight meetings. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting. This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first two meetings. Our defense allowed us to overcome any mistakes that we made on the offensive end, whether it was a bad shot or a turnover.”The versatility of the 1990-91 Bulls was on display as much as ever in December. The Bulls–Pistons rivalry is an NBA rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. We knew they would pull out all the stops to try and beat us, whether it was physically or mentally. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting. Game 4 ended with some of the Pistons walking off the court before time expired, refusing to shake the Bulls' hands. Get a summary of the Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons basketball game The Pistons, with Dumars burning Jordan for 24 points in the first half, went up by 14 at halftime and cruised thereafter. He wasn’t quite the point guard; he was sort of a shooting guard who didn’t get a lot of shots that he should have gotten.”Pippen was pretty good in Game 5 too, turning in a line of 32 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five steals, as the Bulls closed out the 1991 postseason with an overall record of 15-2.It was the Bulls’ time and they knew it. Vinnie Johnson came off the bench to get 10 assists. The Lakers defense was double-teaming Jordan, which opened the door for John Paxson. "And he played it perfectly. Maybe I wasn’t as prepared physically, as well as mentally, to face that obstacle. But there was still light at the end of the tunnel. Summary and statistics for the 1989 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - Bulls vs. Pistons
We knew they were a classless team with a classless leader in Isiah [Thomas]. The 1989–90 NBA season was the Bulls' 24th season in the National Basketball Association. Jordan led with 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting. “I felt that the game had come full circle and I was physically and mentally ready for any challenge. “There was no love on that side of the line. This was a brutal loss for the Bulls, who looked good early and led by nine in the first quarter. During that stretch, Pippen recorded a career-high 43 points on Feb. 23 in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first five meetings. The Bulls trailed by just four points after three quarters, but Detroit shut down everyone in the fourth quarter, holding the Bulls to a season-low 11 points in the fourth quarter. He came full circle as a player and appreciated his teammates and the offense that we were in. Very seldom do you see that with a layup. Kind of a typical Detroit win. Along the way, they knocked the Bulls out of the postseason three years in a row. CHICAGO TRIBUNE - Nov. 7 in Chicago-Bulls 117-114. But it’s not until your body matures that you are able to turn that corner. Armstrong in practice, I just tried to defend the ball and take the team away from what they were trying to accomplish.“When I got the call to guard Magic, I knew that I could cause him a lot of problems,” added Pippen. We were ready for the challenge. On Dec. 4 at the Chicago Stadium, the Bulls, who averaged 110 points per game that season, put 155 on the board in a win over the Phoenix Suns. But we finally got it, and it became one of the best tools in basketball.”Eleven days later, the Bulls showed they could dominate on the other side of the ball too when they hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers and opened the game with a 36-5 first quarter. First round Game 5 "Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavs" James Edwards led Detroit with 21 points. This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. Defense is something that you have to want to do. “Our strength and conditioning coaches, Al Vermeil and Erik Helland, really put us to work throughout the summer and we spent a lot of time in Chicago during the offseason. “That first game, we were a little nervous. What they did at the end of that series in 1991 by walking off the court, as players, we expected it. It was a great moment for John because he was one of those forgotten soldiers on our team.
It sort of broke them down as a team. Back to the old days. Pippen made 16 of 17 shots and became the first player to score 40 points playing with Jordan. This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. Jordan played 37 minutes and led the Bulls with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Several players felt that beating the Pistons was like winning the championship. They just wanted to get the ball out of Michael’s hands.“John stepped up and played the role we knew he was capable of playing,” Pippen continued. Our defense was what we really hung our hats on. “[Detroit] was an obstacle that we hadn’t been able to get over in terms of beating them in their own building. The Pistons let the Bulls hang around through three quarters and then spurted ahead by 10 midway through the fourth quarter and nursed their lead. It was a bit of a struggle.