The Infamous Game 6: Jazz vs Bulls
What do the NBA Finals mean? The finals are the last games of a season in the NBA, the games that determine which team is the best that year at the game of basketball. The finals are like the climactic ending to an exciting movie. It is a time of excitement when fans and players watch with respect and anticipation to see who will win the title.
One of the most exciting games in NBA finals history even for fans now was game 6 of the 1998 NBA finals. You can still find the game online and watch the intense play that unfolds. It pitted the Utah Jazz against the Chicago Bulls and was the game that meant the Utah Jazz could force a game seven and have a shot to win the championship. At the same time it was the game that meant the Chicago Bulls could take home another championship. As fans of basketball you want the game to be energizing and close, you want your favorite players to play well, and you want your team to win. Game six of the finals in 1998 does a great job of mixing those things together to make a game worth watching.
The excitement of the previous game built the stage for game six. Utah pulled off a win in Chicago to force another game, a game where they would play on their home floor meaning they would have the home court advantage which would help the players of the Jazz. Both teams had some great players, the Jazz had Karl Malone playing for them and that year he was the most valuable player and on the other hand the Bulls had Michael Jordan. Both of those players had great talent and a drive to win meaning only one thing: the game was destined to be a great one.
The first quarter got off to quick start with the Bulls taking a nine point lead. That did not deter the Jazz from playing hard. Karl Malone began playing with the strategy of working to get shots close to the basketball hoop and to get the Bulls players in foul trouble. That strategy was a good choice, because as things in a game are ending the other team may not want to risk fouling if the game is close. As the first quarter wrapped up the Jazz regained momentum with Malone’s strategy and were able to take a three point lead to finish off the quarter.
Moving into the second quarter, both teams continued to play well, specifically Michael Jordan, by the end of the second quarter he had scored twenty-three points for the game including tying the game with a three-pointer to end the quarter! The Jazz kept it close even though he scored so much. An important play that happened to the Jazz happened mid quarter when the shot clock was ticking down and Eisley, a Jazz player shot a three. He made it before the clock ran out but the referees called the shot off saying it didn’t count. Every point counts in basketball especially at the end of a game when the win margin could be a single point.
As the third quarter began, the scoring battle continued between Malone and the Jazz, and Jordan. The teams kept the game close making it all the more exciting as the end grew near. With the game so close the anticipation to see who would win was high. The Bulls got into some foul trouble because of Malone’s strategy meaning that they had to be careful to not foul the Jazz. With those things adding to the intensity of the game the third quarter ended with the Jazz in the lead by five!
The fourth and final quarter or the last twelve minutes of the game are some of the best. It’s the point in the game when the teams know that the end is close and that the time to win is then. It also means both teams were pretty worn down. Michael Jordan especially had played a lot of minutes for the whole game but he carried the team. The game stayed close making it more exciting to witness what would happen in the end. The Jazz had a few minutes of time where they were struggling to score. In the last moments of the game, John Stockton, a player for the Jazz made a three point shot to put Utah ahead by three. After that Jordan, made a shot to put the Bulls within a point. The Bulls then played great defense preventing the Jazz from scoring. After that the Bulls had possession and Jordan had the ball, as he took it down court he came to the area of the free throw line and was able to take a shot over the defense. He sank it, putting the Bulls up by a single point with five seconds left in the game. The Jazz used a time out in preparation for their last attempt to win. The Jazz inbounded the ball to Stockton and he shot a frantic three to try and win but he missed. His shot definitely could have been better but there was a lot of pressure on him in that moment.
In conclusion, this game will always be one that is remembered for the closeness and the talent that was on display. All throughout you can see great defense and offense. The players you expect to play well like Michael Jordan or Karl Malone do play well. The game stays close the entire time making it worthwhile to watch.
