1997 NBA Playoffs

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.

This was the first Western Conference Title for the Jazz in their 22-year history.

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

The Minnesota Timberwolves made their playoff debut after failing to win more than 30 games in any of their first 7 seasons. For them, it was also the first of 7 straight seasons in which they would make 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 the Spurs have missed the playoffs (only 4 times as of 2012).

It was also the first time all four 1988/89 expansion teams (Minnesota, Miami, Orlando and Charlotte) made the playoffs. This happened again in 2001.

The two #8 seeds in this tournament (the Bullets and Clippers) broke long playoff droughts 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 either 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.^[1]

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.

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 have moved to the Staples Center, their home since the 1999–2000 season. As of 2012, the Sports Arena remains active.

Game 3 of the Bulls–Bullets series was the last game ever played at the Capital Centre (named USAir Arena at the time). As the Bullets changed their name & arena the next season, it was also the last time the team was officially named the "Bullets."

Bracket

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

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

Eastern Conference

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 Wizards

Memorable moments

The 1997 NBA Playoffs featured several important clutch shots.

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

Scottie Pippen made the series-winning dunk with 7.4 seconds left as the Bulls sweep the Bullets 96–95 and advance.^[2]

• 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 while falling out of bounds, and hit it for the tie. However, the Sonics won in OT 122-115.

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

Scottie Pippen broke a tie game at 97 by hitting a 3 with 43.9 seconds left. Neither team scored after that, and the Bulls beat Atlanta 100–97.

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

Eddie Johnson hit a 3 at the buzzer to tie the series at 2.

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

John Stockton capped off a spectacular 4th quarter performance by hitting a 3 at the buzzer 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 at the buzzer to win it 84–82.

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

With most viewers (and Utah defenders) thinking Jordan would take the last shot with the game tied at 86, he instead passed to Steve Kerr, who hit a 17-footer 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.

Notes

• For the first time since 1992, a #5 seed did not beat their #4 seeded opponent in the first round.

Western Conference

Champion: Utah Jazz

First Round

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3–2)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Western Conference First Round (Portland won 3–1)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference Finals (Phoenix won 4–3)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

Conference Semifinals

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Western Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles won 4-3)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Semifinals (Seattle won 4-0)

Conference Finals

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-2)

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

Eastern Conference

Champion: Chicago Bulls

First Round

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

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Eastern Conference First Round (Detroit won 3-2)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals (New York won 4-1)

Conference Semifinals

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 3-0)

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

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

• 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.

Conference Finals

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

Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 3-0)

NBA Finals

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 visibly 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.

References

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com's 1997 Playoffs section
• Archived copy of the Official Website on NBA.com