The Last Dance 1.08

Episode VIII

The Bulls played the Charlotte Hornets in the second round of the 1998 NBA playoffs. The Bulls won the first game by 13 but the Hornets came back and won the second game by 2. They make a big deal in the episode about how BJ Armstrong, who was playing at the time for the Hornets, was the key to them winning the game but he attempted 8 shots and hit four of them. He did not lead his team in scoring.

They make a lot in this episode about how BJ Armstrong's game winning shot motivated Michael. I think they spend too much time on talking about it. It feels like filler, especially as this topic comes up on a regular basis, how Jordan was motivated to play harder by x, y, or z.

Jordan returned to the Bulls in 1995 when the Major League Baseball players went on strike. He was asked to cross the picket line and play major league ball and refused. Instead he started practicing with the Bulls and then in March he officially returned in a game against the Indiana Pacers which was played in Indiana.

Jordan came back wearing number 45, instead of 23. It felt like a new era for him. It was the first time he had played without his father in attendance. Jordan was rusty and the Pacers won the game, in overtime. He played better in subsequent games. He scored 55 at Madison Square Gardens in a win over the Knicks.

The Bulls made it to the playoffs and in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals they played the Orlando Magic which now included former teammate Horace Grant as well as Shaquille O'Neal. The Magic won the first game. Jordan responded by going back to wearing number 23. The Bulls won the second game. The Bulls won one more game in the series but the Magic won the series in 6 games.

Jordan shot a movie (Space Jam) during the summer of 1995. He trained and played pick up games against a lot of other NBA players. He came back for the next basketball season stronger than ever. The Bulls won 72 games in the regular season, a new NBA record. The Bulls rolled through the playoffs, only losing one game before reaching the Finals where they played the Seattle Supersonics.

The Bulls won the first three games. It looked like it was going to be another sweep but Seattle stepped up and changed things up starting with game 4. The Supersonics won games 4 and 5 but the Bulls closed out the series and won the title in game 6, on Father's Day.

There was way too much focus on things away from the court in this episode. Everyone, including Jordan, seems to have an opinion on what motivated him in 1995, 1996, and 1998. It seems to change with each series or matchup. Maybe some people thinks those insights add something to the series. I don't.