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Chapter X

The 1998 NBA Finals opened in Salt Lake City. The Jazz had the home court advantage and won the first game, in overtime. The Bulls had to come back to put the game into OT. The Bulls came back and won game 2. Both games were close.

The series moved to Chicago and game 3 was a blow out. The Bulls won game 3 by 42 points. Dennis Rodman didn't show up for practice the next day. He appeared on a WCW wrestling show instead with Hulk Hogan. Phil Jackson wasn't happy but he took it very even-handedly. The Bulls won the next game, which was close, to go ahead 3-1 in the series.

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Episode IX

The Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers met in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls had home court advantage and won the first two games in Chicago. The Pacers came back and won game 3 by two. The Pacers came from behind to win game 4 but almost lost it on a last second three point shot by Jordan which almost went in. The series then went back to Chicago tied 2-2.

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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.

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Episode VII

The Chicago Bulls opened the 1998 playoffs by playing the New Jersey Nets in Chicago. The Nets led most of the way but the Bulls wun the game by 3 points.

James Jordan, Michael Jordan's father, was murdered in July 1993. Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA in August 1993. Rumors swirled around that this was ordered by the head of the NBA, David Stern.

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Episode VI

1993. Some of the shine started to evaporate off of Michael Jordan. The book Jordan Rules by Sam Smith had something to do with that. There was speculation about who was talking to Sam Smith. The finger was pointed at Horace Grant (who denied it) by some but others think there had to be more than one person talking to Smith.

The Bulls make it to the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals where they play the New York Knicks. The Bulls don't have the home court advantage so the first two games are played in New York. The Knicks win the first two games. Jordan was seen coming back from Atlantic City the night before Game 2. His past experience with gambling leads to speculation about his commitment to the team by outsiders.

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Episode V

Michael Jordan wins the MVP award at the 1998 All-Star Game. He was playing against Kobe Bryant who was 19, making him the youngest person to ever play in the All-Star Game. 

Jordan wears the original Nike Air Jordans for his final visit to Madison Square Gardens in March 1998. David Falk, his agent, originally tried to get him deals with Converse and Adidas but neither was willing or able to make him a deal in 1984. Jordan had to be pushed into signing with Nike who offered him considerably more than other NBA players were getting at the time. Jordan had a good game but the shoes hurt his feet when he wore them in 1998. His socks were bloody when he went to take them off after the game.

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Episode IV

Dennis Rodaman does not return on time from his trip to Las Vegas. Michael Jordan has to go get him but when Rodman gets back he is ready to train, eager to play.

Phil Jackson came from Montana. He played professionally for the New York Knicks. He started his coaching career in Puerto Rico. The next stop in his coaching career was the Continental Basketball Association where his team won the championship in 1984. He was hired by the Bulls as an assistant coach when Doug Collins was the head coach. He worked closely with assistant coach Tex Winter. Collins didn't think much of Winter's coaching philosophy. Collins preferred to make Jordan the focus of the team's offensive game, Winter preferred to distribute the offense. Collins was fired in 1989 after the playoffs and Jackson was promoted to head coach.

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Episode III

Dennis Rodman talks about his life growing up, his college basketball career, and his early NBA career when he was with the Detriot Pistons.

1986 - Doug Collins becomes the new head coach of the Bulls. He gets along very well with Jordan.

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Episode II

The series continues to focus mostly on the past with glimpses here and there on the 1997-98 NBA season.

Scottie Pippen gets the spotlight first. The focus is on his early years and why his relationship with Chicago Bulls management got so contentious over time. 

The spotlight then shifts to Michael's early life including his relationships with his brothers, his father and his high school career.

The episode then shifts forward several years to 1986. Michael injured his foot and had to sit out for a weeks. He got impatient and started practicing secretly back in North Carolina. The Bulls let him return to playing but limited his playing time. The Bulls made the playoffs that year and faced the Boston Celtics in the opening round. The Celtics won the series but Jordan put on a show. He scored 49 points in the first game, which the Bulls lost by 19 points. The next game went to double overtime but the Bulls lost again, this time by just 4 points. Jordan scored 63 points in game 2.

There was no mention of game 3 which was played in Chicago. The Bulls lost that one too. Jordan fouled out of that game after scoring just 19 points in 39 minutes of game time.

The episode ends in 1997 by focusing on the feud between Scottie Pippen and GM Jerry Krause. Pippen was still recovering from an injury and had yet to play in any games. He wanted to be traded and was very public about his interest in leaving the Bulls and his dislike for Jerry Krause.

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Episode I

This 10-episode series focuses on the Bulls last run at the NBA championship while Michael Jordan was still on the team. This episode sets up the premise of the series. It includes a spotlight of Jerry Krause, who was the General Manager of the Bulls from 1985 to 2003. There is brief look at a preseason exhibition event in Paris, France before the 1997-98 season began. The episode also flashes back for a look at Michael Jordan's college basketball career at North Carolina and his first year with the Bulls.

This is a highlight reel. It is not an in depth story. There is too many things going on and the focus is too scattered for this to be a comprehensive study. It was interesting to watch, I will very likely continue to watch but honestly I prefer to watch a single game or a more focused look at a single person, whether that be the star of the team or one of the supporting cast.