The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 588 Commitment
While the Portland Trail Blazers swept the Western Conference title and advanced to the NBA Finals, in the East, the Chicago Bulls were locked in a fierce battle with the Detroit Pistons.

This marks the third time the two teams have met in the playoffs, following their encounters in the 1987 and 1989 seasons.

The feud between Michael Jordan and Isaiah Thomas reached a climax this year.

Jordan and the Bulls grew stronger year by year, while Thomas and the Pistons had replaced the Boston Celtics as the new rulers of the East.

The NBA is like a pride of lions on the African savanna, where the battle between the rulers and the challengers never stops.

The Bulls finished the regular season with a 55-win record, easily defeating the aging Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.

In the semifinals, Jordan faced the Washington Bullets, led by his good friend Charles Buckley, and won the series in just five games.

The Bullets lost their playoff resilience after losing Moses Malone and Dick Motta.

At only 32 years old, Moncrief is completely past his prime and is no longer the defensive anchor that can guard Michael Jordan one-on-one on the perimeter.

After the season ended, Moncrief announced his retirement, marking the departure of another low-key and legendary guard from the NBA.

The Bullets' strength was further weakened, and after the glory of the 1988 Finals, Charles Barkley would be in trouble.

The Detroit Pistons also had an easy road to the next round, sweeping the young Indiana Pacers 3-0 and defeating the formidable New York Knicks 4-1.

Although the Knicks defeated the aging Boston Celtics, they were helpless against the increasingly experienced and powerful Pistons.

Ewing, who played like a superstar center in the previous round, saw his shooting percentage drop to 46% against the Pistons.

Although he can contribute 27 points per game, the gap in strength between the two sides is too large.

The Knicks lost all four games by a narrow margin, with the first game being a 35-point defeat.

Their playoff run this year came to an abrupt end, with two of their three great centers – Ewing, Olajuwon, and David Robinson – gone.

Some media outlets listed these three players alongside Forrest Gump as the "Four Great Centers," but others quickly objected, arguing that these three were completely incomparable to Forrest Gump.

Although they are all excellent and outstanding inside players of the new era, they are two levels below Forrest Gump in terms of both achievements and combat effectiveness.

Forget about the championship, the three of them didn't even play in the division finals as many times as Forrest Gump alone.

In his commentary on the series, ESPN reporter Wu Zhixiong stated, "I believe that one day, Trail Blazers center Sabonis can be ranked alongside Ewing, Olajuwon, and Robinson as one of the four great centers. As for Forrest Gump, he shouldn't be included in any nominations for a joint title."

These remarks naturally sparked some controversy, but as the Western Conference Finals came to a close and David Robinson was eliminated 0-4, the opposition gradually subsided.

All three centers disappeared from the playoff stage.

The Trail Blazers are waiting for their place in the Finals, while the Bulls and Pistons are locked in a close battle.

During the Eastern Conference Finals, the league announced a series of honorary titles.

In addition to winning the scoring title, Jordan was also selected to the All-NBA Team and the All-Defensive Team, and became the league's steals leader this season with an average of 2.8 steals per game.

His individual ability is impeccable, unparalleled among guards. No shooting guard in the past has been as well-rounded on both offense and defense as he is, and has such a great influence on the game.

In the semifinals series against the Bullets, Jordan averaged 43 points, 7.8 assists, and 6.6 rebounds, making him virtually unstoppable.

Judging from the data alone, he performed even more fiercely than Forrest Gump, notably missing Game 4 due to the death of Scottie Pippen's father.

At this point, the score was 2-1, with the Bulls in the lead. However, Game 4 would be held in Washington. If Pippen's absence led to a Bulls loss, the score would be tied, and the two teams would have to play a fifth game to determine the series winner.

结果乔丹用45分11个助攻8篮板2盖帽3抢断的数据拿下胜利，也拿下了赛点局，避免球队陷入天王山苦战。

He hopes to focus all his energy on dealing with the Detroit Pistons so that he can meet Forrest Gump in the Finals.

That was a promise they made to each other since their rookie season.

The Pistons, like the Detroit Pistons, have a strong desire to win and want to reach the NBA Finals.

They not only want to defend their title, but also want to snatch the Larry O'Brien Trophy by stepping over the Portland Trail Blazers.

As in the 1989 season, the two teams engaged in an extremely fierce battle.

How intense was it? Just look at Bill Laimbeer's moves.

During the 1989 playoffs, Laimbeer hit Pippen on the head, causing Pippen to leave the game early.

That was the crucial Game 6. Because of Pippen's departure, the Chicago Bulls lost the game and were eliminated by the Pistons.

In recent years, Laimbeer has become increasingly unrestrained in the paint, especially after winning the championship with his team in 1989, which further boosted his confidence and proved that his basketball philosophy was correct, effective, and capable of winning championships.

On the contrary, another Pistons player, Melvin Turpin, seemed to have achieved his life goal after 1989, suddenly transforming from a ruthless inside player back into a nice guy.

Throughout the 1989-1990 season, Melvin Tppin did not commit a single technical foul, nor did he engage in any physical altercations with opponents. He would even proactively help opponents up on the court to prevent them from getting injured. The change in his playing style was astonishing.

However, he evolved into the Detroit Pistons' only reliable low-post offensive option, becoming an extremely important part of the team's offense.

This made Melvin Töppin and Joe Dumars the only two "good guys" on the Pistons' inside and outside game.

Dumars and Jordan have a good relationship in private. They met at the Olympic training camp in 1984 and have maintained a good personal relationship ever since.

During the 1990 All-Star Weekend, Jordan called to invite Dumars and his wife to dinner. The two couples hit it off immediately, and their friendship deepened.

Despite the friendship, on the court, Joe Dumars remained a key weapon for the Detroit Pistons in defending Michael Jordan and an important enforcer of the Pistons' "Jordan Rules".

In Detroit's two home games, Jordan was held to just 34 and 20 points, with shooting percentages of only 44% and 31%. Joe Dumars' defense was crucial, and Detroit's forwards also contributed significantly.

Jordan angrily berated his teammates after Game 2, a game in which he suffered a recurrence of an old injury to his leg and hip, and felt that no one stepped up to help him.

After the game, he did not give the usual interviews to reporters, but left the locker room without saying a word, which puzzled everyone.

Jordan's teammates were quite self-aware. Dave Corzine said, "It's hard to play with Michael because you always lose."

Indeed, if you score 50 points but still lose, you can say your teammates dragged you down, but if you only score 20 points...

Conversely, in the Pistons' locker room, reporters all gathered around Joe Dumars, asking him how he defended Jordan.

The ever-low-key and honest Joe Dumars looked up at the ceiling and said, "Jordan is unguardable. I just did my best."

Dumars believed he had done his best, while Jordan felt that Pippen and Grant hadn't done their best and hadn't taken the game seriously.

Especially during practice, Pippen threw a rubber snake at Jordan, which startled Jordan—Jordan was terrified of snakes.

Pippen was always pleased to see the look of terror on Jordan's face; he was finally seeing fear on Michael's face.

However, Jordan was furious this time. He was enraged and severely criticized Pippen, saying that he was in the mood to joke around!
Pippen explained to Jordan that he just wanted everyone to relax, and that being too tense wouldn't necessarily lead to winning the game.

The two had different understandings of the game. Jordan always pressured everyone to achieve his goals, while Pippen hoped to get along well with everyone and have a pleasant atmosphere.

Upon returning to Chicago, the Bulls were under immense pressure. After the game and practice, the players were even afraid to leave through the front door of the training facility because there were too many reporters waiting for them.

So the players secretly slipped out the back door to avoid media questions.

But Phil Jackson told Jordan that he had to go out the front door, face the reporters, and not run away.

"You can stay silent and not say a word to the reporters, but you must go out the front door."

So, after practice on Thursday, Jordan left through the front door, remained silent in the face of the reporters who surrounded him, got into his car, and sped away. The reporters were bewildered, but at least they knew Jordan wasn't running away; he was just unhappy, and nobody's happy when they're down 0-2.

In Game 3, at the Chicago Arena, Jordan scored 47 points, a game that was very dangerous for the Bulls.

They were down by as many as 14 points at halftime. During the break, Jordan angrily told everyone, "If we're going to lose, we should lose the way we play, not like this!"

In the third quarter, Jordan had his moment to shine, scoring 31 points in the second half, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer, leading his team to a comeback victory and escaping from a dangerous 0-3 deficit.

After the game, Jordan was asked about his criticism of his teammates after the second game, which he denied.

He said, "I said 'we,' not 'they.' My criticism is directed at everyone, including myself, not just my teammates."

Jordan's claim did not convince his teammates; Pippen, Grant, and Cartwright, for example, did not believe it.

Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant; the Bulls have launched their counterattack.

In Game 4, the Bulls used their suffocating defense to limit the Pistons to just 35 points in the first half.

However, in the second half, Melvin Tpin almost single-handedly destroyed the Bulls' interior defense.

He relentlessly attacked Cartwright and Grant under the basket, scoring 20 points in the second half.

In the crucial moments of the fourth quarter, Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars made consecutive mistakes.

The Bulls capitalized on a fast break to widen the gap and ultimately defeated the Pistons by 4 points, tying the series.

This marks the first time in two years that the Detroit Pistons have suffered consecutive losses in the playoffs. In the 1989 NBA Finals, they went to a Game 7 against the Lakers, but they didn't suffer consecutive losses; instead, they traded wins, with the Pistons winning one game after another until Game 7.

Now the Bulls need to take the next step: win at the Pistons' home court.

This is something the Bulls have been unable to do in previous playoff matchups between the two teams; they haven't been able to break through Detroit's home court.

If you can't win on the road, the series victory has nothing to do with you.

In Game 5, the Pistons, back in Detroit, unleashed their full potential.

Melvin Tppin continued his hot streak, becoming unstoppable in the low post.

His massive buttocks became a weapon for attacking the Bulls' three-second zone, and neither Cartwright nor Grant could stop him from wreaking havoc in the three-second zone.

In Detroit, Turpin unleashed his talent: his powerful strength, soft offensive touch, and the fact that the Pistons didn't need him to do anything else but attack the basket.

The Pistons won by a large margin, taking a 3-1 lead in the series.

Right after this game, the outcome of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs series was already decided (because the Spurs played six games in the semifinals, the Western Conference Finals started later than the Eastern Conference Finals).
Gan Guoyang delivered a miraculous game-winning shot with 0.8 seconds left in Game 4, defeating the Spurs on the road and securing the Western Conference title and a spot in the NBA Finals.

This was a huge boost for Jordan, as Forrest Gump was waiting for him in the Finals again.

The entire Bulls team put on a crazy performance in Game 6, with Hodges making all four of his three-point attempts for 19 points.

Finally, a teammate stepped up to help Jordan.

The Bulls defeated the Pistons by a large margin, forcing a decisive Game 7 in the series.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Jordan and Forrest Gump to meet in the Finals.

After the game, Jordan still did not give an interview in the locker room. Instead, he went to the media room and sat with Phil Jackson.

He answered reporters' questions, including one: "What do you think about Forrest Gump making it to the finals?"

Jordan stated bluntly, "I know he's waiting for me, and I'm waiting for him too. I'll be there, brother."

Jordan's father, James, told him, "Son, our chance has come. Seize it, seize it!"

“Okay, Dad.” Jordan agreed. He had waited for this day for far too long, really far too long.

On the Bulls' flight to Detroit, Jordan seemed to have regained his usual humor and optimism.

As if the previous conflict between him and his teammates never existed, he continued to ridicule Pippen's shoes and Grant's shaving cream, saying they smelled like a lawn that had just been watered with manure.

Everyone asked Jordan, "Michael, where did you put your comb?"

In 1990, Jordan's hairstyle changed from a thin buzz cut to a completely bald head.

Since the baldness inherited from his father can no longer be concealed, it's better to shave it all off than to have a ridiculous bald patch like Drexler's on the field.

This seems to indicate that the team's atmosphere is back to its best, and they are ready to defeat the Pistons in Game 7 and then meet the Portlanders in the Finals, a matchup that all fans have been looking forward to and most eager to see in recent years.

Gan vs. Joe, in the finals.

But once they arrived in Detroit, the situation immediately changed.

In Jordan's view, his teammates had disappeared again.

First, Paxson will be unable to play due to a sprained ankle and will undergo surgery in the summer.

Pippen suffered a migraine before the game. He took aspirin but it didn't help. During the game, he kept blinking and applied an ice pack to his head.

Pippen made 2 of 10 shots throughout the game. Just like in last year's elimination game, he disappeared. Last time he was beaten by Laimbeer, this time he was in pain himself.

Cartwright was suffering from knee soreness and exhaustion, Hodges was missing three-pointers, and BJ Armstrong, being just a rookie, went 1-for-8...

The Bulls collapsed in Game 7; Jordan's 31 points seemed so powerless, a drop in the ocean, utterly ineffective.

They suffered a crushing 20-point defeat at the Palace of Auburn Hills, with the Bulls scoring only 74 points and looking pitiful against the Pistons' brutal defense.

During halftime, they fell behind early, and Jordan went on a rampage in the locker room. The humor, warmth, and harmony on the plane before the game all turned into a dream.

On the bus leaving the Palace of Auburn Hills, Jordan hid in the back and wept bitterly. He had lost his chance to reach the Finals and had once again lost to the nasty Isaiah Thomas.

More importantly, he broke his promise to Forrest Gump once again and failed to face him in the finals.

So when Jordan got back to his home in Chicago, the first thing he did was quietly unplug the phone line and then throw all the phones in the house into the trash.

However, two days later, he still received an email from Portland containing only a simple card that read:

Dear Michael:
See you next June.

This year, I will avenge you.

Love you, my dear friend, the great four-time champion, three-time MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, dunk champion and three-point shooter, Bill Laimbeer's nemesis, a future Hall of Famer, Forrest Gump.

————June 5, 1990

Jordan was both annoyed and amused when he saw the letter.

I wanted to tear it to shreds, but then I thought better of it and decided to keep it.

I carefully put it away in the drawer, then changed my clothes and went to the gym for training.

There was still one day before the start of the finals.

(End of this chapter)