A Look Back at the 1998 NBA Playoffs: Bulls vs. Pacers

The 1998 NBA playoffs featured one of the most intense rivalries in recent memory between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers

Introduction

It was the summer of 1998 and the stage was set for one of the most heated rivalries in NBA history The Chicago Bulls led by their superstar Michael Jordan were coming off of a championship season and were looking to repeat. Standing in their way were the Indiana Pacers a tough and physical team that was determined to dethrone the Bulls.

The two teams had met in the playoffs before, but this time it was different. The Pacers had added a new weapon to their arsenal in the form of shooting guard Reggie Miller who was fresh off of a stellar season. Miller giving the Pacers an outside threat that they had been lacking in previous years.

The stage was set for a classic playoff series, and it did not disappoint. The Bulls Won the first two games easily, but the Pacers bounced back to win game three. From there, the series went back and forth, with neither team able to gain a decisive advantage. Ultimately, it came down to a seventh and final game

The seventh game was an instant classic, with both teams trading baskets back and forth throughout the entire contest. In the end, it was Jordan who came through in the clutch, hitting a jump shot with seconds remaining to give the Bulls a victory and send them on to the NBA Finals

While the 1998 NBA playoffs may not have had the same level of drama as some of today’s playoff series’, it will always be remembered as one of the best of all time.

The 1998 NBA Playoffs

In 1998, the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers met in the Eastern Conference Finals. The heated rivalry between the two teams made for an exciting series, which the Bulls ultimately won in seven games.

The series was marked by strong defense from both sides, as well as some controversial calls from the officials. In Game 5, with the score tied at 90 with 18 seconds left in regulation, Bulls guard Michael Jordan hit a Jump Shot to give Chicago the lead. Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough appeared to be fouled on the play, but no call was made, and Jordan’s shot stood as the game-winner.

The Pacers had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Reggie Miller’s three-point attempt was off the mark. The loss was a crushing blow for Indiana, who had been leading the series 3-2 at that point.

The Bulls went on to win Games 6 and 7, clinching their sixth NBA Championship in eight years. It was a sweet victory for Chicago, who had been ousted by Indiana in the playoffs four years earlier.

The Chicago Bulls

In the 1998 NBA Playoffs the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Indiana Pacers in one of the most tightly contested series in recent memory. The teams split the first two games, with the Bulls winning at home and the Pacers winning on the road. In Game 3, the Bulls pulled ahead late in the fourth quarter to take a 3-0 series lead. However, the Pacers responded with a resounding victory in Game 4 to even the series at 2-2.

The turning point of the series came in Game 5, when Michael Jordan hit a game-winning shot to give the Bulls a 3-2 lead. The Bulls went on to win Game 6 and take the series 4-2. It was a thrilling playoff run for both teams, but ultimately it was the Bulls who prevailed.

The Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers were one of the best teams in the NBA in the late 1990s. They were led by star player Reggie Miller who was one of the best shooters in the league. The Pacers also had a strong group of role players, including Mark Jackson, Rik Smits, and Jalen Rose

The Pacers were a tough matchup for any team in the playoffs, and they proved it by reaching the NBA Finals in 2000. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

The 1998 NBA Playoffs was a special moment for the Pacers. They had a strong team and were ready to make a run at the title. Unfortunately, they ran into a buzzsaw in the form of the Chicago Bulls

The Bulls were led by Michael Jordan who is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan was in his prime in 1998 and he was unstoppable. The Bulls also had a great team around Jordan, with players like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman

The Bulls won the series in six games, but it was much closer than that. The Pacers gave the Bulls everything they could handle, but they ultimately came up short.

The Finals

The 1998 NBA Finals was the Championship Series of the 1998 NBA playoffs The Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeated the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz in six games, for their sixth NBA title Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the sixth time.

The Aftermath

The 1998 NBA Playoffs were one of the most exciting and controversial postseasons in recent memory. The first round match-up between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers was particularly heated, with multiple ejections and flagrant fouls throughout the series.

In the end, the Bulls prevailed, winning the series 4-3. But the bad blood between these two teams didn’t end there. In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals Ron Artest of the Pacers was involved in a brawl with several players from the Bulls. As a result, Artest was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs.

The Pacers ended up losing that series to the eventual champion Utah Jazz and many believe that Artest’s absence was a key factor in their defeat. This incident not only had a lasting impact on these two teams, but on the NBA as a whole. A few years later, the league instituted a new set of rules designed to prevent fighting and other on-court altercations.

Conclusion

In the end, the 1998 NBA playoffs will go down as one of the most controversial and unpredictable postseason series in league history. The Chicago Bulls led by MVP Michael Jordan were the defending champions and entered the playoffs as the heavy favorite to repeat. However, they would face a tough test in the Indiana Pacers who had emerged as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference The series would go down to the wire, with each team winning four games apiece. In the deciding Game 7, Jordan would hit a game-winning shot over Pacers defender Reggie Miller to give the Bulls a 90-88 victory and their sixth NBA Championship