stringtranslate.com

1991–92 Chicago Bulls season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the Bulls' 26th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bulls entered the season as defending NBA champions, having defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals in five games, and winning their first NBA championship in franchise history. The 1991-92 Bulls team are widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time. Early into the season, the Bulls traded Dennis Hopson to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Bob Hansen after the first two games.[2][3] Coming off their first ever championship, the Bulls had a very successful season winning 14 consecutive games after a 1–2 start to the season.[4] They later on posted a 13-game winning streak in January, which led them to a 37–5 start,[5] and held a 39–9 record at the All-Star break.[6] The Bulls finished in first place in the Central Division, along with having the best record in the league at 67–15.[7]

Michael Jordan captured his second straight Most Valuable Player of the Year award,[8][9][10][11] and sixth straight scoring title, averaging 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while being named to the All-NBA First Team. In addition, Scottie Pippen averaged 21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and was selected to the All-NBA Second Team, while Horace Grant provided the team with 14.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and B.J. Armstrong contributed 9.9 points and 3.2 assists per game off the bench.[12] Jordan and Pippen were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, with head coach Phil Jackson coaching the Eastern Conference.[13][14] Pippen also finished in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Jordan and Pippen both finished tied in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[15] Jackson finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting,[16] and three-point specialist Craig Hodges won the Three-Point Shootout for the third consecutive year during the All-Star Weekend in Orlando.[17][18]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bulls swept the Miami Heat in three straight games after Jordan scored 56 points in a 119–114 road win in Game 3.[19][20][21] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they faced the New York Knicks, who were led by Patrick Ewing and coached by Pat Riley. The Bulls would lose Game 1 at home, 94–89,[22][23] but managed to win the next two games, then take a 3–2 series lead until the Knicks won Game 6 at home, 100–86.[24][25] The Bulls won Game 7 at home, 110–81 to win the series in seven games.[26][27][28][29] As they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, they faced the 3rd-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite a 26-point home loss in Game 2, 107–81,[30][31] the Bulls would win the series in six games,[32][33][34][35] and make their second straight trip to the Finals.

In the 1992 NBA Finals, they would go on to beat Clyde Drexler, and the Portland Trail Blazers four games to two to win their second consecutive championship, and second of three straight.[36][37][38][39][40] Following the season, Hodges and Hansen were both released to free agency.[41]

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
z – clinched conference
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Player stats

Regular season

Playoffs

Impact of the Stanley Cup Finals

The Chicago Blackhawks were in the Stanley Cup Finals at the same time the Bulls won the NBA championship, but got swept by the defending champions, Pittsburgh Penguins,[42] (It would not be until 2010 when the Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup since 1961, when they beat the Philadelphia Flyers, in-state rivals of the Penguins, winning in Philadelphia). This was the only year that both the Bulls and the Blackhawks reached their respective league's finals. However, the coach of the Blackhawks, Mike Keenan, would see a concurrent finals series in basketball and hockey taking place in the same city again when he coached the New York Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years two years later.

Awards and records

NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

References

  1. ^ "1991-92 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats".
  2. ^ Smith, Sam (November 5, 1991). "Deal Makes Hopson Feel Like a King". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Names in the News". Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1991. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  4. ^ "Results Plus". The New York Times. December 7, 1991. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  5. ^ "Bulls 114, Rockets 100". United Press International. January 25, 1992. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "NBA Games Played on February 6, 1992". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  7. ^ "1991–92 Chicago Bulls Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Smith, Sam (May 10, 1992). "Jordan's MVP Lure Irresistible". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Araton, Harvey (May 19, 1992). "PRO BASKETBALL; M.V.P., Yes. An Ambassador, No". The New York Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "Jordan Chosen MVP; Drexler Is Second". Los Angeles Times. May 19, 1992. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "NBA MVP & ABA Most Valuable Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "1991–92 Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  13. ^ Heisler, Mark (February 9, 1992). "Comeback or Farewell, a Magical All-Star Game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "1991–92 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Nelson's Consolation Prize". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 22, 1992. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  17. ^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 9, 1992). "Ceballos' Dunking Victory: Out of Sight: Contest: Former CS Fullerton Standout Makes Shot Blindfolded to Defeat Hornets' Johnson". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  18. ^ Smith, Sam (February 9, 1992). "Hodges Outguns Les for 3rd Straight Title". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Jordan Scores 56 Points, Finishing Sweep of Heat". The New York Times. April 30, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Jordan Warms to Task, Hits 56, Eliminates Heat". The Washington Post. April 30, 1992. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  21. ^ "1992 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Heat vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  22. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 6, 1992). "BASKETBALL; What Losing Streak? It's a Stunner for Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  23. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (May 7, 1992). "Hobbled Pippen, Other Starters Given a Rest". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  24. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 15, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Knicks Discover 100 Ways to Force 7th Game". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  25. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (May 15, 2022). "Defiant Knicks Force Game 7". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  26. ^ Murphy, Robert J. (May 17, 1992). "Bulls 110, Knicks 81". United Press International. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  27. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 18, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Bulls Plug in Offense and Disconnect the Knicks". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  28. ^ Cotton, Anthony (May 19, 1992). "Jordan, Bulls Return to Form". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  29. ^ "1992 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  30. ^ Araton, Harvey (May 22, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Cavaliers Plant Fear in Minds of the Bulls". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  31. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (May 22, 1992). "Bulls Wonder What Hit Them". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  32. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 30, 1992). "BASKETBALL; It's Bulls Against Blazers as Jordan Rules Again". The New York Times. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  33. ^ Baker, Chris (May 30, 1992). "Flight Late, But Bulls Soar: East: Jordan Struggles for Three Quarters, But Scores 16 Points in the Fourth to Lead Chicago Into the Finals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  34. ^ "Bulls 99, Cavaliers 94". United Press International. May 30, 1992. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "1992 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Cavaliers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  36. ^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1992). "With Jordan Starring, Bulls Make It a Rerun". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  37. ^ Heisler, Mark (June 15, 1992). "Bull Reserves Take Title by Horns: Game 6: Along with Pippen, They Go on a Late 14-2 Run That Carries Chicago to a 97-93 Victory". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  38. ^ Aldridge, David (June 15, 1992). "Down 17, Bulls Hit Blazers with Title Wave". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  39. ^ Isaacson, Melissa (June 15, 1992). "Bulls Find Repeat Sweet". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  40. ^ "1992 NBA Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Bulls". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  41. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Bulls Waive Craig Hodges". The New York Times. July 11, 1992. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  42. ^ Lapointe, Joe (June 2, 1992). "Stanley Cup Again Belongs to the Penguins". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2021.