Phil Jackson and Mike Dunleavy were linked by two high-stakes series: the 1992 NBA Finals and the 2000 Western Conference Finals. Jackson led the Chicago Bulls and later the Los Angeles Lakers, while Dunleavy stood on the other sideline with the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, the similarities don’t stop there. In both matchups, Jackson’s teams had to rally from double-digit deficits to keep their championship hopes alive. The Bulls pulled it off in Game 6 of the 1992 finals, and eight years later, the Lakers stormed back in a decisive Game 7 against the Blazers to punch their ticket to the NBA’s biggest stage.
“Very similar,” Jackson said, referring to the miraculous comeback victories. “However, I had much more confidence in that team. They had won a championship.”
Phil gave his nod to the Bulls
By saying “that team,” Jackson meant the Michael Jordan-led Bulls. They were the defending champions, and their collective backs were not completely against the wall. A slip in Game 6 could have given the Blazers the momentum to snatch Game 7, but Chicago still gets to fight another day.
Nonetheless, Jackson had all the confidence in the world of a Bulls comeback in ’92. It showed in the way he played his cards. Phil employed Scottie Pippen and four reserves to chip at the 15-point fourth-quarter lead and inserted MJ back in to finish the job.
Meanwhile, the Lakers did not have the experience in big games like the Bulls. Just two years ago, the Utah Jazz swept the Purple and Gold. The team seemed out of answers as Portland used a commanding 29-point third quarter to take control of the game, 71-58, at the end of 36 minutes of play. After a Steve Smith jumper that pushed the lead to 15 at the start of the 4th, a Lake Show meltdown was almost imminent.
But instead of folding, Los Angeles caught fire. A trio of 3-pointers by Brian Shaw and Robert Horry, plus Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant combining for eight points, allowed L.A. to knot the game up at 75 with four minutes left.
Several plays later, Bryant delivered the iconic alley-oop to O’Neal, sending the Staples Center crowd into a wild frenzy. The Lakers took an 85-79 lead and held on for an 89-84 victory.
Phil’s confidence in the Bulls underlined the difference between a champion and a contender. They were steady because they had already climbed the mountain. The Lakers, on the other hand, were still in the process of proving themselves, and their Game 7 comeback became the turning point that launched their dynasty.
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The Blazers shot themselves in the foot
The Lakers did an admirable job fighting back from a precarious position, but the end of that game felt like the Blazers did not do themselves any favors. As the classic hoops adage goes, Portland started to play not to lose instead of playing to win. They often settled for long jumpers instead of going hard to the basket.
“We realize we sort of made cowards of ourselves in the fourth quarter,” Pippen said. “We played like we were fatigued, and they gained the momentum they needed.”
In contrast, Dunleavy was less critical of the Blazers’ shot selection and decision-making than Pippen.
“To be honest, I couldn’t find anything that we should have done differently,” Dunleavy said. “Usually, when you give up a big lead, what happens is you make mistakes. We never did. We had good shots and they just didn’t fall. It’s unfortunate that it comes down to that, but sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way.”
No matter how Pip and Dunleavy slice it, the Blazers watched the game slip away possession by possession after coming so close to sending the Lakers home. The margin was razor-thin, but it was enough to tip history. A dynasty rose because one team seized the moment, while the other let it drift.