First Ten Minutes of Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals: AOH Commentary

[@Lanetta402]

This is the basketball that made me a fan. To see what it has become is actually quite sad.

[@chadallen7474]

So true.

[@BostonRedSoxForever]

And to know that it will never be great again, makes this misery even sadder.

[@mvpsredhot]

I agree, wholeheartedly. It’s a combination of sadness yet laughable at the same time.

[@davidriedy5977]

So this is what real basketball looks like

[@tomt5482]

Claims Jordan would average 40ppg in todays game are legit when you watch this. Everything looks so precise, intentional on the offensive end. It's almost as if there are play calls and an offensive structure, not this high screen and 3 point heave shit we have today. The fact these guys just get on with it without complaining is so refreshing. I'm so sick of the bitching after every call.

[@joshportie]

They had to, they called techs on people who didn't. That's why LeBron has the most uncalled technical foils record.

[@Btn1136]

45-50 minimum. He’d also be a better behind the 3 pt line.

[@rosharma7443]

Goddamn I miss the NBA

[@PhilMilkenson]

Meanwhile there's millions of 20 year old who are eating tide pods thinking that 90s basketball was trash...

[@orlandoguss1019]

Fr mane

[@bigbromcgee7118]

Not only the NBA in the 90s but the whole damn Decade of the 90s was off the chain. From spring breaks to music to livelihood to sports. It was just different and better.

[@hfranklin1023]

💯 Real basketball. Bigger stronger faster higher IQ. Today's game has NOTHING on the 90's era. Grown men played in the league. Now it's little kids running the show!!

[@chadallen7474]

Hell ya! Me to.

[@lucianodadon7822]

This was when real men with integrity and pride played man😢

[@tylerjennings8242]

The physicality of basketball is most of what got me into it. I was never the best shooter, but I was a good defender and rebounder (basically my team’s Rodman). If I grew up watching the modern game, I don’t think I ever would have played basketball. THIS is the basketball I fell in love with.

[@ReverseThread]

Lol you had me at "my team's Rodman" 🤣😂

[@randman21]

Facts! I was my team's Mutoumbo. Couldn't shoot a lick, but a beast on the boards and blocks. The box out king! And I hustled 100% of the time. Like you said, totally foreign concept in today's NBA.

[@AustinSevigny]

the NBA on NBC melody will be forever etched in my heart, those were truly the days of being a basketball fan

[@Mark-Book]

Absolutely, I was in the UK at the time and the games were shown at daft-AM in the morning. Just made it all the more exciting.

[@marctavianmarshall2956]

My love for basketball is forged through that NBA on NBC theme. The memory of getting pumped up to watch the game and then go to the court and practice what I seen makes me happy to reminisce...

[@nassiglutt6587]

I always skipped classes watching these games. I even remember every important plays including that last play when MJ slipped and they lost making the news headline "he's mortal after all". I can't even forget kemp spinning on Rodman for a reverse jam in '96

[@feynmanschwingere_mc2270]

💯💯💯💯💯

[@RoninLinx]

the melody and the way Bob Costas would say "MICHAEL JORDAN!!"

[@koudrus]

You're not ruining our enjoyment, you're adding to it. Love the comments AOH!

[@chadallen7474]

I agree.

[@theGovernmentHatesYou]

Agreed

[@billyfloyd2872]

Oh man. The thought of this game and this series stresses me out to this day. Grew up in Illinois in the 90s.

[@fatboy5926]

You should be watching the entire 4th quarter. Without question - the best defensive effort I’ve seen from a wing for a quarter. Jordan chased and ran Reggie off of everything. Jordan understood - if he shut down Reggie - Chicago goes a long way to winning. It’s the best defensive effort I’ve ever seen from a wing - a 35 year old in game 7 of a conference finals. It’s amazing

[@MetalRatex]

Seventh game was on my birthday. I left my own party to watch it. As a Bulls fan, I had a fantastic day. The Pacers had a great team.

[@gideonfyah1]

If it had been Bron 5 pts away from breaking the all time playoff scoring record, they'd have stopped the game for an award ceremony

[@matroid10]

1995 here. I remember My mother getting me my first pair of white Jordans in 1998. AOH it's not just old heads here it's everybody that happens to have a brain 🧠. Keep up the fight 💪

[@CasualGamerPlays]

This is one of the best ECF series i've ever watched. The commentary and overall presentation was just as amazing as the game. Bob Costas was fantastic when it came to his commentary and analyst of these games and i've never believed that the players today were bigger, fast, and stronger. If anything, evolution in basketball players has gone a bit backwards in today's game. They are fast but , not faster and strong but, not stronger. They seem to be smaller and have no other basketball skills besides shooting 3's and flopping when penetrating to the basket. Players back in the 80's and 90's are much bigger, taller, and stronger. The tallest players today come from other countries and not America.

[@edwardfisher9930]

I watched this game live... it was like pure theater... both teams fought hard.. no questionable officiating... damn i miss the old nba... shout out to nbc... great commentary and production

[@BostonRedSoxForever]

Right? There was nothing to complain about at all. Even nitpicking was hard because the NBA was truly that great.

[@MaxLee-r4p]

man look at how quick they go back to defense to stop transition offense...the energy used in the hustle for that...i remembered watching first half of the new generation all star game that doesn't have that hustle and the players already looked gassed with just some back and forth on the court

[@beebers99]

The energy and heart of that Era of The NBA was incredible. Those days are long gone.

[@hardbap]

You must've missed the OKC-CLE regular season game the other night.

[@NotoriousRawDogger]

Bring back the old NBA

[@detectivemarkseven]

Lebrons better.

[@Glockx8732]

@@detectivemarkseven better at flopping, fouling, carrying, travelling,complaining and throwing teammates and coaches under the bus.

[@mixteleAzul]

Silver won't allow the old style NBA to make a come back. Besides there's way too many divas in today's NBA that hate contact .

[@riseofatlas7969]

nba of the 90s are the best era of world basketball ever!

[@hardbap]

yeah, when it included two of the eras best teams in a do-or-die game. go watch a regular season game between two mediocre teams. you'll be treated to a 72-67 snooze fest of boring ass post play and hacking galore.

[@BostonRedSoxForever]

No doubt.

[@johnpowers3189]

My god. Love it. Players crashing the board after a shot. No statues!!!

[@tumekemuch]

This is one of the best games with hustles galore

[@juliocesarcasaspietrini1146]

yup! he choose the good one. i remember boring games. I was so sad when MJ retired first time. he stole my childhood!!! LOL

[@Thanos-snap-feminism]

Just thinking the same thing about Jordan's rebound AOH. I've never seen LeBron try and get a rebound like that, and Jordan is 35 doing that. Guess that's why it took LeBron 21 seasons to load Jordan in offensive rebounds

[@legenddaryl537]

the sheer effort.. even the casters say "he looks hungry" even after so many rings he still was hungry to win still and always had competitiveness in him and it never wane

[@risefm001]

The NBA in the 90s really was peak NBA. What a time to be alive…

[@michaellarusch4317]

Love seeing athletes who give their all and play the game. I miss this a lot. Thanks for sharing AOH!

[@chrisfacchiano7356]

The crazy thing is that when the announcers talk, they really have to project into that microphone because the crowd was so into it. Be it finals or playoffs or regular season you don’t get the crowd that excited with today’s teams.

[@andrewneese6484]

I remember this series well. I was 18, living in Chicago, growing up in Chicago. This was when the NBA was worth watching. I miss this. Also, if the Pacers had won this game, I think they would have beaten Utah in the Finals.

[@CasualGamerPlays]

Nah, as much as i loved Reggie Miller and the Pacers, they would've been out coached by Utah. Utah back then was just as tough and gritty as the Pacers and they had the experience from the 97 finals. Just my opinion, Pacers probably would've gotten them on the boards but, i don't think that would've been enough.

[@trick0502]

stand out things to me as i watch 80/90s basketball. teams run a motion offense, at least 3 offensive players contest for rebounds and everyone can hit a 15ft jump shot.

[@Justalken83]

11:27 what also needs to be highlighted is Rik Smits setting a textbook LEGAL screen for Mark Jackson

[@edtcooking]

Beautiful game, if this was the current NBA I would watch and 100% support the NBA today

[@Thanos-snap-feminism]

Agree about the melody. You'd stop whatever you were doing to watch the game; playoffs or regular season. I haven't sat down and watched a full game since Toronto won.

[@PuhiPureBloOdYT]

I also believe that LBJ holds the distinguished record of the most durags being tied on a bald head during a post match interview .. the GOAT

[@imnotyourp]

Also, the only NBA player to have his painted on hair come off during the game

[@ijamorris]

AOH you have to do this with the 92 ecsf bulls v Knicks. That series was an all out war. One of the most intense series I've witnessed. Passion and fight from both the players and the crowds.

[@CWhyNot75]

Everything was better in 1998 not just the NBA. The production quality of ESPN compared to NBC of basketball games today looks like it's from a middle school AV Club.

[@rosharma7443]

The intro felt like you were about to watch something epic

[@chadallen7474]

Yea the nfl and even mlb were so much better. Imo

[@The_Protagonist]

I remember watching this live. I didn’t miss a bulls game for 10 years or so. It’s hard to even get thru a full game anymore. And I certainly won’t go out of my way to make sure I get to watch one.

[@djlucky8745]

Micheal Jordan needed 5 points to pass Kareem tonight … I think everyone on this thread can agree that was the last thing on his mind…. GOAT shit…

[@SoleSavior317]

I actually met Rick Smits in a krogers he was giving autographs and was a pretty humble dude. I miss the old nba

[@BostonRedSoxForever]

Couldn't agree more. It's that long ago that I completely forgot that Chris Mullin was a Pacer back then.

[@savannahbockway8131]

AOH, you have to appreciate great basketball love the defense

[@hardbap]

Bird really is 1 of 1. HOF player, HOF coach, and HOF executive.

[@vitezjura]

I actually watched the whole game yesterday, couple of things I noticed, yes, Kukoc was "soft" but not that soft. He was getting attacked by stronger bigger guys all game, it was tactic by Bird to get Toni out of the game. Luc Longley really stepped up and defended Pacer's centers and helped Toni stay in the game. Toni scored a lot in 3rd quarter but decided to give it up to Kerr in fourth who rewarded the Bulls with a clutch 3. Then they closed the game with defensive lineup, took Toni out again and played Rodman. Jordan couldn't hit midrange shots so he attacked basket again and again, he actually turned the game in the fourth they were starting to lose with a tie in DUNK! Went through defense. One crucial detail, Bulls had double the rebounds than Pacers and at one point had 20 offensive rebounds to Pacers 3! That is how they played game seven, they didn't outskill them they outhustled them. Also Pacers are a huge team compared to modern so you can imagine how many rebounds Bulls would get today lol Shout out to Pippen, there's never been a better defensive player in NBA history and you can tell by how he moves and switches on defense from his man, to help Toni double, back to his guy. Buechler also, underrated, he would today be praised as a 3 and D guy.

[@xTheJackal4x]

Just listen to how excited that crowd is man everyone in that arena is fully invested into what's going on on the court

[@randman21]

Maaaan this was the game where I became a true NBA fan. The Pacers were my team for a few years because my dad grew up in Indy, but I watched every second of this. I'll never forget my first taste of sports disappointment...clearly as a Pacers fan to this day, it wouldn't be my last 😅 Thanks for taking us back to real ball!

[@randman21]

Indiana had some of the most underrated players of that era. They were in the playoffs almost every year for 15 like years. SOLID squad

[@Reignwonton]

Rik Smits was a fantastic player! I remember in the 98' All Star Game [ironically] watching Rik Smits and MJ playing together and actually having a surprisingly sweet chemistry! It was beautiful, Yet another great big-man that didn't win a title.

[@eddyklazar9803]

Please do the whole game this is just soooo good to watch Great game

[@bipolarminddroppings]

I stayed up until 6am to watch this game (Im from the UK) then went to school for an exam on 2 hours sleep. I can remember the box scores for the game but I can't even remember what subject the exam was for!

[@SmokeBurp]

Every possession is important. Look how they treat the first two.

[@rageholellison7463]

The bigger, stronger faster NBA of today actually has the shortest average player height for the last few seasons (6'6 to 6'7'') since the 1980s. Peak weight in NBA was the early 2010s, it has gone down on average almost every year from that for the last 10 years. Now players are only about 10 pounds heavier than what they were in the 1980s and 1990s. Anybody who goes back and watches some 1980s and 1990s basketball with some fresh and open eyes will immediately see that this "pipsqueaks and plumbers" lie about the era is preposterous.

[@geert574]

Shaq in final years brought that average up a lot though 😂

[@dallasroquemore]

This was golden!

[@veryfewrealleft1405]

6:00 LeBron would’ve had a whole separate firework ceremony when he reached the milestone, a red carpet, shrine rebuilt in the middle of staples center. I get what you’re saying in spades.

[@bobbyd1632]

A few great points, LeBron’s rebounds are around 78% uncontested for career since that stat was first tracked in 2013. There’s no way MJs rebounds are anywhere close to 78% uncontested

[@standup3686]

This was a great look back at an awesome period of the nba

[@nomorejedi6658]

I love that Kukoc, Pippen, MJ, Reggie Miller and some of the bigs stay at the top of the key and look for people to pass to or an opportunity to score, no excessive dribbling, efficient movement, and everyone is moving constantly.

[@NOVA_Sports_Cardz]

I was 11 during this game. And remember the joy and excitement I had. Now I’m 38 and I can’t remember the last time I had this feeling watching an NBA game. Thank you bro this was amazing

[@DonAntero360]

Excellent job. I watched almost every single Jordan game from 1991-1998. I recorded them VHS at the time. To me Pippen was not a superstar player, he disappeared on a lot of important games, if you checked Pippen stats from 1991-1998…he had seasons where at least 20 games he scored less than 10 points. In some games MJ was 40-45% of BULLS OFFENSE. On this series, if you compared Pacers vs Bulls players the Pacers had better offensive players than Bulls and they were equally matched on defense. Smiths,Dale and Antonio Davis, Jalen Rose and Mckie, Mullin, Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller. How could Bulls beat the Pacers, they got a guy named Michael Jordan.

[@ijamorris]

4:55 MJ passing Kareem for all-time playoff scoring? Nobody cared. That stuff was NOT that big of a deal back then because it was more about WINNING. Today they would have led with that for LeBron and did a goofy countdown, stop the game, give him the ball, drop some confetti, twerk and kiss some babies.

[@killuminati3079]

😂😂😂😂facts!

[@grahamgreene779]

I was just watching this series a week or so ago, including this game. One of the best series that Bulls team had. I think Jalen Rose tells a story about being pulled by Bird with 7-8 minutes left in the game - After losing, Bird came up to Rose and told him it was a mistake.

[@JustAWriter12]

Man can you do this type of videos more often?

[@hakancarlsson2881]

This is awesome content! I want your commentary!

[@spokoman23]

Chet Holmgren is a defensive monster in today's NBA. So he's dealing with today's super athletes. Wonder how he'd fair vs. Hakeem, David Robinson, Ewing, Mourning etc.

[@mavillejones5908]

Dude! I love this commentary of older games. It is fascinating. I’m learning so much and only five minutes in

[@YerpDerp17]

This is almost traumatic for me to watch. I was born and raised in Indiana. Reggie Miller was as big here as LeBron was in Cleveland. lol This game will always haunt me. Though we had a couple more chances to win a chip after this series, to me, this will always be the best overall team/roster the Pacers have ever had.

[@aaronwoodard4377]

And the toughest part is that they new how to play as a team, how to play basketball and have eachothers backs. It's not like today's basketball

[@Cakebattered]

NBA on NBC was great. The theme music was awesome, and so was Bob Costas and Ahmad Rashad. Excited to see what they bring next season.

[@milosmevzelj5205]

I want to get my old NBA game back.

[@muhammadx1670]

that mj o. rebound put back he went up the difficult part was coming down the suspense of unpredictability that should be aired for this year's final

[@Quack_attack_]

This is great thank you aoh I'd love to see more stuff like this and those jordan archives you did from his 91 finals , mj the 1 and only 🐐

[@garysimmons5194]

I’m not sure if Antonio Davis was on that year’s Pacers roster but I clearly remember him and Dale Davis being just bruisers at the 3 & 4. Both very athletic and talented. Together they used to give teams fits to guard and to be guarded by.

[@Justalken83]

Yes he was he came off the bench

[@markvogel5872]

Ahh...the double d's! I loved those guys they were so tough.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

On those first two plays, notice who is there to contest the rebound after Pippen misses and to contest the dunk at the other end. Number 23. Side note: Average age of the Bull's Starting line-up was 32.

[@AT-vc6ds]

Thanks AOH, miss these days alright when the intensity was high in games, toughness and quality! Yeah Indiana was huge, Dale Davis was scary and would piddle all over today’s PF and the likes of Draymond! Yeah, the lane was so clogged up, cheers for pointing this out, today’s players don’t collapse on d for help! Phil Jackson was so poised and confident in his team, bringing Rodman in so late in the quarter! I’ve seen it in old Bulls games where Phil made the players play through a difficult stretch of the game instead of hitting the panic button, built character!

[@badat2k191]

So good!

[@djclark12321]

Need longer versions of these please

[@grgmj1980]

What a lineup for the Pacers, man I miss real Basketball. These kids today just don’t know.

[@stebbiej]

Alot help defense , great hustle. I miss the 90z😢

[@aaronwoodard4377]

The triangle really is beautiful Love your videos AOH, wish I could see more, I'm deciding on becoming a member

[@michaelsilberg9059]

It's amazing how Adam Silver's propaganda era has erased actual basketball. And you know he would literally erase history if he could find some way to do it. No wonder Charles and Shaq wanted to stay relatively independent at TNT. ESPN would bury the show as soon as they got it.

[@antonioguglielmetti2661]

Lowkey without Rodman the bulls would not have been way ahead of the rest of the league.

[@jaketerpening3284]

I know you've said the main point of the channel is to call out the modern NBA, but I have to say, my favorite videos of yours by far are the ones watching throwback games. You have such a sincere appreciation for the game.

[@danielpauley9113]

I miss 90’s basketball. Going back and watching old Utah Jazz games is such a pleasure to watch. The team had such great chemistry and John Stockton running the pick and roll with Karl Malone was a thing of beauty

[@shawnbantz]

God bless you AOH!

[@astartes2781]

Man, just listen that 90's crowd. 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@aaronwoodard4377]

These games are still nail biters now and I know the outcome. I love MJ, I based my younger life off of how MJ lived

[@OneMansOpinionOnSports]

I was Just talking to Skap Attack this morning about the 4th quarter of game 7 and Jordan locking down Miller and Miller absolutely choking, even though he's known as a clutch player.

[@bobheyotue9850]

just in general the nba and high level basketball has became a 3 point shootout and 1on1 scenarios. if you got the time look up the venice beach summer showdown from 92 (it's the unc's version of the TBT) but what you're going to see is hoopers actually passing the rock and running plays and shooting midrange shots as well as 3's and playing hard physical 90's basketball on CONCRETE. basketball back in the day was way more strategic than what we see nowadays.

[@justshumdude]

brings back good memories.

[@ProfessorSauvaje]

I am learning ACTUAL and REAL basketball from someone Thank you

[@rezsurfer2808]

Bob Costas was a legend for NBA games.

[@fatboy5926]

19:10 Mulin at 67 years old (ok maybe not that old) still getting respect. MJ could have come across to Jackson but decides it’s better for Pippen to simply try to recover - and live with a Jackson 3 attempt.

[@sparkyfister]

The Davis Bros had arms like brick masons.

[@deewatt]

I always thought Tony was a great add to the Bulls team and koved watching him play beside Jordan and Pip.

[@simonsamson9967]

And jordan does not even care about that all time playoff lead scorer thing, he only cares about winning not just for him but a win for the Chicago team

[@spokoman23]

9:08 today a player like Reggie would just chuck up a 3 right there... and miss

[@milosmevzelj5205]

More of this please.

[@orlandoguss1019]

Shii, Indiana got players fr, they loaded wit talent. Dam good flim work mane.

[@christhomas2644]

That was proper basketball. Not every player camping out on the perimeter. How awesome to see Dale Davis playing like a true hard nosed power forward. It's a joke today.

[@joshk2879]

This was the only series I felt the Bulls were in trouble, the Pacers were loaded and Reggie was in his prime! But no one could stop the UNSTOPPABLULLS!!

[@cindyknudson2715]

Bird's Pacers nearly did.

[@joepermenter7228]

I used to love the one to one high low PG to Center back to PG on the baseline for the midrange jumper play as a youth when they still coached it. It literally opens up everything offensively starting with the ball handler who then would start the wheel for the corner three as the last option if everybody is covered, point being, movement and spacing creates the open look. Isolation ruined the NBA and created the "point forward". Great play by Smits and Jackson. Great video, glad I got to watch an actual basketball play to start the year.

[@IvanCuk19]

Excellent video, would love more of these and Finals against Jazz would be amazing to cover.

[@neilfloyd1263]

Good video. Can't wait for part two. Some of these with those good knicks teams the bulls play would be nice.

[@Sc19869]

Great video as usual aoh

[@Enyalus87]

I remember watching this live. I was 13 I think. From Detroit so the Eastern Conference games were always my thing. Really cool.

[@Lomno12]

Real basketball 😍. Check how PGs are dribbling across the court or how they are turned to side with hip. Hand checking rule. You can't do playground basketball here. "Oh, these guys are most skiled, look what they are doing"... yeah, no d

[@J23LA24]

I love the double meaning of your last comment. This generation has no D.

[@Lomno12]

​@@J23LA24;-)