MJ's Storybook Ending in the 1998 Finals: The RewatchaBulls | The Bill Simmons Podcast

[@gijoey5912]

“Greg Foster has a stretch where he’s absolutely shaving points.” Hahaha

[@mikepetitti]

The Foster "highlights" are hilarious...at least to non-Jazz fans

[@mstringer10]

I came back just to hear him say this 😂😂😂 it was so perfect

[@dukefox4807]

instablaster...

[@razkable]

It was more like adam keefe...-11 in 14 minutes 12 seconds... jesus...

[@MrOctober44]

Savage.

[@hotelaux4432]

LMAO the part where they analyze the announcers was the funniest part about these especially marv walton and costas. Love yall

[@iank3924]

Costas hates professional wrestling

[@mikepetitti]

Yeah - the Walton discussion on the previous podcast was awesome: "Karl Malone: Draw iron, please!"

[@hotelaux4432]

"CZAR THERE ARE EUROS!!!" - Marv

[@Ricky-Spanish]

@@mikepetitti It's funny, I remember as a kid watching that '97 series and wondering why Walton was being so ruthless towards Malone. Like he did fuck up quite a bit but idk if he really deserved all the shade thrown his way, as funny as it was. "Gotta foul, gotta foul right now! Karl Malone, what are you doing?!" 😆

[@KeithJouganatosTV]

WHEEEERRE IS KARL MALOOOONE!?!?

[@jordanandrews6479]

Can y’all keep doing 90’s NBA after this?

[@mistacle322]

Something that goes undermentioned is how controlled Jordan's swat on Malone was - it was a quick and short strike dead on the ball, controlled and kept the ball close and then got the lucky bounce right to him.

[@Mindtranslator]

Exactly. He made sure he got the ball.

[@lamefart]

That's how he almost always block shots as well. He seldom blocked the ball just so to deny the basket but he always considered recovering the ball after the block.

[@Craig-in1un]

He actually gets it twice. He swipes it loose with his right hand, and on the bounce up as its going back to Malone, he pokes it loose with his left hand. Then he calmly collects the loose ball as Malone desperately dives for it. If you watch the original broadcast version you can see it on the replay from the other angle.

[@gf4670]

He was kind of renowned for taking those swipes at the ball throughout his career. And he'd swat HARD on that thing, too. MJ was a very handsy defender, which today is sorta frowned upon but back then it was more the norm, and he was able to be so good at it because of his body control and reflexes. His hand went exactly where he wanted it to go.

[@QuestionEverything562]

His composure is just insane to make that play so calmly. He knew what the Jazz were going to do, he prepared and foresaw the Jazz' play during the timeout how he was going to never clear once Malone caught the ball in the low post. He was never going to trail Hornacek, and like you said, then to just so calmly come over and strike the ball down out of Malone's big, strong fisherman hands with perfect precision, force, and timing is just simply uncanny. MJ's ability to just seemingly always make those timely and crucial plays during that 90s Bulls dynasty is just off the charts unreal. I simply marvel at what this man was able to do under pressure, nobody like him.

[@jjstraka1982]

Jordan's last 40 seconds in Game 6 1998 is the greatest sequence any athlete has ever had. He uses his athleticism to get within 1 score. He uses his mind to strip Malone based on what he had observed all series. And he uses his killer mentality to bury the last shot.

[@MakingMovesMajor]

2016 Finals laughs at this

[@jjstraka1982]

@@MakingMovesMajor no, because Lebron only made the defensive play. Kyrie made the shot.

[@darrellhardy90]

@@MakingMovesMajor LBJ blocked Iguadala who was suffering thru back spasms in games 6 and 7 and Kyrie hit the shot. Jordan scored in 4 seconds, stripped Karl Malone who won the MVP in 97 and 99 and took 2nd in 1998. Then came down and hit the game winner himself. Its definitely the greatest sequence by any player in sports history. You dont have to debate it 💯

[@Ken_Scaletta]

In the last 60 seconds of that Jazz game, Jordan scored 6 points and had a steal. He was the only Bull to touch the ball in that closing 41 seconds.

[@iank3924]

@@MakingMovesMajor you're like 13 years old and live in Westlake, Ohio right?

[@MrVinB]

Where's the Redrafts Bill? I need the Redrafts. *scratches face* Gimme some Redrafts.

[@miguelsantiago9522]

He said he had a couple pyramid podcast and now that’s all I can think about

[@MrVinB]

@@miguelsantiago9522 Oh god you just made the craving worse.

[@playmakersc12k82]

Agreed - they made some terrible picks but I enjoyed them

[@544CampStreet]

Bill and Ryen are the Jordan and Pippen of NBA pods.

[@stephen53370]

I actually spit out my coffee when @~2:55 Bill says "I'm not a huge hyperbole guy". lol I was not prepared for that.

[@544CampStreet]

The grand irony of Bill saying that is it is hyperbolic of him to say he's not a big hyperbole guy. He's the biggest hyperbole guy of all time. Haaaa-yuge.

[@AnHebrewChild]

I laughed too. HA!

[@billylyons9040]

You guys are so awesome together. Thank you for making these!

[@kamikazekrush3758]

They do have a good flow with each other, and no screaming stupid nonsense that I hate like so many sports talkers

[@Tolstoy111]

Kamikaze Krush Give me Stephen A Smith and Skip Bayless!!! Just kidding.

[@DaleTrinihooperAustin]

Toni Kukoc was a factor in Game 6 he was the only other player on the squad in doube figure points, he made some much needed 3's in this game, good assists & most importantly he took Karl Malone out on the Perimeter away from the basket so MJ can have more space to attack the Rim. Kukoc was a bad matchup for Malone b/c of his versatility that's why he picked up silly fouls trying to Guard him. Dennis had some key tip ins, the jumper & a free throw that helped down the stretch. An underrated Factor in this Game was Ron Harper defense on Stockton, he was the Jazz best perimeter scorer & Harp did his work early used his length, was physical with him on pick & roll situations, just using his Hoop IQ & veteran status to frustrate Stockton.

[@markochamber7540]

Disrespecting euro players from that era is not something I expected from simmons and rusillo

[@allsystemsgo8678]

All good points. Harper is so underrated

[@razkable]

Mj had 3 of their 4 made threes that game he had 12 of their 15 made fts 15 of their 19 attempts and he had 4 steals 45 points 1 turnover 2 fouls...that's crazy...like my goodness

[@mr.e347]

If Stockton was as good as Kukoc there would be a game 7

[@joshuasilva8168]

Bill and Ryen getting sidetracked about anything basketball related is still the best content they make, I hope they realise that

[@TheCelticboy21]

They’re just shooting the shit and I’m all for it

[@jonathankim6755]

This is how great MJ is: can you imagine him missing the last shot with so much on the line? No you can’t.

[@razkable]

Mj had 45 in the final game of his career his team had 42....mj had 12 of his teams 15 made fts and took 15 of their 19 and he hit 3 of their 4 threes that game on the road in a game where he took 7 they took 3..this is why he's the goat...he did it on both ends without help...this team didn't have caffey or dele anymore or a younger rodman pippen harper or grant they were on fumes and had 4.5 white guys playing crucial minutes in a close game for the title for god sake plus bum scott burrell...

[@Ricky-Spanish]

One thing I really appreciate when watching this rewatchabulls series, Bill and Ryen routinely point out how undervalued/underutilized spacing/3 point shooting and playing with pace are in this era. There's a lot of talk from players amongst this (90's) generation about how different the game was because of hand checking and whatnot, which undoubtedly had an impact, but it's not like teams couldn't have taken more threes if that was their prerogative. They just didn't for whatever reason, be it traditionalism, lack of access/interest in advanced analytics or whatever. The rule changes certainly influenced the transition in style but I've always thought the simple shift in strategy/philosophy played a larger role in that transition than the rules changes.

[@jackjackthompson5771]

awesome podcast, GREAT work gents, thx!!

[@eboooo]

The dunk he had on Kendall Gill was one of his best at the beginning of the 1st round.

[@lamefart]

"It was one thing to call out the devil. Facing him was another."

[@JamesWilliams-vy2ct]

Mj said he liked 98 because he incorporated his mind with his body. Kawhi I feel is the best duplication of this. Not flashy sometimes ugly but almost genius level understanding of the game and when to push it.

[@nicholaspu]

Bill you had a podcast durring the Grantland days that was JUST about the inner workings of ESPN, criticism of broadcasters , shows, hiring firings, shortly after the Richard Sherman/Skip thing. And it was just so cool to hear about that stuff. The play by play crits here remind me of that. I know there’s Probly like only 8 people in the world who are into that …. But I’m one of them! lol

[@juice4080]

Same here. That's MJ finest performance.

[@ssang187]

Been waiting for the 1998 gm 6 RewatchaBulls podcast for weeks now. Love it. Fire. Thank you Simmons and Russillo for your service to this country during these trying times. I'd have offed myself some 2-3 weeks ago if not for you guys. Now I feel as though I got another 5 or 6 additional weeks left in me before I kill myself out of boredom. Much appreciated fellas!

[@mattybaseball4418]

This resonates

[@razkable]

why are they praising kerr and shittng on harper toni rodman?...the bulls got 4 points from 5 players including kerr and longley...they got 2 from jud and 2 from bill they got 7 from rodman 8 from pippen 8 from harper and 15 from toni to help mj ...without the 30 from non mj pippen and bench guys they lose this game by 20...rodman gave them about 2 extra then normal on a jumper he hit randomly and then toni hit an extra shot then normal and harper hit a jumper he normally would miss...thats why they won....they get less then half from pippen then normal...still won...

[@rollotomasi4045]

@@razkable Kerr is one of Bill's friends and has his own podcast on the Ringer. It's why Bill never blames Kerr for missing open 3's in games 4 and 5 of '96 Finals.

[@ruchpat1]

Rest In Peace Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant.

[@kamikazekrush3758]

Great show, I disagree with you at the end about the push off, if you watch that play from the side angle you see Jordan drive, Russell tries to guard him and seems to slip, Jordan does put his hand on him slightly, but it's almost as if he's trying not to fall himself, its definitely not a shove like some people make it out to be

[@iank3924]

When you see that angle it's super obvious that it's not a pushoff. I agree with you.

[@jonathankim6755]

His hand just slides down his hip, not a pushing motion

[@Delyriums]

There's no push on Rusell at all, there's a camera angle in the Last Dance Episode 10 that clearly shows that Rusell was already stumbling and losing his footing way before Jordan had his hand on him.

[@hirkballs]

Nonsense

[@TheLastWalenta]

@@hirkballsEver play defense before? It’s absolutely not nonsense

[@johnbenck3177]

Good work boys; Rusillo, you got the job man calm down

[@dudesweet1583]

Great job guys! You guys should dissect Jordan on the wizards time....I bet it would be great

[@holymackenaw]

dont get me started on the 98 Jazz. i love this team but they should have never lost with Pippen being injured. But they had no-one to attack him or make him work. and Greg Ostertag was brutal. the best moments were with A. "Big Dog" Carr at center. thats all you need to know. not taking anything away from MJ or the Bulls.

[@has3219]

Jerry Sloan reminds me of Dwyane Casey no in game adjustments. Just getting torched and nothing changes

[@jeffpuder3941]

It may seem like that. But the Utah Jazz were a text-book one-trick pony. No plan B.

[@razkable]

the definition of madness is doing the same thing..notice how the bulls got rodman in quick for longley and how little jud luc bill scott played in this game even with pippen out lol..they knew harper mj toni pippen rodman were the guys who came to play lol....no bs they sat luc fast and jud/bill made a shot each and got out of the way ....why is adama keefe out there so long and greg foster?..sloan smdh....why is a 24 year old ostertag totally benched why is morris out there so long?...shandon too..they sucked...play carr and the big 4 more together...that was their best lineup clearly to score..carr was that 5th option who could hit a jumper with eiesly as a 6th man and some shandon andersen..keefe foster morris should not have played..period..morris maybe a few minutes but like the jazz had about 6-7 useful guys just like the bulls...they played 2 useless guys way too many minutes while the bulls did not make the same mistake...to win its fractions...curry has made it insane to play a adam keefe shandon andersen greg foster greg ostertag jacque vaughn or chris morris in a series more than like 5 minutes....they are all negatives on both ends...eisley and carr are the only useful guys they had on that roster after their big 4...and carr should of played more...dumb not to start him with the others cause he could hit a jumper off the double teams....eisley was a solid 6th man in this series with some shandon and that should of been it...the other 4 dudes getting any minutes are useless in this series ...they really needed to cut the rotation down

[@AndrewBeveridge461]

Russillo with the "hurt my AC joint grinding out a bench press" move at 40:38

[@EamonnCagney]

I love Bob Costas's epic moments

[@supaflow2006]

Marv would've been a great listen for this game. Costas was good, Marv would've been great. Heres Jordan over Russell...Yes!

[@QuestionEverything562]

Marv has all the talent, but Costas understood this legendary moment in sports, and absolutely seized it. I never thought Marv had that same foresight to understand big moments. Marv had the great calls on great plays, but a simple "yes!", isn't enough for this moment. Costas nailed it, and I will always remember his call as Jordan ripped his final shot as a Chicago Bull and of the 90s.

[@AsthmaX98]

That shaving points line has me dying laughing

[@michaelrhudak]

I kind of always had similar thoughts about Costas doing play-by-play. He's awesome doing the Olympic stuff because he's telling stories and whatnot, but he over-contextualizes so much in actual games.

[@pathfinder375]

On Detail, Phil Jackson said he told Jordan to go for the steal on Malone. And also he said to Jordan that he needed to follow through on his jumpshot, hence why he held for so long on the last shot.

[@at1212b]

Phil told MJ to drive in though. BC his shots were falling short. Just like how he did the play before.

[@stephenjackson2912]

It was Tex that told him, he needs to follow through when he shoots. His shot are getting flat...........that caused the pose.

[@pathfinder375]

@@stephenjackson2912 Phil took credit for it then lol

[@stephenjackson2912]

@@pathfinder375 i know

[@TheLastWalenta]

I told Jordan he should be the greatest player of all time and he did it. Where’s my credit?

[@geoffedward4702]

Jordan knew exactly what he was doing .. no doubt in my mind he could’ve come back the next year or 2 to a contender somewhere at the least if not chip up

[@ryanbellairs3090]

Would love to hear these guys break down 98 game 7 ecf bulls pacers - unless I've missed it?

[@pancon5]

24:43 I was hoping you'd mention that Bob Costas shot on Rodman, thank you.😂 Doug Collins was a great color commentator, reminded me of Steve Kerr a little bit.

[@TVGabo1985]

Costas is more a baseball guy than basketball, imo. It is very noticiable when you watch him in both of them.

[@tashrif46]

Yes the Bulls really won the series and also Pacers series, totally off championship mindset and experience.

[@KISS_MY_CONVERSE]

well if the league didnt start getting rid of handchecking with the derek harper rule maybe the pace wouldnt be this slow. There was a reason why the pace was so much faster in the 80s.

[@vitezjura]

It's not that Kukoc was better in 98, he was already a bit older and slower by then. His prime was more likely in 96 or earlier in Europe when he was skinny. The reason he scored more was because the whole team was hurt, including Pippen so Kukoc was starting in the finals when before he would come off the bench.

[@Pksoze]

9:10 when Bill somehow brings Boston into the conversation. You've been warned people.

[@eboooo]

Bird does warm the heart

[@Pksoze]

@@eboooo I deserve that.

[@Quack_attack_]

I love these rewatcha bulls but i wish theyd show more of the game instead of just their 2 faces lmao

[@michaelfelix711]

Can you guys do 84 and 85 nba finals? Thanks for the excellent content.

[@razkable]

the 84 88 and 2013 finals are all amazing to look back on..true classic

[@rbrinks5]

Any mention of Howard Eisleys waived off 3?

[@razkable]

or harper's counting...questionable calls

[@mr.e347]

its not good for the narrative. all media got blind on that play. And Ron Harpers.

[@trailtherapyman]

Haha! You can plug in anyone.....and the Jazz are still trying to replace Stockton. I get what you're saying, but also, do you acknowledge that also Stockton and Hornacek were both playing hurt? I will say this, as a lifelong Jazz fan, I often got tired of the same routine every year with the Jazz. They wouldn't shoot three's. They'd double on guys who didn't need to be doubled. There was a little too much of "this is just what we do." But that was still a really good team.

[@SchulzEricT]

It's like the opposite of what LeBron did in game 4 vs DEN this postseason when he completely drained the tank in the 1st half, putting up 31, then had *nothing* left in the 2nd half.

[@TarikM]

96-54 and they only mention the 54...Lowest scored points by a team ever after the 24sec shot clock...the other team scored 96. How about mentioning the defense, the dominance?

[@hiitsme3039]

Watch the game please.. it wasn’t just the defense it was literally just bad basketball.

[@Spider-Complexion]

I think for us modern fans, the closest feeling we can have to that, is the block by James but James didn’t make the bucket at the other end to seal the deal. MJ made an earlier bucket that kept the bulls in the game, then he steals the ball from Malone, and hits the game winning shot. It’s all in one sequence of plays, which was incredible.

[@razkable]

pippen rodman mj harper toni all proved their worth in this game 6 being positives and luc while bad was sick and old by then and was more of a bench guy in 98-99 but like those other 5 dudes had stuff left in the tank as did luc... toni was hitting his prime and ron showed in 1999-2001 he still had something left...rodman was fine as a role player...pippen had a elite year left and mj was at his peak still

[@ceciliocelino6593]

I hope you do the Allan Houston Knicks vs Miami heat rewatchable

[@scottipippen6554]

Funny thing at the end: Dennis for one second thought about taking a time out, after MJ stole the ball. I am pretty sure, Phil screamed at him not to..

[@jonathankim6755]

No one in the history of the NbA has ever been called for a ‘push off’ like that, ever. His left hand glides down his back as he gathers himself for the shot.

[@geoffedward4702]

By the time you get to the finals these teams are almost always bangd up .. look at ‘19 warriors vs raptors .. both teams were hurt especially the warriors and kawhi really pulled off a Jordanesque performance on a bad leg

[@razkable]

I think they are undervaluing the jazz pacers knicks bulls spurs defenses during those eras from 94-00 which led to finals runs heck throw in the heat as well who never made the finals....those teams wore you down over a series with iq and slow grind it out tough games...the rockets in 94 were a good defense as well and in 95 proved they could defend in games they had to win...the one team that maybe wasn't a great defense most nights that won a ring in that era...heck the 00 lakers were very good at defense as well as the 01 team....in 90 the pistons d was very good and the bulls always played good d in their first three peat...the 95 magic were very good too at d....as were the 90 and 92 blazers and 91 lakers..the 93 suns were an outlier on that end

[@eboooo]

I loved how much the fans were cheering for Scottie at the beginning of the Last Dance at the ring ceremony

[@razkable]

He was there in 88 when they lost to the pistons for the first time he led them to the 2nd round without mj in 94 and took the finals knicks to 7 games and he was there in 98 when they beat the jazz for ring 6 and in 04 he retired a bull...he deserves all the admiration....

[@KISS_MY_CONVERSE]

i dont understand how that era was diluted when their were more 60 wins teams then than there are now. How many legit hall of famers are in todays era???? Anthony Davis, James Harden, Chris Paul, Joel Embid, Russell Westbrook, Damien Lillard, Jokic, and etc have never led their teams to the finals. And that's not all the players now from 1987-1997 Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaq and Penny, Karl Malone and Stockton, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp have all led their teams to the finals. The 90s was the most stack era in basketball history. Alot of teams in todays era dont even have a legit superstar on their teams. Superstars in todays era have so many more flaws in their game. And James Harden and westbrick didnt lead the thunder to the finals Kevin Durant did. That's why Harden and Westbrick playoffs success fell apart when KD left just like the warriors.

[@iank3924]

Couldn't agree more. Would love to hear Bill's response.

[@razkable]

the 98 jazz won 19 of 20 games and 29 of 32 after the all star break...they were good but they never had a real 5th option they patched together two sixth men as their 5th option and this they were trash on the bench basically cause they were playing sub 4.5 ppg after their top 6 guys and their 2nd leading scorer in the playoffs avg. 11 ppg and only 2 other guys got over 6.7 ...we forget stockton missed 18 games they could of won 65-66 games easy maybe more...they were loaded

[@Btn1136]

I love todays nba but it’s sad that these documentaries are better than the current basketball product.

[@lisandro4612]

I think the baskerball product as far as talent is impressive and probably at its peak,but the pretty similar style of play,lack of good storylines that involve teams and rivalries instead of just specific individuals and the constant player movement that doesnt allow the fan to connect with a team and a rivalry to grow,is for sure a problem compared to not only the 90s, but the previous decade as well.

[@peat381low8]

I love these videos still. Please consider other eras. Maybe Dr.J and the Lakers, or prove to the ignorant that basketball was more physical and allowed more in the mid to late 60’s. Wilis Reed breaking a man’s jaw was things that would have put Diamond Green in check quickly.

[@SaltyChip]

I wish you guys would do the spreewell, Larry Johnson. Allen Houston knicks playoff game!

[@theryanshamim]

Bill Simmons is a G dude

[@Tomatobasil-v9y]

Its crazy the way things changed about them talking about the music in the package. Nowadays it would of had not like us under it. The nba is way more intune with the audience now

[@tyleru96]

Ya know, as impressive as it was that Pippen was able to tough it out and contribute (somewhat) in that game despite fucking up his back, it really puts it into perspective how remarkable it was that Bird basically played the last few years of his career dealing with the same type of pain. Bird had to do exercises that would lock his spine into place so he could play for a few hours and then he would immediately have to put a back brace on. I can't begin to fathom how he was able to be as productive as he was given how debilitating his back injuries were.

[@lamefart]

He was a true warrior as with most 80s-90s guys..

[@tyleru96]

@@lamefart Agreed. It was a tough era. I mean, given the relative lack of money - at least in comparison to today, even when adjusted for inflation - that players were making during Bird's era, they were basically playing through absurd pain for the shear love of the game/wanting to win. I mean, Bird could have caused long-term, irreparable damage to himself by trying to play through his back issues.

[@stevenvaldezii7936]

Been waiting for this since the start.

[@paulie2476]

RIP Mark Fraser ACT. We had the best battles during the 90's.

[@JMS1089]

Always an interesting thing to muse about when comparing era's. Do sports get better as time passes, or does it peak or wane? Imo, I say it peaks and wanes. I've seen in happen in boxing and I am seeing it happen in basketball.

[@AnHebrewChild]

You're right. The same thing happens with music, movies, art, etc

[@MrShanester117]

Rolling the windows down wastes more gas than running the AC. Rolling your windows down creates drag and wastes more gas. Just saying

[@michaellee8816]

Any chance of a Rewatchable on other games and events? Wrestlemania 3? The Tuck Rule game? Some ABA games?

[@guzzy620]

Bill breaking down the tuck rule game would be insufferable.

[@tashrif46]

I think Reggie Miller and Chris Webber work very well with Kevin Harlan and Marv Albert

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

storytelling is a Costas strong point and he helped my historic mind develop as a child... but yes play by play and details he also fucked me up on... and Costas is old school moralist Uber superman Nietzsche white burden man... so he is also an enemy of mine. I'm Puerto Rican and Illinoisan like Jerry Sloan.... I do the same thing in every context and swear it's A- OK 👌

[@KentBlazemore]

Cmon man cutting out Toni’s Game 5 performance. That is almost up to my standards smh

[@razkable]

toni was good in game 7 and games 5 and 6..these guys hating on him but he showed up in game 5 and he was good in game 6 with pippen hurt..he wasn't used to being the 2nd best player two nights in a row...he hit some shots this game with rodman being rodman luc is sick pippen is hurt out at times like they needed someone to step up as harper was himself slightly better and kerr jud too were ok but like bill was bill no one but toni stepped up to help mj this game..it was toni who made plays for himself....give him some credit playing with caffey kerr bill and jud like as a pf thats a shit team around me but they got lucky that the jazz threw out 5 bench players for 3 minutes for toni to feast on and for his bench to play ok against

[@KentBlazemore]

Asmosis Jones In Game 5 Jordan went 9/26 and Pippen went 2-16 and they lost by one. This wasn’t “Jordan had to do it himself” like they say it was in The Last Dance. Granted, Toni was the only other Bull in double figures in Game 6 so I can see where they come from in that game but the whole documentary completely ignores Toni’s contribution in 98 when Pippen was being petty.

[@markblecha1243]

Toni vs Pacers... 14 .6 4 and 3 at .514 for the series... MJ & Pip were .467 and .392... finals vs Jazz... 15.2 4.7 & 2.7 at .500 ... MJ & Pip .427 & .410... Game 7 vs Pacers 5-5 for 14 in 3rd... No shots in 4th... Game 5 vs Jazz opens 7-7 first half... bulls up 6... layup in first two minutes of 3rd (up 3)... one shot in next 12 minutes... til he hits a 3 in last min to cut the now Jazz lead to 59-55.... after that no shots til final two-minutes bulls down 78-71... Kukoc... 3... 78-74... (MJ FT's 78-76).... Jazz FT... (80-76)... draws foul on 3 makes 2 (80-78)... Jazz FT (82-78)... Kukoc 3 (82-78)... Jazz FT (83-81)... MJ misses 3... game isn't close if MJ doesnt ice him out yet again ...

[@Quack_attack_]

Isaiah was saying luck longley needed more shots cuz ya know deep down he wanted mj and the bulls to lose lmao

[@sevach]

The Mailfraud is a hilarious nickname/jab

[@Ridg98]

We will we will Rock you

[@dextert20]

if this happens now, the opposing team will just totally ignore pip and rodman and just crowd jordan.

[@synapse913]

Illegal Defense rules prevented that from happening at the time. That’s the thing that Bill and Ryen completely missed with this rewatch series.

[@piteusx8440]

Russillo: When are we going to do a Bill Russell rewatchable?

[@mr.e347]

- No one ever comment on the Eisley valid 3 point, the invalid 2 point from Ron Harper that gave Bulls 5 points. Bavetta screw Jazz as he did Kings. - No one ever comment on Dick Bavetta actually apologized to Malone and Stockton in first game he officiates in 1999 season for the reason above. - No one ever comment how Malone actually played great: 31-11-7. He the reason why Jazz was close to win. - No one ever comment how Stockton choked and had 10 points and 5 assists. IN THE ENTIRE GAME (Isiah Thomas would never) - No one ever comment how Stockton got rid of the ball way too fast in that play for Malone. - Bill trying to diminish Jazz is pathetic. Jazz won 64 games and in playoffs almost swept Spurs and swept Lakers in Conf Finals when that season only Malone was an all star and Lakers (with Shaq on his prime) had 4. - Finally someone recognizing how Jerry Sloan screw things in these games and how little Stockton did offensively. Russilo is on point. - Ppl saying Malone screw in 4 games does notice Dennis fucking Rodman was the one guarding Malone? And not some random defender?

[@jackwilson9280]

Can someone who's watched the game timestamp the Antoine Carr steak music or at least what part it happened in cause I need to see it lol

[@razkable]

i have the dvd and its like right at the start the first 1 and a half minutes of the game..they have this long intro and then they mention the seldom used veteran out of whichita state as bob calls him lol as he rises and runs off the bench into the game with sloan calling him to action in slow motion like hes their last hope pushing him in to save them..its so over the top...i love it..it feels like a curtain call movie moment...

[@iank3924]

Alright Bill, the amount of trash talking you did on the quality of these teams do we get to destroy maybe half the nba finals of all time or more if this is garbage to you?

[@razkable]

the toni hate was worse...he was the 4th guy behind rodman and harper luc kerr all could have big games so it wasn't like they lived or died by his shot..he was a unique played the early three peat teams did not have as a sf/ pf combo shooter with real length ..he proved over his career he was solid he just was young in 96 97 and by 98 he came into his own with pippen hurt but he got hurt in 97 and so did others same in 98..thats going to cost them some games

[@AnHebrewChild]

Yeah, it was too much. Overall, I still kind of enjoyed this but it was as if there was a narrative Simmons wants to sell and then he massages the actual footage to fit it. A bit much imo This was one of the greatest finals ever. Top 3. We needed more positive about it.

[@louroc425]

1 turn over for Michael Jordan in Game 6

[@mrmacross]

Here's why the Lakers got swept: Eddie Jones, 15 ppg, 41% shooting, Lakers' second-leading scorer Kobe, 10 ppg, 37% shooting, Lakers' third-leading scorer Rick Fox, 10 ppg, 41% shooting, Lakers' fourth-leading scorer Nick Van Exel, 9 ppg, 24% shooting Lakers 19/74 on threes (26%). Only two Lakers made even 42% of their shots, Shaq (56%) and Corie Blount, and Blount only took 6 shots all series. They couldn't make a bucket. And as the late, great John McKay would say, they made up for poor shooting by defending terribly. Utah shot over 51% for the series, to the Lakers' sub-40%. But Shaq was unstoppable that series.

[@iank3924]

God forbid the Lakers not make a finals...

[@MoonKast_TV]

Del Harris and Kurt Rambis screwed the Lakers with bad coaching

[@KISS_MY_CONVERSE]

yea, but the lakers are bigger, faster, stronger. They suppose to win anyway. lol That's exactly why i say teams nowadays would struggle in the 90s.

[@razkable]

the best defense the jazz had on shaq was a carr foster or keefe with a double team coming or i guess ostertag straight up lol ..he should of dominated and they should of gone to him more...they had no answers...why try to score on stockon malone and russell...elite defenders? plus ok bench defenders in shandon and morris at times....dumb..they had good length on them too...shaq was the key to get the others open shots

[@MoonKast_TV]

@@razkable i have to blame some of that on coaching and Kobe not quite ready yet

[@Aswankster]

I wonder what Joe House NBA comp is. Draymond? Bill is probably like Stockton. Russillo is Barkley

[@SlashspitGaming]

You guys need to talk about Game 5 Kukoc performance. 30 points, 11/13 FG and the final play was designed to go to him, but Jordan stole it from him and airballed. So that his career wouldn't end on a Toni Kukoc make.

[@luciusv5765]

i really dont get all the hate kukoc gets from these guys. it's like they are still trap in the mentality that euros suck.

[@SlashspitGaming]

@@luciusv5765 Yeah I mean an NBA Finals game with 30 points on 11/13 and it goes unnoticed?? This is like a top 25 all time Finals performance.

[@kamikazekrush3758]

He was a great shooter, contributed big time

[@mrmacross]

@@kamikazekrush3758 Kukoc was streaky as hell. I remember in the 96 or 97 playoffs when he pulled off a Houston Rockets and missed like 27 consecutive three-pointers (obviously not in one game, but across several playoff games). And in the 1997 Finals, he couldn't score 10 points in a single game. But for every ugly feat, there's a beautiful one.

[@cptnsx]

Get it a rest you asshole. Kukoc WAS NOT RELIABLE and was a defensive LIABILITY.

[@lilpenny1982]

GOAT

[@has3219]

Reminds me of Kawhi game 7 against the sixers. Guys afraid to take shots you gotta do things by yourself

[@razkable]

pippen was hurt rodman was nuts kerr was spent harper was exhausted luc was sick and useless bill was washed jud did his thing could not ask for more from him caffey was a bum in big moments brown was not useable it was mj toni or bust...basically they had to go to mj pippen got hurt and was out...besides toni who else is shooting?..the raptors had lowry siakam but the bulls had a bunch of danny greens or norman powell or jodie meeks lol

[@drewlavay]

No mention of the steal with 3 mins left? Stockton does the same pass he did from a previous game that MJ couldn't get to but gets the steal this time.

[@odizza1688]

Kukoc is that guy that would've maxed out his potential if he didn't have to play with MJ. He's the original Chris Bosh smh

[@isaiahhollingsworth372]

2001 nba finals game one

[@ThePatriotDragon]

Why is ryen in a blue jays T-shirt?

[@alfredooliva5175]

MJ gassed knew he escaped with his life. Toni Kukoc hitting clutch shots all game saved his ass. Playing golf drinking and smoking cigars the day and night before games had caught up with him. He was 36 not 26 anymore..The "flu" game was a warning, Had he taken it more seriously this series wouldnt have been so close , he would have had much more energy to dispatch the Jazz...still GOAT Forever...

[@PorqueNoLosDos]

Leave Marv alone!

[@tashrif46]

41:09 because they out executed them. The Lakers were great talent wise but good grief they had bad coaching and very low basketball IQ

[@QuestionEverything562]

So true, these two just didn't understand that. The Jazz were so much smarter than the Lakers in the late 90s. Even when the Lakers got Jackson in 99', Jackson went out of his way to avoid the Jazz in the first round because he knew the Jazz were going to easily outsmart Shaq, Van Axel, Jones, and Kobe. Shaq feared Malone and those Jazz teams. Those 3-peat Lakers in the early 2000s are probably the lowest IQ dynasty team I can remember. They were just winning off of Shaq's physical dominance, and honestly, pretty weak competition.

[@tashrif46]

@@QuestionEverything562 Phil Jackson even admitted it that they tried everything to avoid the Jazz during the 2000 playoff run. He knew that the Lakers weren't smarter mentally and did not have good team basketball IQ

[@QuestionEverything562]

@@tashrif46 Yep, I remember reading that as well. Phil Jackson was a high IQ person and coach, and he understood the mental capacity of those early 2000s Lakers squads well. It was best to avoid the Jazz and their systematic high IQ style of play where there was constant cutters and off ball pin down action going on. Malone used to absolutely torch the Lakers then.

[@scarykurapika100yago2]

Can yall please give me the link of Phil Jackson saying that?.. It's interesting knowing how the Jazz was way older that time.

[@tashrif46]

@@scarykurapika100yago2 it was about execution. And Phil knew with his experience with the Bulls that they Utah Jazz was an execution team. And the Lakers in 2000 didn't have the same IQ

[@KISS_MY_CONVERSE]

is their a way to get into contact with Bill Simmons???? I want him to breakdown todays nba games and go into detail like this. Especially since he thinks its so much better. I see so many poor defenders and poor breakdowns like 30 times a game.

[@Tolstoy111]

Costas was insufferable in this series. Cheap melodrama.

[@Tolstoy111]

@@MrTinyTit Really made me appreciate Marv Albert. He could make it exciting without making it about him.

[@AnHebrewChild]

@@Tolstoy111 EXACTLY. No narration needed. The moment is the moment. YOU (the play by play guy) don't need to make it. My opinion. Always wished it had been Marv Albert on the game 6 call. Ah well

[@razkable]

if carr plays more the jazz win the series he was a +9 had 9 points on 7 shots ...phil had no answer for him..the jazz found that kinda 5th man and a real top 8 finally but instead they went with keefe too much and morris shandon as well...like guys just play carr with the starters he completes this lineup in this series...the dude was perfect but they chose to play keefe foster morris shandon and this is what happens ....its so sad

[@jdm2339]

anyone catch over how many minutes michael jordan played in 1998? Lol

[@da1cvkid]

Hagler v Hearns!!!

[@dudesweet1583]

Is someone a blue Jay's fan? Noice!

[@sebastianpedone1361]

Bill Simmons acaba de decir que no es un tipo hiperbolico? jajaj

[@davepirtle9790]

Anyone’s who has played basketball at any level knows Jordan should have been doubled on that last play. The number one rule in any sport is don’t let the other teams best player beat you. Even though Jordan did push off , he shouldn’t have ever had single coverage. That’s a total brain fart . Personally i would have thrown 3 guys at him.

[@PRBoricua23]

At some point, Ryen is going to just do a podcast while he's lifting weights. What an odd shirt.

[@rolandbullock6444]

Sloane is dead....have a bit of respect.....jeez we get it

[@synapse913]

This episode came out before he died. And even though he's dead, I'll say it: Sloan was a shitty coach. Get over it.

[@at1212b]

You guys for the most part sound like star wars fan complaining about every little thing.

[@NickLandess]

Ali Frazier I, please