1990–91 Chicago Bulls season

The 1990–91 NBA season was the Bulls' 25th season in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Bulls overcame a slow start, losing their first three games, to finish in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 61–21 record, surpassing their previous franchise-best from the 1971–72 season. Michael Jordan won another scoring title and his second MVP award, while being selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game.

1990–91 Chicago Bulls season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachPhil Jackson
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
ArenaChicago Stadium
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Defeated Lakers 4–1)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWGN-TV
SportsChannel Chicago
(Jim Durham, Johnny "Red" Kerr)
RadioWLUP
(Jim Durham, Johnny "Red" Kerr)

In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls swept the New York Knicks in three straight games. Then in the semifinals, they defeated the 5th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in five games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they swept the defending champion Detroit Pistons in four straight games, and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time. The Bulls went on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals in five games, winning their first ever championship in franchise history.[2] This season was the first of three consecutive NBA titles for the Bulls, as well as marking the beginning of the legendary Bulls dynasty, which would net the team another five more championships throughout the 1990s.

Draft picks
Main article: 1990 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
2 29 Toni Kukoč SF  Yugoslavia
( Croatia)		 KK Split

Roster
Roster listing
Chicago Bulls roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
PG 10 Armstrong, B.J. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Iowa
C 24 Cartwright, Bill 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg) San Francisco
PF 54 Grant, Horace 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Clemson
SG 14 Hodges, Craig 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Long Beach State
SG 2 Hopson, Dennis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Ohio State
SG 23 Jordan, Michael (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) North Carolina
PF/C 34 King, Stacey 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Oklahoma
PF 53 Levingston, Cliff 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Wichita State
PG 5 Paxson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame
C 32 Perdue, Will 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Vanderbilt
SF 33 Pippen, Scottie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Central Arkansas
PF/C 42 Williams, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls6121.744—35–626–1525–5
x-Detroit Pistons5032.6101132–918–2319-11
x-Milwaukee Bucks4834.5851333–815–2616–14
x-Atlanta Hawks4339.5241829–1214–2711–19
x-Indiana Pacers4141.5002029-1212–2915-15
Cleveland Cavaliers3349.4022823–1810–3111-19
Charlotte Hornets2656.3173517–249–328–22
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6121.744–
2 y-Boston Celtics5626.6835
3 x-Detroit Pistons5032.61011
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks4834.58513
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers4438.53717
6 x-Atlanta Hawks4339.52418
7 x-Indiana Pacers4141.50020
8 x-New York Knicks3943.47622
9 Cleveland Cavaliers3349.40228
10 Washington Bullets3052.36631
11 New Jersey Nets2656.31735
12 Charlotte Hornets2656.31735
13 Miami Heat2458.29337

Record vs. opponents
1990–91 NBA records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–41–43–22–01–10–51–11–14–12–01–14–02–31–13–13–11–10–40–21–12–02–01–11–12–2
Boston 1–3—3–12–23–12–02–02–21–12–02–22–01–14–12–22–04–15–01–12–31–11–12–01–12–01–15–1
Charlotte 4–11–3—0–51–41–10–21–41–10–20–51–10–22–22–31–12–20–42–02–20–20–22–01–10–20–22–2
Chicago 4–12–25–0—5–02–02–03–21–10–24–12–01–14–04–12–03–14–02–01–31–10–22–00–22–02–03–1
Cleveland 2–31–34–10–5—2–01–12–30–20–21–41–11–13–12–31–12–23–12–02–20–20–21–10–21–10–21–3
Dallas 0–20–21–10–20–2—3–10–22–21–32–01–32–20–21–11–42–02–01–41–10–41–32–21–42–20–52–0
Denver 1–10–22–00–21–11–3—0–21–30–50–20–40–40–21–13–21–11–12–30–20–40–43–11–40–41–31–1
Detroit 5–02–24–12–33–22–02–0—1–12–03–22–00–23–12–32–03–11–32–02–20–21–12–00–21–10–23–1
Golden State 1–11–11–11–12–02–23–11–1—2–21–13–22–32–01–13–11–12–02–22–01–32–32–32–23–11–30–2
Houston 1–10–22–02–02–03–15–00–22–2—1–12–21–32–02–05–02–02–03–22–03–10–43–12–32–22–21–1
Indiana 1–42–25–01–44–10–22–02–31–11–1—1–10–22–22–31–13–12–21–11–31–10–22–01–11–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–21–13–14–00–22–32–21–1—0–40–21–13–11–10–21–30–22–31–33–22–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–01–11–12–24–02–03–23–12–04–0—2–00–23–12–01–14–01–13–22–34–03–13–22–22–0
Miami 0–41–42–20–41–32–02–01–30–20–22–22–00–2—0–40–23–31–41–11–40–20–21–10–20–21–13–2
Milwaukee 3–22–23–21–43–21–11–13–21–10–23–21–12–04–0—1–12–24–02–02–21–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–21–14–12–30–21–30–51–11–31–32–01–1—1–11–12–22–00–40–43–10–42–21–41–1
New Jersey 1–31–42–21–32–20–21–11–31–10–21–31–10–23–32–21–1—0–51–12–31–10–21–10–21–10–22–3
New York 1–30–54–00–41–30–21–13–10–20–22–22–01–14–10–41–15–0—0–25–10–20–22–01–11–12–03–2
Orlando 1–11–10–20–20–24–13–20–22–22–31–13–10–41–10–22–21–12–0—0–22–20–42–21–31–31–41–1
Philadelphia 4–03–22–23–12–21–12–02–20–20–23–12–01–14–12–20–23–21–52–0—1–11–11–10–21–10–23–2
Phoenix 2–01–12–01–12–04–04–02–03–11–31–13–22–32–01–14–01–12–02–21–1—3–23–11–33–22–22–0
Portland 1–11–12–02–02–03–14–01–13–24–02–03–13–22–01–14–02–02–04–01–12–3—3–22–24–03–12–0
Sacramento 0–20–20–20–21–12–21–30–23–21–30–22–30–41–11–11–31–10–22–21–11–32–3—1–31–41–32–0
San Antonio 0–21–11–12–02–04–14–12–02–23–21–12–21–32–01–14–02–01–13–12–03–12–23–1—3–12–32–0
Seattle 1–10–22–00–21–12–24–01–11–32–21–13–22–32–01–12–21–11–13–11–12–30–44–11–3—1–32–0
Utah 1–11–12–00–22–05–03–12–03–12–20–23–12–21–11–14–12–00–24–12–02–21–33–13–23–1—2–0
Washington 2–21–52–21–33–10–21–11–32–01–12–22–00–22–31–31–13–22–31–12–30–20–20–20–20–20–2—

Game log

Regular season
1990–91 game log
Total: 61–21 (Home: 35–6; Road: 26–15)
November: 9–6 (Home: 3–2; Road: 6–4)
December: 11–3 (Home: 10–1; Road: 1–2)
January: 9–4 (Home: 5–0; Road: 4–4)
February: 11–1 (Home: 6–0; Road: 5–1)
March: 13–4 (Home: 7–1; Road: 6–3)
April: 8–3 (Home: 4–2; Road: 4–1)
1990–91 schedule

Playoffs
1991 playoff game log
Total: 15–2 (Home: 8–1; Road: 7–1)
First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Conference Semifinals : 4–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–1)
Conference Finals : 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
NBA Finals : 4–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 3–0)
1990–91 schedule

Player stats
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
B. J. Armstrong 82021.1.481.500.8741.83.7.85.058.8
Bill Cartwright 797928.8.490.000.6976.21.6.41.199.6
Horace Grant 787633.9.547.167.7118.42.31.22.8812.8
Craig Hodges 73011.5.424.383.963.61.3.47.035.0
Dennis Hopson 61011.9.426.200.6631.81.1.41.234.3
Michael Jordan 828237.0.539.312.8516.05.52.721.0131.5
Stacey King 76615.8.467.000.7042.7.9.32.555.5
Cliff Levingston 78013.0.450.250.6482.9.7.37.554.0
John Paxson 828224.0.548.438.8291.13.6.76.048.7
Will Perdue 74313.1.494.000.6704.5.6.31.774.1
Scottie Pippen 828236.8.520.309.7067.36.22.351.1317.8
Scott Williams 5106.6.510.500.7141.9.3.24.252.5

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
B. J. Armstrong 1716.1.500.600.8001.62.51.12.065.5
Bill Cartwright 1730.1.519.000.6884.71.9.53.419.5
Horace Grant 1739.2.583.000.7338.12.2.88.3513.3
Craig Hodges 1712.3.423.393.750.2.6.65.004.7
Dennis Hopson 53.6.333.000.444.8.2.00.201.6
Michael Jordan 1740.5.524.385.8456.48.42.351.3531.1
Stacey King 117.8.296.000.6362.0.2.09.092.1
Cliff Levingston 1711.3.512.000.5002.4.4.59.412.6
John Paxson 1728.6.530.1431.0001.43.1.65.008.2
Will Perdue 1711.6.547.000.5453.8.2.12.474.1
Scottie Pippen 1741.4.504.235.7928.95.82.471.1221.6
Scott Williams 126.0.462.000.5501.7.2.08.251.9

Playoffs

East First Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) New York Knicks: Bulls win series 3-0

Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Chicago won 4-2)

East Conference Semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Philadelphia 76ers: Bulls win series 4-1

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 4): Chicago 105, Philadelphia 92
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 6): Chicago 112, Philadelphia 100
  • Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 10): Philadelphia 99, Chicago 97
  • Game 4 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 12): Chicago 101, Philadelphia 85
  • Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 14): Chicago 100, Philadelphia 95

Last Playoff Meeting: 1990 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Chicago won 4-1)

East Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (3) Detroit Pistons: Bulls win series 4-0

  • Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 19): Chicago 94, Detroit 83
  • Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 21): Chicago 105, Detroit 97
  • Game 3 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 25): Chicago 113, Detroit 107
  • Game 4 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 27): Chicago 115, Detroit 94

Last Playoff Meeting: 1990 Eastern Conference Finals (Detroit won 4-3)

NBA finals

Game 1

Sunday, June 2, at the Chicago Stadium

Team 1 2 3 4 Tot.
Los Angeles 292224 1893
Chicago 302315 2391

Game 2

Wednesday, June 5, at the Chicago Stadium The Bulls shot a Finals record 61.7% from the floor, with a Jordan layup over Sam Perkins a highlight.

Team 1 2 3 4 Tot.
Los Angeles 232026 1786
Chicago 282038 21107

Game 3

Friday, June 7, at the Great Western Forum

Team 1 2 3 4 OT Tot.
Chicago 252318 2612104
Los Angeles 252225 20496

Michael Jordan sends Game 3 to overtime with a pull-up jumper with 3.4 seconds to go.

Game 4

Sunday, June 9, at the Great Western Forum

Team 1 2 3 4 Tot.
Chicago 272522 2397
Los Angeles 281614 2482

Game 5

Wednesday, June 12, at the Great Western Forum

The Lakers were facing elimination, and the lack of Worthy and Scott was not any help to the Lakers. This would not stop Magic Johnson as Johnson had 20 assists in the game, but it was not enough. Elden Campbell outscored Michael Jordan with 13 points in the first half, but it was not enough. The Lakers still fought and even led 93-90 in the fourth quarter, but a Bulls 9-0 run, and Paxson's 10 points in the final half of the fourth quarter helped secure the Chicago Bulls', and Michael Jordan's first NBA title.

Team 1 2 3 4 Tot.
Chicago 272132 28108
Los Angeles 252431 21101

Award winners

NBA All-Star Game
  • Michael Jordan, Guard

Transactions

References
  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1991.html
  2. "Sports of The Times; Air Jordan And Just Plain Folks". New York Times. June 15, 1991. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  3. Associated Press Athlete of the Year (male)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.