We meet again. For the 4th straight year, the Bulls would meet the Pistons in the playoffs. The past 3 postseason meetings, Detroit had ended our seasons. Now, for the first time in this 4 year stretch, the Bulls held home court advantage. Welcome to the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s easy to describe those feelings back then. Watching this incredible talent in MJ… seeing this Bulls team grow… coming up short year after year… not having won any titles… being unable to get over this hump called the Detroit Pistons. There was so much raw emotion running through my body. There was so much hate for the Pistons… there was so much excitement about this Bulls team… there was so much anticipation, and strong feelings of really, really wanting THIS to be the year to get over the hump. This had to be the year. What if it wasn’t? Yeah, sure, we felt good. We had a great season. We cruised through the playoffs to this point. We had home court advantage. It HAD to be our year, but… it was the Pistons.
It would take everybody to do it. It couldn’t just be MJ with his cape. Would the rest of the team step up? Would Scottie expel his demons? We were now better than Detroit talent wise… our physical abilities were superior, yet it was that mental hurdle that remained. We get past that, we’re home free.
Game 1 at the Stadium was rocking. We had home court and we were going to take full advantage, but if I told you that Mark Aguirre would outscore MJ, and MJ only had 22 points, you’d be pretty nervous about the outcome. But it was that team effort I was talking about: Pippen 18, Cartwright 16, BJ 9, Horace 8, Cliff 8, Hodges 7, Perdue 6. That was it… 94 points, and it would be enough. An 11 point victory started these proceedings. Game 2 would be more of the same. The Bulls had taken the first step. They defended their home court. Up 2-0 and heading back to the House of Horrors that was the Palace, we didn’t have to win. We wouldn’t have to win any games up there if we defended our home court. This is why it was so important. This is why it is such an advantage. Stealing one in Detroit would only be a bonus.
I remember Game 3 being one of those really hard fought, back and forth, tough, tough games. The Bulls were trying to take their heart out and jumped out to an early lead, but these Bad Boys fought like hell. Those bastards had a lot of pride, but at the end of the day, the result would make me smile. The Bulls prevailed, and now held a commanding 3-0 series lead.
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Game 4 was just played because it had to be. This series was already over. The Pistons were defeated… they knew. They knew who the better team was. They knew this young team that they were beating up on, the one they had turned into a monster, was now bigger and better and finally believed they could beat them. And they did… a sweep! Who would have guessed it… after all the nerves, the hate, the hoping, it finally happened. Redemption! The Bulls had swept the Pistons and were headed to the NBA Finals.
And as the time ticked down, some of the Pistons walked off the court, failing to shake the hands of their long time rival who finally put it to them. Sore losers for sure. Dishing out all that punishment and pain, they couldn’t take their own medicine. Acting big and bad and tough when winning, they just snuck out like a bunch of weasels after getting their ass handed to them… one of the worst displays of sportsmanship. But it wasn’t surprising who led them off… Isaiah and Laimbeer. They were 2 little bitches. This sweep closed the Hate File on the Pistons, but I will always hate those 2 jag offs.
We were in Michigan watching this final game of the sweep. I was so, so happy. I remember asking my dad if me and my brother could hold brooms out the window on the drive back to Chicago; the answer was no. I wanted the whole state to know what just happened. I wanted them to know that the Bulls had knocked out their team; the Pistons reign was over. There was a new sheriff in town.
What next? Did it really matter? We had just beat the Pistons… anything after this will be a cake walk. Who cares who we play in the Finals. It’s in the bank. There’s nothing that could stop us now. That’s exactly how I felt. And as the Lakers punched their ticket, it would be a Chicago-LA finals… Magic vs MJ as all the papers would say. I was excited for these Finals to begin, and of course had plenty of nerves. But I wanted to enjoy what just happened. Sweeping Detroit in 1991 was one of the sweetest victories EVER. It was so, so satisfying. The Pistons were done, and the Bulls were here to stay. Would we be able to win our 1st title ever in franchise history? It felt like we already did…
MK
Sweep redemption indeed! Bulls finally got the best of their nemesis and in the best way. A sweep ending their season on their own court, with the babies walking off without shaking hands. MJ and the Bulls put detroit in the rear view and would never look back, as the Bulls dominated detroit for years after. The Bulls finally made the finals. MJ vs magic. Bulls vs lakers. Was there ever a doubt? Not with the monkey pistons off the Bulls back, and not with MJ on the biggest nba stage. Him and the Bulls would not disappoint!