Excuse me if I climb back in the time machine every time the Bulls play in Utah. We only get out there once a year, unless of course, you count the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals, where we enjoyed the Utah hospitality 8 times in a 2 year span. Ah yes, the last 2 times the Bulls won the NBA Championship; I remember it fondly.
We can talk about MJ’s last shot as a Chicago Bull over Bryon Russell to win the 6th and final championship; shit, I had this moment captured in a 3 part frame hanging in my apartment for years. We can talk about the Flu Game the year before in 1997. When I think about my favorite Chicago Bulls games of all time, this is definitely under consideration… Game 3 1991 NBA Finals, Game 5 1993 Eastern Conference Finals… love them. Of course, 1989 the Jordan shot over Ehlo, the whole 1991 Eastern Conference Finals series… of course the last game with MJ’s shot I mentioned above, but yeah, the Flu Game… doesn’t get much better than that. So two of my favorite all time games took place in Utah?!?! Yes, heck yes. Will I add to that list on Wednesday night as this year’s Bulls team travels there?
No, not exactly. Not saying that a regular season game doesn’t have a chance, especially in Utah. I remember watching MJ hit one of his first game winners in Utah back in the 80s. Yes, ANOTHER GAME IN UTAH!!! It’s a magical place for us… haha. We needed some magic to escape in this game too. The Bulls should have actually pounded the ever living crap out of this team; the Jazz were missing half their damn roster! But, we know these Bulls, and if we know anything about them, they are wildly inconsistent. Yes, this was a game down the stretch. Throw in a little drama at the end, and the Bulls were sitting there, ripe for an upset.
The drama came in at the very end of the game, when DeRozan was fouled in front of the Bulls bench. Was it a hard foul? Sure. Was it a harder than necessary foul? Maybe. Should Torrey Craig in street clothes have walked over and approached the players on the court who fouled him? No, hell no. Look, I get having each others’ back; that’s important, yes. Did this situation call for this reaction? I don’t think so. Throw in the fact that the game hung in the balance, and a guy not even in uniform, put this game in jeopardy because of this overreaction IMO… no brainer. Check yourself Torrey. Utah ended up getting a free throw out of the deal; they hit it, and tied the game. Of course, DD still had his 2 free throws, he made both. Jazz took a three, missed it, would have had an easy tip in as John Collins beat Vooch for position (no surprise there), but in flew Coby White and snatched it; what a play! Unfortunately, he stepped out of bounds, giving the Jazz another shot. They ran a play, Caruso fell down, Sexton was wide open, tied his shoes, and took a three pointer from the corner for the game… clank! Bulls dodge one.
Will I rank this up there in the all-time memories in Utah? No, but it was a nice win, keeping the mojo going for this Bulls team destined for another play-in game. Off to Golden State next, then a visit to the Clippers. Let’s keep it rolling boys. Go Bulls!
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