NBA 1997

1.       1. Michael Jordan: Was the Finals MVP for the 5^th time in seven years. He was 1^st team All-NBA and All-Defense. He was second in the MVP voting. 

He was also the Player of the Month in Nov. 1996. He was the starter for East in the All-Star game and put up the first AS game triple double with 14-11-11.

MJ was the scoring champ (29.6 PPG) and led the league in field goals with 920, while playing in all 82 games. He was also 4^th in the NBA in free throws with 480.

He averaged a NBA playoff high 31.1 points and nearly eight rebounds in 19 postseason games.

He also averaged 6 rebs, 4 asts, and 1.7 steals per game in the regular season.

In round one of the playoffs vs. Washington he helped the Bulls sweep the Bullets with a 55 point torching in Game 2.

Jordan got Chicago off to a flying start in round two against Atlanta. He had 34 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks in a Game One win.

He averaged 30-8 in the five games Eastern Conference Finals triumph over Miami.

In the Finals against Utah he had one of his most memorable series in his unparalleled career.

 

Jordan sank the game winner at the buzzer in Game One, and finished the night with 31 and eight asts.

In Game Five, MJ finished off what is known as “The Flu Game” with 38-13-9.

Jordan had 39 in the Game Six clincher, and averaged 36.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 6.5 APG in the Bulls four wins over the Jazz.

The Bulls won their 2^nd straight (and 5^th in seven years) NBA title. They finished the regular season with 69 wins (3 short of their own NBA record) after starting the season 12-0.

Chicago won the Central division by 13 games. They had the best record in the East by eight games and in the NBA by five. They led the league with 103.1 PPG and gave up just 92.3.

2.      2.  Karl Malone: Won the MVP, made first team All-NBA and all defensive team.

He was the player of the month in March and an All-Star starter.

He played in all 82 games was in 2^nd in PPG (27.4) and in field goals. He led the NBA in free throws made (521) and was 6^th in field goal % (55).

He averaged 10.4 rebounds, 4.5 ast, and 1.4 steals per contest.

In the first round of the playoffs vs. the Clippers he averaged 30.7 PPG and 11.3 PRG.

The Jazz took out the other LA team in fives games and Malone had32 and 20 in the Jazz 98-93 overtime series clincher.

He helped Utah past Houston with 29-14 in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals, a win that gave the Jazz a 3-2 series win.

The Mailman delivered Utah to its first Finals with 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assist and three steals in Game Six.

In the NBA Finals Malone’s vintage performance in Game Three brought the series back to 2-1. He scored 37 on 15-29 shooting and added ten boards and four steals.

The Jazz had the best record in the West by seven games at 64-26. They won the Midwest division. They were second in the league scoring 103.1 points per game.

         3.  Gary Payton: Was and All-Star starter for the West (17 points 10 ast.). He was named first team All-Defensive and 2^nd team All-NBA.

He finished 6^th in the MVP voting, 2^nd in the Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star game MVP voting.

He played in all 82 games. Payton was 5^th in the league in minutes (3,213), 6^th in FGs (706), 10^th in scoring (21.8 PPG) and 3^rd in steals (2.4). He also added 7.1 assists per game.

During the playoffs (12 games) “The Glove” upped his averages to 23.9 points and 8.7 assists (3^rd best per game), while averaging a league-high 45.5 minutes per postseason contest.

He had the 2^nd most three-pointers in a playoff game with eight and scored 34 points in a Game Three loss in the first round to Phoenix.

He came back with 28 points (5-11 on 3FGs) and 14 asts. and propelled Seattle to a 122-115 OT win in Game Four.

The Sonics would avoid elimination (despite the heroics of Rex Chapman) and win the series in five games.