1990-91 Chicago Bulls: Learning To Fly Part 1/6

In 1990-91 some of the less obvious aspects of Phil Jackson's coaching philosophy began to draw attention-and began to produce unprecedented results. Although the Bulls had the most creative offensive force in the history of the game in Jordan, they also stressed defense and teamwork.

Chicago lost the first three games of the year, then never dropped more than two in a row the rest of the way. On December 4 the Bulls set a regulation-game team record by scoring 155 points against Phoenix, a total topped only by a 156-point, four-overtime game in 1984. They had two seven-game winning streaks, in December and January, while building a 30-14 record. Then the team went on a tear in February, winning 11 straight, losing a single game, then winning nine more, to stand at 50-15 on March 20.

Finishing with a 61-21 record, the Bulls won their second division title and became just the ninth team in NBA history to win 60 or more regular-season games. They swaggered through the postseason, sweeping the New York Knicks in three games, eliminating the Philadelphia 76ers in five, and reaching the NBA Finals by winning four straight against the defending NBA-champion Detroit Pistons.

The 1991 NBA Finals matchup between the Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers was billed as a confrontation between two of the game's most charismatic figures, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson; however, the drama never unfolded. Los Angeles won the first game on a last-second three-pointer by Sam Perkins, but then Chicago ran through the Lakers in four straight contests. Jordan scored 30 points and handed out 10 assists in a 108-101 Game 5 victory, which clinched the first NBA championship in the Bulls' 25-year history.

The title capped a memorable season for Jordan. He was voted the league's Most Valuable Player for the second time, won his fifth consecutive scoring title, reached the 15,000-point plateau, and was named to the All-NBA First Team and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. He was also voted MVP of the Finals.