For the Eternally Optimistic Thunder Fan, a Glimmer of Hope: 1993 NBA Finals
In the 1993 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan’s Bulls won the first two games on the road against Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns by a combined 11 points. Phoenix won Game 3 on the road in a epic 3 OT thriller, 129-121. Jordan scored 44 in defeat.
In Game 4 at home, Jordan scored 55 points and the Bulls won, 111-105. At 3-1, the series is over, right? The Bulls had Game 5 at home, and you’d have to think it was a lock, right? This is the same spot the Heat are currently in.
Game 5 shocker: Phoenix 108, Chicago 98. The Suns grabbed an early lead and withstood Jordan’s 41 points. Phoenix was headed home down 3-2 with a chance to dethrone Jordan and prevent the Bulls from a third straight title.
The Bulls pissed away a double-digit lead and trailed 98-94 before Jordan scored to cut the deficit to two – they only had nine points in the quarter at this point, and MJ scored all of them – and then you know how the game ended:
Bulls 99, Suns 98.
Point here is that if the Thunder can manage to steal Game 5 in Miami – let’s not forget OKC led Game 4 with 4:20 left, and trailed by one with :90 left in Game 3 – they’ll have a damn good chance at home, just like Phoenix did.
How fitting would it be for the series to shift back to Oklahoma City, and then LeBron to make the game-winning assist to Battier or Chalmers?

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26 Responses to “For the Eternally Optimistic Thunder Fan, a Glimmer of Hope: 1993 NBA Finals”
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June 20th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
On 43 shots.
And the Thunder have no chance because most of these games, they shoot themselves in the foot down the stretch. It is the Basketball Gods’ way of telling us that this team is not yet ready.
June 20th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
This series actually reminds me a lot of the Lakers/Magic series in 2009. One team is poised and battle tested, and the other team just seems happy/kind of surprised to be there.
Like this series, Games 2-4 were all close in 2009 as well, but the Magic also made continuous brain farts down the stretch of games and the Lakers took advantage.
June 20th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Reverse jinx day here at TBL I see.
Despite claims otherwise, this series is not over. The Thunder have been in both games in Miami, and could very easily steal Game 5. I don’t think that they will take the series, but to just assume they’re done is foolish.
I don’t see the Thunder quitting and throwing in the towel in Game 5. Their leader is not Kobe Bryant.
June 20th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
The triple OT game was amazing. Barkley had that huge bandage on his elbow. Badass win. Too bad John Paxson happened.
June 20th, 2012 at 1:57 PM
unofficially what? don’t leave us hanging?!?!?
June 20th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Historcial.
/yesterday’s headline’d
June 20th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Like I said after the Conference Finals, one team celebrated like they’ve already won something, the other were reserved.
June 20th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
/ sees bait
// steps away from bait
June 20th, 2012 at 2:01 PM
/// bear kills you from behind
/ Red Dead Redemption’d
June 20th, 2012 at 2:01 PM
So the only glimmer of hope for the Thunder is that once, 20 years ago, a team in a similar situation almost won 2 games in a row, which would have clinched a chance at winning another game, which would have then clinched the championship?
June 20th, 2012 at 2:02 PM
This GIF is funny.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:03 PM
Comment of the year by that guy.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:04 PM
To win one more game, only to lose at the last second on a 3 by a role player.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:04 PM
not very.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:10 PM
None whatsoever
June 20th, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Scottie had a really good game 2 I think
June 20th, 2012 at 2:16 PM
That Suns team toughest Bulls playoff opponent outside of the Knicks.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:17 PM
And a sad, fat, little 9 year old cried.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:18 PM
The 2-3-2 finals format is a disservice to the Thunder, IMO.
/Heat were getting it done this year regardless, though
June 20th, 2012 at 2:23 PM
“That Suns team toughest Bulls playoff opponent outside of the Knicks.”
I’d say that 1995 Magic team that, you know, actually beat them might have been tougher. And before you start, save any argument that somehow Jordan wasn’t the same Jordan by that point in the playoffs. Such an argument is demonstrably false (he averaged 31 a game in that series) and that Bulls team couldn’t handle a big team like the Shaq-Grant Magic.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Of course, they had Thunder Dan Majerle, the greatest Chippewa of all time.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:39 PM
IF you think the two teams are virtually even, and IF you think a home team has a 60% chance of winning against an evenly matched foe, that would give the Thunder a (calculating…) 14.4 pct. chance of winning the series.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:54 PM
Um, Phoenix lost every home game in that series.
June 20th, 2012 at 3:27 PM
I wouldn’t. According to my subjective opinion that cannot be proven otherwise, the 93 Suns were better than the 95 Magic.
June 20th, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Strange to watch video of an NBA game without a whistle on every important possession.
Summer of ’93 – just before I started high school. Helped my old man bail hay before the game started. Those were the f’n days.
June 20th, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Considering Horace Grant made the pass are you saying LeBron could finally get on horace Grant’s level? FINALLY!