Chicago Bulls: Looking back at ‘The Shot’ and Michael Jordan’s iconic moment
By Todd Dudas
Looking back at what many consider to be one of Michael Jordan’s iconic moments; the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers with ‘The Shot’
It was May 7, 1989. The Cleveland Cavaliers were hosting the Chicago Bulls at the Richfield Coliseum in Ohio in front of a capacity crowd, for a decisive Game 5 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Not only would the Bulls stun the Cavs on their home floor to win the series, but Game 5 also featured one of Michael Jordan‘s most iconic moments of his career.
One of the biggest storylines heading into this first-round playoff series centered around how the Cavs dominated the Bulls during the regular season. Cleveland beat them in all six meetings.
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Many would argue that this is the series that helped spark the Bulls’ dynasty, which would officially start two years later. During this playoff series though, Michael Jordan began to show the potential he had by averaging nearly 40 points, eight assists, and six rebounds per game. He also dominated on the other end of the floor too, defensively, by adding three steals per contest. He was everything the Bulls needed – he was both the team’s best playmaker and scorer.
In Game 4 specifically, a game that the Cavs would win to force a decisive Game 5, Jordan scored 50 points with 22 of them coming at the foul line.
In Game 5, Jordan once again controlled the game. However, Craig Ehlo made a layup with three seconds left to give the Cavs the lead, 100-99.
With three seconds left in the game and the series on the line, the Bulls found themselves down one.
Then, it happened.
Michael Jordan hit the game-winning jumper and finished the game with 44 points as he led the Bulls to the second round of the playoffs for the second-straight season. Even though the Bulls would lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Bad Boy Pistons, this was certainly a moment that would help shape the rest of Jordan’s career.
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Michael Jordan probably still becomes the greatest of all-time without “The Shot” in Cleveland, but there’s no question that it adds to the lore.