[Comey]

1988-89 NBA Playoffs – Conference Finals
Chicago Bulls (61-21) vs New Jersey Nets (43-39)
Season Series: Chicago 3-1

The Nets are not the team they were a year ago. In some ways, they’re more dynamic. John Jennings replaced Tom Perez as the point guard, averaging 20.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists a game. While he isn’t the passer or offensive catalyst Perez is, he’s younger, matches up better with certain opponents (Chicago) and is a better scorer. The team also brought back Hugh Turnage, who they traded to New York for Jennings. Turnage was quick to come back after his experience with the youthful Knicks, citing he wanted a “veteran environment”. Needless to say, David Brenneman and Joshua Morris have both given Turnage jaw-droppingly hard fouls when the two have matched up.

Luke Black regressed a bit through shooting slumps, falling to 48% from 51% last year. He still averaged 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds, and will be yet another difficult power forward to stop. The Knicks still have SF Gabe Smith, a former Jack adversary from Yale; he averaged 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, along with over a steal per game.

The bench is eh. The ageless George Huie (okay, he’s 40) is still getting run in his 18th season. Of course, he’s a bit player, but the Nets brought him to help some of the younger guys, like Smith and Jennings. He does that well.

Prediction: The Nets did the Bulls a favor, as a series with the Pistons would have been quite daunting. The Bulls have a good foundation of success with the Nets; namely, Jack is too much for them, in most cases. That should be the case this year, unless Jack loses his head…
PICK: Bulls in 5

Western Final: There’s no way Utah is losing to Portland. Of course, that was said two years ago…
PICK: Utah in 5

Game 1: Jack posted 30-13-7-2-1, on 9-13 shooting, and Josh scored 32 with 12 boards and 4 blocks, as the Bulls ran past the Nets, 118-100. The game was tied at the half, but the Bulls used a 35-22 third to end most doubt. An early fourth quarter run allowed the Bulls to rest their starters ahead of Game 2 (the Nets got the same). Gayle Cruz scored 14, making all seven of his field goals. Everyone else either scored six or eight points. The Bulls went 1-10 from three, but 23-25 from the line. The Nets were led by 21 for Hugh Turnage, while John Jennings had 16-5-6. Luke Black, in a rare twist against Chicago, shot just 3-18 from the field, for eight points.
Chicago Leads 1-0

WCF: Royal Bryant scored 23, had 19 boards, and six blocks, and the Evil Harris Connors added 25-14-5, as the Jazz blasted Portland, 103-82. Point guard Craig Cooper added 24, on 11-14 shooting, while Sammie Snodgrass added 7-8-11, though he shot just 2-10. Robert Ritz needed 26 shots to get his team-high 24 points, while Frank Padgett had 21 on 21 shots, 13 boards, and 4 assists. Connors forced him into foul trouble, which shifted the balance of the game.
Utah Leads 1-0

Game 2: Once again, the Bulls kept the Nets at bay, using Jack’s 41-10-14 (18-23 FG) to nab a game 2 victory, 122-112. Josh and Cruz had 20 each, while Escalera had 13 and six boards, and Josh Whitman nine points and eight boards (4-12 FG). Luke Black made up for his pitiful Game 1, posting a 40-5-4-2-2, while John Jennings had 25-4-4. Gabe Smith and Hugh Turnage had games they’d like to forget, combining to go 7-23 (though Smith had nine boards and nine assists).
Chicago Leads 2-0

WCF: Utah proved they can win when they are having trouble shooting, beating Portland 90-85 despite shooting 39% from the field. Sammie Snodgrass posted 17-8-7, and the Evil Harris Connors 17-12-6, to pace the Jazz. Royal Bryant added an unusual triple-double, posting 14 points, 12 boards, and 10 blocks. Frank Padgett, who is one of the more underappreciated stars in the league, had 28-11-4 for the Blazers. Robert Ritz needed 20 shots to get his 17 points, while Eddie Avina was held scoreless by Snodgrass.
Utah Leads 2-0

Game 3: It is a running theme in this series. The Nets cannot stop Jack. He shot 15-20, going for 34-15-11-3-4, as the Bulls pushed the Nets to the brink with a 125-116 win. Josh added 28-8-3, while Whitman posted 15-4-7 and just one turnover. Cruz added 16-6-4, while Bye Felicien offered four points and a technical (when did he get too big for his britches? You know he’s a guy who lives a ridiculous life.). Luke Black’s 32-16-5 paced the Nets, while Jennings scored 19, and Gabe, Hugh, and Allen Moffatt each posted 14.
Chicago Leads 3-0

WCF: We’re near yet another Utah-Chicago showdown, as the Jazz blasted Portland at the Rose Garden, 110-99. The Evil Harris Connors led with 38-12-5, as all five Utah starters scored in double-digits. Royal Bryant had 13, 16 boards, and 9 blocks, while Brian Mazza, often the forgotten member of this quintet, had 16-8-4. Lowell Eveland, who is an 80s center if I’ve ever heard of one, had 24 and 10 boards to lead the Trailblazers to their latest loss.
Utah Leads 3-0

Game 4: Well, for a day, we’re forced to wait for the rivalry everyone wants renewed. New Jersey demolished the Bulls, 105-74, behind Luke Black’s 28, and Jennings’ 15-9-4 and three steals. Gave Smith scored 15, while Korey Bradley scored 13 off the bench. Jack had 28-14-5 with five steals, but only Escalera’s 12 (4-12) shooting helped out. Josh shot just 2-14, scoring five points in a forgettable performance.
Chicago Leads 3-1

WCF: The Trailblazers survived, as Frank Padgett’s 22-14-4 led them to a 112-89 win. Robert Ritz added 21-8-3, while Eddie Avina had 14-7-5. Lowell Eveland had 16-9-5 as well. The Evil Harris Connors was the only Jazz player in form, scoring 26 with nine boards. Sammie Snodgrass was the only other player in double-figures, with 12 on 5-19 shooting.
Utah Leads 3-1

Game 5: For the fourth straight season, the Bulls are heading to the NBA Championship. Jack’s 23-13-14 paced seven players in double figures, as Chicago wrapped up the New Jersey Nets, 112-103. Gregory Escalera scored 17, while Josh posted 15, and Sheldon Maurer and Eddie Shank 14 each off the bench. This was another game where Jack earned two technicals, and got sent out. Jack got sent out with 5:51 left, after throwing down a major dunk on Gabe Smith. The Bulls were up by twenty, 102-82, at the time of the technical. Many around the country and wondering why Jack has gotten such an edge to his place. I say, look at Josh Jones. Luke Black scored 26 with ten boards, and Hugh Turnage had 20. Gabe Smith was hounded by Jack all night, and ended up with as many turnovers and field goals: three.
Chicago Wins 4-1

WCF: The rivalry continues, as the Utah Jazz closed out Portland with a 105-87 victory. The Evil Harris Connors led the Jazz with 31-14-3, while Brian Mazza posted 21 and 12 boards. Sammie Snodgrass added 10-8-9 with four steals. Robert Ritz led Portland with 21, while Frank Padgett came up short in this one, posting just 10-11-5. Saul Jones, who was a revelation for Portland, had ten points and nine assists.
Utah Wins 4-1

1988-89 NBA Championship: Chicago Bulls (61-21) vs Utah Jazz (58-24)