614: 219: This is an unparalleled backdrop (Requesting monthly votes!) 614: 219: This is an unparalleled backdrop (Requesting monthly votes!) This might be the most suffocating Game 5 in NBA Finals history.
The ascetics of Salt Lake City firmly believed that history had chosen them.
Meanwhile, the players from Atlanta fought for the fans of their city.
The team leading 3-1 showed no signs of complacency, and the team trailing 1-3 held onto hope.
Ted Turner, transformed into a red-hatted old man, led all the fans in shouting, “Make Atlanta Great Again!”
The entire arena echoed his cry.
The Hawks’ starting lineup was the same as in the previous games: Roger, Stevie Smith, Pippen, Big Ben, and Kurt Thomas.
Usually, a unique individual will stand out in a crowd at first glance.
For instance, Kevin Durant from the United States delegation at the 2024 Olympics would stand out on a ship of hundreds with his extraordinary demeanor.
And the most unique individual in the Hawks’ starting lineup was Pippen.
Because even before the game started, his face was already cloaked in a mask of pain.
Pippen was determined to play through the game; he didn’t want to be just a spectator on the bench, watching Roger finish off the opposition alone.
As the game began, Mutombo won the Jazz their fifth opening tip-off of the Finals.
Right off the bat, Utah’s lethal 3-point shooter had already dialed in his aim, converting a three-pointer off a pass from Stockton.
Hornacek certainly knew that no matter how many threes he made today, it wouldn’t change the outcome of the previous game.
If you have a cozy little cotton-padded jacket, that’s great; you can seek solace in it.
But if all you have is a drafty one, then you must look ahead.
Hornacek chose to look ahead.
Last game, he missed what might have been the most important shot of his career, but at least now, he still had a chance to win.
Jazz came out strong, leading 3-0.
But soon, the Hawks scored two points thanks to Pippen’s cutting layup.
This time, Pippen set a screen for Stevie Smith without the ball, and everyone thought Roger was aiming for Smith.
Instead, Roger delivered a bounce pass to the cutting Pippen.
Pippen’s layup eluded Mutombo’s block and scored, 2-3!
From the outset, both teams became entangled in a see-saw battle.
Atlanta fans cheered for Pippen, but soon, the Jazz silenced them again.
On this play, Karl Malone, after drawing the defense at mid-range, unhesitatingly passed to Bryon Russell.
Russell’s three-point shooting percentage in the Finals was only 28%.
This was mainly because Russell always hesitated upon his arrival into this world.
Seeing Pippen approaching, Russell could never decide whether to shoot or pass.
And in shooting, hesitation affects accuracy.
But this time, Bryon Russell shot with conviction and hit the three!
Clearly, the Utah Jazz were prepared to overturn the Hawks.
Their desire to take the game back to Salt Lake City was more intense than ever.
The game continued, and Roger found Pippen again.
This time, Pippen, who initially cut inwards, suddenly reversed direction and caught a pass in mid-range from Roger.
And in the instant he caught the ball, Pippen jumped and attempted another shot!
Hornacek tried his best to block, providing tight interference.
But people soon realized that it wasn’t a shot at all, but an alley-oop!
Roger charged from the three-point line and leap, completing the alley-oop dunk from the side of the rim before Malone and Mutombo could react!
Fans in Chicago could hardly believe the level of chemistry between Roger and Pippen had reached this point.
Still saying you’re not soulmates?
In the early stages, both teams’ offenses kept the crowd on their feet.
But this was merely an illusion before the real slugfest began.
After those two baskets, the game entered into an endless, stifling defensive struggle.
Both sides stifled each other’s shooting touch.
Among them, Pippen’s defensive performance was particularly outstanding.
Three minutes into the first quarter, Pippen first extinguished Bryon Russell’s three-point opportunity and then, after Russell passed to the cutting Malone, quickly collapsed back into the paint to swat Malone’s would-be certain layup from behind.
However, the rejected ball ended up in Stockton’s hands, who then shook off Stevie Smith with a feint and drove in.
Pippen, however, came out of nowhere, stealing the ball from Stockton, a guard rarely prone to turnovers!
Although Pippen had never won DPOY, Roger personally believed that Pippen’s perimeter defensive threat was higher than that of DPOY-winner Payton.
Two minutes later, Roger and Pippen executed perhaps the most spectacular play of their collaboration.
It began with Roger missing a three-pointer, with Malone grabbing the rebound and quickly throwing long to Stockton on the break.
Stockton advanced swiftly, crossing half-court before delivering a sharp bounce pass to Bryon Russell.
At this moment, Roger was about half a body length behind Russell, but as Russell went up for the layup, Roger still managed to block the shot from behind.
Whether in leaping ability or wingspan, Roger held the advantage.
The ball bounced off the backboard and fell into the hands of the trailing Hornacek.
Hornacek didn’t go for the layup, since Big Ben and Kurt Thomas had also fallen back in defense.
The lethal 3-point shooter calmly chose to dribble out beyond the three-point line, intending to reorganize the offense.
But just as Hornacek carried the ball out, Pippen, like a hunter lying in wait, suddenly struck, approaching Hornacek and swiftly knocking the ball away!