SHAQ-KOBE Lakers vs JORDAN-PIPPEN Bulls - Best-of-7 Finals 2K24

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- Who would win in a 7-game Finals Series? Who had the better dynasty? Shaq-Kobe or Jordan-Pippen? PLaying a Finals series in 2K24 to find out!

Game 1: https://youtu.be/ikkEqrreLac

It was a dominant first half for Jordan and the Bulls as their offense and triangle was clicking. Jordan seemed unstoppable with 22 first half points and the Bulls went into the half with a 15-pt lead 52-37.

The Lakers won't go down easily however as they slowly ate away on the Bulls lead. Jordan also struggled suddenly in the second half, including a 1/9 outing in the 3rdQ. The Lakers are able to get back in the game, and even took a 4-pt lead halfway thru the 4th quarter. Jordan would score the Bulls next 6 pts and with 1:30 to go, the game was tied.

Another nailbiter in the works..

Derek Fisher came up big in the clutch. Jordan too. Guess who shot the gamewinner?

Shaq had a 20-20 night, with 26 pts and 20 rebs. Kobe had 24 on 11/27 shooting against MJ. Fisher had 13 including clutch baskets at the end.

MJ also shot poorly in the game, particularly in the second half. He finished with 39 pts on 15/34 shooting. Still the GOAT came up big when it mattered most. Pippen had a horrible night shooting 10 pts on 3/17.

[bulls96]

I think Kobe and Shaq got an upgrade on looks this year. Rodman and Jordan started looking more accurate last year.

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- Quite possibly the greatest Finals game ever played, Game 2 of the NBA Finals needed not one, not two, but three overtime periods. It was a thriller til the end!

Must watch game: https://youtu.be/TipnERh4TDA?si=FL1EmlF_SqmISKpd


For most of regulation, the Lakers seemed to be in control. It started with Derek Fisher and Kobe in the 1st quarter, combining for 16 pts and the Lakers had a 32-18 lead after one. Jordan was again struggling from the field. He still ended the half with 18 pts but on 7/17 shooting. The Lakers carried a 12 pt lead into halftime 54-42. The 3rd quarter continued the trend, as turnovers also started to hurt the Bulls. Lead was still 14 74-60 despite a buzzer beating jumper by Kukoc.

The Lakers led by 10 with 4 mins left in the 4thQ but the Bulls would go on a 16-6 run to get to within 2 with 44 secs remaining in regulation. Lakers seemed to have answered in time after a jumper by FIsher gave the Lakers a 4-pt margin with 27 secs left.

It was not over yet though. We were just getting started.

Bulls quickly answered off an inbounds play to again get to within 2. Kobe gets fouled and calmly sinks 2 FT's. On the next possession, Bulls ran a play for Steve Kerr and he converts on a 3pointer with 13 secs left. It's 91-90. FIsher gets fouled. He sinks the first FT but misses the 2nd and the Bulls call time. It's a 2-point game with 12.6 secs, Jordan drove baseline and quickly connected to tie the game with 6 secs to go.

Lakers with one last chance. 6 secs remaining. They give it to Kobe and he shoots a 3 at the top of the key as time expires and MISSES!

We go to OT!

This game goes thru not 1, not 2, but 3 overtime periods! And the game is not decided until the very last millisecond!

In the first OT, neither team led by more than 4. It was a 1 pt lead for the Bulls after a sneaking layup by Jordan with 1:26 left. Fox hits a HUGE 3 to give the Lakers a 2pt lead with 1 min left . But Jordan would answer with a 3pt play of his own. Jordan's 2 FT's with 14 secs left to give the Bulls a 3 pt lead. But Fisher would repsond on the other end with a 3pointer and ties the game with 7 secs to go. Jordan misses a reverse layup as time expired and we go to 2nd OT!

In the second OT, the largest lead was 2. and the Bulls had a 2 pt lead with 20 secs left in 2OT. Kobe answered the call with a jumper off a great pick by Shaq to tie the game with 14 secs on the clock. Jordan would run down the clock on the last possesion but misses the jumper off the top of the key against great D by Kobe.

We go to a 3rd OT!

In the 3rd OT, the Bulls appeared to run out of steam . It was a 7-pt lead for the Lakers with just a little over a minute to go, 129-122.

But the Bulls had a little more left!

THey finish the last minute with a furious rally, cutting the lead to 2 with 26 secs left. Fox would get fouled and sink 2 FT's to make it 131-127. On the next possession, MJ drives baseline and kicks it out to Pippen who was wide open for a 3-pointer. He drills it to make it a 1 pt lead with 19.5 secs left.

Fisher is fouled. He misses the first FT, makes the second, so it's a 132-130 lead with 19 secs left.

On their last possession, the Bulls went for it and found Kukoc free at the 3 after an MJ double team. Kukoc, as clutch as always, buries the 3 to give the Bulls a 1-pt lead.

Amazing comeback for the Bulls! Or so it seemed...

Kobe had the last chance, and was one on one vs Jordan with 10 secs left. He shoots his J, and MISSES, BUT SHAQ WAS THERE FOR A PUTBACK SLAM! Lakers lead with 0.7 secs. Bulls had no timeouts left, and MJ shoots it at halfcourt and it RATTLES....





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[jd@os]

I personally like this match-up more because the era/style of play for both teams is similar (as compared to the '96 Bulls vs the '17 Warriors).

Great ending; the game itself reminded me of Game 3 of the 1993 NBA Finals.

[bulls96]

Numbers from this game were staggering.

Jordan finished with 53 pts 5 rebs 11 assts 4 stls. Pippen had 38 pts 6 assts 3 stls 1 blk. Kukoc had 16 pts 8 rebs 8 assts off the bench. Rodman pulled down 22 rebs.

Kobe finished with 42 pts 6 assts 4 stls 1blk. Shaq had 25 pts while grabbing a record 31 rebs in this game. Derek Fisher was huge, with 28 pts, including 4/4 from 3. Fox and Shaw rounded out 5 players in double digits (19, 10 respectively)

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[bulls96]

LOS ANGELES --With the series tied 1-1, the Lakers and the Bulls know the importance of grabbing the momentum in this series in Game 3, and it showed. Another fantastic game decided in the last few possessions.

Game link: https://youtu.be/1JHnCKqiPIY

Shaq and Kobe had a dominant 1st half. They came intent on winning this game on their home floor to keep their homecourt advantage. They combined for 20 of LA's 27 pts in the 1st quarter as they took a 7 point lead after the 1st quarter. Kobe stayed aggressive int he 2nd and helped stave off Jordan who would single-handedly carry the Bulls offense that was struggling. Jordan had 25 at the half, but the Bulls stayed behind at the half 51-44.

The Bulls defense tightened up in the 3rd as they were able to limit the Lakers to 17 pts in the quarter. Lead is down to 1 entering the 4th quarter, and the Bulls were starting to believe they could win this game. In the 4th quarter, Pippen and Kukoc came alive finally in time for the Bulls to keep the Bulls within 1 while Jordan rested on the bench. As Jordan came back, he was able to push the Bulls over the hump and gave the Bulls the lead, up 4 after consecutive baskets by MJ with 3 and a half mins to go. Kobe stayed aggressive and scored 4 pts to tie the game with 2:33 to go.

It was another nailbiter in the final minutes. It became a KOBE vs JORDAN show.

Kobe played stellar defense on Jordan in the final minutes. WIth the game tied, Kobe was able to steal the ball away leading to a fastbreak bucket giving the Lakers a 2 pts lead. On the next play, again stellar D by Kobe forced a missed jumper by Jordan that again led to a fastbreak bucket from H.Grant. It was a 4 pt lead with 1:11 to go.

Lakers just needed a few stops.

On the next play, Jordan finally got Kobe off a spin move in the post and scored on a flush to cut the lead to 2. On the next play, Bulls played clutch D, forcing a Fox 3 that missed. Rodman grabs the board. Bulls then ran a perfect play that found Scottie wide open underneath for a dunk to tie the game with 30 secs to go.

Lakers go to Kobe. Jordan guarding him. Kobe got a jumper up quickly, and MISSED, but Shaq once again was there for the putback. Reminiscent of the winning play in 3OT of Game 2. Lakers up by 2 with 23 secs left.

No doubt where Bulls would go next. They had Jordan on the post. The Lakers double! and MJ finds Pippen open at the top of the key for 3. He makes it! probably the biggest shot of his Finals career! Bulls lead by 1! 7 secs left.

One final play for the Lakers. They go to Kobe. But Jordan would catch him on his move and draws the charge!. Huge defensive stop by MJ. He gets fouled and makes the Ft's and the Bulls once again steal this game away from LA. Bulls win 93-91.

Jordan had 45 pts 9 assts. Pippen, despite a poor shooting night, remained solid, with 17 pts 4 rebs 4 assts 4 stals 2 blks.Kukoc had 11, 7 in the 4thQ. Rodman had 14 boards.

Kobe finished with 33 pts 3 rebs 5 assts 4 stls 1 blk. Shaq had 18 pts 21 rebs. Fisher and Grant had 10 each.


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[bulls96]

Here's a quick recap/highlights video of Game 3.

https://youtu.be/qBAGJ-ZRABw

Game 4 is tomorrow!

[bulls96]

LOS ANGELES -- Down 2-1, the Los Angeles Lakers needed to win this game to avoid a 3-1 hole in this series that has been a close one so far. Kobe Bryant rose to the occasion, delivering a career Finals game in Game 4, but will it be enough to topple Jordan and the Bulls?

Game link: https://youtu.be/YjS4A-HiYYw

Bryant was on a mission from t he beginning. He was phenomenal in the 1st, scoring 20 pts in a variety of ways - 3's, alley-oop, teardrop, midrange - he did it all. Lakers up 28-20 after one.

Jordan had been struggling to this point int he 2nd. He has been succesful in dishing out to his teammates, but it wont be enough as the Bulls fell behind by as much as 17 late in the period. Bulls ended the period with a 13-4 run as their perimeter shots started falling. By the half, the Bulls were down by just 8, 51-43.

In the 3rd, Jordan's shooting conitnued to be poor, 3/8 from the field, ANd Kobe continued to do well. Bryant scored 10 in the period as the Lakers kept the Bulls at bay, leading by 12, 73-61 heading in to the final quarter.

In the 4th quarter, Jordan found his touch on time to save the Bulls from letting this game slip away. THey started on a 12-4 run to get to within 4. Kobe kept at it and managed to keep them from running away with the game, scoring another 14 pts. Lakers were holding on to a 5 pts lead with 2 mins to go with a spectacular reverse dunk by Kobe. Jordan was not done t hough. He would score the next 5 pts, including a 3pt play with 54 secs to go to tie the game.

Kobe and Jordan went at it in the next plays, and it was clear neither players were gonna let their team lose this game. Jordan made a tough fadeaway over Kobe with 26 secs left to give the Bulls a 2 pt lead. Kobe answered on the other end with a tough driving jumpshot to tie the game with 23 secs left. Jordan had the last say, and delivered yet again another winning bnasket for Chicago.

Kobe finished with a career playoff high 52 pts, to go along with 10 rebs 3 assts 6 stls. Jordan had 34 pts 3 rebs 9 assts, shot a mere 13/37 from the field, but scored 17 in the 4thQ whne it mattered the most.