Here's a statistical breakdown comparing key opponents Michael Jordan faced in each NBA Finals series he won:
1991 Finals: Los Angeles Lakers
- Lakers Regular Season: 58-24 record (2nd West)
- Lakers Playoff PPG (Pre-Finals): 109.4 PPG
- Vs. Bulls: Held to 93.7 PPG (-15.7 PPG differential)
- Magic Johnson: Pre-Finals: 22.7 PPG, 12.7 APG, 50.6% FG. Finals: 18.6 PPG, 12.4 APG, 43.2% FG.
1992 Finals: Portland Trail Blazers
- Blazers Regular Season: 57-25 record (1st West)
- Blazers Playoff PPG (Pre-Finals): 107.0 PPG
- Vs. Bulls: Held to 99.5 PPG (-7.5 PPG differential)
- Clyde Drexler: Pre-Finals: 26.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 45.6% FG. Finals: 24.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 40.4% FG.
1993 Finals: Phoenix Suns
- Suns Regular Season: 62-20 record (1st West)
- Suns Playoff PPG (Pre-Finals): 109.9 PPG
- Vs. Bulls: Held to 105.2 PPG (-4.7 PPG differential)
- Charles Barkley: Pre-Finals: 26.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 52.4% FG. Finals: 27.3 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 47.6% FG.
1996 Finals: Seattle SuperSonics
- Sonics Regular Season: 64-18 record (1st West)
- Sonics Playoff PPG (Pre-Finals): 99.3 PPG
- Vs. Bulls: Held to 86.0 PPG (-13.3 PPG differential)
- Gary Payton: Pre-Finals: 19.7 PPG, 6.8 APG, 50.1% FG. Finals: 18.0 PPG, 6.3 APG, 44.4% FG.
- Shawn Kemp: Pre-Finals: 20.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 56.1% FG. Finals: 23.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 55.1% FG.
1997 Finals: Utah Jazz
- Jazz Regular Season: 64-18 record (1st West)
- Jazz Playoff PPG (Pre-Finals): 102.7 PPG
- Vs. Bulls: Held to 87.0 PPG (-15.7 PPG differential) in final three wins.
- Karl Malone: Pre-Finals: 27.8 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 46.3% FG. Finals: 23.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 44.3% FG.
1998 Finals: Utah Jazz
- Jazz Regular Season: 62-20 record (1st West)
- Jazz Playoff PPG (Pre-Finals): 101.2 PPG
- Vs. Bulls: Held to 80.3 PPG in last 4 games.
- Karl Malone: Pre-Finals: 27.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 51.3% FG. Finals: 25.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 50.4% FG.
Key Takeaways
- Defensive Dominance: Bulls consistently held opponents significantly below their playoff scoring averages (avg. deficit: ~10 PPG).
- Elite Opponents: All six teams won at least 57 games. Suns (62), Sonics (64), Jazz (64, 62) were 60+ win teams.
- Star Constraint: Opposing stars (Magic, Drexler, Barkley, Payton, Malone) saw FG% drops and/or scoring dips against Bulls defense.
