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00:00Shot clock and game clock above the one basket to the left, as you look at that picture, will be worked on while the game progresses.
00:14Horace Grant, guarded by Grant Long.
00:22Ten seconds.
00:23Pippen juggles, and Miami comes up with a steal.
00:27It's Rice to the ball.
00:28And now Steve Smith, the point guard on this Miami Heat club.
00:34And the outside shot won't drop for Shaw.
00:43I really would have liked to have seen Brian Shaw let some other members of the team touch a little leather in such a crucial first possession.
00:51It's not a bad idea to just let him touch the ball one time, you know, before you put that shot up.
00:55That's part of that inexperience, although Shaw has the most experience of any starter.
01:00The only playoff experience of any starter.
01:03Michael Jordan turning it in.
01:05And the tip is also missed.
01:07The ball belongs to the Heat.
01:09And Brian Shaw has got the assignment of guarding Michael Jordan.
01:12He's going to have his hands full all night.
01:14He's normally used to guarding point guards.
01:16Most of his experience in the league has been in guarding point guards.
01:19He's guarding Smith.
01:22Smith is a point guard, but he's 6'8".
01:24Miami with a big guard tandem, Smith and Shaw.
01:2810 on the shot clock.
01:31Shaw against Paxson.
01:33Rice.
01:34And Jordan spears the rebound.
01:37We played over a minute.
01:38No score.
01:38Chicago in a hurry.
01:41And Scottie Pippen breaks the ice.
01:45Well, Glenn Rice took a very tough off-balance shot.
01:48I think the nervousness of the Miami Heat is normal and expected.
01:52And if they're going to get over it, they've got to maybe break the defense down a little bit
01:56with some passing and some movement.
01:59Smith in the post.
02:00Got Jordan in the air.
02:01Now Grant Long.
02:03And Jordan another rebound.
02:05And again, the Bulls looking to score in a hurry.
02:08And Paxson pulls up.
02:11On the rebound, a loose ball foul whistle against Chicago.
02:15Scottie Pippen.
02:24The Miami Heat.
02:260 for 3 to start out.
02:28But Chicago only 1 for 4.
02:33I think I see a little swagger on the faces of the Chicago Bulls.
02:37It's like maybe they've got some preconceived notions about this game.
02:44Long missing.
02:45Jordan.
02:46Ahead to Pippen.
02:49Woo!
02:51A quick punch into Horace Grant.
02:53And Miami comes up with its second steal.
02:55Brian Shaw to the hoop.
03:00And the Heat have their first playoff points ever.
03:03That'll make them feel better.
03:04That'll loosen everybody up and they'll get their confidence.
03:12Nine and a half minutes left to go in the first quarter.
03:14John Paxton with 10 on the shot clock.
03:20Michael Jordan over Rice.
03:22Look it.
03:22Michael Jordan had back problems.
03:28He injured his back on the first play of the game.
03:31The final game of the regular season against the Pistons.
03:34Well, this is a matchup inside.
03:37They're trying to take advantage of the fact that John Paxton is guarding Brian Shaw inside.
03:43And the backup, B.J. Armstrong, there will also be a big advantage for the Miami Heat.
03:48They seem to want to go inside and take advantage of that.
03:51We talked about that with Kevin Lockery today at the shoot-around.
03:54Jordan missing after hanging the shot up there.
03:57And the ball out of bounds.
03:58It belongs to Miami.
03:59I thought that Kevin, in the shoot-around, downplayed that.
04:03He also downplayed the fact that they might post up Steve Smith as well.
04:10And Smith at the controls against Jordan.
04:13Quick drive by Smith.
04:14Got bumped.
04:14Count the basket.
04:16And the Miami Heat with the early lead.
04:20Well, Steve Smith is some kind of rookie coming off a very difficult year.
04:27You see how he finishes the drive there.
04:29That's a good sign when a rookie can finish.
04:32When he finishes in the playoff, it's a better sign.
04:36In the regular season, Smith was a 75% free-throw shooter.
04:41That three-point play puts the Heat in front.
04:447-4.
04:45Scottie Pippen against Rice, and he is fouled.
04:52Pippen to shoot, too.
04:54Glenn Rice on the foul.
04:58Glenn Rice.
04:59The first foul whistled against the Heat.
05:01Well, J.D., I think that's the matchup that's going to be most troublesome for the Miami Heat.
05:06Only because it's their top scorer.
05:09It's their interior leader.
05:11It's their inspirational leader.
05:13It's the guy that they're going to count on to put up a lot of points.
05:17He had a game against Orlando to get this team into the playoffs where he almost single-handedly carried them on their backs.
05:24He had looked in the mirror the night before and said,
05:26Hey, look, I want this team in the playoffs.
05:28I guess I'm going to have to be the man.
05:30And he came up with 46 big ones against Orlando.
05:34Pippen and Jordan, who lead the Bulls in scoring, have all of the Chicago points to this point.
05:41Shaw turns it in.
05:42Nice drive by Brian Shaw.
05:45He's got six for the Heat.
05:46Scottie Pippen around a Cartwright screen.
05:55Cycli switches out.
05:57The Bulls punch in to the mismatch.
05:59Cartwright over Rice.
06:00Actually leaned on him.
06:01Just as Kevin Lockery told us, it's going to be single coverage inside on the post.
06:06He's not going to be trapping and having long rotations out of those traps.
06:10Quick drive by Smith.
06:12The Bulls punched outside out of bounds to the Bulls with 7.47 left.
06:19Miami claiming that it was the Bulls who touched it last.
06:23And they win the argument.
06:29Oh, good for David Jones.
06:31He went over there and overruled the call.
06:33That's a good sign.
06:35So the Heat with the one-point lead.
06:38Smith guarded by Jordan.
06:40This has not been a quick start by the defending champs.
06:45But in the head-to-head meetings this year, the Heat were very competitive.
06:50In the first quarter of their four games, an offensive foul whistled against Brian Shaw.
06:56Oh, my.
06:56I see why Brian Shaw is not happy.
06:59That was like a college flop.
07:00I hate to see that called.
07:03We'll have him flopping all over.
07:05And the Bulls in possession, needing a hoop to get the lead.
07:12Four of ten for the Heat.
07:13Chicago 3 of 7 from the field.
07:20The Bulls on the perimeter, looking inside and finding Jordan out front.
07:25Ronnie Cykley, the Heat rebound.
07:27Steve Smith guarded by Paxson.
07:34Cykley against Cartwright.
07:37Ronnie Cykley off the glass.
07:39And Miami steps out to a three-point advantage.
07:41Ronnie Cykley is the kind of center that can give Bill Cartwright problems.
07:44He can score inside.
07:47He's got the quick turnaround off the glass.
07:49Plus, he can go outside and shoot.
07:50Super pass by Cartwright.
07:52Jordan missed, but drew the foul.
07:55He'll shoot two after this timeout.
07:576.51 left to go in the opening quarter.
08:00The Heat by three.
08:02Stadium, it's the upstart Heat.
08:05Finding themselves out to a three-point advantage.
08:08Early in the game, 18,676.
08:12Looking on.
08:15Well, in all honesty, I thought I detected a little swagger on the countenances of the Bulls.
08:21A little overconfidence, maybe.
08:23A little extra shake-and-bake thinking things are going to be easy.
08:27That the defense, by the Heat, wouldn't be there.
08:30But it was.
08:31They're going to have to work for their baskets.
08:33And I think the Heat has come out and clearly demonstrated that they're going to do that.
08:37And they're here to stay for the duration.
08:39And Kevin Lockery has made, I think, a major decision here at this point.
08:43With two fouls, he's leaving Rice in the game.
08:46With 6.51 left in the quarter.
08:50Michael Jordan gets another.
08:51He can bring the Bulls to within one.
08:55Well, you know, there's a couple of theories on that.
08:56One is you want to get him out immediately.
08:58And then you can get him back in in the second quarter.
09:01And then take him out when he gets to third.
09:02But he may decide to play him all the way up until he gets to third.
09:08Because he gets three in this half anyway.
09:09I think it underscores his thinking that they must have a good first quarter.
09:16And so far, things are going well for them.
09:19And Smith against Jordan.
09:22Shot clock is at five.
09:24The shot clocks and game clocks working at both ends.
09:26That's Glenn Rice.
09:28His first two points in the heat in front by three.
09:31That was unbelievable.
09:32He shot that shot and never reached down to Cockett.
09:36He's got such strong wrists.
09:37He shot it with the ball over his head.
09:39Like a volleyball tap.
09:41Here's Jordan on the pirouette.
09:42And Kirk Wright is open.
09:43Shaw around a Cycli screen.
09:54Now it is Cycli.
09:55He's a little high off the glass.
09:57And Cycli with a foul as he took down Horace Grant.
10:04Three team fouls on the heat.
10:06Ronnie Cycli with his first.
10:07That's a good aggressive foul.
10:09He went after the ball.
10:10Clearly a foul.
10:12Horace Grant took a good shot.
10:13A lot of punch out of that Miami backcourt.
10:16Six of those points from Brian Shaw.
10:18Cartwright finds Pippen.
10:20But Scotty Pippen lost the handle.
10:22One of the things Kevin Lockery told us at the shoot around was
10:25he wasn't going to get rid of his transition game.
10:28He was going to keep it in there.
10:29But I haven't seen much of it as of yet.
10:32But then there haven't been too many opportunities.
10:37Glenn Rice against Pippen.
10:39A three try by Rice.
10:40Book it.
10:41And Rice with the last five for the heat.
10:44They open up a four point lead.
10:54Pippen making his move on Rice.
10:57Horace Grant over Long.
10:59Grant gets it back.
11:00He's relentless on the offensive boards but it's Long with the rebound and Miami looking
11:05to extend it.
11:07Well Grant Long could easily be a candidate for the most improved player in the NBA this
11:11year.
11:12Give him a strong case.
11:13He's improved his stats in every category.
11:15Smith off the drive and a foul called.
11:19Scotty Pippen with his second.
11:22And let's see how Phil Jackson plays it.
11:28I don't see any movement on the bench down there.
11:30That's interesting that he's electing to play it as liberally as he is.
11:35A sluggish start by the defending champs.
11:39Jordan the steal.
11:41Packs it ahead to Pippen.
11:43Blowing past Rice.
11:50Chicago defensively they are so good in transition.
11:55Boy they can turn that steal into a quick two.
11:57Now Shaw doubled.
12:00Long.
12:01Two cycling.
12:02Good patience.
12:04Good recognition by the Heat.
12:05See the more that you do against the Chicago Bulls that is not predictable the better off
12:09you're going to be.
12:10Jordan's alley-oop hits the glass.
12:12He'll get a shot attempt.
12:15Grant Long.
12:17Scoring on the break.
12:20And the Heat back to a six point lead.
12:27Scottie Pippen under the grant.
12:32Ball is great from Scottie Pippen.
12:39I'll tell you there have been a couple of major defensive breakdowns by the Heat.
12:44The Bulls have had guys under the basket.
12:46Pippen juggled a pass away that would have been a dunk.
12:49Well it looks like it's the Chicago Bulls that are a little tight and not the Miami Heat.
12:54Which is a major surprise.
12:56Here's Rice over Pippen.
12:58And Horace Grant the rebound.
13:00A hoop makes it a two point game.
13:04Paxson dancing on the dribble.
13:08I'm really surprised they didn't give Scottie Pippen the ball.
13:11Clear out for him and let him take Lynn Rice off the dribble.
13:14It was Jordan over Shaw instead and Jordan has six.
13:18And it really wouldn't matter who's guarding Lynn Rice.
13:24Why not clear aside for whoever Lynn Rice is guarding and take it to him.
13:30Kevin Lockery takes time with a little over three minutes left in the first quarter.
13:37Here's what makes the Chicago defense effective.
13:40Anytime you're doing something predictable as a simple low post pass.
13:45They know it's coming.
13:46Now they can take advantage of their speed and quickness and their athleticism and their reputation.
13:52There's Michael stepping around getting the steal.
13:54Balls out to John Paxson.
13:56Pushed up.
13:57Nice easy transition basket.
14:00That's why it happened.
14:01Opening night elsewhere in the east.
14:03The Knicks and the Pistons.
14:05Madison Square Garden.
14:06And New York with the early lead in the first quarter.
14:14Miami the two-point lead.
14:16Lynn Rice under heavy pressure.
14:17And Bobby Hanson who's in for Pippen.
14:20Plays it ahead to Jordan.
14:24Ronnie Cycli rebounding the Jordan miss.
14:26Glenn Rice on that last trip missed Ronnie Cycli wide open over on the wing.
14:31He's got to hit the open man.
14:32Inside it's Rice against Paxson.
14:37Jordan the block as he recovered knowing that Rice wanted to post.
14:45It was Hanson I'm sorry that he had posted.
14:48Well this is going to be the next step up for Glenn Rice.
14:50He's going to have to learn to read the double teams.
14:52He clearly missed it that time.
14:54He's going to be an open man when there's that many people coming.
14:57And he's going to have to learn to go from inside in the post to outside on the perimeter on the weak side.
15:02The old D.