Rick Carlisle saying, “I really don’t want to talk about that stuff. It doesn’t interest me” happens almost as infrequently as a sunrise.
And when it comes to discussing the new ESPN documentary about Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls’ title run of 1997-98, Rick says, more than once, “I really don’t want to talk about that.”
“The Last Dance” is a 10-part series that will air over the next five Sundays. The first two episodes can be seen at 8 p.m. on Sunday on ESPN and ESPN2, for those who want to hear a family-friendly version. The series will also be available on Netflix starting Monday.
Before Carlisle can push away, I use a prybar and a drill to extract anything from the reticent coach on this topic. Talking about certain things in his past is a selective sport with Carlisle, and there are some subjects that still hurt.
The Dallas Mavericks head coach was the top assistant under Larry Bird for the 1997-98 Indiana Pacers, the only team to push the Bulls to an elimination game that postseason.
“We had a great series with them. It was a hell of a series. We pushed them to the brink,” he said. “That was really interesting, and it was a fun series to be a part of, until you don’t win.”
In the spring of 1998, the Bulls played the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The home team won every contest, and in Game 7 the visiting Pacers led a tight one midway through the fourth quarter before losing, 88-83.
Given the historical significance of the Chicago Bulls in the ‘90s, I asked Carlisle if there was any satisfaction in being one of only two opponents to push MJ to an elimination game over the Bulls’ run of six titles. Or is it just a loss?
“It’s a loss. A loss is a loss,” he said. “That is why the regular season is so important. To get a Game 7 at home. That year, it was a fraction of a percentage for the best record in the East. At the All-Star break, we had the best record which is why Larry and myself all coached the All-Star Game in New York.
“But in the second half, Chicago was a little bit better and they got the home court … “
And that’s about as much as Rick wanted to dip into this topic.
When it came to playing against Michael’s title-winning Bulls squads, reaching Game 7 was not only an achievement, it was more of a miracle.
Derek Harper, who is a currently an analyst for the Mavs’ TV broadcasts, played against Jordan during the height of his career.
Harper was with the Knicks when Jordan scored 55 points on March 28, 1995.
“I normally didn’t guard him because I was a point guard. Occasionally, I’d get stuck on him,” Harper said in a phone interview. “(Knicks guard John) Starks was guarding him that night. At the half, Jordan had 30. So I wanted a shot at him.
“I remember Jordan saying to me, ‘You’re a pretty good defender, but it’s way too late now.’ He’s the GOAT for a reason.”
What the Bulls were to the ‘90s in terms of winning, the Mavs were in terms of losing. The Mavs were the worst NBA team that decade, and Harper was a part of a lot of those beatings.
“It was fun to play against the best. You always hear title teams say they get everybody’s best, and it was true,” Harper said. “Your approach has to be, ‘On any given Sunday.’ If you beat them, it was an accomplishment.
“People think other pros are in awe of those teams, or Jordan. That’s not the case at all. You just want to go against that guy.”
In that final season of the Bulls’ dynasty, there was the fraction of hope for the Mavericks organization. Look for it in the documentary.
During that season, the Mavs fired Jim Cleamons as their head coach. He had originally been hired away from the Chicago Bulls with the idea that he would implement the “triangle offense” that had been so successful with Jordan.
Not having Michael Jordan, or Kobe Bryant, to execute the triangle tends to change things.
Cleamons was replaced by GM Don Nelson.
On March 12, 1998, the Mavs upset the Bulls at Reunion Arena in Dallas in overtime. It was the only time the Mavs beat the Bulls in 12 games during Chicago’s six championship seasons.
The following offseason, the Mavs acquired Dirk Nowitzki in a draft-day trade, and then Steve Nash to complement Michael Finley.
The Bulls went on to win their final title that season, after which the Mavs would no longer be the worst team in the NBA.
Everyone who played or coached in the ‘90s has their MJ, or Bulls story.
Some are just a little bit more painful than others.
———
©2020 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Visit the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.