Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz has been in the NBA long enough to know what to do during crucial stretches of the game. However, he is only human, and “The Mailman” admits he can make mistakes.
A huge mistake happened in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Utah already had some leverage at the time, as Michael Jordan was not feeling well and had the flu. But somehow, the Chicago Bulls superstar found a way to deliver on the offensive end.
Jordan’s three-pointer proved to be the key play for that game, although the Jazz were still in it. After a Greg Ostertag dunk cut Chicago’s lead to a point, Malone was left in a dilemma. With time winding down, the two-time MVP opted not to foul Scottie Pippen, who got the ball after the inbound.
Malone had five fouls at that stage. Had he fouled Pippen, it would have been his last for the game and sent Scottie to the free-throw line. Instead, Chicago got two points anyway courtesy of a Luc Longley slam. That iced the game for the Bulls, allowing the defending champions to go up 3-2.
Bonehead play
Malone got the expected criticism for his decision-making in the dying seconds of Game 5. Most were wondering why the 6-foot-9 forward allowed Pippen to dribble and make that pass to the frontcourt.
The Louisiana Tech product admitted that he made crucial plays towards the end of that matchup. As hard as it was, Malone and the Jazz could only move forward and think about Game 6. It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done.
“No one says you can't be down. But you have to put it out of your mind. You have to deal with it and then let it go,” Malone said via the New York Times .
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Malone needed to take the lead
Aware that his teammates looked up to him, Malone could not afford to show that he remained bothered about letting Game 5 slip away. He needed to come out in Game 6 with a different kind of energy, something that would motivate the whole squad.
“If I come out wondering and doubting, they will do the same. It's how you act,” the 13th overall pick of the 1985 Draft stated.
The Bulls and the Jazz had an epic Game 6 that went down the wire. In the end, it was Steve Kerr’s jumper on a pass from Jordan that sealed the deal. Chicago won the series 4-2, handing the Bulls their 5th NBA crown.
As for Malone, the criticism continued. In fact, it went as far as some questioning if he deserved the 1997 regular season MVP award. Although he and the Jazz fell short, there is no denying that the Mailman had a stellar year.
Malone’s performance took a slight dip in the playoffs but enough to make the finals. They may have fallen short of winning the title but it would be foolish to overlook how the campaign as a whole. Utah registered a franchise-record 64 wins, a feat that allowed them to lord it over a tough Western Conference that season.
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