?Quit Whining and Play the F*cking Game?: Brutal Response to Scottie Pippen Helped Michael Jordan?s Bulls Overcome Anxious Time

The Chicago Bulls’ playoff history is a very fascinating read for basketball fans around the world. The legendary Chicago side dominated the 90s in the NBA. But younger fans would be mistaken if they think that it was an easy task. Even with Michael Jordan at his peak, the Bulls faced some of the most dangerous teams in NBA history. And overcoming teams like the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons was a daunting task. The ever-calm coach of the Bulls, Phil Jackson, was also tensed before the EC semi-finals against the Knicks in 1992. However, one trash-talking incident involving Scottie Pippen helped to tip the scales in Chicago’s favor.

As it turns out, the Knicks star Xavier McDaniel were surprised at the softness of the Bulls players. His taunting words toward the Bulls legend Scottie Pippen apparently helped his opponents turn the tables in the tie.

Michael Jordan and the Bulls were motivated by the opponents? trash-talking

The 1992 Eastern Conference Semi-finals were a scary affair for the Chicago Bulls. The legendary Bulls players were tensed and had to deal with lot of nerves before the game. After all, they were defending their first NBA title. The tenseness was sensed by their opponents and they took full advantage of it. According to the Sam Smith’s book The Jordan Rules?book, there was more to uncover.

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The Knicks took the lead in the first game of the series and looked very confident of winning the tie. The then-Knicks star, Xavier McDaniel decided to take shots at one of the best Bulls players, Scottie Pippen.

?Quit whining and play the f***in’ game,? said McDaniel to Pippen after the latter complained about a challenge. The legendary Bulls players took his comment to heart as all of them gave their best throughout the series.

After a hard-fought series, the Bulls and MJ overcame the New York Knicks in the series 4-3. Michael Jordan averaged 31.3 PPG against the Knicks in the series. Looking back at the team, it is difficult to imagine the Chicago side struggling against the Knicks. But the time was different back then, and the game was much more physical, much more intense.

However, the trash-talking from the New York side gave a spring in the steps for the Bulls. MJ started off early in the seventh game of the series, scoring 18 in the first quarter, 29 by half-time. After securing the series, the Bulls came one step closer to their first-ever title defense.

Bulls’ first three-peat

The legendary Chicago Bulls were a good team before they won their first title. But they had better teams around. Once they overcame their bitter rivals the Detroit Pistons, they were almost unstoppable.

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In the early 90s, the Bulls completed a legendary three-peat by winning the championship in 1991, 1992, and 1993.?