Phil Jackson rarely sat on the sidelines, his head bowed, covering his face with both hands, refusing to watch the game. A nightmare, an absolute nightmare.
In the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, the Bulls' performance on the court was akin to sleepwalking, playing nothing like a Finals team.
Defensive lapses, offensive errors, passing mistakes, traveling violations—this was even worse than game seven of last year's Eastern Conference Finals.
The collapse came so suddenly, the bubble burst in a moment. The higher you fly, the harder you fall.
Even Michael Jordan, steadfast and determined—who had risen again after last year's major setback—had despair and helplessness in his eyes.
When the gap reached 11 points, Phil Jackson called a timeout for one last struggle. Jordan sat on the bench, his face devoid of expression.
Even the anger he once possessed was gone; a profound sense of loss chilled him to the core, leaving him cold all over.
