1997 NBA Playoffs
| 1997 NBA playoffs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Season | 1996–97 | ||||
| Teams | 16 | ||||
| Champions | Chicago Bulls (5th title) | ||||
| Runner-up | Utah Jazz (1st finals appearance) | ||||
| Semifinalists | |||||
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The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1996–97 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz 4 games to 2. This was the Bulls' second straight title, and fifth overall (They completed the 3-peat by beating Utah again in 1998). Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the fifth time.
This was the first Western Conference title for the Jazz in their 23-year history.
The Heat's run to the Eastern Conference Finals marked the farthest they had reached in the playoffs up to that point; they did not return until 2005, but won the NBA Finals in 2006.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made their playoff debut after failing to win more than 30 games in their first 7 seasons. It was also the first of 7 straight years in which they made the playoffs only to lose in the first round.
This was the first (and so far, only) time since the ABA–NBA merger that the 4 former ABA teams (Spurs, Nuggets, Pacers, and Nets) missed the playoffs, even more remarkable considering the rarity with which San Antonio has missed the playoffs at all (only 4 times since the merger).
All four 1988/89 expansion teams (Minnesota, Miami, Orlando and Charlotte) made the playoffs for the first time. This would happen again in 2001.
The two #8 seeds in this tournament (the Bullets and Clippers) broke long playoff droughts (Bullets eight years, Clippers only just three) with their appearances in the 1997 Playoffs. (The Bullets' last playoff appearance was in 1988; the Clippers in 1993). Unfortunately for both teams, it would be a long time before they made the playoffs again; the renamed Wizards made their return in 2005; the Clippers in 2006. The Bullets qualified by defeating the Cavs in a regular season finale that saw both teams fighting for the #8 seed.
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