<P> The Bulls entered the 1989--90 season as a team on the rise, with their core group of Jordan and young improving players like Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, and under the guidance of new coach Phil Jackson . Jordan averaged a league leading 33.6 ppg on 52.6% shooting, to go with 6.9 rpg and 6.3 apg in leading the Bulls to a 55--27 record . They again advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after beating the Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers . However, despite pushing the series to seven games, the Bulls lost to the Pistons for the third consecutive season . </P> <P> In the 1990--91 season, Jordan won his second MVP award after averaging 31.5 ppg on 53.9% shooting, 6.0 rpg, and 5.5 apg for the regular season . The Bulls finished in first place in their division for the first time in 16 years and set a franchise record with 61 wins in the regular season . With Scottie Pippen developing into an All - Star, the Bulls had elevated their play . The Bulls defeated the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening two rounds of the playoffs . They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where their rival, the Detroit Pistons, awaited them . However, this time the Bulls beat the Pistons in a four - game sweep . </P> <P> The Bulls advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history to face the Los Angeles Lakers, who had Magic Johnson and James Worthy, two formidable opponents . The Bulls won the series four games to one, and compiled a 15--2 playoff record along the way . Perhaps the best known moment of the series came in Game 2 when, attempting a dunk, Jordan avoided a potential Sam Perkins block by switching the ball from his right hand to his left in mid-air to lay the shot into the basket . In his first Finals appearance, Jordan posted per game averages of 31.2 points on 56% shooting from the field, 11.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks . Jordan won his first NBA Finals MVP award, and he cried while holding the NBA Finals trophy . </P> <P> Jordan and the Bulls continued their dominance in the 1991--92 season, establishing a 67--15 record, topping their franchise record from 1990--91 . Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award with averages of 30.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game on 52% shooting . After winning a physical 7 - game series over the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs and finishing off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference Finals in 6 games, the Bulls met Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers in the Finals . The media, hoping to recreate a Magic--Bird rivalry, highlighted the similarities between "Air" Jordan and Clyde "The Glide" during the pre-Finals hype . In the first game, Jordan scored a Finals - record 35 points in the first half, including a record - setting six three - point field goals . After the sixth three - pointer, he jogged down the court shrugging as he looked courtside . Marv Albert, who broadcast the game, later stated that it was as if Jordan was saying, "I can't believe I'm doing this ." The Bulls went on to win Game 1, and defeat the Blazers in six games . Jordan was named Finals MVP for the second year in a row and finished the series averaging 35.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 6.5 apg, while shooting 53% from the floor . </P>

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