Summary
Phil Jackson, who had coached the Chicago Bulls to six championships, suddenly became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers before the season opened.
The Lakers were led by 7-foot-1, 315-pound Shaquille O'Neal, who led the league in scoring and won the MVP award. They also had Kobe Bryant, who had joined the team right out of high school in 1996. With Jackson's approach to team defense and the triangle offense, Los Angeles led the league with 67 victories. The Portland Trail Blazers, also in the Pacific Division, were second with 59 wins, while the Indiana Pacers led the Eastern Conference with 56 victories.
Los Angeles had a difficult time in the first round against Sacramento, finally winning in five games. Then, after eliminating Phoenix in five games, it took the Lakers seven games to get past Portland and into the finals.
The Pacers also had to get through a five-game first-round series, against Milwaukee, then they eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks in six games apiece.
The championship series essentially hinged on Game 4, at Indiana. The Lakers pulled out an overtime win by 2 points to take a 3-1 lead. Then, after the Pacers won Game 5 at home, the Lakers took the championship with a 116-111 win in Los Angeles.
