Until the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers lost only two games, entering the All-Star weekend break with a record of 46 wins and 2 losses.
Besides losing to the Spurs, on February 5th in the game between the Trail Blazers and the Bulls, the Bulls won by a narrow margin of 99:98, taking a victory away from the Rose Garden Arena.
With a complete lineup, the Bulls handed the Trail Blazers their second defeat of the season, giving the team some confidence: they still have hope of defeating the Trail Blazers to win the championship.
Like Gan Guoyang, when the team’s overall state is unstable and fluctuating, Jordan steps up and uses his performance to help the team secure victories.
In the January game against the Bucks, Jordan scored 44 points, and then against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, he scored another 44 points.
Then with 32 points, 40 points, 45 points, Jordan used high-scoring games one after another to drag the tired and chaotic Chicago forward, ensuring the team remained in the leading pack of championship contenders during the regular season.
The Trail Blazers in the Western Conference were galloping ahead, leaving people in despair with their leading lineup and play, plus Ah Gan’s dominance, they seemed unbeatable.
In the Eastern Conference, the Pacers and Celtics successfully joined the championship race and could hold their own against the Bulls, raising a question mark over whether the Bulls could break through the East this season.
The internal conflict that began last summer within the Bulls has continued to this day, with no signs of resolution, instead intensifying as time goes on.
The conflict between Phil Jackson and management has become well-known, and wherever the Bulls play, reporters always ask him: "Will you continue to coach the Bulls next season?"
Initially, Phil Jackson was vague out of face, saying "let things happen naturally, we focus on the present", but after being asked repeatedly and annoyingly, he simply said bluntly, "I only have one year left on my contract with the Bulls."
Although not explicitly stated, it indicated that this would be his last season with the Chicago Bulls.
Jackson was not only in jeopardy at work, but his personal life was also affected.
Jackson married his first wife in 1967, and they divorced in 1972.
In 1974, Jackson married his second wife, June, and by 1998, their relationship was on the verge of breaking down.
After winning the championship, Jackson’s fame grew, and in the NBA’s fame and fortune palace, like many successful people, he also had a lover.
Everyone knew but turned a blind eye, but Jackson might have been too busy with work and too bothered this season. When sending gifts to his lover, he confusedly wrote the wrong address.
Initially, writing it wrong was nothing significant; the gift was returned to Jackson’s office, but his assistant thought it was a gift for his wife, June, and presumptuously sent the gift to Jackson’s home.
This incident led to complete exposure, their relationship completely broke down, and Jackson was kicked out, unable to return home for the rest of the season, staying either in hotels on road games or in Chicago.
Fortunately, the players all supported Jackson, rallying closely around him, with Michael Jordan especially giving him strong backing.
Jordan stated more than once that if Jackson were not with the Bulls, he also would not play for the Bulls, threatening Jerry Krause and Reinsdorf.
Krause and Reinsdorf showed no signs of concession; on the contrary, they had grown tired of Jordan’s supreme, towering presence in Chicago.
Management not only had no plans to renew Phil Jackson’s contract, but Krause also contemplated trading Scottie Pippen before the trade deadline, seeking young, quality assets in return to prepare for the post-Jordan era.
Krause repeatedly contacted the Lakers, wanting to trade Pippen for Tracy McGrady, but Jerry West continually refused.
West knew that acquiring Pippen would greatly strengthen the Lakers; however, even strengthened they might still not beat the Trail Blazers.
Rather, patience was needed, waiting for Ah Gan to grow old and for young players like McGrady to develop, as Pippen, though strong, was ultimately on a downward trajectory.
Krause’s ongoing attempt to trade Pippen made Jordan extremely unhappy, knowing that keeping Pippen was essential for the Bulls’ quest for a three-peat.
Even though Pippen missed most of the season, he was still the best small forward in the league—unless Ah Gan moved to the three.
The two collaborated seamlessly over the years, Pippen being Jordan’s best partner; any trade would quickly extinguish the Bulls’ remaining hope.
Their relationship already deteriorated after their quarrel on the bus during last year’s finals, and by now, the relationship between Jordan and Krause was thoroughly decayed.
Their fight was becoming increasingly puerile and childish, showing that neither wanted to pretend anymore.
For instance, Jordan liked to use the bathroom before each game; it was his way to relieve stress and relax, enhancing his performance.
Yet Jerry Krause routinely went to the bathroom at the same time, disturbing Jordan, which made him extremely angry but able to do nothing about Krause.
In retaliation, Jordan routinely ignored Krause in the locker room and made scornful remarks about his size and weight, nearly to a malicious extent.
Amidst such escalating internal conflict, with the Bulls somewhat disunited and in a precarious situation, Jordan still stabilized the situation with his stellar on-court performance.
In the game against the Trail Blazers on February 5th, as a visitor, Jordan recorded a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists, along with 2 blocks and 3 steals on defense.