Maybe the Celtics can win, as long as they can score

Hollinger wrote about the argument over which aspect wins championships, defense or offense. He included this snippet about the Blazers versus Bulls in 1992.

Chicago vs. Portland, 1992 NBA Finals

The 1991-92 Bulls won 67 games with a dominating offensive attack led by Mr. Jordan, of course. In the Finals they ran up against a Portland team that also was wickedly talented but did most of its damage at the defensive end, where it finished a close second in defensive efficiency.

Portland's defense did the job, holding Chicago to 104 points per game -- right at the Blazers' season average on D and six below Chicago's. But, as with the Knicks in '93, the Blazers' offense didn't come through. A Blazers team that scored 111.4 points a game in the regular season didn't hit that mark in regulation once, and averaged 96.7 -- nearly 15 below its regular-season average -- for the series.

Verdict: Inconclusive

My knowledge of the game is better now than it was then, and I like knowing that Portland was able to slow down Phil Jackson's triangle offense featuring Michael Jordan. It's just too bad the defense couldn't do it.