"We've got to beat their privileges" - Pat Riley on overcoming Michael Jordan's preferential treatment with the refs in 1997 ECF

Riley recognized the daunting challenge of defeating the Bulls in 1997, in large part due to the special privileges they enjoyed as reigning champions.

Much has been said about Michael Jordan receiving special treatment from the NBA in the 1990s, with some claiming that officials made biased calls to protect the Chicago Bulls star.

One figure who did not back down from such insinuations is the five-time champion coach Pat Riley. In 1997, Riles was calling the shots for the Miami Heat. The South Beach squad faced the Bulls in the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals despite the odds stacked against them.

Aside from the deep rotation that the Bulls had at the time, Miami had to deal with allegedly dubious calls. Riley felt that Jordan was given preferential treatment in Game 2 of that series, singling out the 16 free throw attempts that the 6-foot-6 guard got.

"I don't think Jordan deserved more than five free throws," Riley said via the New York Times. "And I say that after in-depth study,"

The hurdle Riles had to overcome

Being a savvy bench tactician, Riley was aware that champion teams get some special privileges. "The Godfather" experienced that with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team he coached to several NBA titles.

Hence, Riley knew that bringing down the Bulls would not be easy. Calling it an injustice; it was an obstacle that he and the Heat had to deal with back then.

"We've got to beat their privileges, the privileges that they have earned as world champions," Pat claimed. "It's like a challenger that fights for the world heavyweight championship. You're not going to win on points.

Riley tried to employ a physical game to make life tough for Jordan and the Bulls. Unfortunately, that ploy never worked, with Chicago winning that series and eventually securing the 1997 NBA crown over the Utah Jazz.

No physical attraction

Jordan was celebrated as the NBA's savior in the 1990s, leading to claims that the league adjusted certain rules, especially those limiting defensive physicality. The Detroit Pistons were notorious for employing that on MJ in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some called it dirty, while others deemed it necessary to slow down the North Carolina standout. One who attested to that was John Salley.

Like Riley, "Spider" believed that Jordan got special treatment on the basketball court. Playing physically against Michael was unlikely to work, especially with game referees not shying away from blowing their whistle on any unnecessary roughness at the time.

"Michael just gets the treatment," Salley said. "It's obvious when you see it."

As a star, "His Airness" knew opposing teams would try to disrupt his game. Aware of this, he used it as motivation, fueling the Bulls' success and multiple championships in the decade, despite some saying that the rules were made for him to dominate.