Sports Illustrated staff writer Marty Burns tells you who will win it all.

Chicago Bulls (62-20, 11-4) vs. Utah Jazz (62-20, 11-3)
Season series: Jazz, 2-0

How they got here: The Bulls defeated the Nets (3-0 in the opening round), the Hornets (4-1 in the semifinals) and the Pacers (4-3 in the Eastern Conference finals). The Jazz beat the Rockets (3-2 in the Round 1), San Antonio (4-1 in the semis) and the Lakers (4-0 in the Western Conference finals).

The Skinny: Utah has been waiting all season for another shot at the Bulls, who knocked off the Jazz in six games in last year's Finals. Chicago badly wants to win a sixth title before owner Jerry Reinsdorf breaks up the club. Utah is led by PG John Stockton and F Karl Malone, but also boasts a gritty team defense and perhaps the league's deepest bench. Chicago has G Michael Jordan and F Scottie Pippen, and has been known to play a little D. Unlike last year, the Jazz has home-court advantage. Utah is also confident and well-rested, having completed its sweep of the Lakers a whopping 10 days before the start of the Finals. The Bulls, meanwhile, looked tired in barely getting past the Pacers. It will take one final miracle from His Airness to keep the determined Jazz from inheriting the NBA throne.

The Bulls will win if...: Dennis Rodman can stay out of foul trouble long enough to grab 10-15 rebounds per game and play solid defense on Malone, and the Chicago bench, led by F Scott Burrell, F Toni Kukoc and G Steve Kerr, can combine for 25-30 points per game.

The Jazz will win if...: F Bryon Russell provides a third scoring option to go with Malone and Stockton, and the Jazz can keep games close. Utah's disciplined halfcourt offense is lethal at crunch time, while the Bulls tend to rely on a tired Jordan to carry them down the stretch.

Best Matchup: Malone vs. Rodman. They won't always be matched up, but look for Bulls coach Phil Jackson to put Rodman, his best low-post defender, on the Mailman when the game is in the balance. Gentlemen, start your elbows.

The X-factors: Jazz PG Howard Eisley and Kukoc. Chicago often has trouble with ultra-quick little point guards like Eisley, who has shown big-game ability as Stockton's backup the past few years. Utah, meanwhile, has no one to match up with the 6'11", sweet-shooting Kukoc.

Did you know?: Since the NBA switched to the 2-3-2 Finals format in 1985, the team with the middle three home games has never swept all three games. Thus, if form holds, the Bulls would need to win at least two games in Utah's raucous Delta Center to win the title.

Prediction: Jazz in six.