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by: Chris Maynard
([email protected])
([email protected])
During one of the first two games of the 1996 NBA Finals, NBC's Marv Albert talked about comments made by Chicago Bulls' reserve guard Steve Kerr, now the famous Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors.
Kerr essentially said that Chicago had played about three good games so far in the 1996 NBA Playoffs, despite having only one loss at this point in the postseason.
Kerr's words were spot on as Chicago didn't always play that great during the 1996 NBA Playoffs, a testament to the team's dominance. Even when Chicago was off, it was that much better than the opposition, usually because of its defense.
Chicago boasted a cheat code on the perimeter with the size and length of Ron Harper, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, three players who absolutely caused fits with their defensive tenacity and intensity. At power forward, Dennis Rodman was a master of getting in the heads of opponents and away with hooks and holds. Even 7'3'' center Luc Longley was an underrated defender, able to move his feet quite well for a man his size and use his fouls effectively.
Offensively, Chicago's Triangle Offense could be a thing of beauty when it was working. It could also be quite clunky, as seen at points against the New York Knicks during the second round and the Seattle SuperSonics during the NBA Finals. Ultimately, Chicago could always rely on Michael Jordan to bail out the stalling offense and Dennis Rodman to secure offensive rebounds and extra possessions. Ultimately, Chicago's offense was not always pretty yet the Bulls had so many ways to score in the form of Jordan, Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Harper, Longley and Kerr. During the 1996 NBA Playoffs, even Rodman was a surprisingly effective offensive player, averaging 7.5 points per game.
Finishing 72-10 in the regular season, 15-3 in the playoffs, and 87-13 overall, the 1995-96 Bulls are considered one of the greatest teams of all time. Of course, Chicago's regular season record for wins was surpassed by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, which finished 73-9. That Warriors team ultimately blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and lost in seven games, with the decisive contest at home, to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Golden State followed up signing superstar Kevin Durant, a transaction that began to sour me on the NBA.
So which team is better?
As the Bulls said back then, "72-10 don't mean a thing without the ring."
Chicago won the title, Golden State did not; thus the Bulls are the better team. Ultimately, Chicago's defense would be too much for Golden State's firepower, and Rodman would have thrown Draymond Green off his game as he did to Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal and Frank Brickowski during the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
In reality, I wouldn't even consider the 1995-96 Bulls' team the best Chicago squad of its six championship editions. I'd rather have any one of Chicago's first three title teams than the 95-96 Bulls. Chicago's 1991-92 team was probably its most dominant during a time when the league was a bit stronger, finishing 67-25 but struggling a bit in the playoffs. Chicago's 1996-97 team was its most talented, with the additions of Brian Williams and Robert Parish, though that team also had a tougher time in the playoffs. In my opinion the NBA was not as strong during Chicago's second three-peat.
Still, if we're going on the regular-season record and the title, the 1995-96 Bulls are the best team in NBA history.
While Kerr might not be able to say this as the Warriors' Head Coach, deep down he knows the truth.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were truly the "Unstop-A-Bulls."
Kerr essentially said that Chicago had played about three good games so far in the 1996 NBA Playoffs, despite having only one loss at this point in the postseason.
Kerr's words were spot on as Chicago didn't always play that great during the 1996 NBA Playoffs, a testament to the team's dominance. Even when Chicago was off, it was that much better than the opposition, usually because of its defense.
Chicago boasted a cheat code on the perimeter with the size and length of Ron Harper, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, three players who absolutely caused fits with their defensive tenacity and intensity. At power forward, Dennis Rodman was a master of getting in the heads of opponents and away with hooks and holds. Even 7'3'' center Luc Longley was an underrated defender, able to move his feet quite well for a man his size and use his fouls effectively.
Offensively, Chicago's Triangle Offense could be a thing of beauty when it was working. It could also be quite clunky, as seen at points against the New York Knicks during the second round and the Seattle SuperSonics during the NBA Finals. Ultimately, Chicago could always rely on Michael Jordan to bail out the stalling offense and Dennis Rodman to secure offensive rebounds and extra possessions. Ultimately, Chicago's offense was not always pretty yet the Bulls had so many ways to score in the form of Jordan, Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Harper, Longley and Kerr. During the 1996 NBA Playoffs, even Rodman was a surprisingly effective offensive player, averaging 7.5 points per game.
Finishing 72-10 in the regular season, 15-3 in the playoffs, and 87-13 overall, the 1995-96 Bulls are considered one of the greatest teams of all time. Of course, Chicago's regular season record for wins was surpassed by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, which finished 73-9. That Warriors team ultimately blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and lost in seven games, with the decisive contest at home, to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Golden State followed up signing superstar Kevin Durant, a transaction that began to sour me on the NBA.
So which team is better?
As the Bulls said back then, "72-10 don't mean a thing without the ring."
Chicago won the title, Golden State did not; thus the Bulls are the better team. Ultimately, Chicago's defense would be too much for Golden State's firepower, and Rodman would have thrown Draymond Green off his game as he did to Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal and Frank Brickowski during the 1996 NBA Playoffs.
In reality, I wouldn't even consider the 1995-96 Bulls' team the best Chicago squad of its six championship editions. I'd rather have any one of Chicago's first three title teams than the 95-96 Bulls. Chicago's 1991-92 team was probably its most dominant during a time when the league was a bit stronger, finishing 67-25 but struggling a bit in the playoffs. Chicago's 1996-97 team was its most talented, with the additions of Brian Williams and Robert Parish, though that team also had a tougher time in the playoffs. In my opinion the NBA was not as strong during Chicago's second three-peat.
Still, if we're going on the regular-season record and the title, the 1995-96 Bulls are the best team in NBA history.
While Kerr might not be able to say this as the Warriors' Head Coach, deep down he knows the truth.
The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were truly the "Unstop-A-Bulls."
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