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As I review the 30th anniversary of the Chicago Bulls' playoff run to the 1996 NBA title, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back at the team's historic regular season on days in-between the playoff games.
In 1995-96, the Chicago Bulls broke the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' single-season wins record, going 72-10, including an incredible 39-2 at home at the United Center. For context, that Lakers team with the logo Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor went 69-13 en route to an NBA title against the New York Knicks, which Los Angeles beat 4-1. Interestingly enough, then Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach Jimmy Cleamons was a rookie on that historic Lakers' squad, something I didn't know until writing this post.
After acquiring Dennis Rodman about a month before the season started, the Chicago Bulls were starting to build buzz as a potential all-time team. Sure, there were question marks with Michael Jordan not looking like the old MJ during his late-season return in 1994-95 and Rodman being a wildcard who could implode at any minute.
Still, as I got home from eighth-grade on Friday, November 3, 1995, I remember opening up a copy of the Chicago Sun-Times, which was previewing the Bulls' season opener that night against the Charlotte Hornets. I vividly recall the paper having the entire Bulls' roster, with photos and background information, on a full black-and-white page.
As I looked over the Bulls' team, I thought to myself, "Damn, this looks like the best team I have ever seen." While I was only 13 years old at the time, I felt like this Chicago team looked as good on paper as any of the Bulls' three title-winning teams from 1991, 1992 and 1993.
In 1995-96, the Chicago Bulls broke the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' single-season wins record, going 72-10, including an incredible 39-2 at home at the United Center. For context, that Lakers team with the logo Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor went 69-13 en route to an NBA title against the New York Knicks, which Los Angeles beat 4-1. Interestingly enough, then Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach Jimmy Cleamons was a rookie on that historic Lakers' squad, something I didn't know until writing this post.
After acquiring Dennis Rodman about a month before the season started, the Chicago Bulls were starting to build buzz as a potential all-time team. Sure, there were question marks with Michael Jordan not looking like the old MJ during his late-season return in 1994-95 and Rodman being a wildcard who could implode at any minute.
Still, as I got home from eighth-grade on Friday, November 3, 1995, I remember opening up a copy of the Chicago Sun-Times, which was previewing the Bulls' season opener that night against the Charlotte Hornets. I vividly recall the paper having the entire Bulls' roster, with photos and background information, on a full black-and-white page.
As I looked over the Bulls' team, I thought to myself, "Damn, this looks like the best team I have ever seen." While I was only 13 years old at the time, I felt like this Chicago team looked as good on paper as any of the Bulls' three title-winning teams from 1991, 1992 and 1993.
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Later than night, I would doubt myself as the Bulls got off to a rough start against the Hornets, which had traded star center Alonzo Mourning earlier that day. At the time my parents did not have cable television so I had to listen to this game on my radio in my bedroom. I am not going to lie. I was a bit nervous as the Bulls got down double-digits in the first half. However, the Bulls would rally to win the game, and my worries would be eased.
It wouldn't take long for this Chicago Bulls team to click and start running roughshod over the rest of the NBA.
After 10 games, Chicago would be 9-1, with its only loss on the road to an Orlando Magic team, without an injured Shaquille O'Neal, that had knocked the Bulls out of the 1995 NBA Playoffs.
While the Bulls would still have to prove itself against Orlando when it mattered, Chicago was quickly showing that it was a special outfit.
I have "scoured" YouTube to find the first 10 games of the Chicago Bulls during the 1995-96 season. Included in this initial stretch of games is a gutty comeback against the Portland Trail Blazers, two wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers and their ugly jerseys, an overtime victory against the Three Js - Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson- of the Dallas Mavericks, and a road triumph in San Antonio, during which Rodman did not play in his old stomping grounds. I forgot that Rodman played the first three games of the season before missing the next 13 games due to a torn left calf muscle. Replacing Rodman with the underwhelming Dickey Simpkins, a second-year forward from Providence, this Bulls team hardly missed a beat, going 10-2 without The Worm, who would return at home against the New York Knicks on December 6, 1995.
Make the jump to view the games and review the stats from the Chicago Bulls' fast and furious start to the 1995-1996 NBA season.
It wouldn't take long for this Chicago Bulls team to click and start running roughshod over the rest of the NBA.
After 10 games, Chicago would be 9-1, with its only loss on the road to an Orlando Magic team, without an injured Shaquille O'Neal, that had knocked the Bulls out of the 1995 NBA Playoffs.
While the Bulls would still have to prove itself against Orlando when it mattered, Chicago was quickly showing that it was a special outfit.
I have "scoured" YouTube to find the first 10 games of the Chicago Bulls during the 1995-96 season. Included in this initial stretch of games is a gutty comeback against the Portland Trail Blazers, two wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers and their ugly jerseys, an overtime victory against the Three Js - Jason Kidd, Jamal Mashburn and Jimmy Jackson- of the Dallas Mavericks, and a road triumph in San Antonio, during which Rodman did not play in his old stomping grounds. I forgot that Rodman played the first three games of the season before missing the next 13 games due to a torn left calf muscle. Replacing Rodman with the underwhelming Dickey Simpkins, a second-year forward from Providence, this Bulls team hardly missed a beat, going 10-2 without The Worm, who would return at home against the New York Knicks on December 6, 1995.
Make the jump to view the games and review the stats from the Chicago Bulls' fast and furious start to the 1995-1996 NBA season.
Game 1: Friday, November 3, 1995
Chicago Bulls 105, Charlotte Hornets 91
Record 1-0.
Game 2: Saturday, November 4, 1995
Chicago Bulls 107, Boston Celtics 85
Record: 2-0
Game 3: Tuesday, November 7, 1995
Chicago Bulls 117, Toronto Raptors 108
Record: 3-0
Game 4: Thursday, November 9, 1995
Chicago Bulls 106, Cleveland Cavaliers 88
Record: 4-0
Game 5: Saturday, November 11, 1995
Chicago Bulls 110, Portland Trail Blazers 106
Record: 5-0
Game 6: Tuesday, November 14, 1995
Orlando Magic 94, Chicago Bulls 88
Record: 5-1
Game 7: Wednesday, November 15, 1995
Chicago Bulls 113, Cleveland Cavaliers 94
Record: 6-1
Game 8: Friday, November 17, 1995
Chicago Bulls 109, New Jersey Nets 94
Record: 7-1
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