Why does everyone pretend like Shaq didnt beat Jordan in 95?

[eliteballer]

Jordan put up 32 points, 6.5 rebs, 4.5 assists, on 48% shooting per game in the 95 playoffs, better than any of his postseason numbers in 96,97,or 98. Hell its not like he was sitting around playing videogames, he was playing semipro baseball so he had to stay in shape.

If you're going to say "he still wasn't Jordan", well I'm going to point out the fact that Ho Grant got injured in 96 and the Magic didnt have him for the majority of the series.

Bulls lost in 95 because they didnt have an All-Star caliber PF, proving that Jordan like anyone else needed quality bigs to win.

17 games and a 1st round playoff series arent enough to warm up? It's not like he was coming off an injury

[AlphaWolf24]

inb4 Jordan was "Rusty"...

[DuMa]

jordan swept the magic (with horace grant) the next year and won the championship and that chapter was closed

[8BeastlyXOIAD]

inb4 Jordan was "Rusty"...
This

Shaq and the Magic totally raped the Bulls

[dude77]

doesn't count .. yes rusty .. everything's off .. given a full season you see exactly what happens .. magic were lucky they were playing a chicago bull team with a jordan who had been retired for 2 yrs and had just gotten back late in the season .. any idiot can see that .. every other full season he had in his championship run ended in domination and a title

[eliteballer]

jordan swept the magic (with horace grant) the next year and won the championship and that chapter was closed

Maybe you should read the first post before posting your drivel.

[kaiiu]

this is the equivalent Dwight Howard vs Tony Allen

Dwight won the 1st meeting in 09, but TA won the second in 10

[AlphaWolf24]

doesn't count .. yes rusty .. everything's off .. given a full season you see exactly what happens .. magic were lucky they were playing a chicago bull team with a jordan who had been retired for 2 yrs and had just gotten back late in the season .. any idiot can see that .. every other full season he had in his championship run ended in domination and a title


this.....:rolleyes:


the 9 years Jordan Lost does'nt really count because either he was way too young to win (22 years old).....not "good enough" teamates.....missed to many basketball games and forgot how to dribble...wait, didn't he miss the same amount of games in 1986 when he dropped 63 points???:confusedshrug: .......wait he lost that year too.

didn't he get the greatest defender of his Generation in 1995.....

meh....who cares......it was all MJ.....he was just Rusty , or too young or too old or didn't have any teamates the other 9 years...(phew....that feels better)

[iamgine]

Bulls lost in 95 because they didnt have an All-Star caliber PF, proving that Jordan like anyone else needed quality bigs to win.

I don't know what your point is. Of course any team needed quality bigs to win, amongst other things.

[L.Kizzle]

Jordan lost, fare and square.

[Micku]

jordan swept the magic (with horace grant) the next year and won the championship and that chapter was closed

Grant was injured and didn't play for the rest of the series I believe after the first game. Not that would matter too much since the Bulls just outclassed them.



Bulls lost in 95 because they didnt have an All-Star caliber PF, proving that Jordan like anyone else needed quality bigs to win.


Yup. Everybody needs decent big to win it all. But I wonder what was Jordan numbers in 96 before the finals?

And the Bulls screwed up in series against Orlando in 95. There were a couple of plays that the Bulls just messed up. But they also needed somebody to grab the bounds and protect the paint.

Even if Jordan did play for a full season, I don't think they would beat Rockets or Orlando. The Bulls would definitely have a better record though.

[theaussieguy]

Wow congrats guy you figured out that the greatest players of all time in their respective sports do indeed Lose thoughout their career.

Do you want me to subdivide a medal between the 8 or so of you?

[AlphaWolf24]

doesn't count .. yes rusty .. everything's off .. given a full season you see exactly what happens .. magic were lucky they were playing a chicago bull team with a jordan who had been retired for 2 yrs and had just gotten back late in the season .. any idiot can see that .. every other full season he had in his championship run ended in domination and a title


you joined the clubhouse - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFxIkJ6Wi1A&feature=relmfu

[AlphaWolf24]

Wow congrats guy you figured out that the greatest players of all time in their respective sports do indeed Lose thoughout their career.

Do you want me to subdivide a medal between the 8 or so of you?




mad

[32MJ32]

This just in:

Mike didn't win every game he played in

*Sound of planes falling from the sky, babies crying, dinosaurs screaming, the world ending*

[dude77]

this.....:rolleyes:


the 9 years Jordan Lost does'nt really count because either he was way too young to win (22 years old).....not "good enough" teamates.....missed to many basketball games and forgot how to dribble...wait, didn't he miss the same amount of games in 1986 when he dropped 63 points???:confusedshrug: .......wait he lost that year too.

didn't he get the greatest defender of his Generation in 1995.....

meh....who cares......it was all MJ.....he was just Rusty , or too young or too old or didn't have any teamates the other 9 years...(phew....that feels better)


what the hell are you bringing up his younger years when he wasn't a seasoned winner and had shitty teams ? .. can you reach anymore to hate on jordan ? :hammerhead:


ignore every other full season with that CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD in which he finished with a title .. suddenly he comes in late one season after being gone from basketball for 2 years and loses .. it's not a coincidence .. mj haters will forever use that year's playoff loss to rag on jordan .. but you and everyone else knows what happened everytime he played a full year with full preparations in the 90s .. not coming back out of nowhere and joining a team late in the season .. I don't believe people are that stupid on this forum

[Inactive]

Who cares? Jordan lost plenty of other times, as well.

The fact is, the Chicago Bulls wouldn't have been the same team, if Jordan played with them all year. Maybe they still would've lost, maybe not. Considering their success the next three years, I think the latter is more likely (unless you think that Rodman single handedly carried them from mid level contenders, to one of the most dominant teams ever...).

[Sarcastic]

Who pretends he didn't? Every single source I have seen shows that the Magic beat the Bulls in the Eastern Semis in 1995.

[Theoo's Daddy]

It really doesn't matter because jordan owned them the next season.. swept them 4-0..

[AlphaWolf24]

what the hell are you bringing up his younger years when he wasn't a seasoned winner and had shitty teams ? .. can you reach anymore to hate on jordan ? :hammerhead:


ignore every other full season with that CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD in which he finished with a title .. suddenly he comes in late one season after being gone from basketball for 2 years and loses .. it's not a coincidence .. mj haters will forever use that year's playoff loss to rag on jordan .. but you and everyone else knows what happened everytime he played a full year with full preparations in the 90s .. not coming back out of nowhere and joining a team late in the season .. I don't believe people are that stupid on this forum


:roll: - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFxIkJ6Wi1A&feature=relmfu

[dude77]

It really doesn't matter because jordan owned them the next season.. swept them 4-0..

na .. the magic were clearly the superior team .. I mean they swept michael jordan .. they exposed jordan .. no fluke there .. the magic went on to 3peat and set a record for most reg season wins .. oh wait ..

[theaussieguy]

na .. the magic were clearly the superior team .. I mean they swept michael jordan .. they exposed jordan .. no fluke there .. the magic went on to 3peat and set a record for most reg season wins .. oh wait ..
get off ur crack pipe sonny jim

[Samurai Swoosh]

Jordan put up 32 points, 6.5 rebs, 4.5 assists, on 48% shooting per game in the 95 playoffs, better than any of his postseason numbers in 96,97,or 98. Hell its not like he was sitting around playing videogames, he was playing semipro baseball so he had to stay in shape.
Had a SICK playoff series against them too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xso1KXY7ok

In quite a few games he had 30 point halves.

If only he had the stamina to keep it up.

That was literally the last season of his prime physically. He ws never as explosive after that ... even though in '96, '97, and '98 he was still one of the best and most exciting athletes int he league.

[sekachu]

this.....:rolleyes:


the 9 years Jordan Lost does'nt really count because either he was way too young to win (22 years old).....not "good enough" teamates.....missed to many basketball games and forgot how to dribble...wait, didn't he miss the same amount of games in 1986 when he dropped 63 points???:confusedshrug: .......wait he lost that year too.

didn't he get the greatest defender of his Generation in 1995.....

meh....who cares......it was all MJ.....he was just Rusty , or too young or too old or didn't have any teamates the other 9 years...(phew....that feels better)



It doesn't make sense for you that MJ couldn't win title at 22?
You think MJ shouldn't be rusty even missing almost 2 years bball in 95?
MJ should have won at age 38 with the scrubs he played with?

[AlphaWolf24]

Had a SICK playoff series against them too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xso1KXY7ok

In quite a few games he had 30 point halves.

If only he had the stamina to keep it up.

That was literally the last season of his prime physically. He ws never as explosive after that ... even though in '96, '97, and '98 he was still one of the best and most exciting athletes int he league.


and in 1986 when he missed the same amount of games....his shot was $$ everywhere.....was he rusty then?

[dude77]

what the hell are you bringing up his younger years when he wasn't a seasoned winner and had shitty teams ? .. can you reach anymore to hate on jordan ? :hammerhead:


ignore every other full season with that CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD in which he finished with a title .. suddenly he comes in late one season after being gone from basketball for 2 years and loses .. it's not a coincidence .. mj haters will forever use that year's playoff loss to rag on jordan .. but you and everyone else knows what happened everytime he played a full year with full preparations in the 90s .. not coming back out of nowhere and joining a team late in the season .. I don't believe people are that stupid on this forum

what part don't you understand ? or you're just interested in acting like a clown ? why do you ignore the fact that everytime he played a full season with his championship team he won a title ? and the only year he didn't play a full season he lost .. you think that was a coincidence ?

[AlphaWolf24]

It doesn't make sense for you that MJ couldn't win title at 22?
You think MJ shouldn't be rusty even missing almost 2 years bball in 95?
MJ should have won at age 38 with the scrubs he played with?


your right...why should the GOAT win at 22 years old...what was I thinking:confusedshrug: ...way too young to know how to play and win....


wait at 38 he was a "seasoned winner"...surely he could make everyone better.....especially without "hand checking".....all he has to do is "will himself" and teach everyone in practice how to "play intense"....right?....at least make the playoff's in a weak conference..

[AlphaWolf24]

what part don't you understand ? or you're just interested in acting like a clown ? why do you ignore the fact that everytime he played a full season with his championship team he won a title ? and the only year he didn't play a full season he lost .. you think that was a coincidence ?


with his championship team?...so he he had 6 "championships teams"....and 9 "non championship" teams.....with 5 of the "non championship teams" being a "non winning (below .500) team"...

wow....dude sucks

[dude77]

your right...why should the GOAT win at 22 years old...what was I thinking:confusedshrug: ...way too young to know how to play and win....


wait at 38 he was a "seasoned winner"...surely he could make everyone better.....especially without "hand checking".....all he has to do is "will himself" and teach everyone in practice how to "play intense"....right?....at least make the playoff's in a weak conference..


at 22 he had a shitty team .. at 38 he played for the ****ing wizards .. wtf is wrong with you ? did jordan fck your mom or something ?

[Samurai Swoosh]

at 22 he had a shitty team .. at 38 he played for the ****ing wizards .. wtf is wrong with you ?
Dude, he's a Kobe troll. He's threatned by the success, the accomplishments, the statistical dominance (ESPECIALLY in the playoffs / Finals) ... probably mad Kobe himself has said "MJ = GOAT"

:facepalm

[AlphaWolf24]

at 22 he had a shitty team .. at 38 he played for the ****ing wizards .. wtf is wrong with you ? did jordan fck your mom or something ?


so MJ doesn't really make anyone better then .....meh I already knew that....leaves his team and they only drop 2 games:lol


and don't get mad at me JJ.....you can dip yourself in Jumpman....you still garbage and got hands like feet.



next

[AlphaWolf24]

Dude, he's a Kobe troll. He's threatned by the success, the accomplishments, the statistical dominance (ESPECIALLY in the playoffs / Finals) ... probably mad Kobe himself has said "MJ = GOAT"

:facepalm

2011 - who's the best player in the NBA

Jordan - "Kobe"..:lol

aint nobody threatened....just aint a jordan jocker...

[andgar923]

Jordan put up 32 points, 6.5 rebs, 4.5 assists, on 48% shooting per game in the 95 playoffs, better than any of his postseason numbers in 96,97,or 98. Hell its not like he was sitting around playing videogames, he was playing semipro baseball so he had to stay in shape.

If you're going to say "he still wasn't Jordan", well I'm going to point out the fact that Ho Grant got injured in 96 and the Magic didnt have him for the majority of the series.

Bulls lost in 95 because they didnt have an All-Star caliber PF, proving that Jordan like anyone else needed quality bigs to win.

17 games and a 1st round playoff series arent enough to warm up? It's not like he was coming off an injury


LOLLL Kobe fans are still hurt.:oldlol:

[Samurai Swoosh]

Jordan - "Kobe"..:lol

aint nobody threatened....just aint a jordan jocker...
And I agree with him. He said that in 2010, by the way.

But prime v.s. prime ... Jordan would eat Bryant for lunch

[OldSchoolBBall]

Eliteballer and his ceaseless agenda against Jordan.

These clowns look at the numbers and not the impact, game management, conditioning, decision making, sharpness etc. :oldlol: LMAO @ these kids acting like a guy who didn't play for 21 months and then played ~20 games is as game sharp and ready as he would have been had he played a full season/training camp, or if he never retired. What a joke. :oldlol:

[eliteballer]

Dude was FRESH and rested, while everyone else had been through the grind of an NBA season.

[Samurai Swoosh]

Dude was FRESH and rested
:oldlol: @ the agenda.

Lakers fans still bitter beer faced.

All those great players over the years in the purple and gold, yet the GOAT wore a white, red and black Chicago Bulls uni.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[az00m]

Jordan put up 32 points, 6.5 rebs, 4.5 assists, on 48% shooting per game in the 95 playoffs, better than any of his postseason numbers in 96,97,or 98. Hell its not like he was sitting around playing videogames, he was playing semipro baseball so he had to stay in shape.

If you're going to say "he still wasn't Jordan", well I'm going to point out the fact that Ho Grant got injured in 96 and the Magic didnt have him for the majority of the series.

Bulls lost in 95 because they didnt have an All-Star caliber PF, proving that Jordan like anyone else needed quality bigs to win.

17 games and a 1st round playoff series arent enough to warm up? It's not like he was coming off an injury

the bulls center and powerforward combine for less than 15 points a game. season 96-98.

Shaq put up double that. The bulls didnt need bigs to win, they just needed a rebounder.

[Samurai Swoosh]

Shaq put up double that. The bulls didnt need bigs to win, they just needed a rebounder.
Gets it.

:pimp:

[eliteballer]

the bulls center and powerforward combine for less than 15 points a game. season 96-98.

Shaq put up double that. The bulls didnt need bigs to win, they just needed a rebounder.

Jeez, what do bigs do? Play D and Rebound:rolleyes:

[Collie]

Can you name me a champion, like ever, that didn't have a quality big?

Sonics? Jack Sikma. Bullets? Unseld and Hayes. 70's Celtics? MVP Dave Cowens. Warriors? Clifford Ray.

There has NEVER been a championship squad that didn't have quality big men. And heck, calling Rodman a big man is kinda stretching it no?

[az00m]

Jeez, what do bigs do? Play D and Rebound:rolleyes:

Luc longly? One of the worst ****ing defenders and big men ever.

The only true big the bulls had was rodman. And he was a half an inch taller than jordan.

[Samurai Swoosh]

There has NEVER been a championship squad that didn't have quality big men. And heck, calling Rodman a big man is kinda stretching it no?
Considering he was the size of a SF, no ... calling him a big man would be very inaccurate.

[eliteballer]

Luc longly? One of the worst ****ing defenders and big men ever.

The only true big the bulls had was rodman. And he was a half an inch taller than jordan.

Only the Jordan Rescue Team would try to discount a guy pulling down 15 boards a game:oldlol: Unreal.

[jlip]

It's obvious that the difference between the '95 and '96 Magic- Bulls series was the power forward matchups not the relative rust level of MJ. That's not even a slight to MJ. That's just the simple reality whether you're a MJ fan or not. Horace Grant had arguably the best playoff series of his career against the Bulls' weak front line in '95. Also, he was familiar with the triangle.

The '96 ECF saw the roles reversed. Not only did the Bulls pick up the best rebounding/ defensive pf of the 90's, but after getting hurt in game 1 of the '96 ECF, Grant was replaced by Koncak who was a marginal role player in his last season and almost averaged more fouls per game than he did ppg and rpg combined. I'm not saying that the Magic would have won in '96 with a healthy Grant, but the extreme difference in the pf matchups over the two series can't be ignored.

[andgar923]

It's obvious that the difference between the '95 and '96 Magic- Bulls series was the power forward matchups not the relative rust level of MJ. That's not even a slight to MJ. That's just the simple reality whether you're a MJ fan or not. Horace Grant had arguably the best playoff series of his career against the Bulls' weak front line in '95. Also, he was familiar with the triangle.

The '96 ECF saw the roles reversed. Not only did the Bulls pick up the best rebounding/ defensive pf of the 90's, but after getting hurt in game 1 of the '96 ECF, Grant was replaced by Koncak who was a marginal role player in his last season and almost averaged more fouls per game than he did ppg and rpg combined. I'm not saying that the Magic would have won in '96 with a healthy Grant, but the extreme difference in the pf matchups over the two series can't be ignored.

Whatabout the extreme difference in the center spot?

[jlip]

Whatabout the extreme difference in the center spot?

You're missing my point. The same centers that played in '95 played in '96. Nothing of any consequence changed from one season to the next at that position. My post was that the pfs that played in '95 and '96 were different for both teams and had serious impact on the series. While being their team's best players, neither Shaq nor MJ were the difference makers in either of those series.

[The-Legend-24]

Jordan won because he played in the weakest era ever.

Jordan today is Poor mans Tony Allen/Joe Johnson

/Thread.

[bdreason]

I didn't realize Shaq played Jordan 1 on 1 in 95'. Is there any footage? Or is it just word of mouth folk legend at this point?

Shaq is a monster, but my money would have been on MJ easily.

[blablabla]

some people think mj never lost a game

[Theoo's Daddy]

some people think mj never lost a game
:facepalm , i think everybody knows he lost against the pistons/celtics for a while.

[All Net]

Jordan won because he played in the weakest era ever.

Jordan today is Poor mans Tony Allen/Joe Johnson

/Thread.

least you are consistant

You are a fool in all posts you make.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Dude was FRESH and rested, while everyone else had been through the grind of an NBA season.

Yes, I'm sure everyone else would have been better off too had they taken 21 months off and had no training camp/preseason and just 20 games under their belt up to that point. You're a joke. :oldlol:


http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1997.html

Yet they managed to have a virtually identical record in 1996 and '97 in the 25+ games Rodman missed during each of those seasons, and also won a title in convincing fashion in 1997 with MJ averaging almost as many boards as Rodman (7.9 vs. 8.4 - hardly dominant rebounding from Rodman that postseason).

[millwad]

It wouldn't even matter if he'd play the whole season in '95, the difference between '96 version of Jordan and '95 version of Jordan wasn't that big that it would have changed a whole series vs the Magic and sure as hell it wouldn't have changed the fact that they wouldn't have a chance in the finals. MJ and the bulls lost to a Magic team that got swept in the finals.

MJ wouldn't have won it anyway in 95, the fact that Grant left made them terrible when it came to big men..

[LJJ]

The Bulls, with Jordan, lost the series. Chicago was also the 5th seed, and Orlando was the 1st seed.


A 5th seed losing to a 1st seed is surprising now?

[Bring-Your-Js]

It wouldn't even matter if he'd play the whole season in '95, the difference between '96 version of Jordan and '95 version of Jordan wasn't that big that it would have changed a whole series vs the Magic and sure as hell it wouldn't have changed the fact that they wouldn't have a chance in the finals. MJ and the bulls lost to a Magic team that got swept in the finals.

MJ wouldn't have won it anyway in 95, the fact that Grant left made them terrible when it came to big men..

The Rockets/Suns was the true 95 Finals. The Rockets took a dump on San Antonio and Orlando.

[All Net]

The fact MJ had two years off and only 17 games and a first round to get back into things and still averaged 32, 6 and 5? shows how damn good he was.

[The-Legend-24]

Does it really matter if he beat him in 95 when a year later he got swept.

[Solid Snake]

Jordan put up 32 points, 6.5 rebs, 4.5 assists, on 48% shooting per game in the 95 playoffs, better than any of his postseason numbers in 96,97,or 98. Hell its not like he was sitting around playing videogames, he was playing semipro baseball so he had to stay in shape.

If you're going to say "he still wasn't Jordan", well I'm going to point out the fact that Ho Grant got injured in 96 and the Magic didnt have him for the majority of the series.

Bulls lost in 95 because they didnt have an All-Star caliber PF, proving that Jordan like anyone else needed quality bigs to win.

17 games and a 1st round playoff series arent enough to warm up? It's not like he was coming off an injury


Because Jordan just came back.

Close this dumbass thread.

[millwad]

Does it really matter if he beat him in 95 when a year later he got swept.

Can't even be compared, in 96 the Bulls had Rodman on their roster and Grant got was bascially injured all year and he went down in the playoffs vs Bulls and was replaced by Koncak. As if that wasn't enough, Nick Anderson got injured in the playoffs as well..

[millwad]

Because Jordan just came back.

Close this dumbass thread.

This thread ain't the dumbass here, you are..

Do you honestly believe that Jordan would have won that year if he wouldn't have had retired? Look, the difference between prime Jordan and 95 Jordan wasn't that huge that it first would have changed the series vs Magic and it really doesn't matter either, Houston swept the same team Chicago got killed by..

[dude77]

This thread ain't the dumbass here, you are..

Do you honestly believe that Jordan would have won that year if he wouldn't have had retired? Look, the difference between prime Jordan and 95 Jordan wasn't that huge that it first would have changed the series vs Magic and it really doesn't matter either, Houston swept the same team Chicago got killed by..

how many times do people have to be told that you can't make that comparison .. it DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY .. and how the fk can you dismiss the fact that he had been gone from bball for 2 yrs and had only played 20+ games upon his return ? .. you expect him to get in bball shape, build back up team chemistry etc in that short span of time after joining the team 60 games into the season after being gone 2 yrs ?? na you people can't be that stupid .. in fact I know you're not .. you're just hating on the man

[DRoseOwnsACamry]

mad
http://lifebeforetime.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lakers-get-swept.jpg

Shut the **** up, boy. :roll:

[Kellogs4toniee]

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=150518004

Too much pills making you delusional OP? :confusedshrug: No one's pretending.

/Endthread

[catch24]

Who's pretending?

More like making up shit (like you always do) because you're bored and want to troll.

[Samurai Swoosh]

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=150518004

Too much pills making you delusional OP? :confusedshrug: No one's pretending.

/Endthread
I know ... that Magic team was sick. Lots of talent built properly around a DOMINANT, gasp ... IN SHAPE Shaquille O'Neal.

They had dudes who could knock down the three.

Gritty players who would give it up to the proper scoring options.

And another superstar who could create for himself and others, in Penny Hardaway.

Shame that dude's career got cut short.

Also, we're not pretending that MJ's Bulls didn't molly whop Shaq's Lakers in 1996, either.

Because apart from a late game collapse, and Luc Longely BLOWING a wide open layup on a beautiful assist from Jordan late in game 6. The series between the PF less Bulls almost went 7 games.

[97 bulls]

I know ... that Magic team was sick. Lots of talent built properly around a DOMINANT, gasp ... IN SHAPE Shaquille O'Neal.

They had dudes who could knock down the three.

Gritty players who would give it up to the proper scoring options.

And another superstar who could create for himself and others, in Penny Hardaway.

Shame that dude's career got cut short.

Also, we're not pretending that MJ's Bulls didn't molly whop Shaq's Lakers in 1996, either.

Because apart from a late game collapse, and Luc Longely BLOWING a wide open layup on a beautiful assist from Jordan late in game 6. The series between the PF less Bulls almost went 7 games.

All true. I was just about to state that the two series were a very fair comparison. The bulls lacked the interior help in 95 and lost a closely contested series. Then the following season with the pf roles switched, the bulls beat the magic so bad that shaq left the conference.

[gengiskhan]

32 points, 6.5 rebs, 4.5 assists, on 48% shooting per game in the 95 playoffs

hah!?!:rolleyes:

those are sick stats for out of shape player.

Even retired MJ coming back for 20 odd games will still butt rape Prime Kobe Bryant's playoff stats. :roll: :roll: :applause:

I doubt this trash called Copy Bryant can ever shoot 48%FG in his prime in the playoffs. :roll:

[Samurai Swoosh]

All true. I was just about to state that the two series were a very fair comparison. The bulls lacked the interior help in 95 and lost a closely contested series. Then the following season with the pf roles switched, the bulls beat the magic so bad that shaq left the conference.
Pretty much exactly. MJ / Pip spanked the Magic so hard, Shaq originated the "taking talents to South Beach" stuff ... but took it to LA instead.

[97 bulls]

I think people are missing thenbiggest reason the bulls lost to the magic that year. Chemistry. look at how long it took the heat to get on the same page this season. Remember, the bulls team jordan left in 93 was nowhere near the same team he came back to in 95. And with a player like jordan, the teammates had to figure out where they fit. They had to learn where to be in situations, jordan had to learn his new teammates sweet spots too. Why do you think teams have training camps? And don't they start a few months before the season? No preseason games, no practice time. The bulls team that entered the playoffs were basically a pickup team once jordan came back.

And he was rusty. I remember jordan blowing layups, you can tell he had problems when plays were called cuz things were so different. I saw missed passes cuz he wasn't crisp. So yes statistically he had a great series. But by his standards, he wasn't ready.