1996 Chicago Bulls vs. 2004 Detroit Pistons

[Lebron23]

Who wins in a best of 7 series? Pistons beat 4 hall of famers in Shaq, Kobe, Malone, and Payton while the Bulls beat Payton and Kemp in the nba finals.

[Lebron23]

I picked the 2004 Pistons in 5.. Jordan struggled against the Sonics who was not even as good defensively as the 2004 Pistons. Jordan would average more points than 2004 Kobe, but likely the same shooting percentages. Pippen was suffering from tendinitis. Wallace would outplay a 35 years old Rodman. Billups and Hamilton might average over 20 ppg against Jordan and Harper. Rasheed would destroy longley at the posts. Prince definitely had the tools to shutdown Kukoc. It's going to be a low scoring series.

[Whoah10115]

Lol.

[Lebron23]

Lol.

1996 sonics defensive rating 102.9, 2004 Pistons 98.0 defensive rating.

[KobesFinger]

1996 sonics defensive rating 102.9, 2004 Pistons 98.0 defensive rating.

Average 1996 NBA Drtg was 107.6, compared to 102.9 in 2004. You can't compare stats across eras like for like.

To answer your question, Bulls win easily. They had no chemistry issues and no off court issues that would affect their play, even with Rodman in the team.

[ImKobe]

Average 1996 NBA Drtg was 107.6, compared to 102.9 in 2004. You can't compare stats across eras like for like.

To answer your question, Bulls win easily. They had no chemistry issues and no off court issues that would affect their play, even with Rodman in the team.

This, and Billups wouldn't go off on the Bulls like he did against the Lakers, he's not abusing them with the P&R the way he did the Lakers with Shaq getting destroyed on the defensive end. Pippen, Harper and MJ make things really ugly for Chauncey and then you have Rodman to throw at Sheed. It would look a lot like the '96 Finals.

[Whoah10115]

1996 sonics defensive rating 102.9, 2004 Pistons 98.0 defensive rating.

As poster below you said, different eras.

Detroit wasn't nearly as good as Seattle, overall. I was a kid. Chicago went up 3-0 before Seattle came back with two wins. The series was never in question. May have been the only time Chicago ever took foot off pedal.

The 96 Bulls are arguably the greatest team of all-time. What the hell are the 04 Pistons gonna do to beat Chicago?

[Wally450]

I'd probably go Bulls in 7, but every game would be like 75-69 or something.

[Phoenix]

The 96 Bulls were great defensively ( not likely Rip and Chauncey go off for 21 apiece against the MJ/Harper defensive backcourt or they could do something like put Pip on Chauncey and MJ on Prince since he's not an offensive threat and won't take advantage of his his height), and won't have an offensive breakdown like we saw between Shaq and Kobe.

Rodman vs Sheed is worth the price of admission on its own.