1998 Bulls vs. 1999 Spurs

[dankok8]

Who wins in a 7-game series?

[Im Still Ballin]

I don't know but they did have a great OT game in 1997-98. The Bulls won; MJ came up big in the clutch. It's an interesting matchup from a stylistic perspective. Chicago's rim protection and big rotation was nothing special. It was their ball pressure that made their defense work.

[Phoenix]

I'd go Bulls in 7, but if they ran it back for another year I don't think they get past the Spurs. That version of the Bulls was very clearly on its last legs as champions without roster upgrades.

[Im Still Ballin]

Didn't skilled post-scoring centers cause Chicago problems? I know Houston had regular-season success against them; they struggled with Shaq in the '95 ECSF. Getting Rodman helped with that and more broadly their rebounding. Dennis did an exceptional defensive job on O'Neal when he matched up with him.

[Phoenix]

Didn't skilled post-scoring centers cause Chicago problems? I know Houston had regular-season success against them; they struggled with Shaq in the '95 ECSF. Getting Rodman helped with that and more broadly their rebounding. Dennis did an exceptional defensive job on O'Neal when he matched up with him.

Yes, the problem with the 99 Bull had they kept everyone was Rodman was pretty much on his last legs in 98 and his contributions were less and less balancing out the distractions. Then Pippen was really never the same coming off that back surgery, and I think MJ cut his finger on a cigar-cutter in 99 so would have had to miss time? I could maybe see squeezing out a finals run but I don't see them dealing with both Duncan and Robinson.

[Nowoco]

Didn't skilled post-scoring centers cause Chicago problems?

Isnt this a big myth? Chicago went through loads of great centers. In 1996 alone they went through Mourning, Ewing and Shaq, dropping one game in the process.

The teams that gave the Bulls the most trouble, outside the 1992 Knicks, were the 93 Suns, 96 Sonics, 97 & 98 Jazz and the 98 Pacers. None of which had dominant centers.

[RogueBorg]

Who wins in a 7-game series?

The Steve Kerr v Steve Kerr matchup is intriguing.

[WhiteKyrie]

Jordan beat them without Pippen. And San Antonio’s biggest problems were their perimeter talent, and defense.

They would get worked.

The 8th seed Ewing less Knicks made it competitive with them. Bulls would’ve won 4 in a row if Krause wasn’t a disgusting narcissist and if Scottie wasn’t an insecure pouty malcontent.

[Xiao Yao You]

the lockout would have been the biggest issue facing the Bulls as an older team. The compacted schedule hurt the Jazz certainly

[WhiteKyrie]

the lockout would have been the biggest issue facing the Bulls as an older team. The compacted schedule hurt the Jazz certainly

Jordan stayed in shape. Scottie could have used the rest. He was banged up from the 96 playoffs and got worse each year with bad back issues. But this would’ve actually helped them.

[Xiao Yao You]

Jordan stayed in shape. Scottie could have used the rest. He was banged up from the 96 playoffs and got worse each year with bad back issues. But this would’ve actually helped them.

Stockton and Malone were in shape. Still took its toll

[Reggie43]

Spurs had a weak backcourt and a weak bench. Im not even sure if they could have won it all if not for the lockout.

[JBSptfn]

Stockton and Malone were in shape. Still took its toll

Exactly. Also, with the time off, Rodman may have been a little harder to handle.

Also, there's this (Sean Elliott believes the Spurs beat Chicago that year): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RfPe-LPg_M

[Jimmy Rustler]

The Steve Kerr v Steve Kerr matchup is intriguing.

I'd bet the farm on Kerr, personally.

[1987_Lakers]

I'd bet the farm on Kerr, personally.

Speaking of Kerr


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKz4urjf5GQ

[ArbitraryWater]

No one has asked this before its a question that makes a lot of sense to ask

[Axe]

Speaking of Kerr


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKz4urjf5GQ
:oldlol:

[Jimmy Rustler]

Speaking of Kerr


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKz4urjf5GQ

Still bitter that Jordan punched him in the face. :roll:

We all know Jordan is an entire level above Lebron. You know it too. You just refuse to admit it because of your love for him.

[Da_Realist]

Speaking of Kerr


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKz4urjf5GQ

Was this after the game he saw LeBron quit in overtime because he was mad at his teammate? Is this the Finals where his team beat LeBron's Cavs by double digits 3 out of the 4 games and won the last game by 23 points...IN Cleveland? The only series where the Warriors swept their opponent? :oldlol:

We're not stupid. These words come out of their mouths and fall straight to the ground. Then picked up and polished by his fans and presented as validation like we didn't actually watch the series. Outside of the first four quarters of Game 1, LeBron had zero impact on that series. Must've been the broken hand he didn't tell anyone about until after they got swept.

[1987_Lakers]

Was this after the game he saw LeBron quit in overtime because he was mad at his teammate? Is this the Finals where his team beat LeBron's Cavs by double digits 3 out of the 4 games and won the last game by 23 points...IN Cleveland? The only series where the Warriors swept their opponent? :oldlol:

We're not stupid. These words come out of their mouths and fall straight to the ground. Then picked up and polished by his fans and presented as validation like we didn't actually watch the series. Outside of the first four quarters of Game 1, LeBron had zero impact on that series. Must've been the broken hand he didn't tell anyone about until after they got swept.

Shitting on LeBron for getting swept in that series is like shitting on MJ for getting swept by the '86 Celtics.

It was a one man team going up against KD, Curry, Klay, & Dray.

[SATAN]

We're not stupid.

I believe ignorant would be the right word. Rarely any context. It's like listening to guys who just watch highlights and dramatized sports chat programs. Jordan's ex teammate who is currently a multi championship winning coach says something about LeBron that you don't like and you instantly disregard it as if his opinion isn't shit. Very odd behavior.

[SouBeachTalents]

Was this after the game he saw LeBron quit in overtime because he was mad at his teammate? Is this the Finals where his team beat LeBron's Cavs by double digits 3 out of the 4 games and won the last game by 23 points...IN Cleveland? The only series where the Warriors swept their opponent? :oldlol:

We're not stupid. These words come out of their mouths and fall straight to the ground. Then picked up and polished by his fans and presented as validation like we didn't actually watch the series. Outside of the first four quarters of Game 1, LeBron had zero impact on that series. Must've been the broken hand he didn't tell anyone about until after they got swept.
Jordan would've won that series for sure, he never lost a Finals.

[Lebron23]

Shitting on LeBron for getting swept in that series is like shitting on MJ for getting swept by the '86 Celtics.

It was a one man team going up against KD, Curry, Klay, & Dray.

That guy thinks he is smart. but a very stupid one.

[97 bulls]

The Bulls would've won. There's no way the San Antonio PGs would've even been able to effectively feed Robinson and Duncan with Pippen, Jordan and Harper hounding them. The Bulls were able to frustrate guys like Magic, Penny, and Stockton. Avery Johnson would've had his lunch taken away from him.

[iamgine]

'98 Bulls struggled quite badly against the Pacers and clearly were on their last legs. '99 Spurs got a lot better with Duncan improving and the addition of Mario Elie. I think Spurs would've won although I won't say it's a guarantee.

[Reggie43]

A 35 year old Mario Elie would probably be the reason why the Spurs would lose because he wouldnt be able to make enough shots to keep the defense honest while being killed on the other end by Jordan.

[Da_Realist]

Shitting on LeBron for getting swept in that series is like shitting on MJ for getting swept by the '86 Celtics.

It was a one man team going up against KD, Curry, Klay, & Dray.

No it's not. MJ made an impact. He just wasn't good enough to overcome. You saw it on the floor. LeBron made an impact the first four quarters of the series and then started stat padding when he could scapegoat his teammate. Wasn't this the year the Cavs basically gave LeBron a brand new team by the trading deadline?

[1987_Lakers]

No it's not. MJ made an impact. He just wasn't good enough to overcome. You saw it on the floor. LeBron made an impact the first four quarters of the series and then started stat padding when he could scapegoat his teammate. Wasn't this the year the Cavs basically gave LeBron a brand new team by the trading deadline?

Bulls lost by 19 points in game 1 and were down 30 points at one point in game 3. Swept 3-0.

I could basically use your same argument and say MJ made an impact in only 1 game.

[dankok8]

Impact?

1986 1st Round
Pace: 97.5

Jordan ON: -7.7 Net (-21 in 135 minutes)
Jordan OFF: -51.8 Net (-20 in 19 minutes)
Jordan ON-OFF: +44.1 Net

2018 Finals
Pace: 90.7

Lebron ON: -17.7 Net (-60 in 179 minutes)
Lebron OFF: 0.0 Net (0 in 18 minutes)
Lebron ON-OFF: -17.7 Net

[RogueBorg]

Shitting on LeBron for getting swept in that series is like shitting on MJ for getting swept by the '86 Celtics.



Which is what you guys do all the time.

[RogueBorg]

'98 Bulls struggled quite badly against the Pacers

You act like the Pacers were a bad team.

[JBSptfn]

I know this is two months old, but I want to put in my two cents: I don't think the Bulls win if they come back in 1999. Pippen wasn't healthy, Rodman (after missing several months) would have been unpredictable, and the schedule would have been murder.

I think they go around 29-22 or something like that before losing to Indiana in the playoffs.

If Reinsdorf and Krause would have wanted them to stay together, the best thing would have been for them (specifically Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman) to take the 99 season off and come back (along with HC Phil Jackson and any other role players) on one-year contracts for the 99-00 season.

[HoopsNY]

I know this is two months old, but I want to put in my two cents: I don't think the Bulls win if they come back in 1999. Pippen wasn't healthy, Rodman (after missing several months) would have been unpredictable, and the schedule would have been murder.

I think they go around 29-22 or something like that before losing to Indiana in the playoffs.

If Reinsdorf and Krause would have wanted them to stay together, the best thing would have been for them (specifically Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman) to take the 99 season off and come back (along with HC Phil Jackson and any other role players) on one-year contracts for the 99-00 season.

I don't think it would have mattered. Pippen was healthy enough in the '99 season, just didn't get along well with Barkley.

in 1998, Chicago went 2-0 against SAS, with Pippen missing one of those games. In the game that he did play, Chicago won by 10. Pippen went 13/6/5/2/1 on 29% shooting with 2 TOs.

Kukoc had one game vs. SAS in '99 where he put up 27/11/8/1 on 46% . I think Kukoc shows up more in that series and would actually become the x-factor. Not to mention, it's possible Chicago would have made an offseason move to improve the pieces to the bench in order to add some depth to the roster.

[kawhileonard2]

I know this is two months old, but I want to put in my two cents: I don't think the Bulls win if they come back in 1999. Pippen wasn't healthy, Rodman (after missing several months) would have been unpredictable, and the schedule would have been murder.

I think they go around 29-22 or something like that before losing to Indiana in the playoffs.

If Reinsdorf and Krause would have wanted them to stay together, the best thing would have been for them (specifically Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman) to take the 99 season off and come back (along with HC Phil Jackson and any other role players) on one-year contracts for the 99-00 season.

The 1998 team would.

[Soundwave]

I think the Bulls would eek it out because the Spurs were inexperienced (well mostly Duncan) and David Robinson was never really the same player again after his injury. Sean Elliot was also washed up.

Jordan + Pippen were still better than that version of Duncan + no-longer-MVP-level Robinson and the rest of the Spurs weren't going to make a big enough of a difference.

[Soundwave]

I know this is two months old, but I want to put in my two cents: I don't think the Bulls win if they come back in 1999. Pippen wasn't healthy, Rodman (after missing several months) would have been unpredictable, and the schedule would have been murder.

I think they go around 29-22 or something like that before losing to Indiana in the playoffs.

If Reinsdorf and Krause would have wanted them to stay together, the best thing would have been for them (specifically Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman) to take the 99 season off and come back (along with HC Phil Jackson and any other role players) on one-year contracts for the 99-00 season.

I think the longer off-season would've helped the Bulls, longer layoff, more time to recover from the 98 ring. Regular season was always a joke, Jordan + Pippen together would've won more than enough games to make the playoffs and get a decent enough seed, maybe they would pace themselves a bit more in the regular season but that's it.

[dankok8]

I think the Bulls would eek it out because the Spurs were inexperienced (well mostly Duncan) and David Robinson was never really the same player again after his injury. Sean Elliot was also washed up.

Jordan + Pippen were still better than that version of Duncan + no-longer-MVP-level Robinson and the rest of the Spurs weren't going to make a big enough of a difference.

Robinson was actually a monster defensively in 1999. He was a definite superstar. I think Pippen is the worst player of the four especially given his injuries.

[Axe]

:blah:blah:blah
Extremely gay and stupid. :facepalm