1998 Chicago Bulls vs. 1999 San Antonio Spurs

[TAZORAC]

The spurs were too deep for the bulls. Look at the bulls bench

Just too think THAT TEAM won 72 games..

[Lebron23]

[SwooshReturns]

bulls win this but if we're talking about 2003 or 2005 spurs ---- the spurs win.

I honestly don't think so ...

I don't think any version of the Spurs could beat the '98 Bulls.

And that's probably the worst actual Bulls championship team, even if they were entertaining dominating through will power alone.

The Spurs were like the scavanger championship team. Always picking up rings on the down end of some dynasty, or before the up swing and creation of a new one.

Consistently very good (much like a microcosm for Duncan himself) ... never truly dominating and great.

People over-rank the hell out of Duncan and the Spurs, this guy never even went to back to back Finals, let alone win two of them in a row.

[Kurosawa0]

People forget how hard it was for the Bulls to get that last ring. By the end of that Utah series it was basically just Jordan grinding it out himself. The Spurs would've probably beaten them in 6.

[Kurosawa0]

People over-rank the hell out of Duncan and the Spurs, this guy never even went to back to back Finals, let alone win two of them in a row.

If Manu doesn't foul Dirk in game seven in 06 and Fisher's shot in 04 doesn't go in, they go to 4 straight.

[Lebron23]

People forget how hard it was for the Bulls to get that last ring. By the end of that Utah series it was basically just Jordan grinding it out himself. The Spurs would've probably beaten them in 6.

Scottie Pippen was a shadow of his former self in his last season with the Chicago Bulls. He was still a good defender when he played for the Blazers, but his offensive numbers went down.

[97 bulls]

I honestly don't think so ...

I don't think any version of the Spurs could beat the '98 Bulls.

And that's probably the worst actual Bulls championship team, even if they were entertaining dominating through will power alone.

The Spurs were like the scavanger championship team. Always picking up rings on the down end of some dynasty, or before the up swing and creation of a new one.

Consistently very good (much like a microcosm for Duncan himself) ... never truly dominating and great.

People over-rank the hell out of Duncan and the Spurs, this guy never even went to back to back Finals, let alone win two of them in a row.

Hey Swoosh, in 98, the Bulls won 62 games. Pippen missed 38 games. How many wins would the Bulls have had with a full season from Pippen

[SwooshReturns]

By the end of that Utah series it was basically just Jordan grinding it out himself.

Only tough series was the Pacers one ... and I think it was because mentally the Bulls felt like they had them after beating them the first few games, and had a few mental lapses that continuously let the Pacers back in it.

As for the Utah series? It was more competitive in '97. The Bulls creamed the Jazz. Even setting the bench mark for biggest margin of victory in a Finals game. They held Utah, a fellow Finals competitor to under 59 points in one game ...



Game 6 was a grind because it was literally just MJ who won that game. Pippen was a shell of himself, Kukoc was non-existent ... it was literally a 35 year old man's will winning a game.

If the Bulls keep that core intact, keep Jackson, add some younger pieces around MJ / Pip / Rodman ... if Pippen was the best player on an all around super talented Blazers team that heading into the 4th quarter of game 7 v.s. the 2000 Lakers should've won the game. With the best closer of all-time in Jordan, and a some younger pieces helping out ... how do the Bulls not compete for rings in 1999, 2000, or even 2001 ???

Even if the would've finally been dethroned by the Lakers, and the torch officially passed ...

[Lebron23]

The Spurs were the best franchise in the 2000's. They won 4 NBA titles, and they won 50 or more games since the 1997-98 NBA Season. Duncan was also a superior Finals performer than Kobe. Tim Duncan is a very underrated player in this forum. He's the ideal teammate. A great player on the court and much better person off the court.

[Kurosawa0]

As for the Utah series? It was more competitive in '97. The Bulls creamed the Jazz. Even setting the bench mark for biggest margin of victory in a Finals game. They held Utah, a fellow Finals competitor to under 59 points in one game ...

And yet if Jordan misses that last shot the series goes 7, with the last game being in Utah. That team barely won that last ring and would probably lose to a lot of the Lakers and Spurs teams.

[SwooshReturns]

The Spurs were the best franchise in the 2000's

Most consistent, hardly the best ... 2001 Lakers and 2008 Celtics were the all-around best and most dominant. Both book ends to teams that would be dynastys. Well the early 2000 Lakers were a dynasty ... but the 2008 Celtics should've been had KG never got hurt. All superior to the scavenger Spurs team of the 2000s. Hell, I take the Pistons run of greatness in 2004 over any in particular Spurs team.

If Manu doesn't foul Dirk in game seven in 06 and Fisher's shot in 04 doesn't go in, they go to 4 straight.

That's too many "ifs" though.

Hey Swoosh, in 98, the Bulls won 62 games. Pippen missed 38 games. How many wins would the Bulls have had with a full season from Pippen

I'd say 67 - 69 wins ... pushing 70 games, much like the '97 Bulls.

Hell in being honest both the '96 Bulls team and the '97 team each had like 3 - 4 games they should've won but lost for some dumb lucky reason.

The '96 Bulls should've been like 75 - 7

And the '97 Bulls should've been like 72 - 10

The sickness

[Kurosawa0]

Scottie Pippen was a shadow of his former self in his last season with the Chicago Bulls. He was still a good defender when he played for the Blazers, but his offensive numbers went down.

The question is about the 1998 Bulls. Not about if the Bulls in 1999 could've still won.

[SwooshReturns]

And yet if Jordan misses that last shot the series goes 7.

But Jordan doesn't choke like that ...

Like we said, they needed to win that game and MJ knew the importance because Pippen was done. That's why the guy went H.A.M. and dropped 45 much needed points.

Kukoc played nice in game 5, but for much of the '98 season he was VERY erratic.

[Kurosawa0]

That's too many "ifs" though.

If two is "too many" you need to go back the kindergarten.

[SwooshReturns]

to go back the kindergarten.

Oh really?



I will see you in class then ...