Bulls 1997-1998 CAPS (Coming Soon!)

[ACastro]

The Bulls defeated Orlando by 38 points in the first game of the 96 East Finals. In the second game they came back 18 points in the second half to beat the Magic...Neither Penny nor Shaq were injured. I did not read someone else´s review on the series. I´ve seen that series over and over...The Bulls won 3 out of 4 regular season games against the Magic that season. Do you really think the Magic could beat the Bulls four times in two weeks (the time a 7-game series would have lasted) ...four times...maybe one or two...maybe. But, come on! that 96 Bull team (72-10) were not gonna be defeated by any team.

[Matthew]

I hate repeating myself, so ill quote andrew:

Rodman started 66 of the 80 games he played in during the 1997/1998 regular season, but Kukoc started most of the playoffs (including the NBA Finals).

[Robby]

The Bulls defeated Orlando by 38 points in the first game of the 96 East Finals. In the second game they came back 18 points in the second half to beat the Magic...Neither Penny nor Shaq were injured. I did not read someone else´s review on the series. I´ve seen that series over and over...The Bulls won 3 out of 4 regular season games against the Magic that season. Do you really think the Magic could beat the Bulls four times in two weeks (the time a 7-game series would have lasted) ...four times...maybe one or two...maybe. But, come on! that 96 Bull team (72-10) were not gonna be defeated by any team.

Shaq played 54 games that year and the Magic still won 60 games over the season. Now if Shaq was healthy, then try to think how many more games the Magic would have won. Also, Horace Grant only played 63 games that year and he was a key contributor with 13+ ppg and 9+ rpg. Shaq and Penny were playing hurt, which is different than being on the injured list. I can't think of anyone on Chicago who was hurt. Also, the Magic didn't have Horace Grant for the bulk of the series. I never said the Magic would win, just that they were more likely to sweep than the Bulls had both Clubs been completely healthy.

For Game 4:
Nick Anderson (Orl, sprained right wrist), Horace Grant (Orl, twisted left
elbow), and Brian Shaw (Orl, neck spasms) did not play.

Game 3:
Horace Grant (Orl, twisted left elbow) and Brian Shaw (Orl, neck spasms)
did not play.

Game 2:
Horace Grant (Orl, twisted left elbow) did not play.

Also, Jordan only averaged 2.5 points more than Shaq. So, I don't want to hear how Rodman made life miserable for Shaq, because he didn't. Had the Magic been completely healthy they probably would have taken the series in 7 games.

[superman]

Also, Jordan only averaged 2.5 points more than Shaq. So, I don't want to hear how Rodman made life miserable for Shaq, because he didn't. Had the Magic been completely healthy they probably would have taken the series in 7 games.

As a Rodman fan I just wanna say how may rebound championships and rings does he have. and now how many does shaq have I think Rodman's got him beat in that department so he did make life miserable for Shaq altough shaq might be able to score more but why would Rodman need to when he has MJ and Pippen to do it for him!!! then also you have Phil Jackson as head coach and as long as Jordan would have stayed in Chicago Jackson would have never left so the lakers wouldn't be what they are today!!!!!!!! the 96 Bulls one of the best teams ever!!!!!!!! you have to show some respect!

You are forgetting one very important thing on your “fantastic Laker team”. They got Phil Jackson as head coach and with him the triangle offense. If the MJ/Pip Bulls were still together Jackson would be the coach and no way the Lakers could defeat them. The Lakers won three straight championships because of Jackson and the entire Chicago’s coaching staff he brought to LA. LA got Shaq and Fox and Kobe way before Jackson got there and they could do nothing to win a championship.
Regarding to the Bulls’ lack of a good center…Let me remind you that the Bulls’ extraordinary defense using either Longley or Rodman ( PF) made Shaq’s life miserable in the 96 Eastern Conference Finals…when, oh! Chicago kicked Orlando’s ass sweeping them out of the playoffs.

[MVP]

I have to agree the '96 Bulls were NOT going to be denied. Michael Jordan wanted to prove that he was still the best player in the NBA after his retirement and HE did. True on paper the Lakers look like they have a better starting lineup INDIVIDUALLY....

Longley vs Shaq => edge Shaq
Rodman vs Malone => edge Malone
Harper vs Payton => edge Payton
Pippen vs George => edge Pippen
Jordan vs Bryant => edge Jordan

..but it's all about TEAM chemistry. Every player on the 96-98 Bulls team knew their role. After winning 72 in the 95-96 season, the Bulls came back the following year and won 69.

You can't say that it's the Laker's first year together as a group...'cuz the '96 Bulls was their first year together as well. By All-Star break the Bulls had only lost 3 games. The Lakers have already lost 3 games.

[Robby]

Also, Jordan only averaged 2.5 points more than Shaq. So, I don't want to hear how Rodman made life miserable for Shaq, because he didn't. Had the Magic been completely healthy they probably would have taken the series in 7 games.

As a Rodman fan I just wanna say how may rebound championships and rings does he have. and now how many does shaq have I think Rodman's got him beat in that department so he did make life miserable for Shaq altough shaq might be able to score more but why would Rodman need to when he has MJ and Pippen to do it for him!!! then also you have Phil Jackson as head coach and as long as Jordan would have stayed in Chicago Jackson would have never left so the lakers wouldn't be what they are today!!!!!!!! the 96 Bulls one of the best teams ever!!!!!!!! you have to show some respect!

So, just because Rodman has more rings than Shaq, he made Shaq's life miserable? I don't think so. Like I said, Rodman didn't shut down Shaq as most people believe and the Bulls would not have swept the series if everyone on the Magic was healthy. And if you still say that Rodman shut down Shaq, then it follows that Nick Anderson shut down MJ because Mike averaged only 2.5 ppg more than Shaq.

[ACastro]

MJ did not have to score many points...The Bulls were running the Magic out of the building so Jackson went tothe bench...resting MJ for the finals...and a real team

[midLfinger]

The Bulls defeated Orlando by 38 points in the first game of the 96 East Finals. In the second game they came back 18 points in the second half to beat the Magic...Neither Penny nor Shaq were injured. I did not read someone else´s review on the series. I´ve seen that series over and over...The Bulls won 3 out of 4 regular season games against the Magic that season. Do you really think the Magic could beat the Bulls four times in two weeks (the time a 7-game series would have lasted) ...four times...maybe one or two...maybe. But, come on! that 96 Bull team (72-10) were not gonna be defeated by any team.

Sheesh... I didn't mean to stir up such an argument. Anyway, at least it hasn't gotten to an insult situation. But everything you've been posting is completely off topic since I was talking about the Lakers defeating the 98 Bulls. Note: I said they faced Utah in the finals... The 96 Bulls faced Seattle. The current Lakers would beat the 98 Bulls. The Magic don't matter. They ain't the current Lakers. The Magic didn't have Kobe (Penny don't compare), Payton, and Malone. They didn't have Phil Jackson. They didn't have Jack Nicholson... okay, maybe he doesn't matter.

[ACastro]

Sheesh... I didn't mean to stir up such an argument. Anyway, at least it hasn't gotten to an insult situation. But everything you've been posting is completely off topic since I was talking about the Lakers defeating the 98 Bulls. Note: I said they faced Utah in the finals... The 96 Bulls faced Seattle. The current Lakers would beat the 98 Bulls. The Magic don't matter. They ain't the current Lakers. The Magic didn't have Kobe (Penny don't compare), Payton, and Malone. They didn't have Phil Jackson. They didn't have Jack Nicholson... okay, maybe he doesn't matter.

LOL. Yeah...the topic took a different direction since your last post. but it was basically because you said the 98 Bulls didn't have a good center and because of that they'd be killed by the Lakers. The Bulls never needed a good center in all their championship years, did they? They defeated NY several times when Patrick Ewing was considered the best center out there. Then they swept the 96 Shaq's Magic too. So From my point of view the lack of a good center would never be a factor.
As I posted before, I think the Lakers would not beat the Bulls if they were still together because Phil Jackson would be Chicago's head coach. The Lakers are an awesome team, that's true. But they are what they are because of Phil Jackson...without him they would never win three straight tittles.