NBA 2016 Warriors vs 1996 Bulls

This argument is all over the social networks, radio shows, sports papers and now here. How can anyone really argue that the best player to ever play on the best team was Michael Jordan? Not to mention his cast of charterers that included Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr and Dennis Rodman just to name a few. The 1996 Bulls went 72-10 that year and finished twenty games ahead of the Indiana Pacers in the Division. Could those Bulls do the same thing in 2016 as they did in 1996? Has basketball changed enough today to have slowed the bulls and the powerhouse they were? We can speculate all day, but some facts can not be overlooked. The game of basketball in the late 1990’s was a different animal than it is today.  According to NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations, Stu Jackson in 2009, he described basketball as a primarily an isolation game that was slowed down by illegal defenses and hard fouls.  Hand checking rules in 2004-2005 opened the floor to better passing lanes and more cuts by players to free up the offense. So when one takes that into account, was Michael Jordan really that good, or was the style of play back then suited

for a pure shooter that also played hard defense? Could the 1996 Bulls play the type of up-tempo no fouls, no hand checking type of defense that made Jordan and Rodman dominate on the defensive side of the ball as well? Of course people my age would say yes they could, we remember how the Bulls used to wipe the floor with other teams and we glorified Jordan in the backyard playing basketball. But what about this generation of players and the kids who idolize Stephen Curry? What would their take be on this? Maybe one can argue that the Warriors are the best team to ever play with the best shooter in NBA history.

Coming into the All-Star break of the 2016 NBA season the Golden State Warriors are an impressive 48-4 and the ’96 Bulls were a very impressive 43-5(through 48 games that season). At this point in the season the Warriors are averaging 115.5 points per game and the Bulls in 1996 averaged 105 points per game. In the NBA ten and a half points is a huge gap and goes to show that Stu Jackson was correct about easing of the defense and spreading the ball around better has opened up the offensive side of the ball. Furthermore could Rodman get away with his violent rebounding style where he threw elbows with great frequency and was not penalized near as much as he would be today.  Make no mistake the size is there for Golden State to rebound the ball on both ends and create transition basketball for Curry who may be arguably the best pure shooter in the NBA today if not ever. With Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut down low, they have the size and the girth to move Rodman around, especially with the new rules that the NBA plays with today. The only caveat for Curry on transition would be Jordan who could run the floor and would likely keep Curry from shooting near as much. New rules or no rules Jordan would be able to adjust and make life difficult for Curry.

This is the beauty of sports talk radio, water cooler talk and just talking around the bar with some friends over a cold pitcher of beer and chicken wings. We really will never know what might have happened, but one can assume that the Warriors of 2016 would have a hard time scoring down low with Curry when he penetrates due to the fact that players like Rodman or Bill Laimbeer would have probably sent him on the disabled list a few times during the season costing the Warriors points and wins. On the other side of the coin, the harsh defense, hand checking and isolation play would not play well in 2016 where it’s a more kinder, gentler NBA with a focus on offensive play more than defensive play. If I was to debate this issue for real, and had to make a point, all I would do is point to Michael Jordan and just drop the mic on the floor. Until we see another MJ, I can never discount what he can do by himself playing in any generation of the NBA. I can see the Warriors hanging tough, but the Bulls would get used to the new rules and probably beat the Warriors in the NBA finals in 1996 and in 2016(If they make it). 

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