Stephen Curry and Draymond Green (Photo : Reuters)
It has become a meme for all basketball fans to relish. Can they beat the 95-96 Bulls?
The Golden State Warriors had a phenomenal run to start the season and it looked like they would barge through all the existing records including one that took more than 30 years to break.
The record stood at 69-13 until Michael Jordan and the 95-96 Bulls shattered it and stretched it to 72-10. Considering how long the previous record stood, most experts thought this one was safe.
UPDATE: The Golden State Warriors just suffered an unexpected loss to the youthful Minnesota Timberwolves and are now at 69-9. They need to go undefeated in their last 4 games to beat the record.
Endless comparisons have been made which polarized players from different eras. Now, one of the most vital cogs of that legendary Bulls team spoke out. Scottie Pippen claimed that if the 95-96 Bulls and this season's Golden State Warriors were to meet in a seven game series, they would sweep them, according to his statement in ESPN.
"Bulls in four [games]," Pippen said. "I think that my size and length would bother [Curry] a little bit."
Pippen is one of the best two way players in the game. He and Michael Jordan made it to the NBA's All-Defensive team multiple times, a distinction absent from anyone on the Warriors--yet.
But will they really sweep the Warriors? Would it be that lopsided?
In an Insider 5-on-5 feature, experts from ESPN NBA weighed in on the question, "Which is more likely, the 95-96 Bulls sweeping today's Warriors or vice versa?"
The consensus is that neither team would sweep the other-perhaps out of respect for both teams.
Amin Elhassan mentioned that during the Bulls second three-peat from 96-98, they only swept one series. "Suffice it to say, if Chicago couldn't sweep the '97 Hawks, with its vaunted lineup featuring Mookie Blaylock and Eldridge Recasner, I struggle to see how Scottie can feel confident about sweeping the Warriors."
Bradford Doolittle predicted the Bulls in Six and also called defense as the deciding factor. But no sweep either way. "The clincher for me would be late career MJ dominating from the post on offense."
Kevin Pelton mentioned the rule changes as a factor. Will they be using the 95-96 rules or the current rules in this hypothetical match? He does note an advantage for the Warriors: "I like Golden State's chances of adapting somewhat better because the 22-foot 3-point line in use in 1995-96 might as well be a layup for Curry and Thompson."
The bottom line: Bulls have the edge, but no sweep as Pippen predicts. Scottie does have history on his side as they established their dynasty while Curry and company are still considered upstarts-they haven't even defended their title yet!
If they become a dynasty in the future, perhaps there would be no more debate.
