The 1991-1998 Bulls
This is what a dynasty looks like
Now we get to the 1990s Chicago Bulls, probably the first team I would think of with the word “dynasty”
Categories
Rings
The Bulls won six championships in eight years, two runs of three consecutive championships. (19/20)
Non-Championship Years
The Bulls were chasing the Celtics and Pistons for several years and deep playoff runs until finally roaring past the Pistons on their way to the 1991 championship.
In their first year during Michael Jordan’s baseball hiatus, they lost to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. In Jordan’s comeback, they lost to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
As you may have heard, the team was broken up after their last championship. (6/10)
Peak Performance
The 1996 Bulls went a record 72-10 in the regular season, then went 15-3 to win the championship. (10/10)
Star Power
Michael Jordan is the greatest and most famous athlete of my lifetime even if his steals total in his Defensive Player of the Year season may have been inflated. Scottie Pippen may not be as much of a superstar as the #2 player on other teams we’ll discuss, but he was the best at this particular role. Horace Grant gave way to Dennis Rodman as the power forward. Toni Kukoc came on baord. Yeah, there were stars. (5/5)
Coaching / Innovation
Phil Jackson is the most successful professional coach in any sport in my lifetime, with the possible exception of Bill Belichick. The triangle may not have been a brilliant offense, but the players (most critically Jordan) bought into it, which is what was needed (5/5)
Legacy
Jordan elevated the Bulls from a moribund franchise to the dominant team in the NBA. They have not maintained that, in part because Jerry Krause that it was all because of him. (4/5)
The Competition
Teams the Bulls beat on their way to the titles include:
The Bird/McHale Celtics
The Price / Daugherty Cavaliers
The Barkley 76ers
The Bad Boy Pistons
The Magic Lakers
The Drexler Blazers
The Ewing / Pat Riley Knicks
The Barkley Suns
The Shaq / Penny Magic
The Payton / Kemp Sonics
The Reggie Miller Pacers
The Stockton / Malone Jazz
Pretty good amount of talent there. (5/5)
Achilles Heel
The Bulls didn’t have a great center or point guard, but this led to the league concluding they may not be necessary. (5/5)
Bias Check
Like most sports fans who cam of age in the 1980s, I am a Michael Jordan fanboy. My 76ers are on the list of teams they beat, but I hardly cared (-1 point)
Summary
58 points, one point short of Gretzky’s Oilers, with that point coming from me penalizing myself for my Jordan fanboyness. I would have probably considered them first, but my memory of these Bulls is stronger.