1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

[st0rmb11]

I found an old VHS of the Chicago Bulls' 6 Championships, and it got me thinking..which Bulls team was better? (as in, which team would win a game)

1992 Bulls (67-15)(led by Jordan, Pippen, Grant, Armstrong, Paxson, Cartwright, Perdue and King)

or 1996 Bulls (72-10)(led by Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Longley, Kukoc, Harper, Kerr, and Brown)

My vote would have to go to the 1996 team (and not for the obvious reason, that they won more games)

For one thing, while the 1992 Bulls had an in his prime Michael Jordan, the 1996 Jordan was a much more rejuvenated one. He was hungrier, he wanted to prove himself, he wanted to prove that he was back, and he was still pretty much in his prime.

Also, Scottie Pippen was in his prime in 1996. He had had to carry the Bulls for 2 seasons without MJ, and had matured as a leader and as a player, and in 1996 he was at his best. (before injuries slowed him in 1997 and 1998)

To me, Rodman and Grant could be considered a wash. While Rodman was by far the superior rebounder (averaging 14.9 to Grant's 10.0), Grant had Rodman by nearly 10 points per game (at 14.2 to Rodman's 5.5). Grant also out-blocked Rodman by 1 block per game, and averaged 0.2 more assists than Rodman. So, I think that these numbers, and Rodman clearly winning the "intangibles" argument because of his incredible hustle and hard nosed defense, these 2 cancel each other out.

I also see Longley vs Cartwright as a wash. The biggest thing to me, would be that Longley was younger and had fresher legs, but the 1992 Bulls could have easily combated this with Stacey King, Will Perdue, and Scott Williams off the bench (as well as Cliff Levingston).

What do you guys think? (Sorry if this has ever been asked before, I don't follow this board very "religiously", if you will"

[USF11]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

1996 Bulls were more vicious on D and had a higher IQ.

[Altimus]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

1996 Bulls. Toni Kukoc is one of the x factors IMO.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

Yeah, I don't think the '92 team would have had an answer for Toni. Back to the Jordan point, while '92 Jordan was amazing, the return of Jordan for the second three peat was a more complete player and you should look no further than the complete domination and mastery of the fadeaway jumper that he added to his game at that time. While '92 Jordan was more explosive, '96 Jordan was smarter.

As also mentioned Scottie Pippen had completely come into his own by that time and was a much better player on both ends of the floor compared to the '92 version of himself. I would have to say that BJ Armstrong may have been a better option at the PG than Harper however. Though defensively Harper was definitely the better option for that team. Either way though, the '96 team wins this every time in my eyes.

[st0rmb11]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

Yeah, I didn't mention it in my original post, but I felt that Kukoc being the 6th man he was, would be the determining factor. Not sure what answer the 1992 Bulls would have had for him.

I notice that 2 people have chosen the 1992 team. I would love to hear what led to your votes for that team. Perhaps you could sway me towards that year's team.

[youvalss]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

The game would be tied, but then Stacey King would pass the ball right to the hands of 1996-Pippen...because he can't tell the difference. Game over.

[Anavar]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

1996 Bulls. Toni Kukoc is one of the x factors IMO.

And Ron Harper's D.

[michaeljordanjr]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

We're talking about the only team in sports history that could practically go undefeated, their dominance has never been and never will be matched.

MJ is our Einstein.

[st0rmb11]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

I agree with all of you (except for the one about King throwing the ball to "the wrong Pippen").

1996 team was clearly the greatest NBA team of all time, but record-wise, the 1992 team was right up there in the top 5 teams of all time.

And again, I see that now 3 people have voted that the 1992 team would win. I would love to read an explanation of why one of you chose that option.

[24]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

1996. MJ was like a fine wine he got better with age. his skill remained the same from what i believe but his basketball mind was sharper. you can have all the talent in the world if you don't have the right mind to use that talent then it goes to waste

[wwharton]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

1996. MJ was like a fine wine he got better with age. his skill remained the same from what i believe but his basketball mind was sharper. you can have all the talent in the world if you don't have the right mind to use that talent then it goes to waste

To use an ironic example, in 1992 MJ played more like Lebron. In 1996 he played more like Kobe.

Either way, the team was just better. Pippen was much better. Grant was solid but he and Rodman aren't a wash. Rodman probably should be in the HOF. He literally shutdown everyone from PG to C, got WAY too many rebounds for his size, and could've been a better scorer if he wanted to but focused on doing the things that nobody else wants to do. Kukoc was already mentioned and Harper's experience, leadership and defense trumps anybody at his position on the '92 team.

[michaeljordanjr]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

I'd have to go with 1996. You had:

1. Greatest go-to move, the fadeaway, unstoppable and scored 90% of the time.

2. Greatest rebounder, Dennis Rodman

3. Greatest pure shooter, Steve Kerr, he barely missed, as a kid I was in awe.

4. Greatest 6th man, Kukoc. A 3 point marksman(remember the LA game?) He was also 7 feet tall and was super agile, could pass, rebound and drive.

5. Greatest small forward/defensive player, Scottie Pippen. This man could do everything well, a modern Lebron James.

6. Greatest Coach who introduced Zen philosophy to Basketball that year.

That about does it for "Greatest"

So ya, 1996 Chicago Bulls, greatest sports team in history. No one will ever match it, and I'm still in a daze after all those years of dominance. You cant truly comprehend it unless you go into Chicago after a Bull championship and hear the City explode in sound with everyone honking their horns and people with signs on the sides of the streets.

[st0rmb11]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

I get where you're coming from with the comparison there between the 1992 Jordan to LeBron and 1996 to Kobe, but 1992 Jordan led the Bulls to a title (and had also led them to one previously, and would lead them to another). I would say Jordan from 1991 to 1993 was like Kobe, Jordan from 1996 to 1998 was like..nothing we've seen before and haven't seen since, really.

[st0rmb11]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

I'd have to go with 1996. You had:

1. Greatest go-to move, the fadeaway, unstoppable and scored 90% of the time.

2. Greatest rebounder, Dennis Rodman

3. Greatest pure shooter, Steve Kerr, he barely missed, as a kid I was in awe.

4. Greatest 6th man, Kukoc. A 3 point marksman(remember the LA game?) He was also 7 feet tall and was super agile, could pass, rebound and drive.

5. Greatest small forward/defensive player, Scottie Pippen. This man could do everything well, a modern Lebron James.

6. Greatest Coach who introduced Zen philosophy to Basketball that year.

That about does it for "Greatest"

So ya, 1996 Chicago Bulls, greatest sports team in history. No one will ever match it, and I'm still in a daze after all those years of dominance. You cant truly comprehend it unless you go into Chicago after a Bull championship and hear the City explode in sound with everyone honking their horns and people with signs on the sides of the streets.

I love your list, but do you think Jordan in 1992 (being as smart as he was and superior athletically to 1996 Jordan), could make it hard for 1996 Jordan to hit that fade everytime? Or maybe even put 1992 Pippen on Jordan, and have 1992 Jordan guard Pippen.

And you list Steve Kerr's great 3 point shooting ability, but the 1992 team had just as good a 3 point shooter - Craig Hodges. If it ever came down to a shoot out between those 2, I'd have to go with Hodges.

I agree with your point about Kukoc, however. I think he would be the determining factor. (as many have said)

Jordan from 1992 would get 35. Jordan from 1996 would get 28. Pippen from 1992 would get 23. Pippen from 1996 would get 28.
Rodman would only get around 7 points, but he would hold Grant to 8 or 9.
Longley and Harper/Armstrong and Cartwright would be a wash. Longley was a better scorer than Cartwright, but the 1992 Bulls had more depth when it came to bigs. and Armstrong was a better scorer than Harper, but Harper could lock him down.

But, no one on the 1992 Bulls would be able to match the potential 25 points Kukoc would go off for.

[michaeljordanjr]

Re: 1992 Chicago Bulls vs 1996 Chicago Bulls

I love your list, but do you think Jordan in 1992 (being as smart as he was and superior athletically to 1996 Jordan), could make it hard for 1996 Jordan to hit that fade everytime? Or maybe even put 1992 Pippen on Jordan, and have 1992 Jordan guard Pippen.

And you list Steve Kerr's great 3 point shooting ability, but the 1992 team had just as good a 3 point shooter - Craig Hodges. If it ever came down to a shoot out between those 2, I'd have to go with Hodges.

I agree with your point about Kukoc, however. I think he would be the determining factor. (as many have said)

Jordan from 1992 would get 35. Jordan from 1996 would get 28. Pippen from 1992 would get 23. Pippen from 1996 would get 28.
Rodman would only get around 7 points, but he would hold Grant to 8 or 9.
Longley and Harper/Armstrong and Cartwright would be a wash. Longley was a better scorer than Cartwright, but the 1992 Bulls had more depth when it came to bigs. and Armstrong was a better scorer than Harper, but Harper could lock him down.

But, no one on the 1992 Bulls would be able to match the potential 25 points Kukoc would go off for.

96' Jordan became less athletic and hence had to create the fade away. I'm not quite sure the reason you'd have a younger version of themselves defend each other, because there's no opponent that could

I'd have to go with Kerr beating Hodges. Simply by fact, Kerr is the all-time leader in 3PT %. And he has one of the purest forms I've ever seen.

The reason why 1996 bigs win is the jump shooting. Wennington/Longely/Simpkins/Kukoc/Bison Dele/Caffey all could shoot when Jordan got double teamed and had to pass out. That's the difference maker. You had a high FG% when you're best guy couldn't shoot.

And Kukoc is the X-Factor, the guy was a scoring machine.