Well, that team didn't face a lot of frontline talent. It wasn't like they faced the Knicks with Ewing in his prime and Oakley, Charles Smith, Antony Mason, etc. The is the era where you had one good frontline player and that was it. So it's difficult to gauge whether the Bulls could handle the Lakers upfront. However, mentally, I think the Bulls hunger and pursuit of the ball would leave Bynum and Odom flat-footed. If they set their defense, the Bulls would get all the rebounds. And that could be the difference. Bynum can get rattled and he needs someone to get in his ear to get him to pursue the ball after a couple of misses. That is all Rodman was. Gasol gets rattled before a shot if you play him tough, and he does stupid things after that. Odom backs away from those type of challenges. They are a skilled frontline, but the Bulls would beat them up with their speed, defense, and mental focus. You can frustrate them.Epic series. Lakers would dominate in the middle, and of course, with Kobe they'd give the Bulls backcourt a run for their money. But how could you forget MJ and Pippen, along with Rodman, Harper, Kerr, Luc Longley, among others.
My prediction, Bulls in 6. Only because of course, MJ.
Discuss............
The Lakers would have to shove everything down low and keep Rodman's hands off the ball. Pound them inside.
Artest is a wild-card. There's too much evidence that he's an emotional hot-head. He idolizes Jordan and that would push himself to do well. That can sometimes can work against him. So, I'm sure how effective he would be, but so far in this postseason, he's not shown any of that temperment.
Kobe gets the edge for me here early because Jordan's compe iveness had a downside against great players. He would blow off the system if his guy went off, and Kobe and the Lakers love that.
Fisher is out-matched, but it seems to work for them. I think Harper and Jordan as a tandem would be on Kobe 90% of the time he's out there. Kobe wouldn't get a moment's rest and fatigue could play a factor in whether he wins the matchup in the overall game. But it is Jordan, and Kobe would be up to the challenge, he would see it as an opportunity.
Fish would have to hit all of his shots and he's going to give up size to Harper running off-ball. It would be difficult for him not to lose a step on Harper. He played well with Jordan.
I give the edge to the Bulls and it may not be close. 4-1 Bulls. And I hate this Bulls team.
This current Laker team is pretty good, but they are nowhere near GOAT status IMHO.
I would like to see the '01 Lakers against the '96 Bulls though. IMHO that matchup wouldn't be close. Prime Shaq, Kobe, Horry, Fox, Fisher.....one of my all time favorite Laker teams.
That would be a good match up. One for the gipper.
Bulls in 4
Even with Rodman on the Bulls, I think the current Lakers kill that 96 Bulls team on the glass. Rebounding alone makes the series a lot closer than a 4-5 game series some suggest.
85 and 87 Lakers would thrash those Bull teams.
I think the 2010 Lakers would give 01 Lakers a run for their money. Gasol/Odom would wear the out of Horry. Kobe is a smarter offensive player than he was back then.
Ron and Kobe will go down as one of the scariest perimeter defenses ever when it's all said and done. This core will flirt with a 4-peat imo.
ha ha
Wow, I haven't seen this thread until now. It's gold. GOLD.
It's all down to the refs. If the series is played with 2010 refs, Bulls in 7. With 1996 refs, Bulls sweep.
lol both guys getting raped by a slow, broken down Paul Pierce
The same Odom that is getting punked by fat baby?
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