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Did you just get off the short bus? Do you find it odd that despite having no one as skilled or dominant as Shaq, Ewing, Dream, Zo, and Daughtery, the Bulls always beat teams with good or great centers? It's what I described above with "24 fouls".So lets go over these "solid vets" Lkrfan felt like mentioning.
John Salley played in a total of 17 regular season games with the Bulls and averaged 5 minutes a game during the playoffs.
James Edwards was 40 years old during the 1996 season. He played in 28 regular season games (at 11 MPG) and had 28 total MINUTES during the playoffs
As mentioned already, Randy Brown played a little under 10 minutes a game during the regular season and once the playoffs started played even less (7 minutes a game). Too say he would have the advantage on 2000 Fisher is pretty in re ed.
The 1996 Bulls were a 7 deep team with some scrub big men they used for spot duty. The 2000 Lakers were by no means a deep team but they weren't any less deep than the 96 Bulls.
Let me break it down for you. The Bulls had 3 premiere defenders at their positions that were versatile. The best one (Scottie) could guard 3 positions. The next best (Rodman) could guard all five - including the centers I mentioned above (esp Zo). And the third best defender they had was no slouch (MJ).
Most teams that don't run the triangle need a good PG to run their offense. The Bulls had the ability to shut down your perimeter through the versatility of the big 3. Then if you get by them (rare) you had a Big waiting to foul you (like Cartwright or Longley or Edwardsor Rodman) who were not counted on for 20/10 - nor were they capable
For teams with dominant post play, it puts a lot of pressure on a big like Shaq to both guard the paint (without fouling) when a player like MJ is taking his man to the rack- and deal with hack-a-Shaq because you know PJ was going to use those "24 fouls" wisely. Plus most bigs for the Bulls could shoot jumpers, making Shaq play where he is not comfortable: on the perimeter. That's why teams P&R LA to death BTW.
Situational defense. If Shaq is about to tear the rim off, foul him. You don't need a 20/10 center or PF on your team to do that. Esp when you can get guaranteed 50+ per night from MJ and Scottie.
So I laugh when people say MJ won without a dominant big. He had bigs that would collectively give him 20/10/3 every night. Just because he is not getting that production from one player doesn't mean he wasn't getting that kind of production to compliment him and Scottie.
re: Fish. He got wide open shots in 2001 off of Kobe/Shaq double/triple teams. Randy would be in his grill - meaning he wouldn't get those open looks.
