96 Bulls vs. 88 Lakers...who would win ?

[HoopsPro]

1995-96 Bulls

72-10 regular season record
15-3 playoff record

Jordan
Harper
Pippen
Rodman
Longley


1987-88 Lakers

62-20 regular season
15-9 playoff record

Johnson
Scott
Green
Worthy
Jabbar

Both teams had deep benches, but the Lakers had the edge with Cooper and Thompson. The Bulls had a better coach in Phil Jackson, although Riley was no slouch.

The Bulls had a great defensive team, while the Lakers had a great offensive team. The one big advantage the Lakers had was at center. Even in his late thirties, Jabbar would have scored on Longley with ease.

I don't know which team would have won, but it would have been a great series.

[brandonkb8]

Im really gonna have to say the 95/96 bulls....they were beastly unstoppable....and of course they Had MJ.

[chyau.00]

will we be able to simulate this on nba 2k11???

[RJM]

I'd have to go with the Bulls. Lakers had a lot of options, but Chicago's D was arguably better than those Pistons. It was just swarming and insatiable.

[LAKERS_1981]

I would pick the 96 Bulls in 6. There D was so good.

But i would pick 85 and 87 Lakers over Bulls 96.

[dropshot001]

i'd say lakers because the bulls wouldn't have an answer for jabbar.

[miggs]

I don't if 88 is the best year to compare of the Showtime era. You could say the early 80s Lakers with a prime Jabbar, blooming Magic, rookie Worthy and of the rest of that squad would crush MJ and his bulls. The Bulls defense was just ridiculous, however, good as it is they'd have no answer for Cap even if they double team, Cap just too long and with that skyhook it'd be hell for Chicago. On the flip side, who knows how Worthy would do against Pippen, interesting match-up. Jordan would terrorize the Lakers' defense as would Pippen meanwhile the 3pt bombs from Kukoc and rebounding of Rodman would kill our 2nd chance opportunities and ability to maintain momentum. In that sense, MJ and his bulls dominate the Showtime Lakers. It's a classic Offense vs Defense scenario, my guess is the Showtime Lakers in a 7 game series, 4-3 then again I LOVED MJ but didn't care for the Bulls so maybe i'm too biased in my "analysis" lol

I think Worthy's turnaround jumper would kill Pippen, just cuz Worthy's a player who plays bigger than he actually is. He had some nice post moves which I think would hurt Pip over the course of a series. Cap would be the focal point of the offense since Longley wouldn't be able to do much against Cap but try and pray. Cap would completely destroy the Bulls' frontcourt. Magic and Scott would most likely cancel out Jordan and Harper in terms of overall effectiveness even though MJ is better than either Scott or Magic. It'd be a hell of a series... one can dream.

[method]

96 Knicks.

[Biohazard]

96 Bulls..Cap was a million years old pretty washed up in 88.

[maryann8ginger]

I ran it on What If Sports- 4 gms per series (2 home / 2 away)

Vs 88 Lakers - Bulls won 3-1
Vs 87 - Split 2-2
Vs 85 - Bulls won 3-1
Vs 82 - Split 2-2
Vs 80 - Lakers won 3-1.

Ran the 2000s too

Vs 00 - Bulls won 3-1
Vs 01 - Split 2-2
Vs 02 - Split 2-2
Vs 09 - Lakers won 3-1
They don't have '10 in yet

Just for fun
Vs 72 - Split 2-2

[Mamba Venom]

You would have to put the 88 Lakers with the 2010 Lakers to beat the 96 Bulls

[brandonkb8]

96 Bulls..Cap was a million years old pretty washed up in 88.

He wasnt washed up

[laduane1]

Good question. All I want is another one in 2010-11. Really do not care what happened 14 plus years ago or in the 1980's.

[salmahayek]

The Lakers would win.

As good as the Bulls were, and particularly their defense, would be negated by a large degree by the Lakers running the break and getting easy baskets before the Bulls half court defense would have the opportunity to set up.

Then, when in the half court, the Lakers would still have the most devastating half court offensive weapon in the history of the game - the Skyhook. In addition to the Skyhook, Kareem always gave the Lakers great spacing, creating room for Magic to drive or dish to moving players, like Worthy and Scott.

Defensively, you are not going to stop MJ and Pippen, but the combination of Cooper, Worthy, and Scott would be able to defend them just well enough.

It wouldn't be a cake walk by any means, but I am very confident the Lakers would win.

They would probably win more comfortably with the '87 team with Kareem and Cooper a year younger.

[Anklebreaker702]

I would pick the 96 Bulls in 6. There D was so good.

But i would pick 85 and 87 Lakers over Bulls 96.

Yeah '85 Lakers for sure. No answer for the cap

[Anklebreaker702]

96 Bulls..Cap was a million years old pretty washed up in 88.

Cap was never washed up. Even in his 20th & final season there were probably on 2-4 Centers better than him in the entire league.

[HoopsPro]

96 Bulls..Cap was a million years old pretty washed up in 88.

Looked pretty good in the 88 finals against Lambeer. Just imagine what the washed up Jabbar would have done with Luc Longley. LOL

[Anklebreaker702]

96 Bulls..Cap was a million years old pretty washed up in 88.

Looked pretty good in the 88 finals against Lambeer. Just imagine what the washed up Jabbar would have done with Luc Longley. LOL

[fatboy1111]

bulls easy.............

[TruSkool]

the bulls, they were something else