Steph Curry: "2017 Warriors would win in 6 against the 96 Bulls"

[Raps in 4]

100%

The Warriors had 2x top-5 players and 2x top-20 players. The Bulls would be badly outclassed.

Bulls have the best player of all time though. MJ is equivalent in value to KD plus Steph. So it comes down to the rest of the roster which is close

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That's a comical take. Jordan wasn't some god. Curry and KD together ran circles around Lebron. The gap between MJ/Lebron and Curry/KD isn't large. We're talking top-2 all-time player vs. top-10 all-time player. They're in the same tier of impact.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Stupid hypothetical. You wanna have a dream match up, you 'll put yourself vs pre 1993, limitless stamina, Jordan. Its absolutely certain Jordan averages 40+ vs the 2017 Warriors and takes at least one of their 3 perimeter players out of the game, either with defense or by getting in foul trouble or from exhaustion. Bulls in 5.

No way, then you lose Rodman who is key to that series guarding KD. As well as Ron Harper, who could be key defensively.

[OkcSinceSGA]

I don’t think the bulls have the personnel to be able to shoot a high volume of 3s at a decent percentage and I just don’t think you can be successful playing non optimal ball against a team playing to the analytics. You’re not winning 2s vs 3s against competent competitor.

I’ll take it a step further and say they wouldn’t stand a chance. They’d get pummelled by the 2017 cavs who shot like 30 3s a game too

When would the Warriors face a defensive trio of Jordan/Pippen/Rodman? If you think Curry/Klay/KD are doing what they normally do vs defenders like that, you’re insane. Hell Ron Harper can probably hold Klay down. Then you use Pippen as a roamer, primary KD defender.

[mademan]

I don’t think the bulls have the personnel to be able to shoot a high volume of 3s at a decent percentage and I just don’t think you can be successful playing non optimal ball against a team playing to the analytics. You’re not winning 2s vs 3s against competent competitor.

I’ll take it a step further and say they wouldn’t stand a chance. They’d get pummelled by the 2017 cavs who shot like 30 3s a game too

When would the Warriors face a defensive trio of Jordan/Pippen/Rodman? If you think Curry/Klay/KD are doing what they normally do vs defenders like that, you’re insane. Hell Ron Harper can probably hold Klay down. Then you use Pippen as a roamer, primary KD defender.

You can talk about all these hypotheticals all you want but there doesn’t exist a collection of talent you can put out there that will beat the warriors if they’re not shooting and making 3s at a respectable rate. It just will not happen. You can’t win 2s vs 3s

[Hello Brooklyn]

The Bulls would be completely flummoxed by the amount of 3s the Warriors were shooting. And would have no idea how to guard it.

If you gave the Bulls more time to prepare it would be more of a series. But even then they would I don't think the talent would be on par.

[OkcSinceSGA]

I don’t think the bulls have the personnel to be able to shoot a high volume of 3s at a decent percentage and I just don’t think you can be successful playing non optimal ball against a team playing to the analytics. You’re not winning 2s vs 3s against competent competitor.

I’ll take it a step further and say they wouldn’t stand a chance. They’d get pummelled by the 2017 cavs who shot like 30 3s a game too

When would the Warriors face a defensive trio of Jordan/Pippen/Rodman? If you think Curry/Klay/KD are doing what they normally do vs defenders like that, you’re insane. Hell Ron Harper can probably hold Klay down. Then you use Pippen as a roamer, primary KD defender.

You can talk about all these hypotheticals all you want but there doesn’t exist a collection of talent you can put out there that will beat the warriors if they’re not shooting and making 3s at a respectable rate. It just will not happen. You can’t win 2s vs 3s

All that talk of offense and the Bulls without the same level of 3 ball were also a 115 ORtg team like the 2017 Warriors. The difference here comes down to defense. The Bulls are gonna slow the game down, be more physical, beat up on you. Rodman/Pippen/Jordan will hold that trio well below efficiency.

They also have a big coaching edge. You really think Phil won’t adjust the game plan knowing they shoot 3’s? No team has more firepower for perimeter defense. If Harper focuses on defending Curry or Klay and does a respectable job… the series is over. Between Jordan/Pippen/Rodman I don’t see the other two stars doing much.

[Wallace_Wallace]

The talent between role players is a big issue.

Shaun Livingston for example, would have an advantage against the backup guards (Kerr/Brown) every single time, it would force the Bulls to put one of MJ/Pippen/Harper on him; these guys will have their hands full against Curry/Thompson/KD on both ends. Rodman will be guarding Draymond Green (fun match up to watch). Rodman might neutralize Green on the defensive end, but on offense, Green was shooting 41% from deep on 4.6 attempts in the 16-17 postseason (17 game sample). Would it be enough for force Rodman to stay on the perimeter? Up to him and his mind games, but I would go with actual statistics.

Assuming MJ/Pippen/Rodman to play 48 minutes every game against the fastest and the best version of the Warriors while also expecting them to score efficiently and play shut down defense is not realistic. I would say Warriors in 5 or 6.

[Chanel Bomber]

If both teams played the same way they did during their respective eras, Curry's right.

The Bulls wouldn't be able to keep up with their lack of 3-point shooting. Simple as that.

The Warriors were smart defensively - they would have just dared Pippen, Harper, Longley to shoot jumpshots.

It's just the natural evolution of the game.

Teams have a better understanding of shot quality now than they did 25 years ago.

I give MJ two games in that series. Pippen would be exposed as a weak link in a series like this.

[phanman]

When would the Warriors face a defensive trio of Jordan/Pippen/Rodman? If you think Curry/Klay/KD are doing what they normally do vs defenders like that, you’re insane. Hell Ron Harper can probably hold Klay down. Then you use Pippen as a roamer, primary KD defender.

You can talk about all these hypotheticals all you want but there doesn’t exist a collection of talent you can put out there that will beat the warriors if they’re not shooting and making 3s at a respectable rate. It just will not happen. You can’t win 2s vs 3s

All that talk of offense and the Bulls without the same level of 3 ball were also a 115 ORtg team like the 2017 Warriors. The difference here comes down to defense. The Bulls are gonna slow the game down, be more physical, beat up on you. Rodman/Pippen/Jordan will hold that trio well below efficiency.

They also have a big coaching edge. You really think Phil won’t adjust the game plan knowing they shoot 3’s? No team has more firepower for perimeter defense. If Harper focuses on defending Curry or Klay and does a respectable job… the series is over. Between Jordan/Pippen/Rodman I don’t see the other two stars doing much.

Don't forget, in this hypothetical would Young Stevie know what Old Stevie's coaching plan is

Is this game being played with the shortened 3pt line like it was in 96?

I mean we're talking about arguably the two greatest teams ever assembled in the history of the NBA. You can't go wrong with either choice. One team with the best season in NBA history @ 72 wins + a ring & the other with a best playoff record @ 16-1.

[draftnightsuit]

They wouldn’t need 6 games.

[mtron32]

I don’t think the bulls have the personnel to be able to shoot a high volume of 3s at a decent percentage and I just don’t think you can be successful playing non optimal ball against a team playing to the analytics. You’re not winning 2s vs 3s against competent competitor.

I’ll take it a step further and say they wouldn’t stand a chance. They’d get pummelled by the 2017 cavs who shot like 30 3s a game too

If you teleport them to 2017, then no. But if you allow for the fact that if they were a team that existed in 217, they would have practiced more 3 point shooting, Jordan's crazy self would've been in the lab endlessly tossing up three's. It's the same acknowledgement we give if we transport the Dubs back to 96, they'd adapt. These hypotheticals are dumb anyway since there's really no way to gauge this reliably, both teams were insanely good in their eras.

[liquidswords]

Curry had a pretty great interview in GQ where he talked about a lot of things, see video below. Asked upon, he mentioned Tony Allen and Avery Bradley were/are his toughest defenders. Another interesting one was whether the 2017 KD Warriors would win against the 73 Bulls. Obviously, he picked his own team as he should, but also called it in 6 which I thought was rather cocky but funny nonetheless. It's at the 0:53 mark. I'll add in a poll cause why not.

Watch on YouTube

Predicting a long series is cocky? Wouldn't it be cocky to say Warriors in 4? lol

[OkcSinceSGA]

If both teams played the same way they did during their respective eras, Curry's right.

The Bulls wouldn't be able to keep up with their lack of 3-point shooting. Simple as that.

The Warriors were smart defensively - they would have just dared Pippen, Harper, Longley to shoot jumpshots.

It's just the natural evolution of the game.

Teams have a better understanding of shot quality now than they did 25 years ago.

I give MJ two games in that series. Pippen would be exposed as a weak link in a series like this.

Pippen was putting up superstar impact metrics that year. He was #5 in the MVP race and at his peak. Thinking he’s the weak link as the guy who can guard Curry, Klay, KD, Draymond all at different points is bizarre to me. If anything I think he’s the least dispensable guy for the Bulls in that particular matchup. His defensive switching is CRUCIAL.

[threethehardway]

2017 Warriors are blowing out any team from the past.

3s are better than twos.

[toodles23]

Warriors would constantly be in foul trouble with Jordan and Pippen constantly driving. Bulls in 5.

Jordan wasn't driving a whole lot by that point in his career. If they weren't constantly in foul trouble against Lebron there is zero reason to think it would be a problem against second 3peat Jordan and Pippen.

This is easily the 2017 Warriors, who are by far the most talented team in NBA history. The only teams that maybe come close are some of the 80s Lakers and Celtics teams, but those teams would need to adjust significantly to have a chance against a team with modern 3 point shooting and defensive principles. The first 3peat Bulls were more talented teams than the second 3peat, and MJ and Pippen were younger and better, but their records were worse because the league in the late 90s was so watered down by expansion and a string of bad drafts.

[GeorgeMarcus]

The traveling question at 2:47 is 100% percent true, it feels like Curry is challenging the refs to call it on every inbound. LeBron does something similar. It's like when Magic would clearly palm the ball dribbling across halfcourt. I guess it doesn't actually affect the play but is annoying to watch.

Is your username a shoutout to the Letterkenny character?

[Chanel Bomber]

If both teams played the same way they did during their respective eras, Curry's right.

The Bulls wouldn't be able to keep up with their lack of 3-point shooting. Simple as that.

The Warriors were smart defensively - they would have just dared Pippen, Harper, Longley to shoot jumpshots.

It's just the natural evolution of the game.

Teams have a better understanding of shot quality now than they did 25 years ago.

I give MJ two games in that series. Pippen would be exposed as a weak link in a series like this.

Pippen was putting up superstar impact metrics that year. He was #5 in the MVP race and at his peak. Thinking he’s the weak link as the guy who can guard Curry, Klay, KD, Draymond all at different points is bizarre to me. If anything I think he’s the least dispensable guy for the Bulls in that particular matchup. His defensive switching is CRUCIAL.

I meant offensively.

Defensively he (or Rodman) would've done as good a job as you can do on Durant. I'm not denying his greatness as a defender, I should've been more specific.

[trueballer7]

Stupid hypothetical. You wanna have a dream match up, you 'll put yourself vs pre 1993, limitless stamina, Jordan. Its absolutely certain Jordan averages 40+ vs the 2017 Warriors and takes at least one of their 3 perimeter players out of the game, either with defense or by getting in foul trouble or from exhaustion. Bulls in 5.

No way, then you lose Rodman who is key to that series guarding KD. As well as Ron Harper, who could be key defensively.

Forget about that. Durant is going to get his anyway. You re not winning this way. You need to have a strategic advantage over their superlative perimeter scoring. You ve got superiority in the post and you ve got prime Jordan. Warriors are even more ill equipped than the 1993 Suns to guard him. They will be forced to adjust their game to limit the massacre.

[toodles23]

100%

The Warriors had 2x top-5 players and 2x top-20 players. The Bulls would be badly outclassed.

Bulls have the best player of all time though. MJ is equivalent in value to KD plus Steph. So it comes down to the rest of the roster which is close

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That's a comical take. Jordan wasn't some god. Curry and KD together ran circles around Lebron. The gap between MJ/Lebron and Curry/KD isn't large. We're talking top-2 all-time player vs. top-10 all-time player. They're in the same tier of impact.

This is 1996 MJ we're talking about anyway, who was still an MVP best in the league type of player but was by no means some sort of untouchable GOAT peak. There's a big difference between pre and post baseball Jordan.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Warriors would constantly be in foul trouble with Jordan and Pippen constantly driving. Bulls in 5.

Jordan wasn't driving a whole lot by that point in his career. If they weren't constantly in foul trouble against Lebron there is zero reason to think it would be a problem against second 3peat Jordan and Pippen.

This is easily the 2017 Warriors, who are by far the most talented team in NBA history. The only teams that maybe come close are some of the 80s Lakers and Celtics teams, but those teams would need to adjust significantly to have a chance against a team with modern 3 point shooting and defensive principles. The first 3peat Bulls were more talented teams than the second 3peat, and MJ and Pippen were younger and better, but their records were worse because the league in the late 90s was so watered down by expansion and a string of bad drafts.

You gain younger Jordan and Pippen, but lose Rodman and Harper. That is NOT a trade you want to make for this particular series.