That Back-to-Back Rockets team was likely better than all of the other Finals opponents for the Bulls.

>they were an AVERAGE John Starks shooting performance from
>losing in 7 to a Knicks team that the Bulls sans Mike took to
>7, and if not for that Hugh Hollins call, may have lost to the
>Bulls in 6.

True - but that Knicks team was no slight. That same Knicks team took prime Jordan and prime Pip/MJ/Horace '92 Bulls to 7 games and pushed them to the brink. Also, that Pippen-led Bulls team in '94 was *very* good, and Pip lead them barely any falloff from the previous year with MJ (just a 1-game difference in the reg. season).

Also, the Rockets *swept* Shaq and the Magic in '95 after they beat the Knicks. Jordan and the Bulls got stopped in '95 in the semis by that same Magic squad, and even if the Bulls would've pulled that series out and won in the ECF, that's a tall order to beat prime Hakeem and that Rockets team. Dream was unstoppable for those two years. Ate up everyone on both sides of the ball.

>Dream was EATING regardless of who was guarding him, but with
>Jordan and Pippen on the wing, are those guards getting those
>open kickout threes? Bulls centers were rarely more than
>serviceable but they knew how to use their size and their
>fouls. Second three peat Bulls may fare better due to Rodman
>being able to defend Dream better than Horace, but Bulls
>championship teams always had formidable front courts.

Indeed. Clearly, prime MJ/Pip and the Bulls could beat *any* team in NBA history - including that Rockets squad - but I also think the timing is key here. If Jordan decides to continue in '94 and go for 4-in-a-row - does he get worn out (especially given what we know now from the "The Last Dance" in terms of his on and off the court strains)?

Jordan faced an older Magic in the Finals in '91 - and then lost to a very young '95 Shaq who was learning how to win (albeit in a late-stage comeback attempt where Jordan wasn't prime) -- but I think it's pretty clear that '94/'95 Hakeem clearly would've been the best individual talent & two-way player that Jordan ever faced in the 90's.

>Would have been some classics to watch. And nerve wracking as
>shit....

Would've been epic.


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