Can today’s Golden State Warriors beat Jordan’s 1995-96 Bulls?

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Many basketball pundits have toyed with this scenario in their heads: Can the modern-day incarnation of the Golden State Warriors that include Kevin Durant beat the threepeat champs Chicago Bulls of the 1995-96 season? Chicago Bulls supporter Richard Ohlhaber argues otherwise.

It must first be remembered that these teams come from two distinct generations of NBA play. The Bulls reigned during a time in the league when defense was king. Referees were more tolerant of physical contact and fouls that would in today’s NBA be normally and quickly called were then allowed. The advantage here should go to the scrappier Bulls team that included Dennis Rodman, as he would have manhandled the Warriors’ Draymond Green.

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In terms of offense, Jordan and company thrived in post-ups and mid-range shooting, which Golden State plays little attention to outside Durant’s and Livingston’s play. It most likely will be a battle to see which team will take and make more three-pointers and we’d give the advantage here to the Splash Brothers of Curry and Thompson.

Curry’s and Thompson’s dominance outside the arc may just be canceled, though; Phil Jackson’s triangle offense will drastically slow down the game and limit Golden State’s transition offense. Assuming that referees are coming from the old NBA contact rule, Jordan and Pippen will make mincemeat of the smaller Golden State guards’ offensive posturing.

Finally, the mid-90s was still the era of the big man, and Golden State simply cannot match the Bulls’ dominance and production in the paint even if DeMarcus Cousins were healthy, Richard Ohlhaber adds. Cousins, Bogut, and Looney will just be irked, hounded, and overpowered by Chicago’s Rodman and its four-player-strong centers Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, James Edwards, and Jack Haley.

Richard Ohlhaber has been living in the DFW Metroplex since 1998 but grew up in Chicago. He is a huge fan of the Chicago Bulls. Visit this blog for related posts on the NBA.

Should Kris Dunn remain as the main point guard for the Bulls?

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Last season’s return of Zach LaVine—this time donning a Bulls uniform—was undeniably most-welcome for the struggling Chicago team. While a lot of NBA critics believed that the Bulls got the raw end of the deal when they traded away Jimmy Butler for the then-injured LaVine, the former Wolves star is now 100 percent recovered and ready to gain more playing time for the Bulls.

However, LaVine’s play has evolved in that he has now become a full-fledged playmaker and ball distributor. And giving him the point-guard duties will relegate the team’s true point Kris Dunn to the background. The question therefore is, should Dunn now become the secondary option?

Coach Fred Hoiberg believes otherwise. He understands that Dunn has proven to be both steady and clutch for the Bulls these past seasons. And even though the Bulls are now technically on rebuild mode, Dunn is an essential piece for the Bulls’ own process. It makes sense to instead pair Dunn up with LaVine, as the latter also has good outside shooting to complement his explosive drives. LaVine needs to embrace his new role as a shooting guard and play more team basketball going forward.

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With the arrival of Jabari Parker and the improved play of Bobby Portis, Dunn, LaVine and celebrated shooter Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls should reach new heights this coming season. We can expect fast-paced basketball now that most of the old veterans have moved on. Again, play development anchored on Kris Dunn is a wise move. If anything, he has already earned his coach’s respect.

Richard Ohlhaberis currently based in the DFW Metroplex. But he was born and raised in Chicago and continues to be a devout Chicago Bulls fan. For similar posts, check out this website.

The Best Players After MJ Left the Bulls

Before we begin let’s get one thing straight – the discussion involving superlatives like best or greatest is more often than not, of a subjective nature. The reason why Michael Jordan is considered the GOAT is mostly backed up by the sheer number of people considering him to be. But now, let’s look at the best players who came after him.

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Kobe Bryant
A lot of players have been compared to MJ. A lot of players were touted as being the “next Michael Jordan”. The one player who comes closest to this is Kobe Bryant. Winning five NBA championships in the post-Jordan era, Kobe played, shot, and thought like MJ. It was uncanny. They were both winners.

Tim Duncan
Probably the most decorated player post-Jordan, Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all-time. Like Kobe, Duncan won five championships after MJ retired. The Big Fundamental became the Spurs’ leader for two decades, and would average a double-double for record periods of time.

Lebron James
Much has been said about Lebron James. Whether you love him or hate him, he is a player of immense talent, and one of the greatest in NBA history. To date, he has made the NBA finals eight straight years, and has won three championships. He continues to break a lot of records during his incredible career.

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Richard Ohlhaber lives in Texas but grew up in Chicago. He is still a huge fan of Chicago sports teams. For more on sports, visit this page.

The Linsanity In Bulls: What It Means To Have Lin In The Chicago Roster

After the early exit of the Charlotte Hornets and the near-seeding of the Chicago Bulls in the NBA playoffs, there has been some speculation that the Bulls are looking to sign Jeremy Lin into the franchise for the next season. It seems that the Bulls want Lin into their lineup because they are looking for players who will be able to stand-in for the injury-prone Derrick Rose.

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Lin’s play style is a good fit for Frank Hoiberg’s fast-paced offense strategy. There is also a lot of potential that the Lin-Butler duo can give to the team. They could work extremely well together, especially that an ego clash between the two is highly unlikely. So what will it take for the Bulls to sign up Lin? A very handsome paycheck and a cohesive team spirit.

Although the trade is possible, the transfer might face resistance from the player himself. Lin has stated in earlier interviews that he likes the laid-back and relaxed atmosphere that he currently enjoys with Charlotte. As such, a highly competitive team such as Chicago might not appeal to him.

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The star player has also stated that moving between teams isn’t actually ideal for him. In his six years of playing professional basketball, he has had the most fun with the Hornets and that he is surrounded by incredible players and a reliable coaching staff. Currently, there is no strong indication that Lin will be packing his bags to join a different team.

Growing up in Chicago, Richard Ohlhaber has for the most part of his life been a fervent follower of the Bulls. Check out this Twitter page for more about him and his favorite NBA powerhouse.