Barkley: Bulls' 72-win team 'would kill' Warriors

Betallsports · Dec 18, 2015

[h=1]Charles Barkley: Warriors 'very small,' no match for Bulls of '95-96[/h]
The Golden State Warriors are thought by many to have a fighting chance to match the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' 72-win mark as they continue to roll through opponents.

Charles Barkley, who got two first-hand looks at those Bulls in the last of his four-season stint with the Phoenix Suns, says it's a moot point.
Barkley favors the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA title.

"That Bulls team would kill this little team," Barkley said of the Warriors in an interview Thursday with ESPN Radio's Waddle & Silvy show in Chicago. "Come on, man. Who is going to guard Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan? What about Dennis Rodman?"

The Warriors improved to 25-1 on Wednesday night with a rout of the Suns, led by Klay Thompson's season-best 43 points and Stephen Curry's 25. Golden State was coming off its first loss, to Milwaukee on Saturday night, after an NBA-record 24-0 start.

"I still like the Spurs to win the championship this year," said Barkley, a Naismith Hall of Famer and Turner Sports analyst. "Just because these guys are beating up on inferior competition, don't overreact now."

With Jordan returning for his first full season since retiring in 1993, the Bulls of 1995-96 went 72-10 and won the fourth of Jordan's six NBA titles.

"Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman -- let me just start with those three," Barkley said. "First of all they would love playing the way the Warriors play. It's a much easier game now. Could you imagine how many points Michael would average if you couldn't touch him? Dennis would get so many rebounds against that team. They are a very small team."

Barkley has previously said Curry and the Warriors were "carrying the NBA" during an otherwise down season for the league.

"Thank God for the Golden State Warriors," Barkley said earlier this month on "The Rich Eisen Show." "They're keeping everybody involved. But it hasn't been great basketball."

According to the ESPN Basketball Power Index, the Warriors now have a 60.9 percent chance of winning 70 games, a 47.2 percent chance of winning 71 and a 33.3 percent chance of winning 72. They also have a 20.8 percent chance of winning 73 games and an 11.5 percent chance of winning 74.

"I know we live in the moment," Barkley said. "These guys haven't won the championship yet."

Information from ESPN's Stats & Information was used in this report.

ANOTHERDAY · Dec 18, 2015

100000% true

Just like the NFL teams of the 2000's would never stand a chance against teams from the 80's and 90's....rule changes and many of other things had made it so easy over the years

theMadMan · Dec 18, 2015

ANOTHERDAY? said:
100000% true

Just like the NFL teams of the 2000's would never stand a chance against teams from the 80's and 90's....rule changes and many of other things had made it so easy over the years

Key Factor here!!!! -all depends on which rules you apply....

seldomseen · Dec 18, 2015

Agree with Barkley. Rule changes or not they couldn't match up with that bulls team.

Vlad the Impaler · Dec 18, 2015

It's not like players of today could not just be as physical if allowed to do so. Let Lebron handcheck you all game. Who the hell in the 80's is 6'9" 260 pounds and athletic. In the 80's, that was a center.

In the NFL, if they played by the old rules, teams would just change the way they draft. No one really even puts tremendous value anymore on a running back or strong safety.

seldomseen · Dec 18, 2015

Vlad the Impaler said:
It's not like players of today could not just be as physical if allowed to do so. Let Lebron handcheck you all game. Who the hell in the 80's is 6'9" 260 pounds and athletic. In the 80's, that was a center.

In the NFL, if they played by the old rules, teams would just change the way they draft. No one really even puts tremendous value anymore on a running back or strong safety.

The Bulls team was mid 90's. Jordan and Harper were both 6'5 or 6'6. Longley was 6'11 but more than likely Rodman shifts to center to match up with Green.

Vlad the Impaler · Dec 18, 2015

seldomseen said:
The Bulls team was mid 90's. Jordan and Harper were both 6'5 or 6'6. Longley was 6'11 but more than likely Rodman shifts to center to match up with Green.

I agree with Barkely on this because of the match up but I was just giving a general opinion.

HacheMan · Dec 18, 2015

Agree as well.

Even the Spurs & Heat teams a few years ago were better.

This Warriors team is good but not one of your normal standout teams we're used to seeing.

They were fortunate enough to come along & gel right when the league is down when talking Top Teams...

jay6s · Dec 18, 2015

agree....using either rules, be it the 90's rules or todays rules...i've always said to my friends that curry back in the 90-80 would not stand out as he does right now, think about pippen guarding him, joe dumars, bruce bowen, dennis johnson, gary payton, kobe bryant when young and even jordan

Mr_Mark · Dec 18, 2015

if playing by todays rules, Bulls would foul out before half time. Playing by 90's rules. Bulls all the way. Bulls were great because of their defense. Their offense was very good as well but defense (& MJ) is what set them apart.

Barkley doesnt think and Green vs Rodman would be an entertaining matchup?

gremlin · Dec 18, 2015

Jordan guarding Steph Curry? Steph would score less than 15 PPG avg in the series. That automatically would have me think the Bulls destroy the Warriors 99/100. The Warriors average 110 points per game with today's no hand checking, no defense NBA rules. The 95-96 Bulls averaged 105 PPG when you could throat-slam people and check dribblers off the ball with reckless abandon. It wouldn't be close. Bulls in a rout.

JudgeWapner · Dec 18, 2015

Would beat them. Wouldn't kill them.

Seymour · Dec 18, 2015

SA is better than GS

barman · Dec 18, 2015

ANOTHERDAY? said:
100000% true

Just like the NFL teams of the 2000's would never stand a chance against teams from the 80's and 90's....rule changes and many of other things had made it so easy over the years

NFL linemen in the 80s were likely an average of 60-75 lbs lighter than today's men in same positions. The 80s teams would be crushed

RenoChazz · Dec 18, 2015

It's the opposite in the NHL. The guys from the 80's-90's would get destroyed in today's NHL.

Willie99 · Dec 18, 2015

everybody likes to think they've played in a better era

one thing is certain, Barkley played in a much tougher era

raiders72 · Dec 18, 2015

Vlad the Impaler said:
It's not like players of today could not just be as physical if allowed to do so. Let Lebron handcheck you all game. Who the hell in the 80's is 6'9" 260 pounds and athletic. In the 80's, that was a center.

In the NFL, if they played by the old rules, teams would just change the way they draft. No one really even puts tremendous value anymore on a running back or strong safety.

They were bigger in the NBA in the 80s/90s. In football they are much bigger today but not in basketball.

Just look at the 1995 Dream Team. Jordan at 6'6" was the smallest starter. Malone was a little bigger than Lebron. Robinson and Ewing were 7'+

WorldNumberOne · Dec 19, 2015

Seymour said:
SA is better than GS

Gonna agree with this . Not sure GS will get thru SANT this year. Didn't have to last year.

arniesarmy · Dec 19, 2015

Bucks were in position to beat them twice in the same week...they played mine games with them. The Warriors are weak as Barkley insinuated.

Barkley: Bulls' 72-win team 'would kill' Warriors

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