If Jordan had not taken two years off, would Chicago have won 8 straight!?!?!?

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

The Rockets benefited from no MJ and the Bulls in the 1994-95 NBA Finals, winning back to back titles over NY and Orlando.

Would the Rockets have still won it all in either year if Jordan had not left the league?

If Chicago wins those two as well it would have been 8 straight...Michael Jordan was that good and his greatness seems to be somewhat forgotten.

Those Bulls teams were tested pretty good too, early on in their dynasty vs Portland, it took a late frenzie to win that game 6th and become champs again... the Suns were on the brink of a 7th game before the Paxson daggar....they handled Seattle but still lost a couple games, although they did seem to be in control of that one....the Jazz played them pretty tough as well, but always seemed to blow a key play late and come up just short.

I'm not sure the Rockets would have won but I do know this much Hakeem was incredible in the 1995 playoff run...as great a post season as you will ever see.

Basket%20NBA%20-%20Campioni%20Hakeem%20Olajuwon.jpg

Ladeda · Apr 27, 2007

I vote yes. Bulls would have won both years.

royboy_3831 · Apr 27, 2007

I think so, 7 out of 8 for sure. Like you said, Hakeem was incredible those two years, would've been some great battles.

themanej2001 · Apr 27, 2007

The Bulls win easily. Jordan always found a way to win the game. Sure Hakeem was awesome, but Jordan wasn't losing period.

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

Hakeem was truly amazing , especially the '95 post season...chilling performance to this day for me....when i think of Hakeem 1995 will always be the first thing I remember...he was playing the center position like a small forward, the way he sliced and diced.

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

themanej2001 said:
The Bulls win easily. Jordan always found a way to win the game. Sure Hakeem was awesome, but Jordan wasn't losing period.

The Bulls were taken to the brink several times, those finals were always close, aplay here or there.....the Rockets had a lot of talent and clutch plaers, Drexler was very good still and already battled MJ back in the 92 finals, they had a lot of role players too, Smith, Cassell , Horry, Ellie...

I think the Rockets win 1995 :aktion033

Highdaddy · Apr 27, 2007

Bulls would have killed them, no question

Jordan is the greatest athlete ever

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

I have to admit I have a strong bias towards the Rockets, Olajuwon and Drexler.

Cotton and Westphal can only look away as Clyde serves up a facial.

themanej2001 · Apr 27, 2007

Journeyman said:
Hakeem was truly amazing , especially the '95 post season...chilling performance to this day for me....when i think of Hakeem 1995 will always be the first thing I remember...he was playing the center position like a small forward, the way he sliced and diced.

But you guys are acting like Hakeem didn't play the years Jordan won. Sure maybe he played better but that much better? Better then Jordan? I don't think so. It was clearly his best post season.

But YES EASILY. The Bulls were maybe the best team of all time. Jordan Pippen and Rodman were among the best players of our time.

Not to add but that team won 72 damn games man and never lost a final. What makes you think that Jordan loses in his prime when he never lost in his prime. You could actually argue the Bulls were one horrible call away from returning to the finals with out Jordan. So w/o the greatest player of all time that team almost made the finals... What makes you think that with him they would lose...

I say easily because he had easily done it every year he had ever been there so I don't think tihngs change

royboy_3831 · Apr 27, 2007

Hakeem had the best footwork of any big man ever. Some of his highlights schooling Robinson and Ewing are flat out sick.

themanej2001 · Apr 27, 2007

Journeyman said:
The Bulls were taken to the brink several times, those finals were always close, aplay here or there.....the Rockets had a lot of talent and clutch plaers, Drexler was very good still and already battled MJ back in the 92 finals, they had a lot of role players too, Smith, Cassell , Horry, Ellie...

I think the Rockets win 1995 :aktion033

Taken to the Brink but they always won. History shows, the team never lost in the finals since Jordan got there. Why would that suddenly change? Why was Hakeem and the Rockets suddenly as good as maybe the best basketball team ever when they were gone, but never contended with them the years they were there?

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

royboy_3831 said:
Hakeem had the best footwork of any big man ever. Some of his highlights schooling Robinson and Ewing are flat out sick.

:lolBIG: Robinson was the 1995 MVP and The Dream made him look silly in the West Finals.

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

themanej2001 said:
Taken to the Brink but they always won. History shows, the team never lost in the finals since Jordan got there. Why would that suddenly change? Why was Hakeem and the Rockets suddenly as good as maybe the best basketball team ever when they were gone, but never contended with them the years they were there?

Because they added players , each year teams change...they added HOFer Clyde Drexler halfway thru the 1995 season.

themanej2001 · Apr 27, 2007

Journeyman said:
Because they added players , each year teams change...they added HOFer Clyde Drexler halfway thru the 1995 season.

So what...?

So let me ask you this...

Were the 1995 Rockets a top 5 team of all time suddenly with the addition of one player??

Jordan allowed this door the be opened by being a little girl and leaving....

BUT no one beat the Bulls period. They played close series who cares?? They won every won. The Bulls beat that team every time they play them if Michael is on the court period.

Drexler does nothing against Pippen or Jordan. Sorry man but they do not beat Jordan. No one proved that they could beat Mike in the Finals so I don't see any reasoning to think that team beats them

fhmesq44 · Apr 27, 2007

Journeyman said:
The Bulls were taken to the brink several times, those finals were always close, aplay here or there.....the Rockets had a lot of talent and clutch plaers, Drexler was very good still and already battled MJ back in the 92 finals, they had a lot of role players too, Smith, Cassell , Horry, Ellie...

I think the Rockets win 1995 :aktion033

The Bulls were "taken to the brink" only twice in 24 series, once each by the Pacers in the final title run and NYK in the eastern semis once during the first run of 3. Every other series ended in 6 or fewer and none of the first rounders went 5.

They win at least one, probably two, but I also think Jordan would have retired earlier had he not retired the first time.

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

Can we play the games without Jordan getting all the calls (especially in the 4th) or do we have to play with the refs in Jordan's pocket?

I saw so many playoff games turn around in Chicago's favor in the 1990's its not even funny...like Hulk Hogan amazingly coming to life , Jordan and the Bulls always got the calls late...

Put it this way , If Jordan was losing in the final 5 minutes and he drove to the hole, he either scored or went to the line.

I think it's at least 'arguable' Houston could have beaten Chicago 1/2 times.

And remember the hunger factor may not have been there either...8 straight would have been the most impressive run in sports history had they done that , IMO.

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

fhmesq44 said:
The Bulls were "taken to the brink" only twice, by the Pacers in the final title run and NYK in the eastern semis once during the first run of 3. Every other series ended in 6 or fewer and none of the first rounders went 5.

They win at least one, probably two, but I also think Jordan would have retired earlier had he not retired the first time.

I thought Indiana had them...they played them atleast even the one year, but of course the Jordan rules prevailed. :hump:

fhmesq44 · Apr 27, 2007

Journeyman said:
I thought Indiana had them...they played them atleast even the one year, but of course the Jordan rules prevailed. :hump:

In fairness, that series never should have gone to 7. Reggie Miller pushed off as bad as anyone I have ever seen coming off a late screen to hit a 3 at the end of game 6.

Christ, I forgot how bad it was

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IlNnLXBnMfM

Journeyman · Apr 27, 2007

one more thing before I retire for the night...The Magic had game 1 won,but gave it away thanks to the 4 missed free throws by Nick Anderson and were never the same....had they won gm 1, who knows how that would have played out.

Seymour · Apr 27, 2007

The Rockets could have beaten them - it is just too bad that when the Bulls won all those rings there was not one decent team they beat - I remember the big show down each year was John Starks and the Knicks - boy would I like to have seen Jordan face the Lakers with Kobe and Shaq or the Spurs teams.