It's actually somewhat of a myth that the 1996 era Bulls feasted on the expansion teams. Toronto actually BEAT them once that year and Vancouver took the Bulls to the limit as well. Bulls went 5-1 against those two teams. Let's say they had a couple of non expansion teams for those 6 games and only broke .500 (3-3). They still win 70 games.
I still don't hear any debate that the West wasn't garbage in the 1980s. The Sonics of 1980 or so were the best team the Lakers played.
I spoke on Detroit and not Utah, my bad. However, I take the Bulls wins with a grain of salt as MJ's teams FEASTED on expansion teams (first the Magic, Heat, Hornets and T-Wolves), then the Grizzlies and Raptors the 2nd time around. Notice that four of those teams were in the East...and that's how a team like Miami could win 61 games. BTW...who CARES!?!? Are the 2007 Mavs an all-time team with their 67 wins? Like I said, try looking at other years instead of skewing your argument
I took a look and Utah was 47-35, not exactly amazing. The 1992 Cavs were actually 57-25, a better record than anyone the Lakers beat in 1988. And the 1997 Heat, while a dull team, were 61-21 (best record in Miami history). In fact the 1997 Bulls beat a 56 win Atlanta in the 2nd round, 61 win Miami, and then a 64 win Utah in the Finals.
It's real easy to take ONE year out and say that...how about in 1988 when they beat Utah and Dallas, both with 53+ wins? Real easy to cherrypick. The Bulls didn't exactly beat teams in 92 and 97...the Cavs and HEAT in the ECF? Please.
For all the talk of how great the Lakers were in the 80s, they didn't exactly have much competition in the West back then. In 1987 here are the teams they played en route to the Finals:
Denver (37-45)
Golden State (42-40)
Seattle (39-43).
Not exactly Murderer's Row there, huh? That might be why I find it hard to say the Lakers were better than the 90s Bulls. Up until the Finals they didn't play anybody good most of those years.
This might of been the NBA Upset of the 1980's had the Sonics beat the Lakers in the 1987 WC Finals because the 87 Lakers might of been the best Team in NBA History & the Sonics had a Losing Record in 87.
BRING BACK THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS!!!!
kimv020887 5 months ago
@Cabbageboy316 what about the Rockets, with the twin towers in Sampson and Olajuwon?
IThinkThereforeIAm 9 months ago
@cbaldwinjr
It's actually somewhat of a myth that the 1996 era Bulls feasted on the expansion teams. Toronto actually BEAT them once that year and Vancouver took the Bulls to the limit as well. Bulls went 5-1 against those two teams. Let's say they had a couple of non expansion teams for those 6 games and only broke .500 (3-3). They still win 70 games.
I still don't hear any debate that the West wasn't garbage in the 1980s. The Sonics of 1980 or so were the best team the Lakers played.
Cabbageboy316 1 year ago
@Cabbageboy316
I spoke on Detroit and not Utah, my bad. However, I take the Bulls wins with a grain of salt as MJ's teams FEASTED on expansion teams (first the Magic, Heat, Hornets and T-Wolves), then the Grizzlies and Raptors the 2nd time around. Notice that four of those teams were in the East...and that's how a team like Miami could win 61 games. BTW...who CARES!?!? Are the 2007 Mavs an all-time team with their 67 wins? Like I said, try looking at other years instead of skewing your argument
cbaldwinjr 1 year ago
@cbaldwinjr
I took a look and Utah was 47-35, not exactly amazing. The 1992 Cavs were actually 57-25, a better record than anyone the Lakers beat in 1988. And the 1997 Heat, while a dull team, were 61-21 (best record in Miami history). In fact the 1997 Bulls beat a 56 win Atlanta in the 2nd round, 61 win Miami, and then a 64 win Utah in the Finals.
Cabbageboy316 1 year ago
@Cabbageboy316
It's real easy to take ONE year out and say that...how about in 1988 when they beat Utah and Dallas, both with 53+ wins? Real easy to cherrypick. The Bulls didn't exactly beat teams in 92 and 97...the Cavs and HEAT in the ECF? Please.
cbaldwinjr 1 year ago
The Sonics were overmatched by the Lakers in the 1987 Western Finals
ErikS1975FreeState 1 year ago
THA X MAN
50331 1 year ago
For all the talk of how great the Lakers were in the 80s, they didn't exactly have much competition in the West back then. In 1987 here are the teams they played en route to the Finals:
Denver (37-45)
Golden State (42-40)
Seattle (39-43).
Not exactly Murderer's Row there, huh? That might be why I find it hard to say the Lakers were better than the 90s Bulls. Up until the Finals they didn't play anybody good most of those years.
Cabbageboy316 1 year ago
This might of been the NBA Upset of the 1980's had the Sonics beat the Lakers in the 1987 WC Finals because the 87 Lakers might of been the best Team in NBA History & the Sonics had a Losing Record in 87.
FrsBigeasy 2 years ago