Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: 3 teams that could have ruined Scottie Pippen’s prediction

By Abe Rotbart

CHICAGO - 1996: Scottie Pippen #33, Michael Jordan #23 and Dennis Rodman #91 of the Chicago Bulls share a laugh during a 1996 NBA game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - 1996: Scottie Pippen #33, Michael Jordan #23 and Dennis Rodman #91 of the Chicago Bulls share a laugh during a 1996 NBA game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 2 The San Antonio Spurs

Before coming to the Chicago Bulls, Dennis Rodman was leading the league in rebounding for a San Antonio team led by David Robinson. That team never was able to get to the finals and after two disgruntled seasons traded him.

It took a few seasons for the Spurs to replace Rodman but when they did, everything changed for that franchise. They drafted power forward Tim Duncan with the first pick of the 1997 NBA draft.

He went on to win the rookie of the year award in 1997-98 and the Spurs were back in the playoffs. By 1999, they were in the NBA Finals and they were a much different beast than the Utah Jazz of the prior two years.

While most fans consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest player of all-time, many consider Tim Duncan to be the greatest power forward of all time. He went on to win 5 Championships with San Antonio during the course of his career. Starting with his rookie year in 1997-98 he made the all-star game for 13 consecutive seasons.

Duncan’s mentor of course was Robinson, the 1989-90 rookie of year. During his career, Robinson made all defense eight times, won a scoring title and a Most Valuable Player award. Both players were listed as among the 50 Greatest Players of All Time.

Rounding out that team were former Bulls champions Will Perdue and Steve Kerr, future NBA coach Avery Johnson and hard-nosed role players like Mario Elie and Antonio Davis. The team led the league in the least points allowed per game.

With a slow Luc Longley and an aging Dennis Rodman, it is hard to imagine the Bulls matching up well against Duncan with Robinson or Jordan and Pippen having an easy time scoring. The coach of course was, and still is, Greg Popovich, who joins Phil Jackson as the two most successful coaches since the Jordan era began.

A 1999 NBA Finals between the Bulls and Spurs may have knocked the Bulls off their throne.

Home/Bulls History