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3. Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman is the ultimate X-factor in this Golden State versus Chicago clash of titans. In 1996, the Worm was in rare form, leading the league in rebounds with 15 boards per game. On the defensive end, he was more than capable of battling against the likes of Karl Malone and Shaquille O’Neal in the post and contesting shots, before anticipating caroms, boxing out, cleaning the glass, and snapping off a quick outlet to a streaking Jordan. Rodman, an underrated passer, rang up 3 assists per game out of the triangle.
The Golden State Warrior roster simply has no answer for Rodman. If anything, the primary responsibility for Rodman would likely fall to Draymond Green, who is more comfortable operating out on the perimeter in small ball lineups. After Green, Festus Ezeli and Andrew Bogut would face the impossible task of keeping Rodman out of the painted area and offensive glass. An active, feisty Rodman would quickly expose the Warriors for their lack of front-court depth.
On the defensive end, a versatile Rodman would switch out of the pick-and-roll, chase down the Splash Brothers on the perimeter, and still rotate back into the paint for help defense and board work. On the other side of the floor, Rodman would surely punish Golden State by chasing down loose balls and securing backbreaking second-chance opportunities for MJ and Co. to go to work.
2. Size
The Chicago Bulls have the size and strength to overwhelm the Golden State Warriors at every position. Out on the wing, the Bulls can throw out Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Ron Harper as 6-foot-six-plus attack dogs able to drive the lane, operate in space, and shut down the one through three spots. In the front-court, the Bulls can roll out the aforementioned Rodman, and team him up with the likes of Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, and even Bill Wennington to control the paint. By the fourth quarter, the Bulls would have worn down the diminutive Warriors with timely post ups and physical play.
Most importantly, the Bulls feature four players in Rodman, Harper, Pippen, and Jordan who can switch off screens and guard multiple positions. In doing so, the Bulls can wreak havoc on the pick and roll, while also chasing down and suffocating the Splash Brothers working in and out of screens. On the other side of the floor, Chicago can control the tempo through the triangle and deliberate half-court sets. Both Jordan and Pippen would loom large as matchup nightmares for Curry, Thompson, and Barnes in the post.
The Chicago Bulls, with time and by drawing fouls, would impose their collective will upon the Golden State Warriors and force them out of their wacky lineups and into a more conventional style for significant minutes. The Warriors, with Andrew Bogut at center and Marreese Speights at power forward, are a far less dangerous ball club for any team to match up against.
1. Michael Jordan
The Golden State Warriors, of course, must contend with Jordan as the most competitive athlete to ever put on a pair of basketball shorts and step out on the hardwood. No. 23 appeared to take a sick pleasure in breaking the will of every opposing player and fan by halftime. For motivation, a machine-like MJ would have promptly dismissed any talk of the Warriors matching the Bulls, before coming out guns blazing to drop 50, while also demanding the Curry assignment at the other end.
Last season, James kept Cleveland in the Finals by himself, after both Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving went down with injuries. For Game 2, James put up 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists to steal a victory on the road at Oracle Arena. In Game 3, James backed up this monster stat line to go off for 40 points, while also taking down 12 boards and dishing out 8 assists. We can expect Jordan to be even more efficient than James in this Bulls versus Warriors series, with the benefit of a healthy supporting cast at his disposal.
History may repeat itself if this series comes down to one final possession, after MJ came up with a timely steal deep in his own territory. After controlling the ball at the top of the key, Jordan could look to cross over, draw the double team, and elevate. In a split second, Jordan would decide to win the game himself or kick the ball back out to a wide open Kerr for the nail in the coffin. It’s gotta be the shoes.
Dennis Rodman is the ultimate X-factor in this Golden State versus Chicago clash of titans. In 1996, the Worm was in rare form, leading the league in rebounds with 15 boards per game. On the defensive end, he was more than capable of battling against the likes of Karl Malone and Shaquille O’Neal in the post and contesting shots, before anticipating caroms, boxing out, cleaning the glass, and snapping off a quick outlet to a streaking Jordan. Rodman, an underrated passer, rang up 3 assists per game out of the triangle.
The Golden State Warrior roster simply has no answer for Rodman. If anything, the primary responsibility for Rodman would likely fall to Draymond Green, who is more comfortable operating out on the perimeter in small ball lineups. After Green, Festus Ezeli and Andrew Bogut would face the impossible task of keeping Rodman out of the painted area and offensive glass. An active, feisty Rodman would quickly expose the Warriors for their lack of front-court depth.
On the defensive end, a versatile Rodman would switch out of the pick-and-roll, chase down the Splash Brothers on the perimeter, and still rotate back into the paint for help defense and board work. On the other side of the floor, Rodman would surely punish Golden State by chasing down loose balls and securing backbreaking second-chance opportunities for MJ and Co. to go to work.
2. Size
The Chicago Bulls have the size and strength to overwhelm the Golden State Warriors at every position. Out on the wing, the Bulls can throw out Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Ron Harper as 6-foot-six-plus attack dogs able to drive the lane, operate in space, and shut down the one through three spots. In the front-court, the Bulls can roll out the aforementioned Rodman, and team him up with the likes of Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, and even Bill Wennington to control the paint. By the fourth quarter, the Bulls would have worn down the diminutive Warriors with timely post ups and physical play.
Most importantly, the Bulls feature four players in Rodman, Harper, Pippen, and Jordan who can switch off screens and guard multiple positions. In doing so, the Bulls can wreak havoc on the pick and roll, while also chasing down and suffocating the Splash Brothers working in and out of screens. On the other side of the floor, Chicago can control the tempo through the triangle and deliberate half-court sets. Both Jordan and Pippen would loom large as matchup nightmares for Curry, Thompson, and Barnes in the post.
The Chicago Bulls, with time and by drawing fouls, would impose their collective will upon the Golden State Warriors and force them out of their wacky lineups and into a more conventional style for significant minutes. The Warriors, with Andrew Bogut at center and Marreese Speights at power forward, are a far less dangerous ball club for any team to match up against.
1. Michael Jordan
The Golden State Warriors, of course, must contend with Jordan as the most competitive athlete to ever put on a pair of basketball shorts and step out on the hardwood. No. 23 appeared to take a sick pleasure in breaking the will of every opposing player and fan by halftime. For motivation, a machine-like MJ would have promptly dismissed any talk of the Warriors matching the Bulls, before coming out guns blazing to drop 50, while also demanding the Curry assignment at the other end.
Last season, James kept Cleveland in the Finals by himself, after both Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving went down with injuries. For Game 2, James put up 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists to steal a victory on the road at Oracle Arena. In Game 3, James backed up this monster stat line to go off for 40 points, while also taking down 12 boards and dishing out 8 assists. We can expect Jordan to be even more efficient than James in this Bulls versus Warriors series, with the benefit of a healthy supporting cast at his disposal.
History may repeat itself if this series comes down to one final possession, after MJ came up with a timely steal deep in his own territory. After controlling the ball at the top of the key, Jordan could look to cross over, draw the double team, and elevate. In a split second, Jordan would decide to win the game himself or kick the ball back out to a wide open Kerr for the nail in the coffin. It’s gotta be the shoes.
