Kenny Smith Says His Rockets Team Would've Beaten '94 Bulls with Michael Jordan

Darn those Sonics team, could have settled this a year earlier in 93. Only team that slowed Hakeem slightly.

 

The reason that Micheal Jordan and the Bulls lost to Shaq and the Magic was NOT because Michael wasn't Michael, it was because they had nobody to guard Shaq, and the reason they were able to beat Shaq a year later was because of Dennis Rodman, and not because Jordan got into Jordan shape.

So, yes, I agree with Kenny. If the bulls would have beaten shaq a year later without adding a generational defender in his prime, then maybe you could say that Michael's retirement comeback affected his teams play. The fact is Rodman was the answer to all Michael's problems, and that is a fact.

 

Ethered.

 

These debates are always tricky, like the best player of all time and the best team, it's always context and circumstances. When it comes to all time great teams people tend to think that they were unbeatable or no strategy could be used to beat them. Or,more talent would supplant talent. Most teams are given credit for what they did historically, not year-to-year.

The 90s Bulls were one of the most outstanding teams in sports history. They thoroughly dominated the league, probably the Eastern conference even more so. Were led by arguably the greatest player in Michael Jordan and arguably the most versatile player in history with Scottie Pippen. Along with really good players, like Grant, Armstrong, Kukoc, Paxson, and Kerr.


With all that being said, the Bulls were at their weakest point in 94 and 95, even with MJ in the equation. I don't think their teams would've been as good as they were in 91-93 and 96-98.

If they were going for a four pete in 94', they would've needed to revamp that bench.

In 93-94 season, I have to say I'm not sure who would've won in an NBA Finals matchup. But, I'm pretty sure it would've been a 7-game war, like the Knicks series. The Rockets would have a clear advantage on the front court with Hakeem, but I still think even with Pippen, MJ, and even Armstong in backcourt--it would cause problems for the Rockets backcourt. I think Maxwell could do as well as job as anyone on MJ, but I don't think he is going to shut him down for whole series. I would lean towards Houston winning the series, because I think they would've ultimately ended up with home court advantage.

In 94-95, I think Rockets would've blasted the Bulls out of the NBA Finals, similarly to how the Spurs beat the Heat in 2014. Too much momentum and firepower to matchup against the Rockets. It always weird to me that people think that the Bulls would've had a better shot against the Rockets than the Magic did, while Chicago was clearly an inferior team to the Magic that season. They may have not been able to beat the Pacers.

I don't think it would've bode well for Chicago in this revisionist scenario, I don't think they go on another 3-peat without the MJ retirement. It also doesn't push them to take risk on getting addition of Dennis Rodman, after being thoroughly beaten down by the Magic.

 

Wow this is the most annoying video in the history of videos. Amin & Pippen on the same set, just horrific. LMAO @ Scott saying that we only had one superstar & then the graphic of the starting 5 with Drex comes on, brain dead ****ing twat.

Say what you want about Harden, Yao, Tracy, Francis, for them to go up on that set & dismiss our back to back championships in a span of 2 minutes... It's the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen.

 

To be fair, the Bulls aren't the only all-time great team that I think the Rockets could/would beat in a series.