95-96 Bulls Set the Bar

In the 1995-1996 season, the Chicago Bulls set the bar as being arguably the best team in NBA history, setting a single season record of 72-10. The Bulls broke the 1971-1972 record of 69-13 that was set by the Los Angelas Lakers coached by Bill Sharman who had hall famer players in Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Gail Goodrich.

This Bulls team was already known as being one of three, 3-peat champions in NBA history(Bulls, Celtics,Lakers) from 91-94 NBA seasons. Jordan was a year coming back from retirement, so he was hungury after a disappoing lost to the Orlando Magic in the 94-95 Eastern Conference Championship (4-2).

The Bulls team was coached by the legandary hall of famer Phil Jackson who already had chemistry with arguably one of the best duos in NBA history, Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Within that in mind Chicago decided to add four time defensive player of the year and hall of famer, Dennis Rodmen. Rodmen completed an already talented Bulls team with his dominant rebounding and defensive skills.

Furthermore, this Bulls team had a great supporting cast in Luc Longley, Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper and 3-point specialist Steve Kerr. Kerr currently has the best 3-point percentage in NBA history at 53.3%.

At the end of the regular season, Jordan won his eighth scoring title, Rodman his fifth straight rebounding title, and Kerr finished second in the league in three-point shooting percentage. In addition, Jordan won the league’s MVP, All-Star MVP and Finals MVP to complete the triple crown.

Other awards include Jackson winning Coach of the Year, and Kukoc the Sixth Man of the Year. Both Pippen and Jordan made the All-NBA First Team, and Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman made the All-Defensive First Team, making the Bulls the only team in history with three players on the All-Defensive First Team.

In the playoffs, the Bulls finished with a record of 15-3 as they defeated Gary Payton’s and Shaun Kemp’s Seatle Supersonics 4-2. The Bull 95-96 team is still considered one of the best teams in NBA history on paper and from a statistical standpoint.

 

Eight Straight Rings is More than a Dynasty

From 1959-1966 the Boston Celtics were the most dominant team during this era, winning a record eight straight championships. Winning eight straight championships remains the best streak in all of sports. The Celtics manage to win eight straight championships led by hall of fame coach, Red Auerbach and hall of fame players Bill Russell and Bob Cousy.

Russell doesnt have a place for one of his rings, for he has won a combined 11 championships throughout his career. Cousy on the other hand won six championships and lead the NBA as the all-time steals and assist leader until John Stockton broke it in 96-97 season.

In addition, this Celtics dynasty had several other NBA hall of famers in Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, John Havlicek and Frank Ramsey. This Hall of Fame lineup of not only starters but bench players too makes this Celtics dynasty one of the most complete teams.

This Celtics went defeated teams such as the St. Louis Hawks, Los Angelas Lakers and the San Fransisico Warriors. The Hawks hall of famer center Bob Pettie, the Los Angelas Lakers featured hall of famers in Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, and the Warriors featured hall famers in Rick Barry and Nate Thurmond.

In addition within the Eastern Conference the Celtics had to go against the Philadelaphia 76ers and face arguably the most dominant force in NBA history, Wilt Chamberlain seven times. Arguably one of the best rivals in NBA history and all of sports was between Chamberlain and Russell.

However, in 1968 the Celtics’ string of NBA titles was broken as they lost to Chamberlain and the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics record of eight consecutive championships remains an NBA and professional sports records. The Celtics record may be considered one of those records that will never be broken.