Is this years Warriors team better than the 96 Bulls?

Big topic of discussion from the NBA 'experts' these days. Barkley has made it well known he believes the Bulls team would crush this years Warriors team.

I'm getting to the point where there's too much mystique and love around the good old days of the NBA. I think the players today are faster, stronger, can shoot better, play above the rim better and do everything the old players did at a higher level. Basketball is like a science that keeps improving.

With all things equal (training, rules contact/or freedom of movement) I think the Warriors beat the 96 Bulls.

steveschneider wrote:
I'm getting to the point where there's too much mystique and love around the good old days of the NBA. I think the players today are faster, stronger, can shoot better, play above the rim better and do everything the old players did at a higher level. Basketball is like a science that keeps improving.

*cough* Turtleneck *cough*

Too young to remember those Bulls, but this is the best NBA team I've ever watched.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:

steveschneider wrote:
I'm getting to the point where there's too much mystique and love around the good old days of the NBA. I think the players today are faster, stronger, can shoot better, play above the rim better and do everything the old players did at a higher level. Basketball is like a science that keeps improving.  

*cough* Turtleneck *cough*

What's your .02 OTPT? Trying to get a sports discussion.

I loved the 80's NBA best ball I've ever seen in my life in terms of rivalries, games, series, personalities and so on. That being said, the level of ball in todays NBA is superior. I'd love it if somehow a time machine could put the worst team today vs. the best teams back then. I hear all these folks saying today's players can't pass, can't defend, couldn't handle the physical nature of the game...I say bullshit.

Actually, you might be a bit surprised. I disagree with Barkley. He is just holding on. If GS wins 70 and repeats, you have to consider they are just as good. If not just as good, pretty close. I'm not willing to say better if that makes you happy.

steveschneider wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:

*cough* Turtleneck *cough*

What's your .02 OTPT? Trying to get a sports discussion.

I loved the 80's NBA best ball I've ever seen in my life in terms of rivalries, games, series, personalities and so on. That being said, the level of ball in todays NBA is superior. I'd love it if somehow a time machine could put the worst team today vs. the best teams back then. I hear all these folks saying today's players can't pass, can't defend, couldn't handle the physical nature of the game...I say bullshit.

Honestly - I'm too young to compare eras for certain and I think it's difficult to do even if you're as old as d wags. Outside of some replays on NBA tv, documentaries about Magic, and some highlights I don't think I've seen enough to judge it objectively.

With that said, every team that is playing in a current era is on an even playing field. So I think if the Warriors were able to beat/tie the Bulls record, that is just as impressive as it was back then.

The way they move the ball, run the fast break, and shoot is just fucking magical to watch. Look at the games when the Warriors have played the best of the East (Cavs) and the 2nd best in the West, they blew them the fuck out. I really think they were sending a message. Good luck beating them in a 7 game series, alone beat them once.

It's cool to see a Spartan being right in the middle of it, and he facilitates so much on that offense.

Let's wait and see if they win a title.

Anyway best teams I ever saw:
1983 Sixers. Moses, Doc, Toney, Cheeks. Fo Fo Fo
1986 Celtics: Big Three, Ainge, Johnson and Walton
1985 Lakers: Probably the best Magic team
1996 Bulls: 72 wins
1989 Pistons: First title team

Today's Warriors or Cavs would have serious issues with the top three teams on this list because who's going to guard Moses, McHale, Parrish or Kareem? Also we're playing with 80s "No layup rules"

FYI - Mavericks @ Warriors on ESPN at 10:30 ET

steveschneider wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:

*cough* Turtleneck *cough*

What's your .02 OTPT? Trying to get a sports discussion.

I loved the 80's NBA best ball I've ever seen in my life in terms of rivalries, games, series, personalities and so on. That being said, the level of ball in todays NBA is superior. I'd love it if somehow a time machine could put the worst team today vs. the best teams back then. I hear all these folks saying today's players can't pass, can't defend, couldn't handle the physical nature of the game...I say bullshit.

Weird

Dr. Strangelove wrote:Let's wait and see if they win a title.

Anyway best teams I ever saw:
1983 Sixers. Moses, Doc, Toney, Cheeks. Fo Fo Fo
1986 Celtics: Big Three, Ainge, Johnson and Walton
1985 Lakers: Probably the best Magic team
1996 Bulls: 72 wins
1989 Pistons: First title team

Today's Warriors or Cavs would have serious issues with the top three teams on this list because who's going to guard Moses, McHale, Parrish or Kareem? Also we're playing with 80s "No layup rules"

I'd add at least one of the Spurs teams to that list, and I think the Heat team that beat the Thunder/Spurs was pretty damn good as well.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:FYI - Mavericks @ Warriors on ESPN at 10:30 ET

That Warriors Spurs game was a total dud. The Grizzlies Magic game that was on right before it had a great finish. Will try to catch a bit of that game tonight.

Hard to compare different eras.
Different NBA officiating from what we see today.

Dr. Strangelove wrote:Let's wait and see if they win a title.

Anyway best teams I ever saw:
1983 Sixers. Moses, Doc, Toney, Cheeks. Fo Fo Fo
1986 Celtics: Big Three, Ainge, Johnson and Walton
1985 Lakers: Probably the best Magic team
1996 Bulls: 72 wins
1989 Pistons: First title team

Today's Warriors or Cavs would have serious issues with the top three teams on this list because who's going to guard Moses, McHale, Parrish or Kareem? Also we're playing with 80s "No layup rules"

Just saw your addition. The counter is who on those teams could cover Steph? Even with the 'no layup rules' the players today are just so much more athletic.

They'd get above the rim for rebounds better than those players, close in on shooters quicker for the block and would transition up the floor faster for dunks.

GRR Spartan wrote:Hard to compare different eras.
Different NBA officiating from what we see today.

I think there is a difference between saying "this 2016 team would beat this 1996 team" and saying who is more dominant or better with all things considered.

I hated the Bulls. I hated Jordan, I hated Pippen, I hated the whole team. It broke my heart when Rodman went to the Bulls. BTW, they couldn't do shit until he showed up. The NBA is supposedly the strongest its ever been right now and Warriors are just tearing it up. They don't even play their best 5 players together that often.

Hard to say. The current NBA is better than the mid-90s NBA in my opinion so the Warriors may be better. But that Bulls team was pretty damn good. Ask me again if the Warriors win it all.

steveschneider wrote:

Dr. Strangelove wrote:Let's wait and see if they win a title.

Anyway best teams I ever saw:
1983 Sixers. Moses, Doc, Toney, Cheeks. Fo Fo Fo
1986 Celtics: Big Three, Ainge, Johnson and Walton
1985 Lakers: Probably the best Magic team
1996 Bulls: 72 wins
1989 Pistons: First title team

Today's Warriors or Cavs would have serious issues with the top three teams on this list because who's going to guard Moses, McHale, Parrish or Kareem? Also we're playing with 80s "No layup rules"

Just saw your addition. The counter is who on those teams could cover Steph? Even with the 'no layup rules' the players today are just so much more athletic.

They'd get above the rim for rebounds better than those players, close in on shooters quicker for the block and would transition up the floor faster for dunks.

First Curry would be hit everytime he drove the lane.

Sixers would put Cheeks on him
Celts would put DJ on him
Lakers would put Scott on him
Bulls would have to rotate Armstrong and Jordan
Pistons would put Dumars

Look it's not I reached back to 70s or earlier - I'm old but not that old. All those teams could and did run and they all had at least two HoF'ers.

They would hit him - and then foul out.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:They would hit him - and then foul out.

I just don't buy it that the current teams couldn't take as well as dish it right back out.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:They would hit him - and then foul out.

We'll have Earl Strom and Hugh Evans calling the game and we don't need a third ref

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:They would hit him - and then foul out.

In this hypothetical, which era refs are we using?

Dr. Strangelove wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:They would hit him - and then foul out.

We'll have Earl Strom and Hugh Evans calling the game and we don't need a third ref

That was pure gold, Dr.

steveschneider wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:They would hit him - and then foul out.

I just don't buy it that the current teams couldn't take as well as dish it right back out.

It's just another lame assumption that stems from "my generation is tougher than yours" bullshit.

No one could check Curry

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:They would hit him - and then foul out.

In this hypothetical, which era refs are we using?

I think for the Warriors it wouldn't matter which era you used. I think they win either way.

Dr. Strangelove wrote:

steveschneider wrote:

Just saw your addition. The counter is who on those teams could cover Steph? Even with the 'no layup rules' the players today are just so much more athletic.

They'd get above the rim for rebounds better than those players, close in on shooters quicker for the block and would transition up the floor faster for dunks.

First Curry would be hit everytime he drove the lane.

Sixers would put Cheeks on him
Celts would put DJ on him
Lakers would put Scott on him
Bulls would have to rotate Armstrong and Jordan
Pistons would put Dumars

Look it's not I reached back to 70s or earlier - I'm old but not that old. All those teams could and did run and they all had at least two HoF'ers.

Agree that Curry would spend a lot time on the deck.

But I don't think any of the guys you mentioned could check him. He's unreal.

bump - Warriors vs Mavs on ESPN now

Beat Dallas by 20.

Saw that sbnation had a computer simulated game of the Warriors vs 96 bulls and the Warriors won.

While I was at the gym last night they were running a segment on ESPN about the Warriors where they were breaking down the things they do well.

One of them is when Draymond is driving to the basket he can find open shooters. The time from passing to getting the shot off is .8 something of a second. The defender to get out and cover the 12 feet to get to the shooter is a fraction over a second.

At the rate they are blowing out teams as well they are getting valuable minutes to rest their stars. This team may cruise to the championship.

Dr. Strangelove wrote:Let's wait and see if they win a title.

Anyway best teams I ever saw:
1983 Sixers. Moses, Doc, Toney, Cheeks. Fo Fo Fo
1986 Celtics: Big Three, Ainge, Johnson and Walton
1985 Lakers: Probably the best Magic team
1996 Bulls: 72 wins
1989 Pistons: First title team

Today's Warriors or Cavs would have serious issues with the top three teams on this list because who's going to guard Moses, McHale, Parrish or Kareem? Also we're playing with 80s "No layup rules"

The same guys that are guarding the Brow, Dwight, Boogie & Drummond.  We could also flip that and say it would be real interesting watching those guys trying to chase Green & company around and guard the three.  While the game was more physical back then, defensive schemes are on a whole different level these days.  Defense was an after thought in the 80's.  The physicality would be interesting, btw, given how much stronger and in better shape the current guys are.  

Comparing eras is really tough though.  Games were played and, more importantly, officiated differently back then.   Hand checking and zone rule changes make it almost impossible to compare.  

I consider Jordan's bulls more this era, btw.

StylesGShmooth wrote:

Dr. Strangelove wrote:Let's wait and see if they win a title.

Anyway best teams I ever saw:
1983 Sixers. Moses, Doc, Toney, Cheeks. Fo Fo Fo
1986 Celtics: Big Three, Ainge, Johnson and Walton
1985 Lakers: Probably the best Magic team
1996 Bulls: 72 wins
1989 Pistons: First title team

Today's Warriors or Cavs would have serious issues with the top three teams on this list because who's going to guard Moses, McHale, Parrish or Kareem? Also we're playing with 80s "No layup rules"

The same guys that are guarding the Brow, Dwight, Boogie & Drummond.  We could also flip that and say it would be real interesting watching those guys trying to chase Green & company around and guard the three.  While the game was more physical back then, defensive schemes are on a whole different level these days.  Defense was an after thought in the 80's.  The physicality would be interesting, btw, given how much stronger and in better shape the current guys are.  

Comparing eras is really tough though.  Games were played and, more importantly, officiated differently back then.   Hand checking and zone rule changes make it almost impossible to compare.  

I consider Jordan's bulls more this era, btw.

I agree with everything you said. The athleticism of the current NBA players is off the charts. I think the lowly 76ers this year would beat any team in the 80's that won a championship. You put the 76ers on a time machine and drop them off in 1983 this 76ers team would run them out of the gym.

I think if you assembled a current dream team it would mop the floor with the 1992 dream team.