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1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers vs. 1995-96 Chicago Bulls

In favor of the Bulls:

Bulls Bio:

• Players who have won Playoff MVP award: 1 (Jordan)
• Players on "50 Greatest" list: 2 (Jordan, Pippen)
• Players who have made All Star Team during their career: 3 (Jordan, Pippen, Rodman)

In this match up Dennis Rodman won't get outscored by his man: Marc Iavaroni is a dirty work type of player who will spend most of his time tangling with Rodman for rebounds.  If he can't then it will be a free for all with Rodman and Malone battling for rebounds in the paint.  Jordan certainly can outgun Andrew Toney in the back court and Ron Harper has a size advantage over Maurice Cheeks.

In favor of the Sixers:

Sixers Bio:

• Players who have won Playoff MVP award: 2 (Malone, Erving)
• Players on "50 Greatest" list: 2 (Erving, Malone)
• Players who have made All Star Team during their career: 5 (Cheeks, Erving, Jones, Malone, Toney)

Moses Malone was a wrecking ball in the 1983 Playoffs. Julius Erving can match the athleticism of Pippen on both ends of the floor.  Maurice Cheeks should be able to get the drive & kick out game going with Erving, Toney and Clint Richardson who comes off the bench.  Bobby Jones is a defensive stopper who can play either forward spot.

Synopsis

Moses parts the red sea!  The Bulls have NO ONE who can slow down or stop Malone in the post or under the boards.  Malone dominated Bill Cartwright, Bob Lanier, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1983,  he also butchered the three headed center of the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1985 playoffs.  The Bulls center position is of the same caliber, if not worse than those Bucks.  Moses will overwhelm the Bulls, preventing Rodman from rebounding the Jordan & Pippen missed shots, if Rodman dominates Iavaroni the Sixers can throw the hard working Bobby Jones at him.  Jordan will get his points but Pippen will be slowed by Bobby Jones when the Sixers put him at small forward.    It is questionable how well Pippen can play offense because he is going to have to stay in Erving's face when he is on defense.  Andrew Toney is enough of an outside marksman that he will keep Jordan busy on the defensive end of the floor.  Cheeks has a speed advantage he can use on Harper to get into the paint.  The Sixers have enough weapons to keep the Bulls from producing the dominance on the perimeter necessary to counter the havoc Moses will wreak in the paint, the Sixers are a better all around team.     

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