Back to DA 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)

The Bulls have some good options on defense.  They can move Scottie Pippen out to the perimeter to slow down Magic Johnson.  This leaves Jordan down low trying to stop James Worthy.  The Bulls also can bring in the potent scoring of Toni Kucoc off the bench-for whom the Lakers do not have a direct answer.

In favor of the Lakers:

Lakers Bio:

• Players who have won Playoff MVP award: 3 (Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Worthy)
• Players on "50 Greatest" list: 3 (Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, Worthy)
• Players who have made All Star Team during their career: 6 (Abdul-Jabbar, Cooper, Green, Johnson, Scott, Worthy)

Byron Scott becomes a very interesting factor.  In 1986-87 Scott fired .436 from the original 3 point range.  Scott can get open shots off of Kareem in the low post.  Lets not forget the Playoff MVPs Magic Johnson('87) and James Worthy('88)-who BTW was the real star of the 1982 NCAA Champion North Carolina Tar Heels-not Michael Jordan.  The Lakers bring in a strong bench with Defensive Player of the year Michael Cooper, center Mychal Thompson, and G/F Billy Thompson.

SYNOPSIS

This match up is plain and simple:  If the Bulls "Big 4" shut down Johnson, Scott, Worthy and Green from the Lakers they can still go inside and get production from Kareem.  The same cannot be said for the Bulls if the Laker's quartet hold their own against the Bulls "Big 4".  Mychal Thompson is a big X factor for L.A..  Thompson was excited to be the final piece of the Laker's title puzzle as he brought in enthusiasm and intensity off the bench, similar to what Walton did for the Celtics in 1986.  Toni Kucoc provides an extra offensive punch which the Bulls are going to need off their bench, but Steve Kerr's effectiveness will be limited when he has Cooper in his face.  If Byron Scott feasts off the open 3 pointers he gets when the Bulls double team the low post then the Lakers could turn this into a blowout.

 

1967 Sixers

1971 Bucks

1972 Lakers

1983 Sixers

1986 Celtics

 Back to DA BULLS