CHI

#1 – Chicago Bulls
1996 NBA Champions

Number 1 Seed: Eastern Conference

“The Greatest Team Ever.”

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The Chicago Bulls were coming off a disappointing playoff exit in the 1995 Playoffs. Bulls star Michael Jordan had returned from retirement mid-way through last season, and now had a full off-season under his belt. The Bulls added rebounding-sensation and enigmatic defensive-star Dennis Rodman to shore up the front court. Rodman had battled against the Bulls in many occasions as a member of the Bad Boy Pistons in the late 1980’s. When the season started, there was no doubt. Michael Jordan was BACK. To start, the Bulls ripped of two winning streaks of 5 and one of 13 games, and were 23-3 by Christmas. The Bulls would not lose again until February, winning 18 in a row to improving to 41-3 before the loss. The Bulls would finish with a then-NBA record 72 wins, establishing their place in the history books. Once the playoffs started, the Bulls went 11-1 in the first three rounds, dismantling the Heat, Knicks and sweeping the Magic in the East Finals. In the NBA Finals, the Bulls would face the Seattle Supersonics, and the dynamic duo of Shawn Kemp & Gary Payton. The Bulls would jump out to a 3-0 lead, before losing back-to-back games. In Game 6, the Bulls closed out the Sonics, winning their fourth NBA title in six years. Michael Jordan took home NBA Finals MVP honors for the fourth time.

1996 Playoff Stats

Playoff Record: 15 wins, 3 losses
Points Per Game: 97.3 | Opponents PPG: 86.8 | Difference: +10.5
Offensive Rating: 111.5 | Defensive Rating: 99.4 | Difference: +12.1

Full 1996 Bulls Stats available here

The Real MVP

Image result for michael jordan 1996 championship — **Michael Jordan:** 30.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.8 spg, 46% FG, 40% 3PT (Finals MVP)

NBA 2K17 Roster & Ratings

Bold indicates starter

SG – Michael Jordan (99)
SF – Scottie Pippen (95)
PF – Dennis Rodman (88)
SF – Toni Kukoc (87)
PG – Ron Harper (80)
PG – Steve Kerr (78)
PG – Randy Brown (77)
C – Luc Longley (75)
SF – Jud Beuchler (72)
C – Bill Wennington (70)
PF – John Salley (69)
PF – Dickey Simpkins (67)
C – James Edwards (65)

2K Tournament Results

First Round (Best-of-7)

(1) 1996 Chicago Bulls vs (9) ’93 Bulls vs (10) ’08 Celtics

Results coming 8/31/17