The Two Greatest Teams in NBA History

Patrick: Speak it like it is. So, today, fellas, let’s talk arguably about the greatest two teams- -yep, not just The greatest, but possibly the two greatest teams—in NBA history.

Russ: Sounds like Da Bulls [1991 championship team] to me. Patrick: Speaketh Legend #1. I'll begin with you, Russ. So, what do you got?

Russ: Levingston, B.J., Scott Williams, Cartwright, Grant, Hodges, Perdue, Stacey, Paxson.

Don: That right there shows what a leader--

John: --and a heckuva co- leader--

Don: --can do. I mean, Jordan and Pippen led this group to the promised land over the course of three years. Not all rode the 'ship over the entire stretch, but each of them-- and a few others--had at least one championship to tell their kids about.

Patrick: Good point.

Don: I'll give only one thing to Jerry Krause, the Bulls General Manager, and that's that he got Scottie Pippen in the 1997 NBA Draft. Now, he’s done many things during his Bulls tenure that leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, for example, saying things in interviews that attempted to fold things in his and management's favor, but he did pretty good with this pick.

John: Yeah, I remember when Krause told a reporter "Players and coaches don't win championships; organizations win championships." Even when Krause clarified the statement, noting that the one word removed from the quote—“alone”—killed the meaning, he still received heat for it.

Russ: I got it, though. But, regardless, even if he did say "Players and coaches ALONE don't win championships...," it irked the team and Phil Jackson, the head coach of all six eventual championship teams.

Patrick: Right. I mean, I don't believe he said anything ridiculous-ridiculous, but not everything needs to be said...or in such a way. Obviously, there're a ton of factors that go into a championship team--the stadium upkeep, trainers, the fans--

Don: Don't forget the cheerleaders. Shoot, these ten women go all out to keep not only the fans engaged, but the players also. I know when I played, they definitely helped my game.

John: Not to mention they look pretty damn good doing it. That's hard work.

Don: Agreed. And despite all that and other bull--some non-Krause thrown--the Bulls still won.

Patrick: True. Now, question, fellas: 1st three-peat team versus the 2nd--talk about it. Russ?

Russ: Longley, Rodman, Kukoc, Randy Brown, Kerr, Harp, Buechler, Wennington.

Don: Man, it's weird seeing these names without Jordan's and Pippen's.

Patrick: As good as this cast of characters could be individually at times, Jordan and Pippen solidified the mess out of it all.

John: For me, it has to be the 1st team. Mainly because I believe the opponents were stronger. The Lakers, Trailblazers, and Suns were more formidable than the Supersonics and the back-to-back Jazz. So, even though the 2nd-team Bulls got stronger as a team, the primary challengers became weaker.

Russ: Just an exciting time. Look, I've been a Bulls fan for forever, so the difference for me is that that 1st team--that first year--that was special. We’d gone through a lot to get that one. The Detroit Bad Boys a.k.a. the Pistons.

Don: A.k.a., Beasts! Patrick: Tough years. I remember those. Russ: But, yeah, fellas, the second team was machinelike. Straight built to win.

Don: So, the second team beats the first?

Russ: Yeah, but...that first championship meant so much more in my eyes. A long time coming and very hard-earned.