It may seem blasphemous to think Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls could face defeat from any team in the NBA in the 90s. Yet there could have been one, the Houston Rockets led by Hakeem Olajuwon.
’94 bulls were beyond drained that season after their first 3-peat and were simply not a match for the thriving Houston Rockets even if Michael Jordan had not retired. Moreover, it was a career-best season for The Dream as he made history by winning both MVP and DOPY in the same season. On top of that, Chicago Bull lost a key player in Horace Grant to Orlando Magic.
In Micahel Jordan’s absence, Scottie Pippen emerged as a true leader for the Chicago but the ’94 ’95 Houston Rockets were resilient. Michael Jordan returned near the end of the ’95 season and the Bulls had been on an absolute tear since he came back. However, they lost to the Orlando Magic led by Horace Grant and Shaquille O’Neal. Chicago Bulls didn’t have an answer for Shaq’s dominance and Penny wasn’t a joke either.
The 1995 contest would have fired up Michael Jordan because Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were the reason he was drafted third. Certainly, Jordan used that comparison to Drexler to fire himself up against Portland when they played, and he thoroughly outplayed Drexler. However, would it have been enough for the Bulls to overcome Houston Rockets in the Finals?
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Michael Jordan went on record to say Bulls didn’t stand a chance against Rockets
The ’95 Rockets were absolutely unstoppable in playoffs. They were 6th seed that season as their reigning MVP was injured. Come playoffs, they destroyed the top seeds in the western conference. Rockets beat Karl Malone’s Utah Jazz, Charles Barkley’s Phoenix Suns, and first-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Chicago with Micahel Jordan lost to Orlando Magic in the second round of playoffs. However, the Houston Rockets exceeded expectations by sweeping the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals.
In conversation with ESPN, ’94 ’95 NBA champion Kenny Smith was asked if Houston Rockets could beat Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan. He lauded Michael Jordan as the greatest NBA player but pointed out that the Chicago Bulls were just not equipped to face Rockets that year without Dennis Rodman and Horace Grant. He went on to emphasize the fact that they swept the team Bulls lost to in Playoffs
“Michael Jordan is the best basketball player I have seen in my life. But those two years we won he did not have the best teams. We were 6-1 against them during their first 3 peat in the regular season. We swept the team they lost to in playoffs”
It is definitely a stretch to say Chicago Bulls could have gone 8-0 if Michael Jordan hadn’t retired. Moreover, Michael Jordan himself agreed he was relieved Bulls didn’t have to face Houston Rockets in the NBA finals.
“It’s a good thing they can’t ever get out of the west. Because we got no answer for that monster they got. I don’t know that we can beat ’em.”
“What could’ve been” is always arguable but Hakeem Olajuwon’s dominance in 1995 was concrete and couldn’t have been shaken but the GOAT himself.
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