’17 Golden State Warriors vs. ’96 Chicago Bulls: Who would win?

’17 Golden State Warriors

Along with Curry, I think the Warriors would beat the Bulls in a seven-game series.

I’d say they win in five games. Golden State finished the 2017 season with a 67-15 record. The Warriors had three players averaging over 20 points per game: Steph Curry with 25.3, Kevin Durant with 25.1, and Klay Thompson with 22.3.

As a team, they averaged 115.9 points per game and gave up 104.3.

This was by far the most explosive offense in NBA history. The ’96 Bulls only had one player averaging over 20 points. The Warriors had three. The shot-making ability of the Warriors would be impossible to contain even for a great defensive team like the Bulls.

Also, three is greater than two. These Warriors were snipers from long-range. Two top-five shooters of all-time in Curry (41% from three) and Thompson (41% from three) along with another long-range shooter in Durant (37% from three).

Both the Warriors and Bulls averaged 44 rebounds per game. So the Bulls would not be able to dominate the glass, as some might suspect. Also, the Warriors averaged more steals, blocks, and assists per game. Not to forget, Draymond Green, who was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year anchoring the defense.

The most impressive stat of this Golden State team is that they went 16-1 in the postseason. They swept the first three series and lost Game 4 of the NBA finals to the Cavaliers but that was it. We have never seen dominance like that before in the NBA.

Everyone can say what they want about the eras they played in or how the games were officiated, but if these two teams squared off in a seven-game series I am taking the high-powered offense of the ’17 Warriors to slay the ’96 Bulls. How about you?