1995–96 Chicago Bulls season

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1995–96 Chicago Bulls season
Fourth NBA championship
Head coach Phil Jackson
General manager Jerry Krause
Owner(s) Jerry Reinsdorf
Arena United Center
Results
Record 72–10 (.878)
Place Division: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish NBA Champions
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television SportsChannel Chicago, WGN
Radio WMAQ
< 1994–95 1996–97 >

In the 1995–96 season, the Chicago Bulls set the NBA record for wins, finishing the season 72–10.[1] The Bulls also became the only team to ever win 70 regular season games, easily finishing first overall in their division, conference, and the entire NBA. The Bulls swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs, defeated the New York Knicks in five games of the semifinals, then swept the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals. They then defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals, winning their fourth NBA title in six seasons.

Offseason

Prior to the 1995–96 NBA season, Dennis Rodman and Jack Haley were traded from the Spurs to the Bulls for Will Perdue and cash considerations to fill a large void at power forward left by Horace Grant, who left the Bulls prior to the 1994–95 NBA season.[2]

Haley played in one game, the final game of the regular season and didn't participate in the playoffs. He was best known for his friendship with the enigmatic Rodman.[3]

In his book Bad as I Wanna Be,[citation needed] Rodman stated that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had to approve the trade before it took place. Rodman chose the number 91 (9+1=10 according to Rodman for why he chose that number) for his jersey since #10 was retired by the Bulls in 1995 in honor of Bob Love.

NBA Draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 20 Jason Caffey PF  United States Alabama
2 31 Dragan Tarlac C Olympiakos (Greece)

Roster

1995-96 Chicago Bulls roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From
PG 0 Brown, Randy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–22 New Mexico State
SF 30 Buechler, Jud 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–06–19 Arizona
PF 35 Caffey, Jason 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1973–06–12 Alabama
C 53 Edwards, James 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1955–11–22 Washington
PF 54 Haley, Jack 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1964–01–27 UCLA
PG 9 Harper, Ron 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1964–01–20 Miami (OH)
SG 23 Jordan, Michael (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1963–02–17 North Carolina
PG 25 Kerr, Steve 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1965–09–27 Arizona
SF 7 Kukoc, Toni 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–09–18 Croatia
C 13 Longley, Luc 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1969–01–19 New Mexico
SF 33 Pippen, Scottie (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas
PF 91 Rodman, Dennis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1961–05–13 SE Oklahoma State
PF 22 Salley, John 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1964–05–16 Georgia Tech
PF 8 Simpkins, Dickey 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 1972–04–06 Providence
C 34 Wennington, Bill 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1963–04–26 St. John's
Head coach

Phil Jackson (North Dakota)

Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster • Transactions
Last transaction: 1996–03–24

Standings

Central Division

Central Division
W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Chicago Bulls 72 10 .878 – 39–2 33–8 24–4
x-Indiana Pacers 52 30 .634 20 32–9 20–21 19–9
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 47 35 .573 25 26–15 21–20 13–15
x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561 26 26–15 20–21 15–13
x-Detroit Pistons 46 36 .561 26 30–11 16–25 15–13
Charlotte Hornets 41 41 .500 31 25–16 16–25 13–15
Milwaukee Bucks 25 57 .305 47 14–27 11–30 8–20
Toronto Raptors 21 61 .256 51 15–26 6–35 5–23

Eastern Conference

Record vs. opponents

Regular season

November

Scottie Pippen accumulated 2 triple-doubles and 4 double-doubles in November 1995.

The Bulls began the 1995–96 season on November 3 against the Charlotte Hornets and defeated them, 105–91, with Michael Jordan scoring 42 points.[4] The next day, Chicago defeated the Boston Celtics in a 22-point blowout.[5] On November 7, the Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors behind Jordan's 38 points.[6] In Gund Arena, Chicago defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 9, where Scottie Pippen accumulated a triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists.[7] After defeating the Portland Trail Blazers on November 11, the Bulls reached a 5–0 start for the season.[8] On November 14, Chicago's undefeated streak ended with a loss to the Orlando Magic, despite a double-double performance by Pippen.[9] Following their first loss of the season, Chicago bounced back to defeat Cleveland on November 15.[10] The Bulls would continue their winning ways by defeating the New Jersey Nets on November 17.[11]

From November 21–December 2, the Bulls would go on a road trip to play against Western Conference teams. On November 21, Chicago played in its first overtime game of the season in a win against the Dallas Mavericks, backed by a double-double performance by Pippen and 36 points from Jordan.[12] On the next day, the Bulls would defeat the San Antonio Spurs behind another triple-double by Pippen and Jordan's 38 points.[13] Chicago then went to Delta Center to play against the Utah Jazz on November 24. In the game, the Bulls defeated the Jazz, 90–85.[14] On November 26, the Bulls headed to Seattle and were dealt their second loss of the season after losing by five points.[15] Heading south into Portland, Chicago would defeat the Trail Blazers by three points on November 27.[16] In their last game of the month, the Bulls would go to Canada to play against the Vancouver Grizzlies and would defeat them.[17]

December

Chicago's road trip ended in Los Angeles on December 2 after defeating the Clippers.[18] On December 6, the Bulls headed back to the United Center to play the New York Knicks and had defeated them despite Jordan's struggle that night.[19] The Bulls won their fifth straight game on December 8 against the Spurs.[20] On the next day, Chicago defeated the Milwaukee Bucks behind Jordan's 45-point performance.[21]

January

The Bulls went undefeated in January.

February

The Bulls continued their success in February winning 11 of 14 and completely dominated the competition.

March

The Bulls would add 2 of their final 10 losses in March:[22]

On Sunday March 10th, they were blown out 104-72 in Madison Square Garden by Ewing's Knicks - their largest margin of defeat on the season.

Two weeks later, they would drop a game at the hands of the expansion Raptors, 109-108. Damon Stoudemire posted an efficient 30 points and 11 assist effort to lead Toronto.

April

The Bulls lost two home games in the final month losing to the Charlotte Hornets, then losing their final home game of the season to the Indiana Pacers.

Playoffs

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Main article: 1996 NBA Playoffs

First round

Net. Game Date Time
TBS Game 1 April 26 9:30 EDT
NBC Game 2 April 28 5:30 EDT
TNT Game 3 May 1 8:00 EDT

The Bulls' playoff run began on April 26. Their First Round opponent would be the Miami Heat, whom they defeated 3–1 in the regular season. In Game 1, the Bulls defeated Miami in a blowout victory behind Jordan's 35 points.[23] Winning in a 31-point blowout, Chicago once again defeated the Heat.[24] To reach the Conference Semifinals, the Bulls defeated the Heat in Miami in a game where Pippen accumulated a triple-double with 22 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists.[25]

Conference semifinals

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See also: Bulls–Knicks rivalry
Net. Game Date Time
NBC Game 1 May 5 5:30 EDT
TNT Game 2 May 7 9:30 EDT
NBC Game 3 May 11 1:00 EDT
NBC Game 4 May 12 5:30 EDT
TNT Game 5 May 14 8:00 EDT

The Bulls would meet rival New York Knicks in the Conference Semifinals. In the regular season, Chicago won the season series, 3–1. In Game 1 on May 5, the Bulls defeated the Knicks behind Jordan's 44 points.[26] Chicago would defeat New York again on May 7 to take a 2–0 series lead.[27] Playing at Madison Square Garden, the Bulls lost Game 3 in overtime, despite a 46-point offensive performance by Jordan.[28] In Game 4, Chicago defeated the Knicks by three points to take a 3–1 series lead.[29] To close out the series, the Bulls defeated New York at home behind a double-double performance by Pippen and Rodman.[30]

Conference finals

Net. Game Date Time
NBC Game 1 May 19 3:30 EDT
TNT Game 2 May 21 8:30 EDT
NBC Game 3 May 25 3:30 EDT
NBC Game 4 May 27 3:30 EDT

In the Conference Finals, the Bulls would meet the Atlantic Division champions, Orlando Magic, a team led by Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway who had reached the finals the year prior only to be swept by Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. The Bulls won the regular season series against the Magic, 3–1. To start the series, the Bulls took Game 1 in a 38-point blowout on May 19.[31] Behind Jordan's 35 points, Chicago defeated Orlando on May 21.[32] In Game 3, the Bulls continued their winning ways by taking a 3–0 series lead against the Magic.[33] Completing the series sweep, the Bulls won Game 4 by five points behind a 45-point performance by Jordan.[34]

NBA Finals

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Main article: 1996 NBA Finals
Net. Game Date Time
NBC Game 1 June 5 9:00 EDT
NBC Game 2 June 7 9:00 EDT
NBC Game 3 June 9 7:30 EDT
NBC Game 4 June 12 9:00 EDT
NBC Game 5 June 14 9:00 EDT
NBC Game 6 June 16 7:30 EDT

Chicago would take on the Seattle SuperSonics, whose 64–18 franchise-best regular season record was overshadowed by the Bulls' 72–10 record. In the regular season, the two teams split the season series, 1–1. In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Chicago defeated Seattle by 17 points.[35] The Bulls took a 2–0 series lead against the Sonics in the second game where Rodman accumulated 20 rebounds.[36] In KeyArena, Chicago won Game 3 behind Jordan's 36 points.[37] The Bulls lost Game 4 in a 21-point blowout on June 12.[38] On June 14, the Bulls lost against Seattle in Game 5.[39] Back in the United Center, Chicago defeated Seattle in Game 6[40] to win the NBA championship four games to two.

Game log

Regular season

1995–96 game log
1995–96 season schedule

Playoffs

1996 playoff game log
1995–96 season schedule

Player statistics

Award winners

NBA All-Star Game

References

  1. ↑ 1995-96 Chicago Bulls
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  22. ↑ http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1996_games.html
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External links

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