docfiles.1995%E2%80%9396_Chicago_Bulls_season Maven / Gradle / Ivy

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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 team defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals, winning their fourth NBA title in six seasons.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.Source: Team Splits on Basketball ReferenceThe 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]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]The Bulls went undefeated in January.The Bulls continued their success in February winning 11 of 14 and completely dominated the competition.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.[22] Winning in a 31-point blowout, Chicago once again defeated the Heat.[23] 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.[24]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.[25] Chicago would defeat New York again on May 7 to take a 2–0 series lead.[26] Playing at Madison Square Garden, the Bulls lost Game 3 in overtime, despite a 46-point offensive performance by Jordan.[27] In Game 4, Chicago defeated the Knicks by three points to take a 3–1 series lead.[28] To close out the series, the Bulls defeated New York at home behind a double-double performance by Pippen and Rodman.[29]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 the 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.[30] Behind Jordan's 35 points, Chicago defeated Orlando on May 21.[31] In Game 3, the Bulls continued their winning ways by taking a 3–0 series lead against the Magic.[32] Completing the series sweep, the Bulls won Game 4 by five points behind a 45-point performance by Jordan.[33]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.[34] The Bulls took a 2–0 series lead against the Sonics in the second game where Rodman accumulated 20 rebounds.[35] In KeyArena, Chicago won Game 3 behind Jordan's 36 points.[36] The Bulls lost Game 4 in a 21-point blowout on June 12.[37] On June 14, the Bulls lost against Seattle in Game 5.[38] Back in United Center, Chicago won the NBA championship after defeating Seattle in Game 6, 4–2.[39]Phil Jackson (North Dakota)Roster • Transactions
Last transaction: 1996–03–24