A big argument going around the sports world right now is if the 2015 Golden State Warriors could beat the best team to ever play the game, the 1996 Chicago Bulls.

  The Warriors have been on an absolute tear to start the season, breaking records left and right. They’ve broken the record to start an NBA season undefeated: they’re 23-0 and still counting, and the Bay area could not be any happier. The Warriors just won their first NBA championship in 40 years last season, and right now it looks like no one can stop them. So the question keeps coming up, can they beat the ‘96 72-10 Chicago Bulls?

  The Bulls that season were arguably the best team to ever take the floor.  Their lockdown defense dominated the league, and they also had someone by the name of Michael Jordan.  The trio of Jordan-Pippen-Rodman was almost unstoppable.  That season, Jordan averaged 30.4 points per game (leading the NBA), 6.6 rebounds per game, and 4.3 assists per game, he also won the MVP award.  Pippen was an All-NBA defensive first team member along with Jordan and Rodman.  Rodman led the league with 15.6 rebounds per game.

  So who wins?

  It’s hard to say who would win a game between these two teams.  The game is completely different now than 20 years ago.  From defense, hand-checks, and the use of a big man.  Here’s my take on it.

The matchup of these two teams would be this:

PG: Curry-Harper

SG: Thompson-Jordan

SF: Barnes-Pippen

PF: Green-Rodman

C: Ezeli-Longley

  The way the matchup would align is in the favor of the Bulls; their defense could stop the Warriors.  Rodman is one of the best defenders in NBA history, he would take Green out of the game not even to be a factor.  Pippen would guard Thompson, you don’t want Michael getting tired from chasing him around and Pippen is one of the best defenders at his position in history.  It doesn’t matter who the Bulls put on Curry, he is still going to get his no matter what.  One thing that may be a factor is when the Warriors decide to go to their small lineup with Igoudala at the PF position.  That could cause some trouble for the Bulls.  But overall, in a 7 game series, the Bulls would win in 6 games.  Their defense would be too much for the Warriors to handle.