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Scottie Pippen & Dennis Rodman: Our Bulls would have gone 50-0 during the lockout season

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The 1998 Chicago Bulls are widely considered to be one of the greatest teams in NBA history.

Led by the dynamic duo of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the Bulls dominated the league throughout the 90s, winning six championships in eight years. However, there is one season that many believe could have been the most remarkable of them all – the 1998-1999 season, known as the lockout season.

The NBA lockout in 1998 was a result of a labor dispute between the owners and players over the collective bargaining agreement. As a result, the season was shortened to just 50 games, and all games were played within a five-month period. Many experts and fans often wonder what could have been if the Bulls had played that season with their full roster, as Jordan and Pippen were in their prime, and they had another key piece in their lineup – Dennis Rodman.

In a recent interview, Pippen shared his belief that if the Bulls had played that lockout season, they would have gone 50-0. He stated, “If you look at the way we were rolling before the lockout, we were on a roll. I really truly believe that we would have gone 50-0. We were just in a great groove, and I couldn’t see anybody really beating us.”

Pippen’s confidence in his team is not unfounded. The Bulls were coming off their second three-peat and were still the reigning champions. They had a record of 62-20 the previous season and were on track for another dominant year before the lockout. With the addition of Rodman, who was a key component in their three-peat success, there is no doubt that the Bulls would have been an even more formidable force.

But it wasn’t just the star power that made the Bulls a winning team. It was their chemistry, the triangle offense, and their defensive prowess that set them apart from the rest. Pippen and Rodman were known for their tenacious defense, often shutting down the opponent’s best players. Their combined defensive skills, along with Jordan’s unmatched scoring ability, would have been a nightmare for any team trying to stop them.

Another factor that could have contributed to the Bulls’ undefeated record is their experience and mental toughness. As a team that had been through numerous pressure-packed situations and come out victorious, they had the mental fortitude to handle the condensed and fast-paced schedule of the lockout season. Their competitors, on the other hand, might have struggled to adapt to the shortened season and the intense level of play.

While it may seem like a bold statement to claim that the Bulls would have gone 50-0, it is not entirely far-fetched. In fact, former Bulls head coach Phil Jackson also shared the same sentiment in his book “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul.” He wrote, “We would have won every one of those games. The ’98 team was exceptionally motivated and disciplined. To play a truncated season that would have involved no more travel than their normal postseason schedule? That would have been the ideal for us.”

Unfortunately, we will never know for sure what could have been if the Bulls had played the lockout season. But one thing is certain – the 1998 Bulls were a dominant force, and adding Rodman to their already stacked roster would have made them even more unbeatable.

In conclusion, the 1998 Chicago Bulls were a remarkable team with a talented roster, unrivaled chemistry, and unwavering resilience. It is not a stretch to say that they could have gone 50-0 during the lockout season. While we can only speculate, the fact remains that this talented team left an indelible mark on the NBA, and their legacy will continue to be remembered by fans and fellow players alike.