Bulls Stats:
NBA championships: 6
Last year in Finals: 1998
Playoffs since 1980: 17
Michael Jordan
Scottie Pippen
| CHICAGO BULLS ROSTER (* PER = Player Efficiency Rating) | ||||||||
| POS | PLAYER | HT | YEAR | AGE | PTS | REB | AST | PER* |
| G | MICHAEL JORDAN | 6-6 | 1991 | 27 | 31.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 31.6 |
| Comment: Which MJ year to pick? We'll take '91, when the Bulls won their first title | ||||||||
| G | REGGIE THEUS | 6-7 | 1983 | 25 | 23.8 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 19.2 |
| Comment: All-Star in '83; could light it up and passing skills were underrated (6.3 apg in career), but don't expect first-rate D | ||||||||
| G | BEN GORDON | 6-3 | 2006 | 23 | 16.9 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 14.6 |
| Comment: Bulls haven't had a lot of great guards, but Gordon gives this team a long-range bomber with his 43.5% mark from the arc | ||||||||
| G/F | JERRY SLOAN | 6-5 | 1969 | 26 | 16.8 | 7.9 | 3.5 | 14.9 |
| Comment: Rugged defender and all-time hustle player, was All-Star and 1st-team all-D in '69 | ||||||||
| F/G | CHET WALKER | 6-6 | 1971 | 30 | 22.0 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 18.9 |
| Comment: Seven-time All-Star went by the moniker "Chet the Jet"; great open-court player who knew how to get to the line | ||||||||
| F | SCOTTIE PIPPEN | 6-7 | 1994 | 28 | 22.0 | 8.7 | 5.6 | 23.2 |
| Comment: In '94, showed he didn't need MJ to be great player: 1st-team All-NBA; look for him to play some "point forward" on this squad | ||||||||
| F | BOB LOVE | 6-8 | 1971 | 28 | 25.2 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 17.0 |
| Comment: "Butterbean" was a fan favorite in early '70s; solid defender and 2nd-team All-NBA in '71 | ||||||||
| F | DENNIS RODMAN | 6-7 | 1996 | 34 | 5.5 | 14.9 | 2.5 | 13.6 |
| Comment: Pistons had crowded roster so slides over to Bulls to provide some rebounding, defense and red hair | ||||||||
| F/C | HORACE GRANT | 6-10 | 1992 | 26 | 14.2 | 10.0 | 2.7 | 20.6 |
| Comment: Underrated performer on three Bulls title teams, he'll do all the dirty work needed | ||||||||
| C | ARTIS GILMORE | 7-2 | 1981 | 27 | 18.9 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 25.2 |
| Comment: 11-time All-Star between ABA/NBA; all-time great shot blocker and highest shooting percentage in NBA history (58.2%) | ||||||||
SCOUTING REPORT: Four keys for the Bulls against the Lakers: (1) Rebound, rebound, rebound: best way to stop L.A.'s fast break is to pound the boards; (2) Play Pippen in the backcourt -- Lakers have Kobe to match up with MJ or Pippen but have problems matching up with both; (3) Feed Gilmore -- he's one of the NBA's all-time best in shooting percentage; (4) When in doubt, don't get too cute: You have Jordan, after all.