NBA
By the Numbers: The 10 Best NBA Teams of All-Time
How many Chicago Bulls teams from the Michael Jordan era crack the list?

5. 1996-97 Chicago Bulls

In terms of SRS, the Bulls are tied with the Bucks, with a rating of 10.7. I do give them the slight nod here, though, because this isn't the NFL (no ties) and the Bulls have a decisive advantage in both wins (69) and win/loss percentage.

It also helps that the Bulls went on to win yet another ring -- their second of what became three titles in a row. It's also the same year Jordan won his second Finals MVP in a row with per game averages of 32.3 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the six-game set against possibly MJ and the Bulls' biggest rival, the Utah Jazz.

On their way to the Finals, the Bulls dropped only two of 13 total games. That's pretty much spot on for the kind of dominance Chicago displayed throughout the regular season, as they won 84.1% of their matchups. They did so with a balanced effort, concluding the year rated first in offensive rating (114.4) and fourth in defensive rating (102.4).

Quite possibly the craziest item -- besides the fact that Jordan didn't win the MVP -- to take away from this season is both Jordan and Pippen played in all 82 regular season games. They reached a level of fitness and toughness we very seldom see in the Association today.




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