Don’t mess with The Bulls if you can’t handle the Horns (Part 1)
The Bulls might as well be one of the most well known teams in basketball history. Everyone from little children to their grandparents has heard of them. The Bulls are a part of the central division of the eastern conference, based
in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1966, they grew to be one of the greatest “dynasties” in the history of sports. Players such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen started their careers playing for this team. With six championships, two “three-peats”
and a record of 72 wins, this team has risen through the ranks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) like the mercury in a thermometer placed in the desert (very fast). The Chicago Bulls were the only team in NBA history to win seventy games in one
season. They were so good, that the NBA used them to increase their own popularity throughout the world. This two part article will give an insight to the history of the Bulls, and shed some light on their rise and fall.
Before The Legend
It is a little known fact that the Chicago Bulls are actually the third team based in that city. The first two were the Packers and the Stags. The team started by playing for the 1966-1967 season and immediately grabbed hold of
the best record set by an expansion team. During the first and second seasons, the Bulls played in the International Amphitheatre, but soon moved to their new home, the Chicago Stadium. The Bulls were seen as a tough team, with their defensive playing tactics.
Despite this fact, they only won one division title, and did not make it to the finals. Between the 1970’s and the 1980’s, the Bulls hit rock bottom. They were not faring well in the world of basketball. In 1976, the Bulls attained Artis Gilmore, who led a
“squad” of players including Reggie Theus, David Gilmore and Orlando Woolridge. After Gilmore was traded for Dave Corzine, the Bulls decided to focus more around Theus. They hired players like Quintin Dailey and Ennis Whatley. This however was not a fruitful
endeavour, since there were no good results. Seeing that they were not getting any results, the Bulls traded Theus to the Kansas Kings.
The Arrival of the Legend and Saviour
In 1984, the Bulls made one of the best decisions ever made. They drafted a shooting guard known as Michael Jordan. Under the new management of team owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and general manager Jerry Krause, the team was built around
Jordan. Jordan set new records for the team by coming in third in scoring and fourth in steals. He also saved the Bulls from their losing streak by carrying the team all the way to the play-offs. The Bulls later drafted John Paxton who they traded for Charles
Oakley.
Jordan was out of commission for most of the 1985-86 season, but returned in the play-offs. Even though the Bulls lost the game, Jordan flagged a record of a whopping 63 points. Jordan went on setting records and went on to be
the very first player from the Chicago Bulls to be a part of the “all NBA team”. Even though the Bulls had these things going for them, the still barely managed to qualify for the play-offs. In 1987, the Bulls drafted Olden Polynice and Howard Grant; Polynice
was traded for Scottie Pippen. With this new lineup, the bulls made their comeback in the 1987-88 season. They won around 50 games and made it to the semi-finals against the Detroit Pistons. Their loss against the Pistons started one of NBA’s most famous
rivalries.
Soon after, Oakley was traded to the Knicks, and the Bulls obtained Will Perdue and Craig Hodges. The new lineup took some time getting used to and caused the Bulls to win fewer games than before. This time the Bulls made it to
the eastern conference finals but once again were denied their win by the Pistons for the third time!
Charging Like an Angry Bull
The Bulls charged through the next season, like an angry bull. They achieved a record of 61 wins and swept the Detroit Pistons off their feet. Finally breaking through to the finals, they played against the Los Angeles Lakers and
won. This winning streak lasted for the next two seasons and helped the Bulls attain a total of three consecutive championships.
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