Were the Bulls really more talented than Detroit in '90?

[coolhandsteve]

Watching the Bad Boys documentary recently, that's the vibe I got from the interviews, that Chicago was talented enough to beat the Pistons 4 out of 7 then, they just didn't know how to win..they weren't there mentally.

I tend to lean more towards Detroit being a better team then anyway, just that the Bulls had the best player.

[ClipperRevival]

This question always comes up when an up and coming team beats the champs. By the time the Pistons lost to the Bulls in 1991, they had been to 3 straights finals. They peaked in 1989 and by 1991, they were on the downside while the Bulls were climbing the mountain and a team on the rise.

So there is no way to know for sure. The better question would be who wins between 1989 Pistons and 1991 Bulls. There is no doubt these are two of the best teams ever (top 12ish).

[Young X]

No they weren't. The Bulls were basically Jordan and young Pippen/Grant with role players.

The Pistons on the other hand had...

Thomas
Dumars
Rodman
Laimbeer
Aguire
Johnson
Edwards
Salley

[ClipperRevival]

No they weren't. The Bulls were basically Jordan and young Pippen/Grant with role players.

The Pistons on the other hand had...

Thomas
Dumars
Rodman
Laimbeer
Aguire
Johnson
Edwards
Salley

You forgot Mahorn. He was one of their leaders.

[Uncle Drew]

You forgot Mahorn. He was one of their leaders.

Mahorn was gone in '90.

[ClipperRevival]

Mahorn was gone in '90.

I know but he was there in 1989.

[GimmeThat]

Watching the Bad Boys documentary recently, that's the vibe I got from the interviews, that Chicago was talented enough to beat the Pistons 4 out of 7 then, they just didn't know how to win..they weren't there mentally.

I tend to lean more towards Detroit being a better team then anyway, just that the Bulls had the best player.

probably more talented in the sense that they see plays from the Bulls, most likely by a guy named Jordan, and the idea that if this guy gets enough help from the fifth player on the court, they could win.

to say they weren't prepared mentally, may as well say they instilled the idea that it wasn't going to happen.

side note, 89-90 season, the Pistons beat the Bulls 4-1 in the regular season

and for that I'd like to think that by the second encounters with the Pistons, even with the Pistons holding the HCA, the Bulls took the series to 7. and so they couldn't wait to get back The Palace of Auburn Hills.

the following season, the Bulls won 3-2 in the regular season