I honestly don't know if this is a stupid question or not. Even though I do understand the greatness of MJ, I've never watched him play live, so as much as I hear and as much I see his film, it can't be compared to watching him live. So if this is a dumb question, don't take it offensively.
Let's say the current Bulls somehow managed to wind the hands of time and acquired an in-his-prime Michael Jordan... I think it's safe to say that they would be one of the best teams in the NBA, and a contender no doubt, but would they be able to defeat the Lakers, Cavs, Nuggets/Mavs or Magic in a 7 game series?
Their roster would look like this:
2009-10 Roster
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
20 Joe Alexander F 6-8 230 12/26/1986 West Virginia 1
32 Devin Brown G 6-5 210 12/30/1978 Texas-San Antonio 7
9 Luol Deng - C F 6-9 220 04/16/1985 Duke 5
22 Taj Gibson F 6-9 225 06/24/1985 USC R
12 Kirk Hinrich - C G 6-3 190 01/02/1981 Kansas 6
11 Lindsey Hunter - C G 6-2 195 12/03/1970 Jackson State 16
31 Jerome James C 7-1 285 11/17/1975 Florida A&M 9
16 James Johnson F 6-9 245 02/20/1987 Wake Forest R
0 Acie Law G 6-3 202 01/25/1985 Texas A&M 2
52 Brad Miller F-C 7-0 261 04/12/1976 Purdue 11
6 Ronald Murray G 6-3 200 07/29/1979 Shaw 7
13 Joakim Noah C-F 6-11 232 02/25/1985 Florida 2
2 Jannero Pargo G 6-1 185 10/22/1979 Arkansas 6
1 Derrick Rose G 6-3 190 10/04/1988 Memphis 1
21 Hakim Warrick F 6-9 219 07/08/1982 Syracuse 4
23 Michael Jordan G 6-6 216 02/17/1963 North Carolina 15
They'd look like this matched up against the Lakers...
Rose-Fisher
MJ-Kobe
Artest-Deng
Gasol-Gibson
Bynum-Noah
With the key reserves for the Lakers being Odom, Farmar and Brown. The key reserves for the Bulls being Hinrich, Miller and Warrick.
Or the Cavs...
Mo-Rose
Parker-MJ
LBJ-Deng
Jamison-Varajeo
Shaq-Noah
So... honestly, which of the teams above do you think the Bulls would be able to defeat in a 7 game series? Would they be the undoubted crowned NBA champions after this acquisition, or do you believe that a team currently in the NBA can defeat them in a series?
Let's say the current Bulls somehow managed to wind the hands of time and acquired an in-his-prime Michael Jordan... I think it's safe to say that they would be one of the best teams in the NBA, and a contender no doubt, but would they be able to defeat the Lakers, Cavs, Nuggets/Mavs or Magic in a 7 game series?
Their roster would look like this:
2009-10 Roster
NUM PLAYER POS HT WT DOB FROM YRS
20 Joe Alexander F 6-8 230 12/26/1986 West Virginia 1
32 Devin Brown G 6-5 210 12/30/1978 Texas-San Antonio 7
9 Luol Deng - C F 6-9 220 04/16/1985 Duke 5
22 Taj Gibson F 6-9 225 06/24/1985 USC R
12 Kirk Hinrich - C G 6-3 190 01/02/1981 Kansas 6
11 Lindsey Hunter - C G 6-2 195 12/03/1970 Jackson State 16
31 Jerome James C 7-1 285 11/17/1975 Florida A&M 9
16 James Johnson F 6-9 245 02/20/1987 Wake Forest R
0 Acie Law G 6-3 202 01/25/1985 Texas A&M 2
52 Brad Miller F-C 7-0 261 04/12/1976 Purdue 11
6 Ronald Murray G 6-3 200 07/29/1979 Shaw 7
13 Joakim Noah C-F 6-11 232 02/25/1985 Florida 2
2 Jannero Pargo G 6-1 185 10/22/1979 Arkansas 6
1 Derrick Rose G 6-3 190 10/04/1988 Memphis 1
21 Hakim Warrick F 6-9 219 07/08/1982 Syracuse 4
23 Michael Jordan G 6-6 216 02/17/1963 North Carolina 15
They'd look like this matched up against the Lakers...
Rose-Fisher
MJ-Kobe
Artest-Deng
Gasol-Gibson
Bynum-Noah
With the key reserves for the Lakers being Odom, Farmar and Brown. The key reserves for the Bulls being Hinrich, Miller and Warrick.
Or the Cavs...
Mo-Rose
Parker-MJ
LBJ-Deng
Jamison-Varajeo
Shaq-Noah
So... honestly, which of the teams above do you think the Bulls would be able to defeat in a 7 game series? Would they be the undoubted crowned NBA champions after this acquisition, or do you believe that a team currently in the NBA can defeat them in a series?