The 2021–22 NBA playoffs are almost here, and as fans, we always make predictions about who will play in the NBA Finals. However, as NBA fans, we never got to see this dream Finals matchup. What if the Houston Rockets and the Chicago Bulls met in the NBA finals in 1994 or 1995? Would the Houston Rockets repeat as champs, or would Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls triumph?
Let me be clear: I'm not casting out the Chicago Bulls because any team with number 23 on its roster has a solid probability of winning. If you recall the classic Last Dance Documentary, one thing that stood out was that when Michael Jordan gets hot, there is no way to cool him down. We also discovered that it's usually better if you don't talk trash to Michael Jordan. However, the Houston Rockets had a tough defender named Vernon Maxwell who would not only defend effectively but also trash talk you all night. This match-up between Michael Jordan and Vernon Maxwell would have been spectacular since Maxwell was going to play aggressive defense and score, while Michael Jordan elevated his game to an unparalleled level.
If you look at the rosters of the Rockets and Bulls, you'll see that if this Finals matchup occurred, Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan would have a field day because no one matches up well against the two greats. Aside from Micheal Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, there was a slew of excellent players that might have a huge effect on the game and determine whether or not their team won. During the Houston Rockets' championship run, players including Mario Elie, Vernon Maxwell, Sam Cassel, Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, and Cyle Drexler made some crucial contributions. BJ Armstrong, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman, John Paxson, and Scottie Pippin were among the Chicago Bulls' players. With this much firepower on both sides, this would have undoubtedly been an NBA Finals for the ages.
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