CHICAGO — The Golden State Warriors have won a record 23 straight games to start this season.
But they'll still need to go 49-10 the rest of the regular season to match the 1995-96 Bulls' epic campaign. The Bulls' television broadcaster from that season, Tom Dore, believes the Warriors, led by MVP Steph Curry, have a shot to tie or break Chicago's magic 72-10 mark.
"With the start they've had, they sure have a great chance," Dore said in an email to DNAinfo Chicago.
Dore said this year's Warriors, who next play Friday at Boston, remind him of the 1995-96 Bulls because they only care about winning, both lineups are deep and have good passers, and they play "smart basketball."
He also said Curry's leadership is reminiscent of the way Michael Jordan guided the Bulls that season, which culminated with their fourth of six NBA championships.
"When you're in trouble, he can get you out of trouble with a good or even great play," Dore said of Jordan and Curry. "I read a quote that Steph might be the most improved player in the league this year and the MVP. To me, that's an MVP, the most talented player in the league who can't stand the fact that he has a weakness. Michael came up with the idea of lifting in the morning and keeping himself strong as the season went on. Very similar traits from great players."
Dore, who lives in Austin, Texas, and is a public speaker who does voiceover work, said injuries are likely the only thing standing in the Warriors' way of 72 wins.
Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and company were a beyond-dominant outfit in 1995-96. They finished the season on 39-2 at home, which included a loss at United Center in the last regular-season game. They were 33-8 on the road and 24-4 in the division. The Bulls that season went 14-0 in January, and their worst month came in an 11-3 February.
"They hated giving up easy scores and contested every pass and every shot," Dore said. "Obviously with Michael and Scottie, they had terrific defenders, but the rest of the team fully bought into the team defense that the Bulls used to win. Michael was the best defender in the league, and also the most determined. If they decided to shut you down, you were likely in for a very long night."
Dore said he wished those Bulls could play these Warriors. He called the hypothetical scenario a matchup "of one of the best all-time defensive units against one of the best all-time shooting and scoring units in NBA history."
And who would win?
"Can't give you a winner as it's a different era, but I think basketball would be better if we could have played the series," Dore said. "It's a little like, would you rather have Babe Ruth or Ted Williams coming to bat with the game on the line? Neither one is a bad answer."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
