Despite only a decade separating these two squads, it feels like a lifetime. Phoenix was revolutionary as the “seven seconds or less” offense and of course we have the Chicago Bulls repping four HOFers with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman along with coach Phil Jackson. The Suns are countering with Steve Nash as their lone Naismith Hall of Fame inductee and future member coach Mike D’Antoni.
UPSET SPECIAL
Welp, this is why they play the games. Clearly the Awesemo HQ is sullen and salty. One of the most popular options to take this bracket contest down just lost by 14 points. The vaunted 1995-96 Chicago Bulls lost to the 2004-05 Suns who in real life did not make it out of the Western Conference Finals, succumbing to the ultimate NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.
Michael Jordan ended the night with 18 points, four assists and a steal in 19 minutes with Toni Kukoc tallying 11 points and two rebounds. Australian Luc Longley was third with six points and a board, though he was minus-17. The worst was none other than Scottie Pippen who managed just four points, two rebounds and an assist in 16 minutes along with a minus-20 from one of the game’s best ever defenders
Crossover Players Sim Sixteen
Leandro Barbosa appeared tonight with the 2004-05 Suns and was in the action Friday night as a member of the 2015-16 Warriors. The 14-year veteran had three different stints with the Suns along with appearances for the Raptors, Pacers and Celtics.
James Edwards was on the 1988-89 Pistons along with the 1995-1996 Bulls. While he never appeared in an All-Star Game, the 18-year veteran got two NBA Championship rings with the Pistons and one in the final season of his career playing for these 1995-96 Bulls.
Crossover Players NBA
Jake Voskuhl was drafted by Chicago in 2000 and played on the Suns from 2001-2005 but did not make the roster cut.
Paul Shirley appeared in 18 total NBA games, playing nine for the Suns in 2004-05 and seven the year before with the Bulls.
James Edwards had an 18-year NBA career with five seasons and change in Phoenix in the mid-80s and then his final season at age 40 with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
Luc Longley had four-plus seasons in Chicago, which you remember, but then two seasons in Phoenix before wrapping things up in New York.
Big FanDuel NBA DFS Winner
A solo win out of 50,539 it was joey_80 with 165.59 points for $100 in FanDuel cash.
Find tomorrow’s Contest right HERE
Awesemo Daily Challenge Standings
SABigGuns takes down the daily title and wins a Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones SOLO BABY!
Winners will be contacted by our team shortly!
The Winning Picks
He Should Be An Announcer
Josh Engleman: “Three, two, Tony…” as Kukoc dribbles out the end of the first quarter before dropping the trey.
If you need evidence, here is one of Kukoc’s teammates watching the replay at the end of the first quarter. This bucket gave Kukoc three more points than Michael Jordan in the first frame.
Current Day Comparisons
“Do you think Toni Kukoc would be a better player in the modern NBA…” ~ Chris Spags
“Oh, his game fits perfectly with basketball now…” ~ Josh Engleman
“So he is basically Danilo Gallinari…” ~ Dave Loughran
“Where does Wally Szczerbiak fit in, because he reminds me of that…” ~ Ben Rasa
wrapping it up…
“Wally is kind of like Ray Allen…” ~ Chris Spags
Did He Really Say That?
“Do you want to see my balloons?” ~ Josh Engleman – presented without additional comment or context
Vancouver Grizzlies of the Day
Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson both played for the University of Arizona and Byron Scott played for ASU which is the same state where the Phoenix Suns play and they were Vancouver Grizzlies. Sorry Nolan, that is the best I can do! If you are looking for full due diligence, Steve Nash played his high school ball in Victoria, BC which is about 100 km and a body of water away from Vancouver.
