5 great teams the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen Bulls totally ruined

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Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Chicago Bulls

Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley (34) laughs at a foul call with Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan (23) in the first half 28 January 1996 at the United Center in Chicago. The Bulls won 93-82. Jordan scored 31 points, and Barkley scored 20 with 16 rebounds. AFP PHOTO Brian BAHR (Photo by BRIAN BAHR / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRIAN BAHR/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Philadelphia 76ers

While most remember Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns taking the Chicago Bulls to the absolute limit in the 1993 NBA Finals, many forget that Barkley and the Bulls did battle in the Eastern Conference playoffs before Barkley went west.

As a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, Barkley first faced off with Jordan and the Bulls in 1990. That year, Barkley had finished second in the league’s MVP voting and the Sixers finished the season with an impressive 53-29 record. Finally out of the shadow of Julius Erving, Moses Malone and the Sixers’ success of the 1980s Barkley looked to lead this new-look Philadelphia team into the new decade.

Barkley was flanked by guards Hersey Hawkins and Johnny Dawkins giving the Sixers a potent offense that finished second in the league in offensive efficiency. After easily dispatching Cleveland in the first round, Philadelphia was matched up with the up and coming Chicago Bulls and Jordan, who finished third behind Barkley in MVP voting. Clearly motivated by this snub, Jordan took his anger out on the Sixers and Barkley as the Bulls quickly defeated the Sixers 4-1 led by Michael Jordan’s 43 points per game average in the series.

In 1991, it was much of the same as Barkley, Hawkins and new Sixers arrival Armen Gilliam led the Sixers into the playoffs. After sweeping Milwaukee in the first round (3-0), the Sixers once again needed to get through the Bulls. It didn’t happen. Once again Chicago won the series 4-1 and Jordan “only” averaged 33.4 points, 8 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in the series. Pippen chipped in a cool 23.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as the Bulls dominated both sides of the ball.

The Bulls would go on to win their first NBA title and the Sixers were searching for answers.

In 1992, the Sixers fell on their face falling to 35-47 and missing the playoffs for just the second time during Barkley’s eight years with the team. In June 1992, Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns for a package including Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang.

A bad deal even at the time, Barkley would lead Phoenix to the NBA Finals in 1993 and Philadelphia wouldn’t make the playoffs again until Allen Iverson arrived in town.

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