Who would win, Bill Russells Celtics or Mike Jordans Bulls?

Question

I'm saying Bills Celtics would trump the Bulls, but all of you will says Bulls. Look it up, Bill won 11 rings, MJ not even close to that. Argue away!

Answer 1

Can't compare.....two different eras, MJ team would have the advantage,better athletes.

Answer 2

Bill Russell's Celtics will definitely win over Jordan's Bulls. Jordan's Bulls will not even win against Magic's Lakers or Bird's Celtics. This is a fact: Jordan's Bulls met Bird's Celtics twice in the playoffs. His record versus the Celtics was 0 wins, 6 losses in games, and 0 wins and 2 losses in playoff series. Look it up!

And to the misinformed guy that thinks the Russell's Celtics played without a shot clock, the shot clock was first used in 1954, while Russell entered the NBA in 1956-57. Check your facts first.

Answer 3

Which Bulls team are we talking? I really don't think it would matter but there is simply no getting around the 95 Bulls. That team had the best defenders in history so far for the shooting guard, small forward and power forward positions. Rest assured Bill Russells Celtics would not have won 11 championships if the Bulls were in the league back then. The league back then had not seen the likes of Jordan and Pippen but Jordan and Pippen have seen the likes of Bill Russell in Dennis Rodman. Dennis Rodman and Russell are pretty much the same if you ask me, I am talking athletically and rebounding ability and they are pretty much the same size. Really this is not worth discussing. I really cannot see Bill Russells Celtics doing anything with Bird's Celtics or Magic's Lakers not to mention Michael Jordan and the Bulls.

Answer 4

Bulls still. Not to take away anything from Russell's Celts but the championship Bulls of 1996-1998 is more of a complete team with better defenders. The 1960's Celtics were more of a run and gun team with the exception of Bill who was known as a defender during those times. The 90's Bulls however is a capable team who can hold opponents to lows and is the reason why they reached a 72-10 record.

Answer 5

Russell's Celtics.

The key to beating the Celts is diversified scoring; something that the Bulls is not known for. You need at least 4 guys scoring consistently and passing to spread the Celtic D, as shown by the 66-67 Sixers who in addition to HOF's like Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham, Chet Walker and superb roleplayers like Wali Jones and Luke Jackson, have Wilt Chamberlain at his most effective (ie. non-ball-hoggish), to preoccupy Russell.

Relying on just one or two guys to carry the team aint gonna cut it even if those two players are great offensive scorers and/or great clutch shooters going by the experiences of the Lakers tandem of Elgin Baylor and "Mr. Clutch" Jerry West.

In other words, the MJ-era Bulls is not going to prevent the Russell-era celts from winning. Celtic domination throughout the series? Of course not. Push the series to 7? Sure, why not but win a game 7 against a team that is 11-0 in do-or-die games? Not even Michael Jordan is that lucky.

P.S.: Almost all teams in the 60's uses the fast break as their main offensive weapon (the Celtic fast break is considered to be the most fluid of them all), so saying that the Russell era Celtics plays a SLOWER pace compared to the Jordan era Bulls in the 90's , an era predominated by one on one set plays, is simply WRONG.

Answer 6

This would be a good match up. It really depends on the style of play. the bulls of the 90s probably cant play the style of the 60s and the celtics of the 60s cant play with the bulls of the 90s.

There is no clear cut winner but if i had to pick i will say Jordans bulls just because of the fact that they are faster, more athletic and more skilled.

Hope this helps

Answer 7

You gotta be joking right? Those Celtics playing without Bill Russell would probably sweep Jordan's Bulls. Put them up against a REAL team like the 80's Celtics or Lakers!

Answer 8

Athletes tend to get bigger and stronger over the years (as does the general population). The Celtics would struggle with the sheer size and speed of the Jordan era Bulls. Russell could handle Chamberlain so he's be fine against Cartwright/Longley/Wennington but the others would struggle to defend the Toni K's and Scottie Pippens of the 90's Bulls merely due to their sheer size..

Answer 9

if you pulled the Celtics from that era and put them in this setting, Bulls would probably destroy them. It is a totally different game today.

A better question would be how many titles the Bulls teams of the 90's would have won during the 80's. With that question, I would say they'd be lucky to win one as the league wasn't watered down with 6 additional teams and the Lakers, Celtics, Pistons, Sixers would have all been tough outs.

Answer 10

Bill Russell once played a Finals series on a BROKEN ANKLE!!!....and won!....6'9" of pure athletic freakness!!..
the greatest Defensive player ever!....His Celtic teams would beat the Bull's and the watered down 90's anyday!...I mean...he was going against the greatest athlete ever in Wilt Chamberlain!..7' 2"..400lbs of muscle!..and winning!...

Got to go with Bill...the real G.O.A.T.

Answer 11

The only deciding factor would be the referees. In Russel's era the rules were strictly enforced, especially traveling and carrying. Also in terms of mismatches Russell vs. Winnington or Cartwright - truly onesided. Russell would dominate those two. Jordan's team never got past Bird's Celtics - Bird's teams though great, were never considered the caliber of Russel's teams.