256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament Preview - Region 2

 Region 1

Here's Region 2 - with the #2 overall seed in the tournament - the 1996 Chicago Bulls.  

1. 1996 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v. PLAY IN WINNER

(72-10)

-It's Michael's best team, the 72 win Bulls.  They beat the Sonics in the Finals. Jordan's 32; Scottie's 30. They'll host the winner of the Play In Game between the 2017 Clippers and the 1966 Sixers.

8. 2019 HOUSTON ROCKETS v. 9. 1949 BAA CHAMPION MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS

(53-29)                                              (44-16)

-Our 4th Rockets team in the field; this club made it to the West Semis with 29 year old James Harden and 33 year old Chris Paul.  They face one of two teams from the 1940s in the field; the 1949 Champion Lakers with 24 year old George Mikan.

5. 1973 MW DIV CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v. 12. 1999 UTAH JAZZ

(60-22)                                                                            (37-13)

-Kareem's 25 and Oscar Robertson's 34; the Bucks fell in the West Semis.  They face our third Stockton/Malone team; they're both 35 years old. the Jazz also reached the West Semis.   

4. 2001 MW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS v. 13. 2010 EAST CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS

(58-24)                                                          (50-32)

-Another Spurs squad; this one lost in the West Finals. Duncan's 24; Robinson's 35. The Celtics reached the NBA Final and lost to the Lakers in 7.  Kevin Garnett's 33; Paul Pierce is 32; Ray Allen's 34.  

3. 2016 MW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER v. 14. 1956 NBA CHAMP PHIL WARRIORS 

(55-27)                                                                   (45-27)

-Our first OKC team; they fell in the West Finals; Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are both 27. They face our 3rd Champion in the Region, Paul Arizin is 27, Neil Johnston is 26 and they lead the Warriors.  

6. 1973 ATL DIV CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 11. 1992 MW CHAMP UTAH JAZZ

(68-14)                                                                       (55-27)

-68 regular season wins and then they lost in the East Finals; the Celtics are led by a 32 year old John Havlicek and a 24 year old Dave Cowens.  They'll host yet another Jazz squad; the second from this Region.  Malone's 28; Stockton's 29.  

7. 2017 SW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS v. 10. 2013 DENVER NUGGETS

(61-21)                                                       (57-25)

-The Jazz have two teams in this Region and so do the Spurs.  This group made the West Finals; Kawhi Leonard is 25 and leads this group; Parker's 34; Ginobli 39.  Denver fell in the first round of the playoffs; Andre Iguodala is 29; 25 year old Ty Lawson leads the team in PPG.  

2. 2000 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 15. 1991 PHOENIX SUNS

(67-15)                                                            (55-27)

-If the seeding holds, the Region 2 Final will see Phil Jackson coach the '96 Bulls against Phil Jackson's 2000 Lakers.  This club won the title, knocking off the Pacers.  It's our first look at Shaquille O'Neal, he's 27 and Kobe Bryant, 21.  They've face 24 year old Kevin Johnson, 27 year old Jeff Hornacek and a Suns team that lost in the first round.