1980-1981:
The Bulls are relocated to the Central Division in the Eastern
Conference. The move would serve the Bulls well as they won
13 of their last 15 games to make the playoffs for the first
time in 5 years with a 45-37 record. In the playoffs the Bulls
would stun the New York Knicks in 2 straight, before being
swept in 4 straight by the Boston Celtics in the 2nd Round.
1981-1982: The Bulls
are unable to build off their solid playoff season as they
get off to a terrible start before Coach Jerry Sloan is fired
after a 19-33 record. With GM Rod Thorn running the team the
rest of the way the Bulls play .500, as they finish in 5th
place with a 34-48 record.
1982-1983: With new
Coach Paul Westhead the Bulls struggles continue as they played
terrible all season on the way to finishing in 4th place with
a woeful 28-54 record. Following the season Westhead would
be fired and replaced by Kevin Loughery.
1983-1984: The Bulls
struggles continue as they finish with an awful 27-55 record,
missing the playoffs for the 6th time in 7 years. During the
season the Bulls deal away Reggie Theus creating the need
for a solid shooting guard, which they hoped would be filled
by a 6-6 guard from North Carolina named Michael Jordan who
the Bulls selected with 3rd overall draft pick.
1984-1985: Michael
Jordan stepped into the starting lineup right away and dazzled
the NBA earning a trip to the All-Star Game, while earning
comparisons to Julius Erving. Jordan would go on to finish
3rd in scoring with 28.2 ppg, earning the Rookie of the Year
as the Bulls made the playoffs with a 38-44 record. However,
it would be a quick exit as the Bulls are knocked off by the
Milwaukee Bucks in 4 games.
1985-1986: The Bulls
season seemed lost form the start when Michael Jordan was
lost 3 games into the season. However, Jordan would return
sooner then expected, as the Bulls were able to squeeze into
the playoffs despite a poor 30-52 record. In the playoffs
the Bulls would be swept in 3 straight by the Boston Celtics,
but nobody would remember the Bulls failures after Jordan
set a NBA postseason record by scoring 63 points on the road
in a Game 2 loss in double overtime 135-131.
1986-1987: In his
3rd season Michael Jordan continues to blossom into the NBA's
top star as he went on a rampage coming 40 or more points
in 9 straight games, as he won his first scoring title with
37.1 ppg, while becoming the first player in 24 years to score
3,000 points. The Bulls would make the playoffs again with
a 40-42 record. However, Jordan could not do it alone in the
playoffs, as the Bulls are swept by the Boston Celtics in
3 straight.
1987-1988: The Bulls
acquire some help for Michael Jordan in the draft by trading
for Scottie Pippen and selecting Horace Grant. With some added
help and Charles Oakley finishing a close 2nd in rebounding
the Bulls showed some improvemnt by finishing in 3rd place
with a 50-32 record. Along the way Jordan was spectacular
as ever dazzling the home crowd at the All-Star Game with
his aerial show, and winning his first MVP award by winning
the scoring title with 35 ppg. In addition his airness proved
to be a two-way player as he led the league in steals while
winning the defensive player of the year. In the playoffs
Michael Jordan would get their first taste of success as eth
Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games. However, in
the 2nd Round the Bulls would fall to the Detroit Pistons
in 5 games.
1988-1989: The Bulls
continue to retool trading Charles Oakley to the New York
Knicks for Center Bill Cartwright. In the regular season the
Bulls would take a step backward as their record slipped to
47-35. However, the Bulls would still make the payoffs as
the 6th seed. In the playoffs the Bulls had a tough first
round battle against the Cleveland Cavaliers that would go
the full 5 games. With only a few seconds remaining the Bulls
needed a miracle as they trailed, by one point. From there
the legend of Michael Jordan began to grow as he hit a dramatic
game winning shot as time expired. Moving on the 2nd Round
the Bulls started to roll as they stunned the New York Knicks
in 6. In the Eastern Finals the Bulls would jump out to a
2-1 series lead against the Detroit Pistons. However the playoff
tested Pistons would rally to win the next 3, and take the
series in 6 games.
1989-1990: Despite
the solid playoff run the Bulls would fire Coach Doug Collins
replacing him with Phil Jackson. The change would have a positive
effect as the Bulls began to play consistent basketball finishing
in 2nd place with a 57-25 record, as Michael Jordan won his
4th straight scoring title with 33.6 ppg. Along the way Scottie
Pippen had a breakout season adding the perfect offensive
complement to Jordan's highflying aerial show. In the playoffs
the Bulls would easily rip through the Milwaukee Bucks in
4 games and the Philadelphia 76ers for an Eastern Conference
Finals rematch with Detroit Pistons. In a classic series the
Piston and Bulls would battle the full 7 game, but the Pistons
would emerge victorious on the way to their 2nd straight title.
