Imrem: Warriors have sights set on Chicago Bulls' record
Jerry Reinsdorf must have had mixed emotions as he watched the Golden State Warriors play Wednesday night.
The Chicago Bulls' chairman loves basketball the way the Warriors play it: Move and share the ball on offense while still having the energy to play quality defense.
On the other hand, Reinsdorf had to hate the 125-94 whipping that Warriors inflicted on the Bulls.
Even worse, the Warriors have a chance to surpass the 1995-96 Bulls, who own the best-ever NBA season record of 72-10.
A headline Wednesday morning in the San Francisco Chronicle read, “Warriors seek 'W' under banner of Chicago's 72-win season.”
Mission accomplished, as the Warriors dominated the Bulls in the United Center like two nights earlier they did the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
“It's embarrassing,” Bulls guard Derrick Rose said of the drubbing.
Look, I'm not one of those liars who says records are meant to be broken. I'm more with the 1972 undefeated Dolphins, who celebrate when the NFL's last undefeated team loses every season.
Chicago has suffered enough recently. The Police Department is under fire. The school system is nearly bankrupt. The Bears continue to be the Bears.
That Bulls' record for an NBA regular season is something that would be nice to hang on to.
Now, I'm not saying that a courtside fan should stick a foot out to trip Stephen Curry if he was racing toward the basket that would secure the Warriors' 73rd victory.
Just, you know, maybe scream something about his mother that would make him lose his balance, the ball and the game.
Right now the '96 Bulls own a one-game edge on Golden State, 39-4 to 40-3. The Warriors can draw even at 41-4 with 2 more victories.
“That's good company to be in,” the Chronicle quoted Golden State shooting guard Klay Thompson as saying.
Record or not, it says here that those Bulls still would beat these Warriors in games of anything from H-O-R-S-E to the NBA Finals.
As Batmen go, Michael Jordan was better than Curry is. As Robins go, Scottie Pippen was better than either Thompson or Draymond Green is. As coaches go, Phil Jackson was mentor and Steve Kerr still is his protégé.
All that said, if the Warriors do finish the season at 73-9 or better, they would be worthy record holders.
When these Warriors come to town anywhere in the NBA, it's a little like when those Bulls came to town in the 1990s.
“I think so,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Every time they step on the floor, it's an exciting game for everybody.”
The Warriors are exciting because of their style of play. Man, they made some passes over, under and around the Bulls that were absolutely Globetrotterish.
“They play the right way,” Hoiberg said. “If it's a team you're not playing, they're fun to watch.”
Golden State is not only good, but it plays the game the way it's supposed to be played, the way Jerry Reinsdorf likes to see it played.
“You can tell everyone on that team is clicking and everyone is locked in,” Rose said.
During a first-half timeout, highlights of the Bulls' dynasty played on the United Center videoboard.
Several of the Warriors looked up to watch as if that's the team — and season record — they have in their sights.
Maybe somebody really will have to trip Curry on his way toward the basket to keep the Warriors from achieving No. 73.
mimrem@dailyherald.com