Every NBA championship team likes to see how they stack up against the best of the best. Avery Johnson , a member of the 1999 San Antonio Spurs title squad, is no different. The retired veteran point guard appeared on The Mark Jackson Show and explained why he thinks his Spurs could beat Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls .
"At the end of the day, Michael (Jordan) is Michael. Scottie (Pippen) is Scottie," Johnson explained . "Really and truly, they would have no answer for Tim Duncan. Who's gonna guard Tim? Who's gonna guard David (Robinson)? We can't guard Michael. Nobody in the centuries of basketball could guard him."
For the long-time NBA point guard, basketball is a numbers game. If MJ could get his 30 every night, Timmy could get 25, and The Admiral could have his customary 15 to 18. Nobody from either team could slow these superstars down, and Johnson likes his chances that way.
San Antonio could hold their own
Spurs teams have been traditional defensive powerhouses ever since The Big Fundamental stepped on an NBA court. Also, Robinson was four years removed from an MVP campaign and was still an interior force to be reckoned with. With these Hall of Fame big men locking down the paint, it's hard to imagine the Bulls having their way inside.
Besides Duncan and Robinson, the 1998 NBA Sportsmanship Awardee believes his teammates could hold their own.
"Mario Elie is another guy defensively, and rest in peace, Jerome Kersey," said Johnson. "When you got Jerome Kersey, Sean Elliott, and Mario Elie as your perimeter defenders, and Jaren Jackson can sit there and knock down shots, Steve Kerr can knock down those shots… When you got those types of guys, man, it just speaks championships."
While the '99 Spurs were more than capable of handling their business, the Bulls were on another stratosphere. MJ and Scottie took on all-comers and won six championships in the decade. Besides, it can be argued that the Spurs only got a foot in the door because Chicago broke up their second three-peat team.
In retrospect, San Antonio lost to Utah in five games in the second round of the '98 Playoffs. Funny enough, that's the same Jazz team MJ and company defeated in the Finals that year with a homecourt disadvantage.
Related: "I've never heard MJ say something like that" - ESPN analyst once slammed LeBron James for saying he'll never be 100 percent again
"We'll never find out"
As is true with other fictional face-offs, a speculative showdown between the 1999 Spurs and any version of the championship Bulls won't ever happen. Still, it's a fun talking point for fans and oldheads like Johnson, who like to reminisce about the past times.
"It's always fun conversations and we know we'll never find out, but it's always good for the fans to get opinions," the two-time NCAA assists leader admitted.
In the end, AJ's confidence in the '99 Spurs speaks volumes, but when it comes to taking on the Bulls dynasty, the toughest opponent might be history itself.
Related: "Frequently it was heated" — Steve Kerr claims Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen's conversations in practice usually had tension
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