April 11--If Phil Jackson and the 1995-96 Bulls are secretly rooting against the Golden State Warriors, they're putting up a good front. Jackson encouraged the Warriors to break his team's 72-win regular-season record and other Bulls from that season have cheered them on.
"Way-to-Go!! Congrats to GSt Warriors,SKerr et al. The journey to 72 wins is a remarkable achievement-very impressive-now get #73," the former Bulls coach tweeted Monday.
The Warriors matched the Bulls' mark by beating the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and can break it Wednesday at home against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Michael Jordan urged Golden State's Draymond to break the record, Green told reporters after Sunday's game. "Mike told me at All-Star, 'Go win the record. Go get the record. If y'all don't win this record, I'm going to be hot and I'm blaming you," he said.
Some NBA old-schoolers, including Bulls great Scottie Pippen, had diminished the Warriors' pursuit of the record or compared them unfavorably to the '95-96 Bulls, but Pippen took a more laudatory tone Sunday night, praising former teammate and Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
"Giving credit where credit is due. Congrats to @SteveKerr and his @warriors on win no. 72. They earned it tonight," Pippen tweeted. "@StephenCurry30 showed why he's the MVP. As cold blooded shooter as I've ever seen and a basketball IQ that is off the charts."
plthompson@tribpub.com
