Is Krause the Only Reason the Bulls Dynasty Ended in 1998?

[EmpireWF]

Been watching old NBA clips on YouTube from the 90s, all that NBC goodness. The 98 Bulls in the Finals, Costas was already talking about it being the end of an era with Phil Jackson's contract ending and doubt about MJ and Pippen returning.

Looking around, it seems that Krause had essentially decided long before then to bring in Tim Floyd to replace Jackson (what the fuck?), then they wouldn't pay free agent Dennis Rodman and by that point, Pippen wanted a trade and MJ retired again.

In the lockout shortened season in 98-99, the new look Bulls finished with 13 wins followed by 17, 15 and 21 in the following seasons.

They didn't turn into a respectable team again until 04-05 after bringing in Hinrich, Gordon, Deng with contributions from Curry and Chandler.

 

[RyanLeaf16]

I still remember Rome calling him "Jabba the Krause"

 

[red33]

imagine the bulss if chandler and curry panned out.

 

[FedEx227]

It was over anyway, it was hanging on by a thread. Contracts were going to be an issue when MJ was making around $30 million. Phil was wavering in and out of retirement every single year. MJ told reporters he wouldn't play again after that shot against Russell.

Sam Smith (Bulls' beat reporter during that time) has a really good look at the demise here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=smith_sam&id=1936782

Here's what happened: Jordan burned out.

Perhaps he may not remember it that way, but both after that posed winning shot against the Utah Jazz in 1998 -- and there was a reason for that pose -- Jordan was telling confidants he would never play again.

He couldn't stand playing with Scottie Pippen anymore. He was furious at Pippen for again missing a final game of the playoffs, as with the migrane episode of 1990. He was sick of all the injuries, still upset Pippen elected to have surgery just as training camp was to begin and wouldn't rejoin the team until midseason, sticking Jordan with Dennis Rodman. He was sick of Luc Longley and all the dropped passes.

Jordan was sick and tired and burned out, just like in 1993. Perhaps after the lockout he'd reconsider, but Jordan was insistent. That was it. Yes, there was that one-tenth of one percent left, and Jordan exercised it with the Washington Wizards.

Phil Jackson was exiting, too, but not because the Bulls pushed. Jackson admits Reinsdorf offered him a long-term deal to remain, but Jackson had this thing about the number of years players would listen to a coach and had set it at seven years with the Bulls. He now was through nine and promised himself he'd leave no matter what. It was only appeals from players that brought him back in 1996. He was determined nothing would change his mind this time.

Krause played a part, but everyone did. Pippen, Jackson, Jordan, Krause and Reinsdorf all played a part in it. Krause just became the easy scapegoat.