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The Bulls finished the regular season with an impressive record of 69 wins and 13 losses, boasting an 85% win rate. Although just shy of the coveted 70-win milestone, it's still a record that would put them among the league's historic elite. Unfortunately, even this record can only rank second for the Bulls franchise, as Michael Jordan's Bulls once achieved a historic 72-10 season—a record only surpassed by the Warriors' 73-9 in the 2015-16 season.Only two teams in NBA history, up to the time Wang Chong traveled back, had surpassed 70 wins in a season: the Bulls and the Warriors. This feat is rarely accomplished, underscoring just how difficult it is to reach such heights in the regular season.
Although Wang Chong's Bulls theoretically had a chance to achieve 70 wins, it wasn't realistically expected. Their March schedule included a mix of tough Western Conference teams and formidable Eastern Conference opponents like the Heat, Cavaliers, and Pistons. Nevertheless, the Bulls powered through and secured 18 wins in their final 22 games, finishing the season with 69 wins, just missing the 70-win mark.
In the four games the Bulls lost, their opponents had strong motivations to win. The Heat, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, were fighting for a playoff spot. The Warriors and the Clippers were also in the same boat, and the Bulls' final game against the Nets was a fierce battle for the Eastern Conference rankings. While the Bulls could have potentially won against the Clippers and Nets, they chose to play it safe and prioritize player health over pushing for the 70th win.
The reasoning was straightforward: even if they had won those games, a record of 71 wins would still fall short of the 72-win record. Chasing that final win didn't justify risking player injuries, especially since key players like Wang Chong needed to remain healthy for the playoffs. Additionally, the Bulls' coaching staff encouraged the team to avoid injuries, focusing on their performance in the postseason.
Thus, with 69 wins and 13 losses, the Bulls closed the season on a high note, even though "only" achieving this milestone sounds almost humble given its significance. Only two other teams in NBA history—the Jordan-era Bulls and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's era—had achieved similar levels. Jordan, in fact, achieved it twice, with records of 72 and 69 wins.
For Wang Chong to lead a team that initially had just him as the All-Star until Billups joined and to finish with a 69-win season is nearly miraculous, showing how extraordinary this feat is. However, it wasn't just skill that helped the Bulls reach this record.
The 2006-07 season saw the Eastern Conference teams collectively struggle, with the top Eastern record after the Bulls held by the Pistons, who finished with 53 wins. Only the Pistons and Cavaliers reached over 50 wins, and just four teams secured 45 wins. This disparity was highlighted when the Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference champions, were swept by the Spurs in the Finals, showcasing the significant gap between the two conferences' competitiveness.
A few seasons ago, the Eastern Conference boasted 60-win-level teams like the Pistons, Heat, and Pacers, while future seasons would feature the Celtics' Big Three, who won 66 games. But the 2006-07 season marked a temporary decline in the Eastern Conference's strength, giving the Bulls a slightly easier path to a high win record.
Moreover, while the public may have underestimated the Bulls' roster, Wang Chong carefully built a strong defensive unit, which maintained consistency in every game. The team's youth and health also contributed significantly, as the main players avoided major injuries. The starting lineup maintained an average attendance above 80 games, with Wang Chong playing all 82 games. Health, as shown by O'Neal's career, is crucial in maintaining a strong regular season record.
The Bulls' record of 69 wins remains impressive, even though they lost their last game against the Nets, a game that could have brought them to the 70-win milestone. The Pistons, originally expected to win 53 games, were affected by Billups' departure and finished with only 44 wins. The Cavaliers, too, only managed 48 wins due to losing all four regular season games against the Bulls, finishing as the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind the Bulls.
Although the Cavaliers' fans should have celebrated this achievement, it was hard to feel optimistic about facing a Bulls team with an 11-game lead over them and a season sweep in their head-to-head matches. The top eight teams in the Eastern Conference playoffs were the Bulls, Cavaliers, Raptors, Heat, Pistons, Nets, Wizards, and Magic. The Magic barely qualified with 38 wins, but that's common in the East, where even 36 wins were enough for a playoff spot in the 2003-04 season.
In the playoffs, the Magic will face the Bulls, and the gap between the two teams leaves little suspense in the matchup.
In the Western Conference, the Mavericks had their own struggles, despite an impressive 67-15 record. They had an exceptional season but were one win shy of their best-ever record due to a loss to the Bulls. The Western Conference playoff standings included the Mavericks, Suns, Spurs, Jazz, Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, and Warriors, with the Spurs and Lakers being noteworthy.
The Spurs were the few Western teams unaffected by Wang Chong's impact. Popovich managed his stars carefully, with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili playing limited minutes to preserve their energy for the playoffs, a strategy that kept them from showing their full strength in the regular season.
The Bulls didn't have a significant advantage over the Spurs, as Duncan's dominance in the paint was a challenge for the Bulls' defense. Despite their 69-win season, Wang Chong remains wary about facing the Spurs in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have endured a rollercoaster since trading Wang Chong to the Bulls. Despite Kobe's stellar performance, the team has barely made the playoffs the past two seasons, finishing with a 42-40 record. Kobe's frustration grows as his individual performance fails to translate into team success.
Kobe ended the season averaging 32.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, shooting 46% from the field. However, his scoring wasn't enough to claim the scoring title, which went to Wang Chong with 33.1 points per game. Kobe had led for much of the season, but Wang Chong's late-season surge allowed him to edge out Kobe in the scoring race. For Kobe, this season was a balancing act between securing a playoff spot and competing for the scoring title. Ultimately, he prioritized the team's success.
Wang Chong, on the other hand, had no such concerns. His scoring prowess was embraced by Bulls fans, who were thrilled with his achievements. The media celebrated him as the league's top scorer, and his standing as a champion scorer on the league's best team further cemented his status.
With the regular season complete, Wang Chong has now achieved two of his goals: leading his team to the league's best record and winning the scoring title. Now, he aims for All-NBA recognition and the MVP award.
With averages of 33.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, Wang Chong is a lock for First Team All-NBA. Only a player of his caliber, leading a 69-win team, could vie for such honors. The MVP race seems similarly decided, with only Nowitzki and Nash as challengers due to their respective team records.
Nash, however, has won the last two MVPs, and his numbers this season, at 18.6 points and 11.6 assists per game, make a third consecutive MVP unlikely. Nowitzki's numbers, while strong, pale in comparison to Wang Chong's. Wang Chong's defensive presence, alongside Chandler, has made the Bulls one of the top defensive teams in the league.
Wang Chong's influence, both statistically and in terms of media impact, likely gives him the edge over Nowitzki in the MVP race. Securing the MVP will mark another step toward completing the system's assigned tasks, putting him at 50% completion.
The final goals are clear: lead the Bulls to a championship and win the Finals MVP. If the Bulls clinch the title, Wang Chong is almost guaranteed to be Finals MVP, especially given his leadership and impact.
End of this chapter
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