Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls: Kindred Spirits?

As I watch the game, thinking about the two teams playing, I've come to the realization that the Lakers and Bulls have a lot of "spiritual connections." Let's take a look at some of these connections:

Los Angeles, CA: 3.7 million people, the City of Angels, 14 championships (six in Minneapolis).

Chicago, Illinois: 2.9 million people, the Windy City, six championships.

Phil Jackson is the obvious connection. Strangely, Jackson looks and seems younger in LA than he did in Chicago. Interestingly enough, his team now is a lot younger than the ones he coached in Chicago. More on this later.

LA has their MJ in front of the Staples Center, Chicago has their MJ in front of the United Center.

LA's MJ wore 32, Chicago's wore 23, now LA has a 24. 

Chicago's big three (+1) was MJ, Pippen, Rodman and Kukoc. LA's big three (+1) is Kobe, Pau, Bynum and Odom. 

Kobe was a Luol Deng away from playing for Chicago. Pau Gasol was also a Deng away from playing in Chicago. 

Michael Jordan, who played in Chicago, drafted Kwame Brown, who played (if you call that playing) for the Lakers. 

The league's best player at one point played for the Bulls and now (arguably) plays for the Lakers—but MJ or Kobe is a whole other debate for another day. 

Phil Jackson was asked to compare this year's team to his 72-win team.  He said that this team is a lot younger, with a lot of guys 21 to 25 trying to establish themselves, while his Bulls team had players who already knew their roles in the league and on the team. Despite Rodman, PJ seemed to be involved in more drama in LA (Shaq-Kobe) and seems to be in the media more now, than he ever was in Chicago. 

With their fast, dominant start, this Lakers team is being compared to not only to the '00-02  championship-winning Lakers, but also to the '90s Bulls. These teams are not only champions, but also dynasties!

Let's not get ahead of ourselves Lakers fans. There is no denying the potential, but before we compare them to these dynasties, lets see what they can do this season. One thing is for sure—the Laker defense this year looks championship-caliber. 

Kindred spirits or not, the Lakers and Bulls share a lot, including 11 championships to celebrate over the past 20 years.