Bulls vs. Cavaliers Playoffs Comparison: Summary and Year by Year

Here you can compare, side by side, the all-time postseason performance of the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and how far these two NBA teams advanced in Playoffs each year.

The Chicago Bulls have been present in the NBA Playoffs 36 times in 60 seasons while the Cleveland Cavaliers did it 25 times in their 56 seasons. Between the two they total 7 of the 79 NBA championships (8.9%).

They have faced each other in 7 playoff series, 5 of them won by the Bulls and 2 by the Cavaliers.

On this page, after a summary of their Playoff history (with championships won, playoff appearances and all-time records), you can see, side by side, how far the Bulls and the Cavaliers advanced in the postseason each year. Also, if they met that year, a note with details of the outcome of the series.

Summary of Their Playoff History
	Chicago Bulls	Cleveland Cavaliers
Playoff Appearances:	36 (61.0%)	25 (45.5%)
Playoffs Missed:	23 (39.0%)	30 (54.5%)
NBA Titles:	6	1
Finals Lost:	0	4
All-time Playoff Record:	187 wins 162 losses (.536)	136 wins 119 losses (.533)
Total NBA Seasons:	60 1966-67 to present	56 1970-71 to present

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Cleveland Cavaliers
2019	DNQ	DNQ
2018	DNQ	Lost NBA Finals
2017	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost NBA Finals
2016	DNQ	NBA Champions
2015	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost NBA Finals
	* The Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
2014	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
2013	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
2012	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
2011	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ
2010	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
	* The Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round.

Playoffs	Chicago Bulls	Cleveland Cavaliers
1999	DNQ	DNQ
1998	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1997	NBA Champions	DNQ
1996	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1995	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1994	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
	* The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
1993	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
	* The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
1992	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
	* The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
1991	NBA Champions	DNQ
1990	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round