the team that went to the conference finals in 99 didn't have Bonzi as a 'core' and the 2000 team didn't either. Bonzi in 99 played 7 games, and Bonzi in 2000 was a bench player averaging 8 points a game.
When Bonzi became part of the main group, 2000-01 through 2003-4 (up until he was traded), THOSE teams were not "damn good". There was a stretch in 2000-01 when the team WAS 'damn good', but not after that point.
The 99 team was a core of Grant, Sheed, Rider and Sabonis. The 2000 team that went to the conference finals had a core of Rasheed, Smith and Pippen. Hell, I'd put Sabonis above Damon that year too.
The incidences that caused the nickname didn't start happening until the 2002 season. Damon had the infamous yellow hummer in 2002, the issue with the large amount of pot (overblown imho) was in 2003. I don't remember what year that Damon tried to take weed through the Tucson airport.
Rasheed got suspended for threatening the ref in 2003, started racking up the T's in 01 and 02. The T's, however, weren't really "jail blazer" material, but his childish behaviors didn't help.
Qyntel Woods and Ruben Patterson were not on the 2000 team either.
