The 1987 Lakers vs the 2001 Lakers are 3-3 and the 1996 Bulls vs the 1986 Celtics are 3-3. Games will be determined over the weekend, Goodnight folks
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Game 7 has been decided between the 1987 Lakers vs the 2001 Lakers. I was torn on this because both teams were so great. I just can't see Showtime losing this series with 2 of the top 3 players of all-time on it (Magic and Kareem), not to mention having a top 50 player ever in James Worthy. Shaq and Kobe are incredible but that Showtime team was just deeper. It really had no weaknesses once they added Mychal Thompson to sure up the middle in 1987. They had too because the Rockets at that time had 2 legit Centers in Hakeem and Ralph. The Celtics also had a huge frontline. Game 7 basically came down to who had the ball last and as time expired Kareem was fouled. With the 1987 Lakers trailing 103-102, he stepped to the line and made both FT's giving the 1987 Lakers a 104-103 win. .02 was put back on the clock but the 2001 Lakers were out of timeouts and could do nothing with it. James Worthy led the Lakers in scoring with 28 Points (that is why he is called Big Game James), Magic had 22 Points and 11 Assists, Kareem added 20 Points. Kobe Bryant scored a game high 34 Points for the 2001 Lakers and Shaq added 32 Points. The 1987 Lakers win series 4-3.
This has been a heated topic on ESPN all week about who belongs on the Mt Rushmore in basketball? I have:
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James. The debate all week has been should it be Bill Russell or Magic Johnson who belongs. Their list of greatest players had Magic at #5. I think one huge criteria to be on Mt Rushmore is being the greatest player to play your position. Bill Russell wasn't the greatest Center ever, not even 2nd IMO (Wilt was 2nd and I am not so sure Shaq isn't 3rd). Jordan was the greatest SG, Magic greatest PG, Kareem greatest Center, and LeBron greatest SF who can even play PF. LeBron edges Bird out barely much like Jordan does Kobe.
Game 7 of the 1996 Bulls vs the 1986 Celtics has not yet been determined.
Game 7 is in and it's over. The 1996 Bulls defeat the 1986 Celtics 98-93 to advance. Michael Jordan was just too much scoring 40 Points, the 1996 Bulls defense was stifling in this one. Larry Bird did score 21 Points and Kevin McHale 20 but it wasn't enough for the 1986 Celtics. Dennis Rodman simply held his own against that great front line of the Celtics. Dennis had 17 Rebounds. The 1996 Bulls win series 4-3.
The Finals for greatest team ever comes down to the 1987 Lakers vs the 1996 Bulls. I have stated over and over that I think the 1987 Lakers have the greatest team ever but that doesn't mean they will win this series. They are going against a team that is pretty equal to them and the greatest player ever in Michael Jordan. I am not sure where I am going here? Of course I want to be bias and say the 1987 Lakers will win but I may not go that way so it isn't a given like many may think I will go. This will be worth following, just don't be mad at me if the 1996 Bulls win this. I damn near had the 2001 Lakers beating Showtime.
Tale of the tape going into the series:
Coaching - Pat Riley vs Phil Jackson = I say even
PG position - Magic Johnson vs Ron Harper = Advantage 1987 Lakers
SG position - Byron Scott vs Michael Jordan = Advantage 1996 Bulls
SF position - James Worthy vs Scottie Pippen = I say even
PF position - AC Green vs Dennis Rodman = Advantage 1996 Bulls
C position - Kareem vs Luc Longley = Advantage 1987 Lakers
6th man - Michael Cooper vs Toni Kukoc = I say even
a key 7th man for each team - Mychal Thompson vs Steve Kerr, 2 different players but I say even
-4 evens and 2 advantages the 1987 Lakers have and 2 advantages the 1996 Bulls have.
This series is a 50/50 series. Magic and Michael clash! The 1996 Bulls do have an advantage where they can play Scottie on Magic to try and hamper Magic at times like they did in 1991 but the 1987 Lakers have a huge advantage at Center. Vlade isn't the Center in this series, it is Kareem. The team of the 80's vs the team of the 90's!
Back to the Mt Rushmore talk, LeBron's natural position is SF not PG or PF. Magic is the best PG ever. How anyone can put Wilt ahead of Kareem is completely puzzling. Kareem won 6 League MVP's, 6 Championships, 2 Finals MVP's, and is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. Kareem was the better player. Kareem even won a championship without Magic when he played for Milwaukee.
ESPN did their Top 10 players ever list, here is my updated list:
10. Tim Duncan
9. Bill Russell
8. Shaq O'Neal
7. Larry Bird
6. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Kobe Bryant
4. LeBron James
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
2. Magic Johnson
1. Michael Jordan
- I have the same 10 players they have but in slightly different order. Magic doesn't get his just due because he had his career cut short. He went to 9 Finals in 12 years, won 5 championships, shot a better career FG% than LeBron has, and was much better at that FT line than LeBron is. Magic won't have the huge numbers that LeBron will end up with but it is because he only played 12.5 seasons. Magic also won the championship as a rookie and Finals MVP, nobody in history has ever done that. The eye test alone tells anyone that Magic is the 2nd best player ever. He could do everything LeBron does except LeBron is a better defensive player but Magic was more clutch so it offsets. Magic was even just as tall so no advantage for LeBron there either. I can go on and on and LeBron is on my Mt Rushmore but Magic was better.
Leading up to Game 1 which isn't until Thursday, here are some comments from the players: MIchael Jordan (fiction) - We just played a grueling series against the greatest front line ever in the 1986 Celtics. Larry Bird is a special player and Kevin McHale presented all kinds of problems. Glad to have the time off.
Magic Johnson (fiction) - WooWee man I tell ya (smiling and grinning), just glad to be here after playing the other Lakers team. We are really lucky but we had the big fella who stepped up at the line (Kareem made 2 key FT's to win Game 6 in the 1988 Finals vs the Pistons). First we had to go through LeBron and Wade, then Kobe and Shaq, now it will be Michael and Scottie coming up. Here we go, get your popcorn ready and just watch and enjoy (Magic laughs).
Kareem (fiction) - Glad to be here (saying in a soft voice), Shaq wore me out, I am tired so the time off will be nice. This upcoming series will be another tough challenge, beating a team led by Michael Jordan will be like trying to beat Bruce Lee in a fight.
Scottie Pippen (fiction) - What a journey so far, beating perhaps the deepest and most physical team in NBA history in the 1989 Pistons, then beating a physical team like the 1986 Celtics with Larry Bird as their leader. Glad to be here and we will give it our best to try and pull this out. The team we are playing now can run you off the floor so it's about defense.
Who would win a 7 game series between the 1987 Lakers vs the 1996 Bulls?