OT--all time best Lakers?

[Cowtown]

The greater mystery to me when I looked up the 1995 playoffs was Michael Jordan wearing 45.

I still to this day don't get how Michael Jordan leaving the sport in his prime after 3 championships isn't a greater mystery. I get his father was murdered and that tragedy but imagine Lebron leaving the NBA now for 1.5 seasons. It would be insane.

There was much speculation at the time that he had some serious gambling issues that may have proven detrimental to the NBA, or at least appeared to be. I have no idea whether any of that is true, however, where there's smoke there may not necessarily be fire, but there's usually heat. And the NBA could hardly absorb having the greatest star of a generation tarnished by something as seedy as gambling. Imagine the hit to their game's credibility once the rumors began. I think also he was at a sort of personal crossroads in his life direction. He'd just carried his team to three consecutive championships, but what more was there to do? He probably didn't need the money so much as he needed a new challenge, a new goal, a new mountain to climb. And there's nothing more difficult in sport for an athlete than to try to his major league pitching. :noidea:

 

[iommi]

It's not THAT hard to pick a top 5; it's very hard to pick an actual starting 5, strictly by each player's defined position. It would be very tough for other legendary franchises, like the Celtics too.

I was a pretty big NBA fan (Knicks) in the '80s and early to mid-'90s. Not anymore, unfortunately. I hope the Knicks can become decent so I can hop on back that bandwagon. The Knicks are the only pro team of which I'm a fair weather fan.

 

[cuseattle]

"I'm not feeling the love here ..."

 

[Alsacs]

I mean Stern obviously suspended him for gambling, right?

I think it's possible if he played straight through he doesn't have as much gas in the tank as he did in 97 and 98. Pure conjecture, obviously.

Not only that but the Bulls likely keep Horace Grant in 1994 if Jordan was around and don't get Dennis Rodman for their last 3 peat.

Do the Bulls beat the Jazz if Grant is guarding Malone over Rodman a superior defender?

 

[OrangeDW]

Not only that but the Bulls likely keep Horace Grant in 1994 if Jordan was around and don't get Dennis Rodman for their last 3 peat.

Do the Bulls beat the Jazz if Grant is guarding Malone over Rodman a superior defender?

Hard to know. But they likely would've beat the Magic in '95 if they still had Grant. Grant killed the Bulls in that series.

 

[Knicks411]

I wonder about Kukoc also; MJ and Pippen didn't like him, do they bring him over if MJ never leaves?

 

[SWC75]

Mikan should not be forgetten. The Lakers won the NBL with him in 1948, they year before they joined the NBA, (basically the best teams in the NBL, which had been the older and better league, jumped to eh BAA, which had the larger arenas and the laague was named the NBA at that point). That means the Mikan Lakers won 6 title, not the 5 they are normally credited for. And it makes Mikan the one Laker star with 6 titles.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Hard to know. But they likely would've beat the Magic in '95 if they still had Grant. Grant killed the Bulls in that series.

Things may have been different had the Bulls run out the clock in game 1. MJ was trying to run out the clock, while waiting to get fouled, and Nick Anderson snuck up behind him and stole the ball with 10 seconds left. The Magic got a layup that gave them the win. Totally changed the outlook of the series.

The Pacers took the Magic to seven the next round, I'm not sure Chicago beats them, but I think either one of those teams wouldn't of melted down in the finals like Orlando did. Nick Anderson blew it at the free throw line against Houston and he was never the same.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I wonder about Kukoc also; MJ and Pippen didn't like him, do they bring him over if MJ never leaves?

Jordan didn't retire until Mid October. kukoc was already on the roster by then. If you re-watch MJs first retirement presser, you will see Kukoc standing in the back with the rest of the team.

 

[Alsacs]

1995 Bulls vs. 1995 Pacers is interesting. Michael Jordan's first game was at Market Square and the Bulls lost.

I think Indiana likely beats Chicago in 1995. However, I really don't see the Bulls beating Hakeem in the Finals. Even though Utah and Phoenix choked their series in deciding games at home to Houston. Also San Antonio lost the first 2 games of the WCF at home before winning games 3 and 4 at Houston and losing 5/6.

Jordan missing 1994/1995 made redefine his game. His lost the Air Jordan physique and became thick and more post up Jordan.

 

[stuckinbig11]

Kobe can be argued as the "greatest Laker" due to his overall accomplishments with the franchise. Kareem can be argued as the best basketball player who played for the Lakers. But Magic's gotta be #1, in my opinion. Kobe and Kareem are #2 and 3, order can be argued.

Then the next tier would be West, Baylor, Shaq, and Wilt in some order.

You apparently never saw Wilt play.

 

[tbonezone]

You apparently never saw Wilt play.

magic.
wilt.
kareem
kobe.
west.

 

[Knicks411]

Jordan didn't retire until Mid October. kukoc was already on the roster by then. If you re-watch MJs first retirement presser, you will see Kukoc standing in the back with the rest of the team.

Botched the timeline on that one, I didn't remember it being that late.

 

[Jake]

Magic PG
Kareem C
Kobe 2G
Baylor PF
West SF

 

[OrangeDW]

You apparently never saw Wilt play.

I most certainly did not see Wilt play. I'm not ranking them as players, I'm ranking what they accomplished as Lakers. Most of Wilt's best accomplishments came elsewhere.

 

[tbonezone]

true. big wilt,kareem.mcadoo,shaq were all trades who had already excelled elsewhere.