Good point, forgot about that. Realistically, our lineup would probably have Kareem at PF and Shaq at C. Kareem could actually shoot, and his sky hook had deep range as well. Take Shaq away from the basket and you're wasting his advantage, can't be stopped if he catches the ball near or under the hoop. I still match up Shaq and Olajuwon if I'm on the other side though, because he's the only C I've seen that was able to use his skills to dominate Shaq's size.
I have watched the NBA TV doc "Clutch City" where Jordan was quoted as saying his teams could not handle the Rockets because of Olajuwon. He added that he was happy they could never come out of the West. In context...how would Jordan's All-Time Bulls teams would have fared against the likes of Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar and O'Neal? It could be somewhat competitive if Chicago had the A-Train...Artis Gilmore.
Depends on what you mean. The centers would have done extremely well individually. For example, I think Olajuwon would have destroyed the Bulls, but the Bulls as a team would still come out on top. The Bulls did face Shaq in the playoffs too. When Jordan came back from baseball, he only had about 20 games to get back into basketball shape. The Bulls lost to Shaq's Magic in 6 games. Next season, after having an entire offseason to workout, Jordan and the Bulls went on to win 72 games and got their revenge by sweeping the Magic. So, Bulls did lose to Shaq, but they got their revenge in a more convincing fashion. In the first series, Shaq averaged 24.3 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 4.0 apg on 48.4 FG%. In the second series, he averaged 27.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, and 4.0 apg on 64 FG%.
^That Rockets team had the players who were more savvy than Orlando. Cassell, Smith, Maxwell, Thorpe, Elle, Drexler, Horry... Horry spoke of how Jackson was stubborn on not doubling on Olajuwon who killed them. I never looked it up but Maxwell in that doc mentioned how the Rockets had a winning record against Chicago in the 90's. One of the better "what if's" to debate...
that's correct, but Shaq was not yet in his prime when that happened. 2000-01 Shaq would eat that Bulls frontline for breakfast. Not saying Orlando would have won, but prime shaq would make the life extremely difficult for Chicago
Shaq is right. Not sure about him at starting PF and all, but Lakers all timers destroy Chicago's. It's not even remotely close. Magic vs. Rose. Are you kidding me? How would Rose possibly D up Magic? He'd back him down every time. Kobe vs. MJ is a wash. That's a cancellation at their best ever player/position. Worthy vs. Pippen is kind of even in the sense that James eats Pippen on offense, but Pippen's overall defense is much better than James'. That's basically a wash as well. Center position is utter destruction whether it's Cap or Shaq or half and half. Rodman is a great defender but no offense whatsoever - I don't think he couldn't handle a guy like Mychal Thompson though, IMO. Too much height and skill.
How about All-Laker team vs All-NBA (non-Lakers)? Magic/Kobe/Baylor/Shaq/Kareem vs Robertson/Jordan/Bird/Duncan/Hakeem? Can someone sim that in 2K? lol
Rodman guarding Shaq in the post at PF? Also MJ wouldn't get the luxury of guarding the worst perimeter guy and having Pippen do his dirty work like he did in all those title years.
Valid point. 24 will make him work on defense not to mention helping on double teams in the post. On offense, Jordan won't get breaks as well as Bryant and Cooper will make him his points.
You include the bench and let them play 100 games against each other - don't the Lakers win 65 games? 70 games?
MJ lovers don't like this, but he got a relative cakewalk defensively in all 6 of his championships, allowing him to save himself on offense. Kobe on the other hand, had to guard everybody's best perimeter player due to Fisher's ineptness on that side. Here's a glance at both players and who they guarded in NBA Finals: MJ 1991-Lakers (B. Scott) 1992-Portland (Jerome Kersey *Pippen guarded Drexler) 1993-Phoenix (Danny Ainge/Dan Majerle) 1996-Seattle (Nate McMillan *Ron Harper guarded Gary Payton) 1997-Utah (Jeff Hornacek) 1998- Utah (Jeff Hornacek) Kobe 2000-Indiana (Reggie Miller) 2001- Philadelphia (Allen Iverson) 2002- New Jersey (Kerry Kittles) 2004- Detroit (Rip Hamilton) L 2008- Boston (Ray Allen/Rajon Rondo) L 2009- Orlando (Courtney Lee) 2010- Boston (Ray Allen/Rajon Rondo) Kobe guarded 4 potential HOFers in Miller, Iverson, Hamilton and Allen. Jordan guarded ZERO HOFers. Not to mention Kobe having to guard a young Russell Westbrook in the playoffs in 2009 and 2010. Was MJ a great defender? Yes. But he wasn't the defensive god that many made him out to be either. He was able to sag and block shots help side and jump passes because he guarded non threats on defense. Harper and Pippen done the real perimeter dirty work.
Pippen and Shaq are now going at each other. Pippen's response: Shaq's response: Edit: Pippen's response #2: Shaq's response #2:
If I have time later tonight I'll sim all-Laker vs all-NBA on 2K as many games as I can. Give me a 12 man team for both. This could be fun.
Lakers would win 100 games. Pippen is delusional if he thinks that all time Bulls team would have any chance against the all time Lakers.
Serious question: Who is guarding Kareem? 6'8 Rodman? Really? Shaq in his prime absolutely DESTROYS Grant (who I'm a big fan of). Shaq and Kareem would foul those 2 out while dropping 40 each, on a bad night. it would be more fair to make an all-NBA Legends team vs all-time Laker team. The Bulls have no chance.
I mean Shaq is asking for a little controversy which he got from Pippen, but Pippen ought to know that he's not Shaq's level. If Jordan wants to speak up that's one thing.
