Replace prime MJ with prime T-Mac

Ein Sof · Post #1 » by **Ein Sof** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 4:25 pm

In 1991 the Bulls steal a time machine from Area 51 and decide to do as one does with a time machine: trade MJ for 2003 T-Mac. They also pick up some alien serum on the way out that ensures T-Mac never gets significantly injured.

What happens?

Bonus:
- how does '91 MJ do on the 2003 Magic?
- what if the trade is with 1985 MJ and 1998 T-Mac instead?

OhayoKD · Post #2 » by **OhayoKD** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 5:25 pm

Assuming clean era translation...

Bulls should still win in 1991 though maybe a healthy Lakers side makes for a tough finals. Imagine they choke to the knicks in 1992. Magic should get past the first round but I doubt they're getting past the nets. If they do, the Spurs are a bridge too far. Assuming health for t-mac, 1996/1994 is doable. The Bulls probably lose the other years. If the Magic are able to magically acquire all the pieces they had for 2009, they should probably win a title(assuming a two year gap, we're working with second-three peat territory MJ)

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:12 pm

OhayoKD wrote: Magic should get past the first round

Mmm, yeah. McGrady did shrivel up in Game 7 on that one, and Billups ate them alive that same game. It's tempting to look at MJ and say he'd be able to close that out, but that D was brutal, they'd played that series at 87 possessions per game and no one else on the Magic was worth anything. No one was spacing, they had no bench, they had no meaningful second scorer, they didn't have anyone who could actually slow the Pistons down defensively. It was a miracle they got to Game 7 in the first place.

They lost by 15 in game 7. Jordan would have had to drop a very large bomb on Detroit in G7 for them to squeak past. Possible, for sure, but I don't think it's a guarantee, really.

Sark · Post #4 » by **Sark** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 8:59 pm

I just don't see Tracy McGrady beating prime Isiah and prime Magic Johnson in back to back series. Before that he'd have to beat teams led by prime Ewing and prime Barkley.

Plus he was a very heliocentric player, so I don't know how he'd play in the triangle.

Post #5 » by **tsherkin** » Tue Feb 28, 2023 11:01 pm

Sark wrote:Plus he was a very heliocentric player, so I don't know how he'd play in the triangle.

Was he? He posted a lot, he was able to move without the ball, he was able to isolate quickly off reversal passes... I think his heliocentricity is perhaps a bit oversold because the Magic put garbage around him the entire time.