1971 Bucks vs. 1972 Lakers

[Djoker]

Two juggernauts and likely the two best teams in the pre-merger NBA.

In 1971, the Bucks crushed the Lakers (with West DNP).
In 1972, the Lakers beat the Bucks in a tight series (with Oscar and McGlocklin playing but injured).

Who wins if both are healthy?

[The Master]

Bucks could've won the series with this Oscar in 1972 if he hadn't left the game 6 early, so I'd go with 1971 Bucks.

[Rishkar]

I love that Lakers team and they had an incredible streak, but the 1971 Bucks are a top 3 team all-time

[capfan33]

Bucks actually outscored the Lakers in 72 and potentially lost game 2 off some ref shenanigans so with a healthy version of essentially the same team I would choose them.

[Djoker]

I too would go with the Bucks but I wanted to see what people think. The 1972 Lakers are definitely one of the greatest teams ever. West had a brutal shooting postseason IIRC which is probably just due to variance.

[Owly]

Bucks actually outscored the Lakers in 72 and potentially lost game 2 off some ref shenanigans so with a healthy version of essentially the same team I would choose them.

Could you expanded on this please, if possible?
Thank you.

[OhayoKD]

Two juggernauts and likely the two best teams in the pre-merger NBA.

In 1971, the Bucks crushed the Lakers (with West DNP).
In 1972, the Lakers beat the Bucks in a tight series (with Oscar and McGlocklin playing but injured).

Who wins if both are healthy?

They were outscored by a Bucks team when an already shell-of-himself Oscar injured his hamstring. The Bucks team also was better in the regular season with an oscar whose production, largely thanks to injuries, fell off from 1971.

Only real case against would be that Kareem took a jump from 71 to 72, but I think the Bucks are a safe bet given the 72 series was possibly decided by oscar missing regular season games.

[capfan33]

Bucks actually outscored the Lakers in 72 and potentially lost game 2 off some ref shenanigans so with a healthy version of essentially the same team I would choose them.

Could you expanded on this please, if possible?
Thank you.

Too lazy to find where I read it (somewhere on realgm, prob a fatal9 post), but basically in the closing minutes of game 2, Kareem hits a hook to put the Bucks up 1. He then goes to close to the half court line and knocks the ball away from Jerry West whose bringing it up. The ball is inbounded and Kareem again pokes the ball away, off Jerry, but it hits an official before going out of bounds.

For whatever reason, the ball stayed with the Lakers even though it should have been Bucks ball, I'm not sure if it was the actual rule at the time or just the refs being incompetent. The Lakers go down and score, winning by 1. If the Bucks win, there up 2-0 going back home, and even in their reduced condition would have had a very good chance of winning.

[Djoker]

Bucks actually outscored the Lakers in 72 and potentially lost game 2 off some ref shenanigans so with a healthy version of essentially the same team I would choose them.

Could you expanded on this please, if possible?
Thank you.

Too lazy to find where I read it (somewhere on realgm, prob a fatal9 post), but basically in the closing minutes of game 2, Kareem hits a hook to put the Bucks up 1. He then goes to close to the half court line and knocks the ball away from Jerry West whose bringing it up. The ball is inbounded and Kareem again pokes the ball away, off Jerry, but it hits an official before going out of bounds.

For whatever reason, the ball stayed with the Lakers even though it should have been Bucks ball, I'm not sure if it was the actual rule at the time or just the refs being incompetent. The Lakers go down and score, winning by 1. If the Bucks win, there up 2-0 going back home, and even in their reduced condition would have had a very good chance of winning.

Yea I remember reading this as well. And Larry Costello the Bucks coach is well known to have publicly criticized the officials after Game 2. And yes going up 2-0 on the road would have been just huge for the Bucks.