RealGM

Do they beat the Lakers and the title with 2002 Jordan?

I guess it kind of depends on how Jordan chooses to play. I assume you mean 2001-2002 Jordan, as in from his first season back with the Wizards?

He was pretty dreadful in terms of scoring efficiency even before the major injuries. Exerting a palpable impact on Washington's crappy offense, of course, but yeah. He was still trying to shoot as much as he'd done with Chicago, and that wasn't a good plan. Even in 01-02 when league average was 52%, he was at about 47.0% prior to missing a bunch of time in March (46.8% on the season), closing out with 43.7% over his last 7 games once he returned. Bad, bad, bad. Some memorable throw-back nights, of course. The 50/40 turnaround, some game-winners (heya, Cleveland!), stuff like that. Flashes of what was, what had been, but yeah, not ideal.

If he'd been able to fit into the San Antonio scheme, maybe that helps? He shoots less, they defend better, he plays fewer minutes and stays healthy? The Spurs straight didn't have the scoring to stick with the Lakers in that series, and I'm not sure Old Jordan helps them on that front given how poor he had been at scoring during the regular season. It's not like the Spurs were killing it with great spacing, and they were the definition of ugly chunder from 3 in that series even on the ones they did take at 27.4%. Maybe Jordan shooting in the low 40s on all those middies would help them out, take some of the pressure off Duncan?

I doubt it, though.