Alternate 2004 finals: Pacers vs Lakers

No-more-rings · Post #1 » by **No-more-rings** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 5:19 pm

Who would’ve won this hypothetical finals that year?

One_and_Done · Post #2 » by **One_and_Done** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 7:40 pm

I'm guessing Kobe could have shot them out of the Pacers series too.

rand · Post #3 » by **rand** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 1:48 am

Lakers win

Pacers didn't have Billups to score 21 PPG on .696 TS% in a series where the rest of both teams averaged 151.6 PPG on .477 TS%

TheLand13 · Post #4 » by **TheLand13** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:08 pm

One_and_Done wrote:I'm guessing Kobe could have shot them out of the Pacers series too.

Yeah but the question is whether or not Ron Artest would provide the same level of defense against him that Prince did. I know Artest was a better defender at this point (he even won DPOY that season), but what made Prince such a tough matchup for Kobe was his long arms and the ability to stay up in front of Kobe pretty much every step of the way. Artest was a terrific defender but he didn't have those same physical advantages, on top of holding much more offensive responsibility, making it more difficult for him to provide that same level of defensive pressure.

TroubleS0me · Post #5 » by **TroubleS0me** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:17 pm

rand wrote:Lakers win

Pacers didn't have Billups to score 21 PPG on .696 TS% in a series where the rest of both teams averaged 151.6 PPG on .477 TS%

Pacers were ranked 8th on offense tho

1993Playoffs · Post #6 » by **1993Playoffs** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 8:42 pm

Probably the pacers. Specifically if Kobe plays like that

Matt15 · Post #7 » by **Matt15** » Sun Jul 16, 2023 6:21 am

Tayshauns length really bothered Kobe I think he would fare better against Indiana. Lakers in 6.