RealGM

The apex versions of the two historic 80's dynasties...

Who wins a 7-game series between them?

1986 Celtics are more revered historically but I think it's a coin toss.

Ooh, now there's a brutal matchup that would have been a joy to watch. And kinda was a year later. Woulda been nice if Walton could have done a little more in 87, though, that's a meaningful difference.

The '87 Lakers benefited from playing two sub.-500 teams on their way to the Finals while also facing a Boston team with a depleted bench who somehow still advanced that far.

They would not have beaten the '86 team, which was much healthier

Very close. The advanced team stats slightly favour the Celtics, but I'm a big believer those are highly negligible in these types of comparisons.

The battle of the bench units would have been fascinating, I'd give the lakers the slight edge there particularly with Walton somewhat up and down at that point in his career.

Overall I'd lean towards the superior defensive unit and that would be the Celtics in that era.