Jerry West replacing Mark Price

[1993Playoffs]

1961 West -1987 Cavs
1962 West -1988 Cavs
1963 West -1989 Cavs
1964 West -1990 Cavs
1965 West -1991 Cavs
1966 West -1992 Cavs
1967 West -1993 Cavs
1968 West - 1994 Cavs
1969 West- 1995 Cavs

West was still good but price was traded after 95 Do you see any titles for CLE?

[Owly]

1961 West -1987 Cavs
1962 West -1988 Cavs
1963 West -1989 Cavs
1964 West -1990 Cavs
1965 West -1991 Cavs
1966 West -1992 Cavs
1967 West -1993 Cavs
1968 West - 1994 Cavs
1969 West- 1995 Cavs

West was still good but price was traded after 95 Do you see any titles for CLE?

That would seem to depend on how time machining works.

In his own time West was a substantially better player (though we're cutting off several peak-ish years), more playoff resilient and a better defender. How that translates will depend on how generously/meanly one transports him (he's as dominant as he was in his own league, he's grown up with better nutrition, coaching, fitness; we're dropping him in from in 1960 at the season opener, he's seen a summary of rule changes and a couple of "modern" [1986] games, "Off you go, kid").

[1993Playoffs]

1961 West -1987 Cavs
1962 West -1988 Cavs
1963 West -1989 Cavs
1964 West -1990 Cavs
1965 West -1991 Cavs
1966 West -1992 Cavs
1967 West -1993 Cavs
1968 West - 1994 Cavs
1969 West- 1995 Cavs

West was still good but price was traded after 95 Do you see any titles for CLE?

That would seem to depend on how time machining works.

In his own time West was a substantially better player (though we're cutting off several peak-ish years), more playoff resilient and a better defender. How that translates will depend on how generously/meanly one transports him (he's as dominant as he was in his own league, he's grown up with better nutrition, coaching, fitness; we're dropping him in from in 1960 at the season opener, he's seen a summary of rule changes and a couple of "modern" [1986] games, "Off you go, kid").

The style of play in the NBA wouldn’t be drastically different though right? I mean the athletes are better and there’s the 3 point line but it wasn’t a big factor like it is today

[Owly]

1961 West -1987 Cavs
1962 West -1988 Cavs
1963 West -1989 Cavs
1964 West -1990 Cavs
1965 West -1991 Cavs
1966 West -1992 Cavs
1967 West -1993 Cavs
1968 West - 1994 Cavs
1969 West- 1995 Cavs

West was still good but price was traded after 95 Do you see any titles for CLE?

That would seem to depend on how time machining works.

In his own time West was a substantially better player (though we're cutting off several peak-ish years), more playoff resilient and a better defender. How that translates will depend on how generously/meanly one transports him (he's as dominant as he was in his own league, he's grown up with better nutrition, coaching, fitness; we're dropping him in from in 1960 at the season opener, he's seen a summary of rule changes and a couple of "modern" [1986] games, "Off you go, kid").

The style of play in the NBA wouldn’t be drastically different though right? I mean the athletes are better and there’s the 3 point line but it wasn’t a big factor like it is today

I think I'd struggle to leap any 26 year gap and not see a significant change. But for sure on this one. For me the most obvious one would be dribbling. West (or anyone) in black and white will (otoh) look very one-handed to modern eyes because switching hands without pivoting your body, well that requires putting your hand on something other than the top of the ball, which appears to have been a risky proposition. By the time Price is in the league Isiah's hands are considerably further to the sides, so are Jordan's, Hardaway is on the verge of arriving and turning the Utep Two-step into the killer crossover ... moving the ball sideways anything more than subtly is very much more possible.

Fwiw, I think I'm lower than most on West as a shooter, but he's certainly strong in that area and how much leeway you're giving him to turn into a 3 point threat would seem relevant too, especially where he's notionally replacing Price.

[Cavsfansince84]

I think we win it in 89 and maybe 90 as well. 92 seems possible. I am high on West and think by then he definitely has a strong 3 pt shot and has fully adapted to the rules.

[penbeast0]

93 is 67 so West is injured for the playoffs. Some other issues for missing parts of regular season which may affect seeding but West's being a considerably better player may also make a difference.

[1993Playoffs]

93 is 67 so West is injured for the playoffs. Some other issues for missing parts of regular season which may affect seeding but West's being a considerably better player may also make a difference.

Do you think they’ll able to overcome any of those bulls teams?

[migya]

Think they could win most years, West makes them that much better.

[rk2023]

1989 Cavs Pistons would be a pretty, pretty good battle. As a whole, I do reckon there would be a solid championship window reversing the two. Could only imagine how West projects in the mid-late 80s (far more offensive friendly, 3P line, more access to world-class training and nutrition).

[Cavsfansince84]

1989 Cavs Pistons would be a pretty, pretty good battle. As a whole, I do reckon there would be a solid championship window reversing the two. Could only imagine how West projects in the mid-late 80s (far more offensive friendly, 3P line, more access to world-class training and nutrition).

In 89 those rs games between the two teams were wars and before Price took an elbow to the head from Mahorn which caused him to miss like two weeks we were I think 3 games ahead of them in the standings. We were something like 42-12 then by the time he got back the Pistons had gotten the lead but I felt like we stood a good chance against them if we'd met in the playoffs. With a West who was fully transitioned I think we are somewhat strong favorites to beat them in 89 and then in 90 we'd have no Harper but if the Cavs win in 89 I think Embry is less likely to trade out Harper.

[rk2023]

1989 Cavs Pistons would be a pretty, pretty good battle. As a whole, I do reckon there would be a solid championship window reversing the two. Could only imagine how West projects in the mid-late 80s (far more offensive friendly, 3P line, more access to world-class training and nutrition).

In 89 those rs games between the two teams were wars and before Price took an elbow to the head from Mahorn which caused him to miss like two weeks we were I think 3 games ahead of them in the standings. We were something like 42-12 then by the time he got back the Pistons had gotten the lead but I felt like we stood a good chance against them if we'd met in the playoffs. With a West who was fully transitioned I think we are somewhat strong favorites to beat them in 89 and then in 90 we'd have no Harper but if the Cavs win in 89 I think Embry is less likely to trade out Harper.

Thank you for the history lesson! Even the bulls series was eerily close despite a very stat-heavy series from Jordan. I feel as if West puts said team over the edge. This is as intriguing a “what-if” as placing Sabonis on the 80s/90s Blazers earlier.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

I know that it is Blasphemy for the 1960s fans but I think Price was a better player than West.
West was a better player relative to his league but his league was not as good as the league Price played in.

I think the League improved more from West’s time to Price’s time than it has improved from Price’s time to the current time.

[70sFan]

I know that it is Blasphemy for the 1960s fans but I think price was a better player than West.

I disagree.

I think the League improved more from West’s time to Price’s time than it has improved from Price’s time to the current time.

I strongly disagree.

[Cavsfansince84]

I know that it is Blasphemy for the 1960s fans but I think Price was a better player than West.
West was a better player relative to his league but his league was not as good as the league Price played in.

I think the League improved more from West’s time to Price’s time than it has improved from Price’s time to the current time.

As a pure shooter Price is one of the few who I think was as good or better but Price had definite physical limitations while West was a big guard who was a strong athlete which greatly changed how he could impose his offensive game imo. Price was very good at running an offense though. I don't think the Cavs improve greatly with West but having West to finish out playoff games and give you a reliable 28-30ppg in the playoffs would be big. Then Price also started having major injuries so his athleticism became even worse beyond 91. Of course on defense the gap between them would be huge.