1991 Bulls vs 1985 Lakers

[rand]

Who would have won a best of 7?

[Hair Jordan]

Bulls. The Lakers cakewalked to the Finals by beating the 36-46 Suns, 42-40 Blazers and the 52-30 Nuggets. In the Finals, they immediately and embarrassingly get annihilated 148-114 in game 1, the infamous “Memorial Day Massacre.” They came back to win of course but were hardly unbeatable. Kareem was 38 and past his prime. Magic was about to enter his prime. Worthy and Scott peaked around 1987 or 1988. The Lakers bench sucked with the exception of Cooper. The ‘91 Bulls had one of the best playoff runs ever going 15-2. Both losses came on late 3’s (Hersey Hawkins and Sam Perkins). Jordan was at his apex and Pippen was near his 1992 apex. Grant was in his prime. Cartwright was old. The Bulls bench of Armstrong, Livingston, King and Perdue was better than LA’s. I think the Bulls win it in 6 games. LA’s 1987-88 team was its best in my opinion as Magic, Worthy and Scott were all peaking and Mychal Thompson gave their bench a big boost.

[FuShengTHEGreat]

Bulls. The Lakers cakewalked to the Finals by beating the 36-46 Suns, 42-40 Blazers and the 52-30 Nuggets. In the Finals, they immediately and embarrassingly get annihilated 148-114 in game 1, the infamous “Memorial Day Massacre.” They came back to win of course but were hardly unbeatable. Kareem was 38 and past his prime. Magic was about to enter his prime. Worthy and Scott peaked around 1987 or 1988. The Lakers bench sucked with the exception of Cooper. The ‘91 Bulls had one of the best playoff runs ever going 15-2. Both losses came on late 3’s (Hersey Hawkins and Sam Perkins). Jordan was at his apex and Pippen was near his 1992 apex. Grant was in his prime. Cartwright was old. The Bulls bench of Armstrong, Livingston, King and Perdue was better than LA’s. I think the Bulls win it in 6 games. LA’s 1987-88 team was its best in my opinion as Magic, Worthy and Scott were all peaking and Mychal Thompson gave their bench a big boost.

LOL annihilated by whom? Oh yes a Boston team FAR above anyone Jordan and Chicago beat in their playoff careers. No shame in that. The Knicks and Sixer teams Chicago beat weren't any better or worse than the teams 85 LA beat out West

The 80s Lakers' during that spans' weakness was a dominant frontcourt which the Bulls surely didn't have.

Pippen? Even Xavier McDaniels could outscore this guy h2h in a playoff series. . James Worthy would've kept him more than occupied.

Kareem abused the greatest frontcourt ever and won Finals MVP. The 91 Bulls couldn't even stop Chain smoking Vlade still learning ESL Divac. A year later not even the Twin Towers could shut him down.
Pencil kareem in for at least 25-30ppg.

Chicago beat up on a aging injury riddled Lakers team in 91 and were able to gang up on Magic, they didn't face the real Showtime. Not happening vs the 85 team.
Jordan averages 35ppg but they don't have enough offense to overwhelm Showtime.

LA in 6.

[Hair Jordan]

Bulls. The Lakers cakewalked to the Finals by beating the 36-46 Suns, 42-40 Blazers and the 52-30 Nuggets. In the Finals, they immediately and embarrassingly get annihilated 148-114 in game 1, the infamous “Memorial Day Massacre.” They came back to win of course but were hardly unbeatable. Kareem was 38 and past his prime. Magic was about to enter his prime. Worthy and Scott peaked around 1987 or 1988. The Lakers bench sucked with the exception of Cooper. The ‘91 Bulls had one of the best playoff runs ever going 15-2. Both losses came on late 3’s (Hersey Hawkins and Sam Perkins). Jordan was at his apex and Pippen was near his 1992 apex. Grant was in his prime. Cartwright was old. The Bulls bench of Armstrong, Livingston, King and Perdue was better than LA’s. I think the Bulls win it in 6 games. LA’s 1987-88 team was its best in my opinion as Magic, Worthy and Scott were all peaking and Mychal Thompson gave their bench a big boost.

LOL annihilated by whom? Oh yes a Boston team FAR above anyone Jordan and Chicago beat in their playoff careers. No shame in that. The Knicks and Sixer teams Chicago beat weren't any better or worse than the teams 85 LA beat out West

The 80s Lakers' during that spans' weakness was a dominant frontcourt which the Bulls surely didn't have.

Pippen? Even Xavier McDaniels could outscore this guy h2h in a playoff series. . James Worthy would've kept him more than occupied.

Kareem abused the greatest frontcourt ever and won Finals MVP. The 91 Bulls couldn't even stop Chain smoking Vlade still learning ESL Divac. A year later not even the Twin Towers could shut him down.
Pencil kareem in for at least 25-30ppg.

Chicago beat up on a aging injury riddled Lakers team in 91 and were able to gang up on Magic, they didn't face the real Showtime. Not happening vs the 85 team.
Jordan averages 35ppg but they don't have enough offense to overwhelm Showtime.

LA in 6.

Right, the Lakers got swept 4-0 in the ‘83 Finals, choked away the Finals in ‘84, gave up 148 points and lost by 34 in game 1 of the ‘85 Finals and then lost to baby Olajuwon and the unheralded Rockets in ‘86. You know, the Rockets with world beaters like Robert Reid, John Lucas, Jim Petersen, Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggins, Craig Ehlo and a second year Olajuwon. If that team could beat the Lakers (on their home court no less) I’d be inclined to believe the ‘91 Bulls would do the same.

[ardee]

Bulls. The Lakers cakewalked to the Finals by beating the 36-46 Suns, 42-40 Blazers and the 52-30 Nuggets. In the Finals, they immediately and embarrassingly get annihilated 148-114 in game 1, the infamous “Memorial Day Massacre.” They came back to win of course but were hardly unbeatable. Kareem was 38 and past his prime. Magic was about to enter his prime. Worthy and Scott peaked around 1987 or 1988. The Lakers bench sucked with the exception of Cooper. The ‘91 Bulls had one of the best playoff runs ever going 15-2. Both losses came on late 3’s (Hersey Hawkins and Sam Perkins). Jordan was at his apex and Pippen was near his 1992 apex. Grant was in his prime. Cartwright was old. The Bulls bench of Armstrong, Livingston, King and Perdue was better than LA’s. I think the Bulls win it in 6 games. LA’s 1987-88 team was its best in my opinion as Magic, Worthy and Scott were all peaking and Mychal Thompson gave their bench a big boost.

LOL annihilated by whom? Oh yes a Boston team FAR above anyone Jordan and Chicago beat in their playoff careers. No shame in that. The Knicks and Sixer teams Chicago beat weren't any better or worse than the teams 85 LA beat out West

The 80s Lakers' during that spans' weakness was a dominant frontcourt which the Bulls surely didn't have.

Pippen? Even Xavier McDaniels could outscore this guy h2h in a playoff series. . James Worthy would've kept him more than occupied.

Kareem abused the greatest frontcourt ever and won Finals MVP. The 91 Bulls couldn't even stop Chain smoking Vlade still learning ESL Divac. A year later not even the Twin Towers could shut him down.
Pencil kareem in for at least 25-30ppg.

Chicago beat up on a aging injury riddled Lakers team in 91 and were able to gang up on Magic, they didn't face the real Showtime. Not happening vs the 85 team.
Jordan averages 35ppg but they don't have enough offense to overwhelm Showtime.

LA in 6.

Right, the Lakers got swept 4-0 in the ‘83 Finals, choked away the Finals in ‘84, gave up 148 points and lost by 34 in game 1 of the ‘85 Finals and then lost to baby Olajuwon and the unheralded Rockets in ‘86. You know, the Rockets with world beaters like Robert Reid, John Lucas, Jim Petersen, Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggins, Craig Ehlo and a second year Olajuwon. If that team could beat the Lakers (on their home court no less) I’d be inclined to believe the ‘91 Bulls would do the same.

I'm not sure who would win this matchup but you're talking about a team that from 1980 to 1989 won 5 titles and made 8 Finals... It sounds like a bit of a joke to make them sound like a bunch of chokers.

Especially 1985, ffs the Lakers WON that series, talking about 1 game so much is laughable.

[Hair Jordan]

LOL annihilated by whom? Oh yes a Boston team FAR above anyone Jordan and Chicago beat in their playoff careers. No shame in that. The Knicks and Sixer teams Chicago beat weren't any better or worse than the teams 85 LA beat out West

The 80s Lakers' during that spans' weakness was a dominant frontcourt which the Bulls surely didn't have.

Pippen? Even Xavier McDaniels could outscore this guy h2h in a playoff series. . James Worthy would've kept him more than occupied.

Kareem abused the greatest frontcourt ever and won Finals MVP. The 91 Bulls couldn't even stop Chain smoking Vlade still learning ESL Divac. A year later not even the Twin Towers could shut him down.
Pencil kareem in for at least 25-30ppg.

Chicago beat up on a aging injury riddled Lakers team in 91 and were able to gang up on Magic, they didn't face the real Showtime. Not happening vs the 85 team.
Jordan averages 35ppg but they don't have enough offense to overwhelm Showtime.

LA in 6.

Right, the Lakers got swept 4-0 in the ‘83 Finals, choked away the Finals in ‘84, gave up 148 points and lost by 34 in game 1 of the ‘85 Finals and then lost to baby Olajuwon and the unheralded Rockets in ‘86. You know, the Rockets with world beaters like Robert Reid, John Lucas, Jim Petersen, Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggins, Craig Ehlo and a second year Olajuwon. If that team could beat the Lakers (on their home court no less) I’d be inclined to believe the ‘91 Bulls would do the same.

I'm not sure who would win this matchup but you're talking about a team that from 1980 to 1989 won 5 titles and made 8 Finals... It sounds like a bit of a joke to make them sound like a bunch of chokers.

Especially 1985, ffs the Lakers WON that series, talking about 1 game so much is laughable.

The Lakers might win the series but it’s laughable when people act like the 80’s Lakers and Celts would roast Jordan’s Bulls. The Celts got swept in ‘83 by the Bucks. The Lakers lost to the Rockets in ‘86. They were great teams but not unbeatable. I mentioned game 1 of the ‘85 Finals because the Lakers got absolutely demolished. Can you imagine any Jordan led title team dropping game 1 of a series by 34 points?

[FuShengTHEGreat]

Right, the Lakers got swept 4-0 in the ‘83 Finals, choked away the Finals in ‘84, gave up 148 points and lost by 34 in game 1 of the ‘85 Finals and then lost to baby Olajuwon and the unheralded Rockets in ‘86. You know, the Rockets with world beaters like Robert Reid, John Lucas, Jim Petersen, Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggins, Craig Ehlo and a second year Olajuwon. If that team could beat the Lakers (on their home court no less) I’d be inclined to believe the ‘91 Bulls would do the same.

The Sixers still would've won in 83, but Worthy was out with a broken leg. Philly had a dominant All time Great C in his peak that could exploit LAs biggest weakness....Kareem getting on his years unable to keep his matchup from scoring or off the glass.

The Lakers lost on the road in 7 games to favored Boston in 84. Are any of you Jordan Chicago supporters saying he and the squad choked losing to Detroit on the road in 90 in 7 games? Oh I'm sure not:lol:

86 was the same as 83 ...a all time great Center in Hakeem exploiting Kareem on defense and the glass.

There wouldn't be anyone on the 91 Bulls to pose any of those sort of problems to Kareem. Maybe Cartwright would throw one of his patented accidental elbows lol.

Pfft as far as I'm concerned the 86 Rockets would give the 91 Bulls all they could handle!!. It's funny you excluded pre injury Ralph. And dismissively calling Ehlo "world beater". Isn't this the same guy MJ hit his his iconic game winner against. Are you acknowledging he was weak a opponent for MJ?

Hypothetically I don't see the 91 Bulls matching up well with the 85 Lakers on the simple premise other than MJ they don't really have any advantages. And him scoring in bunches wouldn't be enough to overwhelm them. Kareem would have a field day not having to worry about anyone at either end.

84-85 LA were so balanced they had HOFers Wilkes and McAdoo coming off the bench and here you are claiming their bench sucked

[Hair Jordan]

Right, the Lakers got swept 4-0 in the ‘83 Finals, choked away the Finals in ‘84, gave up 148 points and lost by 34 in game 1 of the ‘85 Finals and then lost to baby Olajuwon and the unheralded Rockets in ‘86. You know, the Rockets with world beaters like Robert Reid, John Lucas, Jim Petersen, Lewis Lloyd, Mitchell Wiggins, Craig Ehlo and a second year Olajuwon. If that team could beat the Lakers (on their home court no less) I’d be inclined to believe the ‘91 Bulls would do the same.

The Sixers still would've won in 83, but Worthy was out with a broken leg. Philly had a dominant All time Great C in his peak that could exploit LAs biggest weakness....Kareem getting on his years unable to keep his matchup from scoring or off the glass.

The Lakers lost on the road in 7 games to favored Boston in 84. Are any of you Jordan Chicago supporters saying he and the squad choked losing to Detroit on the road in 90 in 7 games? Oh I'm sure not:lol:

86 was the same as 83 ...a all time great Center in Hakeem exploiting Kareem on defense and the glass.

There wouldn't be anyone on the 91 Bulls to pose any of those sort of problems to Kareem. Maybe Cartwright would throw one of his patented accidental elbows lol.

Pfft as far as I'm concerned the 86 Rockets would give the 91 Bulls all they could handle!!. It's funny you excluded pre injury Ralph. And dismissively calling Ehlo "world beater". Isn't this the same guy MJ hit his his iconic game winner against. Are you acknowledging he was weak a opponent for MJ?

Hypothetically I don't see the 91 Bulls matching up well with the 85 Lakers on the simple premise other than MJ they don't really have any advantages. And him scoring in bunches wouldn't be enough to overwhelm them. Kareem would have a field day not having to worry about anyone at either end.

84-85 LA were so balanced they had HOFers Wilkes and McAdoo coming off the bench and here you are claiming their bench sucked

All time great center? Olajuwon was in his second season. Ralph Sampson never lived up to the hype and was a mental midget. The world beaters I spoke of were Reid, Lucas, Petersen, Lloyd, Wiggins AND Ehlo. Also, Wilkes and McAdoo were basically walking dead zombies by ‘85. Get real

[Djoker]

1991 Bulls in 7 games. They would actually have a ton of trouble with Kareem (who wouldn't?) although defense is not a one-man job. The Bulls were amazing at quick double teams so they could force Cap to kick it out and cause some turnovers too. In terms of dominance, the Bulls were ahead particularly in the postseason. Weak or not, they vaporized the opposition.

[FuShengTHEGreat]

All time great center? Olajuwon was in his second season. Ralph Sampson never lived up to the hype and was a mental midget. The world beaters I spoke of were Reid, Lucas, Petersen, Lloyd, Wiggins AND Ehlo. Also, Wilkes and McAdoo were basically walking dead zombies by ‘85. Get real

So Michael Jordan in his 2nd season wasn't considered a all time great player only because it was his second season?

Hakeem led the entire 85-86 playoffs in points rebounds and blocks. He was already playing at a all time great level that year. Sampson was 20/10 PF when healthy he hit the biggest buzzer beater of the 80s. Mental midget..... At least he never sat on the bench crying about a migraine in a playoff game. Theres no shame in losing to that team in 86. Your hero couldnt get the better of Hakeem over the course of their careers whenever their teams met either. i wouldn't be surprised if that 86 team laid the smackdown on 91 Chicago as well

Funny how you call HOFers McAdoo/Wilkes in 85 "walking dead zombies" when they were younger than Bulls starter Bill Cartwright .

The 84-85 Lakers had enough firepower to withstand Jordan's 40 odd point outbursts. Kareem was the difference