Lakers vs Celtics Franchise - Which Franchise would win a 7

[JordansBulls]

The Lakers have had (Magic, Kareem, Wilt, Kobe, Shaq, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Bob McAdoo, James Worthy, Pau Gasol, Jamal Wilkes, and Michael Cooper)

The Celtics have had (Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havileck, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Paul Pierce, Dave Cowens, Archibald, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Bill Walton)


So if everyone was in there respective primes and that was the team, which team would you take to win a 7 game series?

[Derekman]

I really don't think this is a question: I take:

Magic
West
Kobe
Kareem
Shaq

6th Man: Wilt


I take them over any other 5 person combination ever.

[JordansBulls]

I really don't think this is a question: I take:

Magic
West
Kobe
Kareem
Shaq

6th Man: Wilt


I take them over any other 5 person combination ever.

Yes but look at the Celtics team.

Russell
Mchale
Bird
Havlicek
Bob Cousy

6th man: Garnett
7th man: Pierce
8th man: Bill Walton

[Derekman]

The only clear advantage they would have is Bird over Kobe, and even that's not that big. And the depth chart for the Lakers is a lot better to.

[TheSheriff]

I take the Celtics with Red Auerbach as coach. I would also start KG over McHale. That way the Celtics Defense would be unstoppable at four positions.

[Basileus777]

The Lakers have the more talented roster. They have 3 of the top 5 greatest players ever. The only problem is that they have too many centers. Still a Kareem/Wilt frontcourt with Shaq off the bench is scary...

[EHL]

Please, Lakers' frontcourt players would trash the hell out of any of the Celtics frontline. What's the best the Celtics can throw at a frontcourt of Worthy/Kareem/Wilt with Shaq off the bench? Bird/McHale/Russell with KG off the bench? Come on.

[Patterns]

Is this a joke?

[tracey_nice]

Is this a joke?

+ 1

[penbeast0]

The Lakers have the better talent, the Celtics have Bill Russell, the Lakers would have the better regular season record but somehow the Celtics would get a key steal, or a ref's call, or a clutch shot, and Russell's team would win.

11 titles in 13 seasons including that final seasons where the Celtics weren't even one of the top 5 teams in the league . . . some guys are just destined to win.

[dockingsched]

do the lakers get nba champion glen rice who was comparable to ray allen as far as stats and age?

[Triple M]

the Lakers always have more talent but that didn't stop the Celtics from winning 7 out of 9 finals they have meet.

[wigglestrue]

Giving the Lakers prime Wilt is not right.

[tracey_nice]

Giving the Lakers prime Wilt is not right.

Does it matter with prime Kareem and Shaq? And this isn't close lakers

[wigglestrue]

Does it matter with prime Kareem and Shaq? And this isn't close lakers

Yes, it matters, because prime Wilt > prime Kareem > prime Shaq. Seeing how prime Russell won many a series versus prime Wilt, I can't see how Kareem would get an edge over Russell, and I definitely can't see how Shaq would get an edge over Russell. Whenever I construct an all-time Celtics team, Cowens plays PF because IMO Cowens is the 5th best Celtic ever. Cowens held his own against peak Kareem. Russell and Cowens would be close to even against Kareem and Shaq, and the Celtics might actually have a slight edge there. Bird > Kobe (or Baylor), not even going to elaborate because I don't feel like defending Bird against n00bs born in the 90's. Havlicek and Cousy vs. West and Magic...I'd say that's a pretty decent edge for the Lakers, with each individual matchup pitting two-way warriors and offensive PG geniuses. Now we get to the bench, and you have a prime McHale (always going to be underrated) vs. a Wilt in his last seasons (which were still magnificent). You've also got Baylor, Parish, Worthy, Sam Jones, Garnett (weeee, if Chamberlain counts for LA, we can have the current KG fair and square), and a host of others who aren't going to play much because you'd have 10 of the greatest players ever starting, so who freaking cares about the bench. Coaches, Red Auerbach > Phil Jackson, and THAT'S finally a matchup that's not really close. I don't know, looks like a pretty close series to me. So all you people saying Lakers "and it's not close" better check yourselves. Here's the top 7, the guys who would actually play minutes IMO:

Kareem/Wilt
Shaq/Baylor
Kobe
West
Magic

Russell/McHale
Cowens/Garnett
Bird
Havlicek
Cousy

Celtics in 7, on a last second block by Russell. I mean, given the history, can even a Lakers homer dispute the plausibility of that scenario? I think not.

[ImmortalD24]

Lakers in 4.

The only clear advantage they would have is Bird over Kobe, and even that's not that big. And the depth chart for the Lakers is a lot better to.

[wigglestrue]

Lakers in 4.
-= original quote snipped =-

"Bird > Kobe (or Baylor), not even going to elaborate because I don't feel like defending Bird against n00bs born in the 90's."

Case in point.

[tracey_nice]

Does it matter with prime Kareem and Shaq? And this isn't close lakers

Yes, it matters, because prime Wilt > prime Kareem > prime Shaq. Seeing how prime Russell won many a series versus prime Wilt, I can't see how Kareem would get an edge over Russell, and I definitely can't see how Shaq would get an edge over Russell. Whenever I construct an all-time Celtics team, Cowens plays PF because IMO Cowens is the 5th best Celtic ever. Cowens held his own against peak Kareem. Russell and Cowens would be close to even against Kareem and Shaq, and the Celtics might actually have a slight edge there. Bird > Kobe (or Baylor), not even going to elaborate because I don't feel like defending Bird against n00bs born in the 90's. Havlicek and Cousy vs. West and Magic...I'd say that's a pretty decent edge for the Lakers, with each individual matchup pitting two-way warriors and offensive PG geniuses. Now we get to the bench, and you have a prime McHale (always going to be underrated) vs. a Wilt in his last seasons (which were still magnificent). You've also got Baylor, Parish, Worthy, Sam Jones, Garnett (weeee, if Chamberlain counts for LA, we can have the current KG fair and square), and a host of others who aren't going to play much because you'd have 10 of the greatest players ever starting, so who freaking cares about the bench. Coaches, Red Auerbach > Phil Jackson, and THAT'S finally a matchup that's not really close. I don't know, looks like a pretty close series to me. So all you people saying Lakers "and it's not close" better check yourselves. Here's the top 7, the guys who would actually play minutes IMO:

Kareem/Wilt
Shaq/Baylor
Kobe
West
Magic

Russell/McHale
Cowens/Garnett
Bird
Havlicek
Cousy

Celtics in 7, on a last second block by Russell. I mean, given the history, can even a Lakers homer dispute the plausibility of that scenario? I think not.

Well ESPN had KAJ as the number 1 GOAT center followed by Wilt with Russell 3rd and Shaq 4th(3 of the top 4??), Also with the ability to either have KAJ or Wilt or Shaq as your PF C, the Lakers automatically win the center and power forward positions.
Shaq/Wilt > Russell/McHale
KAJ/Baylor > Cowens/KG

Bird > Kobe
But, Kobe is a better scorer and defender making the small forward victory a "small" victory for the Celtics.'

West > Havilcek
Magic > Cousy

Lakers are better than the Celtics at 4 of the 5 positions and anytime that has KAJ or Wilt or Shaq coming off the bench you will almost always win.
You are being an ignorant homer, this isn't close, please stop.

[wigglestrue]

Well ESPN had KAJ as the number 1 GOAT center followed by Wilt with Russell 3rd and Shaq 4th(3 of the top 4??), Also with the ability to either have KAJ or Wilt or Shaq as your PF C, the Lakers automatically win the center and power forward positions.
Shaq/Wilt > Russell/McHale
KAJ/Baylor > Cowens/KG

Oh my god...ESPN?????????? Say no more! Listen, n00b: the Wilt who played for the Lakers is NOT THE SAME WILT WHO IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE 1ST OR 2ND GREATEST PLAYER EVER. The Kareem that the almighty ESPN (:lol:) ranked as "number 1 GOAT" was contained/owned by Dave Cowens. IN REAL LIFE. IT HAPPENED. IN HISTORY. IT'S A FACT. NOT IMAGINED. And you ought to smack yourself in the head if you think that Bill Russell, in the course of a game, where teams play each other, wouldn't know exactly what to do with Shaq. THERE IS NOTHING "AUTOMATIC" about a supposed Lakers frontcourt advantage.

Bird > Kobe
But, Kobe is a better scorer and defender making the small forward victory a "small" victory for the Celtics.'

Yay, a reasonable point! Kudos!

West > Havilcek
Magic > Cousy

Lakers are better than the Celtics at 4 of the 5 positions and anytime that has KAJ or Wilt or Shaq coming off the bench you will almost always win.

You "almost always win"...Where? In your ridiculous fantasy land? Here, imagine that Wilt, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor are going up against Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and some aging role players. IT'S "AUTOMATIC"! The Lakers in that situation are "ALMOST ALWAYS GOING TO WIN". And yet...

THEY. DIDN'T. WIN.

You are being an ignorant homer, this isn't close, please stop.

Fool, don't even think you can talk to me like that. Ignore list. Bye!

[tracey_nice]

You "almost always win"...Where? In your ridiculous fantasy land? Here, imagine that Wilt, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor are going up against Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and some aging role players. IT'S "AUTOMATIC"! The Lakers in that situation are "ALMOST ALWAYS GOING TO WIN". And yet...

Um, this isn't Wilt, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor, THIS IS WILT, SHAQ, KAREEM, WEST, KOBE AND MAGIC ALL IN THEIR ******* PRIME, come on dude are you serious?????