What was the greatest NBA Finals we never saw?

FullForceMDs · Post #1 » by **FullForceMDs** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:27 am

Which of these potential NBA Finals matchups that never happened, would have interests you the most?

2009 Cavaliers vs Lakers

2005 Suns vs Pistons

1998 Lakers vs Bulls

1997 Rockets vs Bulls

1986 Lakers vs Celtics

1981 Suns vs 76ers

1978 Blazers vs Bullets

1976 Warriors vs Celtics

1975 Bulls vs Bullets

1971 Knicks vs Bucks

1970 Suns vs Knicks

JordansBulls · Post #2 » by **JordansBulls** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:33 am

Cavs vs Lakers in 2009 would have gone 7.

Knicks vs Bucks in 1971 would have been good as well.

Bulls vs Mavs in 2011 another one.

KobesScarf · Post #3 » by **KobesScarf** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:40 am

Waltons Blazers vs the 80s Celtics and Lakers(conference Finals)

Post #4 » by **Goudelock** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:40 am

2012-13 season could've seen the Celtics play the Spurs if LeBron didn't go super saiyan in game 6.

Rondo vs Parker

Allen vs Ginobili

Pierce vs Kawhi

DUNCAN VS GARNETT

KobesScarf · Post #5 » by **KobesScarf** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:41 am

JordansBulls wrote:Cavs vs Lakers in 2009 would have gone 7.

Knicks vs Bucks in 1971 would have been good as well.

Bulls vs Mavs in 2011 another one.

lol no

KobesScarf · Post #6 » by **KobesScarf** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:42 am

PockyCandy wrote:2012-13 season could've seen the Celtics play the Spurs if LeBron didn't go super saiyan in game 6.

Rondo vs Parker

Allen vs Ginobili

Pierce vs Kawhi

DUNCAN VS GARNETT

You mean Celtics vs Thunder the 13 Celtics stunk

wojoaderge · Post #7 » by **wojoaderge** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:53 am

1975 Bulls vs Bullets

jojo4341 · Post #8 » by **jojo4341** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:54 am

1995 Rockets vs Bulls

Had Jordan not retire, this would probably have been their toughest opponent.

KobesScarf · Post #9 » by **KobesScarf** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 3:06 am

jojo4341 wrote:1995 Rockets vs Bulls

Had Jordan not retire, this would probably have been their toughest opponent.

??? the Bulls probably get swept by Houston(not sure they beat the Pacers even) they weren't good in 95 which is why the Magic beat them

jojo4341 · Post #10 » by **jojo4341** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 3:31 am

KobesScarf wrote:
jojo4341 wrote:1995 Rockets vs Bulls

Had Jordan not retire, this would probably have been their toughest opponent.

??? the Bulls probably get swept by Houston(not sure they beat the Pacers even) they weren't good in 95 which is why the Magic beat them

I'm also in agreement that those Rockets would've beaten that hypothetical Bulls team. But Jordan not being in mid-season form made a huge difference. Sure he had some spurts like that 55 point game against the Hawks but for the most part, he was very inconsistent and looked gassed in some games. I know it's one play, but Jordan having no awareness of Nick Anderson coming from behind just looked so odd to me.

But yeah, the rest of the team was a hybrid of both 3-peat teams, most notably missing both Grant and Rodman. But I still think 1.5 years of Jordan continuing to play and adjusting to that particular roster would still be the best team in the East.

Blazers-1977 · Post #11 » by **Blazers-1977** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:00 am

Will only do from 1990 on

1990 : Blazers Vs Bulls
1993: Suns vs Knicks
1998: Pacers vs Jazz
2006 : Heat vs Spurs
2009: Cavs vs Lakers
2012 : Celtics vs Spurs

Post #12 » by **Goudelock** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:13 am

KobesScarf wrote:
PockyCandy wrote:2012-13 season could've seen the Celtics play the Spurs if LeBron didn't go super saiyan in game 6.

Rondo vs Parker

Allen vs Ginobili

Pierce vs Kawhi

DUNCAN VS GARNETT

You mean Celtics vs Thunder the 13 Celtics stunk

Yeah, my mistake. It was the 11-12 Celtics. Celtics blew the lead because of LeBron in game 6, and the Spurs got demolished after winning the first two against the Thunder.

FullForceMDs · Post #13 » by **FullForceMDs** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:59 am

Blazers-1977 wrote:Will only do from 1990 on

1990 : Blazers Vs Bulls
1993: Suns vs Knicks
1998: Pacers vs Jazz
2006 : Heat vs Spurs
2009: Cavs vs Lakers
2012 : Celtics vs Spurs

I would have love to seen Blazers/Bullets in 1978. But Walton got hurt like 10 games before the regular season ended. And they had no chance of repeating once that happened.

The 1990 blazers were okay, I think the Spurs could have beaten the Pistons that year, but of course they lost game 7 in the WCF to Portland. The 1991 blazers were the best of the early 90 blazer teams, they could have beaten the 1991 Bulls. Portland would have had home court if they had gotten to the Finals.

wojoaderge · Post #14 » by **wojoaderge** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:29 am

FullForceMDs wrote:I would have love to seen Blazers/Bullets in 1978. But Walton got hurt like 10 games before the regular season ended. And they had no chance of repeating once that happened.

I would like have seen 76ers/Sonics that season myself

KobesScarf · Post #15 » by **KobesScarf** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:31 am

jojo4341 wrote:
KobesScarf wrote:
jojo4341 wrote:1995 Rockets vs Bulls

Had Jordan not retire, this would probably have been their toughest opponent.

??? the Bulls probably get swept by Houston(not sure they beat the Pacers even) they weren't good in 95 which is why the Magic beat them

I'm also in agreement that those Rockets would've beaten that hypothetical Bulls team. But Jordan not being in mid-season form made a huge difference. Sure he had some spurts like that 55 point game against the Hawks but for the most part, he was very inconsistent and looked gassed in some games. I know it's one play, but Jordan having no awareness of Nick Anderson coming from behind just looked so odd to me.

But yeah, the rest of the team was a hybrid of both 3-peat teams, most notably missing both Grant and Rodman. But I still think 1.5 years of Jordan continuing to play and adjusting to that particular roster would still be the best team in the East.

I would say MJ was 95% of what he was in 96-98. The problem was the team wasn't very good as evidence by there record when MJ came back losing Grant(and even Cartwright) was huge. Harper had a terrible year(arguably a downgrade from Pete Myers), and obviously Pippen wasn't as dominant.

RSCD3_ · Post #16 » by **RSCD3_** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:46 am

Imagine a 2005 Phoneix Vs Detroit Series

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70sFan · Post #17 » by **70sFan** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:56 am

1962 Warriors vs Lakers - can you imagine Wilt vs Baylor statistical battle?

1971 Knicks vs Bucks - healthy Knicks would fare much better against the Bucks, Bullets without Gus Johnson didn't have any chances

1975 Bullets vs Bulls - two very tough physical teams with great frontcourts

1983 Spurs vs Sixers - Spurs wouldn't have a chance against amazing Sixers team, but Gilmore vs Moses battle would be amazing as well as Gervin vs Toney/Julius

1995 Spurs vs Magic - I'm sure Robinson would fare much better against Shaq than against Olajuwon and that would change his whole legacy (even without a title)

2008 Celtics vs Spurs - this one would be amazing in every aspect I can imagine. Unfortunately, Spurs would probably lose the battle

2012 Celtics vs Spurs - same thing, although both teams are older

FuShengTHEGreat · Post #18 » by **FuShengTHEGreat** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:17 am

Not so much teams.....but I will always regret that Bill Russell retired and then Kareem Abdul Jabbar entered the following season.

I feel robbed of the fact these 2 never spent a single second on the court against each other.

In terms of teams Rick Barry has been adamant in many interviews that his Warriors could've beaten the Celts in 76. I'd have really liked have seen Barry vs Hondo.

- Portland with younger healthy Sabonis vs Detroit and Chicago in 90 & 92.

tonyreyes · Post #19 » by **tonyreyes** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:29 am

My personal wishes:
99: Bulls vs Spurs
01: Bucks v Spurs
09: Cavs vs Lakers
13: Heat v Lakers

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GeneralManager · Post #20 » by **GeneralManager** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 8:22 am

2002 Kings v. Nets

Kings deserved it.