More Legendary matchups.?
Please answer not only who would win but why. If you don’t give me why that NO POINTS FOR YOU. (Soup Nazi style)
67 76ers (Wilt, Chet Walker, Billy Cunngham, Hal Greer) vs 73 Knicks (Frazier, Monroe, Reed)
96 Magic Shaq, Penny, Scott, Grant, Anderson vs 09 Magic Turkoglu, Howard, Lewis
87 Hawks Wilkins, Rivers, Willis, A. Carr, Webb vs 07 Cavs LBJ, Gooden, Z, Side Show Bob, Gibson. (I actually think this matchup is very even)
92 Cavs Price, Daugherty, Nance, Ehlo vs 02-03 Nets Kidd, Jefferson. Martin, Kittles
93 Hornets LJ, ZO, Bouges, J.Newman vs 2008 Hornets Paul, West, Chandler
2000 Blazers (Should have won the title) Stoudamire, Steve Smith, Wells, Pippen, Sheed, Sabonis vs 2002 Kings (Also should have won the title Webber, Bibby, Divac, Peja, Jackson, Christie
Good matchups again.
67 76ers vs 73 Knicks — Nowadays people tend to forget what was once called the best NBA team ever. The 1967 76ers finished the regular season 68-13 which stood as the top record in NBA History, until the Lakers in 71-72 topped that mark by one game. Wilt Chamberlain happened to be on both teams. However, when the NBA’s 35th Anniversary came up; it was this 1967 Sixers team annointed “Best NBA Team Ever” and with good reason. Three Hall Of Famers in Wilt Chamberlain, the greatest 6th man ever in Billy Cunningham and one of the most underrated guards ever in Hal Greer. Wilt Chamberlain was in his prime here still, so I doubt he’d have trouble with Willis Reed. I also think Greer is comparable with both Frazier and Monroe. Chet “Sky” Walker was also very underrated as a player. Wali Jones and Luke Jackson were also top notch defenders. (Matt Goukas also grew up in my neighborhood here in Philly, no bias!)
Winner: 67 Sixers
96 Magic vs 09 Magic — Though the 1996 Magic were a young team, lead by Penny Hardaway and Shaq; they played well from what I remember in the playoffs until they met a rejuvenated Bulls team in the Eastern Conference Finals in which they were swept. I see the 96 Magic as more well-rounded then the 09 squad in that it’s not just a big man (Howard) and a bunch of shooters surrounding him. Shaq also had more of a developed offensive game at that point then Dwight Howard has now. Penny Hardaway and Turkoglu are similar players but I give the skill edge to Hardaway. Horace Grant’s also a bigger body down low that the 2009 Magic didn’t have with Howard.
Winners: 96 Magic
87 Hawks vs 07 Cavs — You’re very right here. In fact I can’t see much differences. Both teams are lead by an emerging superstar at the time. Both teams have smaller perimeter players (Webb, Gibson). Both teams also have roleplayers, and ‘somewhat’ size inside, I say somewhat because Big Z is more of a shooter, and Willis was only capable on the defensive end.
Winner: 07 Cavs, I’ll give the nod to LeBron over ‘Nique, somehow.
92 Cavs vs 03 Nets — Mark Price was one of my favorite players as a kid. He was a ridiculously good shooter, and even better three-point shooter. Not to mention, an underrated PG also. Brad Daugherty is a name I haven’t heard in a while. Daugherty was a very finesse Center, who lacked strength but luckily in this matchup; Jersey doesn’t have a big time Center here. Kerry Kittles and Craig Ehlo both were underrated guards, good on the defensive end and could score if necessary. Larry Nance was a super-athlete albeit not much more so I’d give the edge to Jefferson. Kidd’s the best PG in the matchup. So as much as I’d want to pick Mark Price, I’ll give the edge to the Nets.
Winner: 2003 Nets
93 Hornets vs 2008 Hornets — The ’93 Hornets in a way remind me of the 2009 Orlando Magic. Except with Larry Johnson, a compliment to Alonzo Mourning who at this point was a very up and coming center in the NBA. Johnny Newman was also a very solid scorer, and they also had two sharp-shooters in Kendall Gill and Dell Curry who could light it up from the perimeter on any given night. Paul doesn’t have enough inside to quell Larry Johnson and Mourning here; both possibly at their peak in their careers, which was actually very early in their careers for both.
Winners: 93 Hornets
2000 Blazers vs 2002 Kings — One of my worst NBA memories. The Blazers blowing that Game 7 lead in the 4th to the Lakers. A very well-rounded team. Aside from the extremely balanced 6 players you gave me, Greg Anthony, Detlef Schrempf, and Brian Grant also provided to be key roleplayers for the Blazers. This was probably Webber and Peja’s best years as a pro and Mike Bibby was as clutch as it gets in the 2002 playoffs; but their overall depth to me doesn’t compare with the 2000 Portland team. A young Hedo Turkoglu and solid defender Bobby Jackson help; but I give the nod to Portland here.
Winners: 2000 Blazers
Paul Newman “WINNING”
