Hi guys......this is Sane's bros, using his account to ask you guys a question that i've been thinking about the last few days. I lived in Houston from 94 - 98 and i witnessed the championship years first hand.....man westheimer was amazing the chamionship nights.....dream was unbelievable, and the supporting cast was perfect for him..... I really thought another championship was in the bag when Barkley came here, and if it weren't for "Dirty Malone" i think it would have happened. I still can't believe we lost that series! Question 1: Would the Rackets Dream, Glide, and Sir Charles team beat the current Lakers team? Question 2: Is the championship really in the bag for the Lakers this year? Not on paper that is. Take it easy.
Hmmm... thinking about it.. hakeem, drexler, and barkley were still putting up good numbers.... but they were aging... I think that drexler probably wouldnt keep up with kobe... i know olajuwon would of beat out shaq.... and barkley i think malone has the edge their... hmm... Although i hate saying this.. the lakers dream team would win
Depends... Is this the elite 1997 version, or the injury-riddled and post-Stoudamire incident chemistry shaken 1998 one? The '96-'97 one I can get behind... Also, where is the three-point line located? Moving it out really hurt that team. Nope. They play the games for a reason. That Big Three Dream Team we had for awhile proves it.
Question 1: I have to see this new Lakers team play before I can answer this one. I'm not sure how their chemistry is going to be, so it's hard to really give my opinion. If the Lakers could get along, it's hard to see the Rockets beating them. Look at it this way: Center-Shaq vs. Hakeem- If Hakeem was in his prime, he would OWN Shaq, but the Hakeem from the years you're talking about might have a little trouble with the current Diesel. Advantage: Lakers PF-Malone vs. Barkley- Malone can still score, but I'd have to give the advantage here to Charles Barkley. Barkley was still a monster even in his later years (when he wasn't injured!) and although Malone is still in excellent health, I say Barkley would get the better of him. Advantage: Rockets SF- You guys gotta fill this one in. I'm a new Rockets fan and don't know who their SF was. Then again, they can't be much worse than whoever the hell the Lakers are throwing out there this year. SG-Kobe vs. Drexler- This is another matchup where, if he was in his prime, I'd have a hard time deciding. But the Rockets Drexler probably couldn't keep up with this year's Kobe. Kobe's too good, too young, too quick. Advantage: Lakers PG-Who was our point guard that year? Whoever it was, I'm sure Payton would probably win the matchup there. (I bet you guys wish you had Steve now! ) Advantage: Lakers. So I'd give the advantage to the Lakers, but if all the Rockets players were in their prime, the win would definitely go to Houston, with a young and quick Hakeem, Clyde and Barkley. Question 2: No, the championship is not in the bag for the Lakers. Between the Kobe issue and the possible lack of chemistry, there are still plenty of teams that could knock the Lakers out when they least expect it. Minnesota, Sacramento, San Antonio, Dallas.....the west is too strong to give any one team a clear advantage.
Oh, ok. Then the Rockets win that matchup (who do the Lakers got, Rick Fox? Luke Walton? Devon George?)
I don't think it would be that hard for an athlete like Drexler to keep up with anyone wearing shackles!
I think they could easily fall short just as the rockets did when they had Dream, Charles, and Clyde. I think the L.A. team has a better chance than the rockets had. Because they do have the best 2 and 5 in the NBA, plus not to mention a top three power forward of all time. But what puts them over the top is Gary Payton is the best floor general you can ask for. This leaves Rick Fox as the weakest link in the starting line-up. And Rick is a great all-around ball player. The way the Rockets might have beat them is easy, because "you can never underestimate the heart of a champion".
i think hakeem was still in his prime through 1998. it was about 1999 when pippen got here where i first saw his skills fade a little. and i think shaqs on his way down too. all those injuries, the wear and tear on his body, and the weight gain have affected him. although, i hear that hes lost some weight this summer hakeem 1997 vs shaq 2003.... hakeem wins hakeem 1998 vs shaq 2003.... too close to call, i'll go with hakeem hakeem 1999 vs shaq 2003.... shaq wins (hakeem got beat in 1999 by the 1999 shaq anyway )
According to whatifsports.com simulations, the 1997 Rockets (57-25) would have beaten the 2003 Lakers (50-32) in six games. This, of course, doesn't mean much. But it does give some indication how strong that 1997 Rockets team was. The 2004 Lakers (with Kobe, Shaq, Malone and Payton) would likely be a pretty tough matchup, on paper anyway.
As much as it pains me to say this, no matter how you rate the other matchups our point guard that year was Matt Maloney. We would never in a million years have a chance to win a series with the Lakers with a Gary Payton-Matt Maloney matchup. We would get eaten alive.
Ding ding ding!!! Of course, in fairness it should be pointed out that he thrived off double teams to Barkley and Olajuwon, that might not be necessary with O'Neal and Malone down there instead of Kemp/Perkins/McIlvaine.
