[crandolph]

People:

The game of basketball is about one thing: Match-Ups. Ive scanned most all the posts, but i havent seen the ONE team that I believe was the best -- 2000-2001 LA Lakers. Let me preface, i am by NO means a Laker fan, but this team would be the most dangerous team to ever walk-up against in a fantasy, greatest team ever tourney. Comparing the regular seasons, the Bulls, BY FAR were the better regular season team (56wins LA to 72wins CHI). Will say this though, Shaq missed 8 regular season games and Kobe missed 14. The playoffs is where the Lakers have the edge over the Bulls. I can hear you guys now, "Bulls only lost two more game than the Lakers!" Here's the kicker, look at the 3 teams the Lakers SWEPT to get to the Finals. Just go look at the rosters (crazy good teams). To finalize this debate, the biggest difference maker (it pains me to say) is Shaquille O'Neal. In the 2000-2001 playoffs, he AVERAGED 31ppg 15rbg and shot 55%. The 95-96 Bulls had NO ONE that could match Shaq when he wanted to actually try hard and play. In the '01 Playoffs, he wanted to play. Oh yea, and the 00-01 Lakers also had the best all-around player in the league, Kobe Bryant. In the 00-01 playoffs, he AVERAGED 29ppg 7reb and 6ast..............Now, lets go back to my original argument: MATCH-UPS

Each position will be discussed and assigned 1pt for each winner
PG
CHI - Ron Harper (0pt)
LAL - Ron Harper (0pt)
*Edge: PUSH -- Harper was more athletic with Bulls, but a better shooter/role player with the Lakers

SG
CHI - Michael Jordan (.5pt)
LAL - Kobe Bryant
*Edge: Jordan by a smaller margin the many would believe. Kobe i dont believe could guard Jordan because Jordan would use his new found post moves on Bryant and eat him up all day down low. On the other hand, Jordan would be just a step to slow to guard the 22yr old Bryant. Jordan gets the Edge cause of his guile and basketball wisdom.

SF
CHI - Scottie Pippen (1pt)
LAL - Rick Fox
*Edge: Also closer than you may think, but not like SG. Pippen is the more talented player, by far, BUT he would have ALOT more assignments and responsibilites in the fantasy match-up. Pippen would be the Bulls #2 scorer, ball-handler, post double teamer, etc... Fox would only have to worry about two things. 1) Playing lock down "D" (which he was better than most remember) and 2) hitting the open 3's.

PF
CHI - Dennis Rodman (.5pt)
LAL - Horace Grant
*Edge: Goes the Rodman by a hair. Grant would be determined to perform to his best to show CHI what they could have had all those years, but it still wouldnt be enough. Rodman would be too energetic and still plays pretty good "D" in his aging 34yr old body.

C
CHI - Luc Longley
LAL - Shaquille O'Neal (2pt)
*Edge: Really?!? Like i stated earlier, when Shaq wants to play, (and he did in 00-01) no one could have ever stopped him. He was just too big, quick, and smart (no..really!). Shaq would average 40 and 17 versus this 95-96 Bulls team, easy. AND, if they doubled him, he could pass it out to Kobe, Brain Shaw, Derek Fisher or.............the X-FACTOR..........

Robert Horry. I know it sounds weird, but he is the reason the 00-01 Lakers would overcome the 95-96 Bulls. Yes, he was "older" but the dude was still only 30 and still had most all of his athletic weapons plus, the most ice-cold veins in NBA history.



THOUGHTS???????