Magic's Lakers vs Kobe's Lakers

[TitleMaster]

You know... the more I think about it, the more I despise Kobe and gang.

I mean back in Magic's time, I was all excited about Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Michael Cooper and in many ways, wished that they played for us, instead of the Lakers. Yes, Kareem and Coop very much matched Boston's style of play and a pick 'n pop between Bird and Kareem would be a completely unstoppable play.

Today, there's no one on the Lakers who I want to see in Boston. Ron Ron, Kobe, and Odom are scoundrels and don't give me any good vibes of sportsmanship.

[GreenFaith1819]

You know... the more I think about it, the more I despise Kobe and gang.

I mean back in Magic's time, I was all excited about Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Michael Cooper and in many ways, wished that they played for us, instead of the Lakers. Yes, Kareem and Coop very much matched Boston's style of play and a pick 'n pop between Bird and Kareem would be a completely unstoppable play.

Today, there's no one on the Lakers who I want to see in Boston. Ron Ron, Kobe, and Odom are scoundrels and don't give me any good vibes of sportsmanship.

Good Post - and at least Magic had an endearing quality about him, even if he played for the enemy.

It is rather amazing how over the last few weeks of reading SS and R, they make very little mention of Shaq or Magic over there.

[Donoghus]

Magic's Lakers would mop the floor with this current Lakers incarnation. 

[wiley]

Magic's Lakers would mop the floor with this current Lakers incarnation. 

Agree.  Also agree that was a likable Laker's team.  I was so bummed when Magic hurt his hamstring during that Finals against Detroit.

Of course then it reversed and I was so happy when Detroit took out Kobe plus Shaq.

[TitleMaster]

For me, I imagine the starting 5 of the 80s as Bird, Kareem, McHale, Ainge, and DJ. Then, Parish and Cooper as the first big man and swingman off the bench, before the others.

[GreenFaith1819]

Magic's Lakers would mop the floor with this current Lakers incarnation. 

True, but I bet you couldn't get anyone over there (SS and R) to agree with you.

You don't think that Bynum could take Kareem to school ? He did dunk "near" Shaq, a couple of years ago.

And then he promptly received an elbow in the jaw from Shaqtus on the next play.

I've even read one comment somewhere that compared Gasol to McHale - I almost choked on my food when I saw that one. I wish I could remember where I saw it. I'd like to see him play on a broken ankle.

[2short]

Magic's Lakers would mop the floor with this current Lakers incarnation.  

Agreed, I had no problem losing to those lakers (except kareem worst whiner ever)
Loved coop, magic ([dang] hook shot cost me some in the day), rambis, worthy etc

[TitleMaster]

Almost forgot but Scott, Coop, Kupchak (then later Thompson), and then AC Green formed the Laker's bench. Wow! Those are dynamo subs! In contrast, we had Kite, Carlisle, and Buckner.

[PosImpos]

I'd love to see Pau in a Celtics uniform.  It's all idle speculation now, but it's interesting to think about what might have been if the C's had traded pennies on the dollar for Pau instead of trading most of their youth for KG.

It could have been the Lakers that won in '08 but the Celtics that won back to back championships the next two years and were still contending.  Who knows.

In any case, I like Pau and I think he's a very good player.  Only reason to dislike him is his uniform.

[reggie35]

In any case, I like Pau and I think he's a very good player.  Only reason to dislike him is his uniform.

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP but disagree with this. Pau is a flopper and learned a little too much from his soccer playing cousins back in Spain.

[Mr October]

Magic's Lakers would mop the floor with this current Lakers incarnation. 

And so would Shaq's Lakers. 

[JSD]

I hate even reading the word "Lakers". The last thing I want to do is discuss them.

Not hating or knocking, just saying.

[PosImpos]

In any case, I like Pau and I think he's a very good player.  Only reason to dislike him is his uniform.

I agree wholeheartedly with the OP but disagree with this. Pau is a flopper and learned a little too much from his soccer playing cousins back in Spain.

Flopper or not, he just absolutely dominated the Celtics and led the Lakers to a title.  No arguing with that.

He was the 2010 Finals MVP in my eyes, and nothing will ever change that. 

[Celtics17]

I gotta agree with the poster who said he would love to see Gasol in a C's uniform for pennies on the dollar. Pau is a very good ball player, deceptive and at times underrated. Now, if we are comparing this years group to Magic's Lackers then wow, that is funny. First of all, Magic was a better player then Kobe!! The rest of the prior Lackers group were just plain superior too. Who on the current group would stop Worthy? It sure whouldnt be Gasol or Bynum. Ron Artest is still a good player but he is not the defensive stopper that Coop was and Byron Scott was way underrated too. Kareem would destroy any version of Bynum unless you want to talk about the one who shows up for maybe 3 or 5 games a season. Basketball in the NBA was at its peak in the 80's. It's a function of the baby boomers being at their peak at the same time.

[alley oop]

Magic didn’t have the restricted zone to permit him to charge in the paint, Kobe does.