Lewis & Bias VS Jordan & Pippen

[timobusa]

It could have been an amazing battle every year in the Eastern Conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7t4swtdYw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4u4MdSGSDo


If the tragedies did not happen.
How many rings does Jordan & Pippen get?

Does Lewis and Bias get any rings?


I'd love to read what you guys think.

[aporel#18]

This is the mother of all Celtic what if's...

If Len Bias was able to play in the 1986-1987 season, I think McHale wouldn't have played on that broken foot, and the Celtics could've won that 1987 title, or maybe not, but McHale would probably have a longer and healthier career. A healthy McHale plus Bias could lead to more Celtic rings from 1988 to 1990. Bias could've also helped to ease things for Bird, and allow Larry to play a couple more years while being healthier, too.

Then, by the time Reggie was able to block Jordan's shot 4 times in a game, Bias would be in his 5th season. He was taller than Jordan, his jumper was better and he had that ferocity Jordan had. Then you add a rising star in Lewis and healthy yet aging McHale and Parish. Only Bird's bad back would stop you from thinking these guys would've crushed any other team until 1993. After that, two super stars in Bias and Lewis, plus a decent supporting cast could still be at the top of the East and the League.

I'd say Celtics could've won another 2 from 1987 to 1990, then a couple more until 1994 (Big 3 retiring). After that, depending on their suporting cast, maybe another one or two. Jordan probably doesn't retire in 1993, and the Bulls would still win 2-3 rings, because they were a great team, but a Celtic team featuring the Big 3 + Bias and Lewis would've been the best team in the 90s.

[DavorCroatiaFan]

C's at least 4-5 more championchips (1987,88,90,91,92)
Bulls? If C's with Bird, McHale, Bias, Parish and Lewis kick Bulls and Jordan's ass thru 1992...does MJ pulls a hurt diva and demands a trade?
Hard to tell and be objective cause im die-hard C's fan...but i believe that if #30 and #35 didn't died there will be no Bulls dynasty and MJ would be considered TOP 10 player of all-time and not a GOAT...it would probably be a Larry with few more rings (and Magic and Kareem with two less).
Man, its depressing...I'm out

[scaryjerry]

Bulls win the same amount.

[freshinthehouse]

On the same "what if?" tip. how many titles does Portland win if they manage to get Sabonis over in his prime?

[Roy H.]

Bulls win the same amount.

I doubt it.  I think if you put Bias on the '91 team, for instance, the Celtics would have won.  They were a 56 win team without him.

[boscel33]

You know, it's one of those dreams that I try not to ever think about.  I was devastated in '86 then had to re-live it all over again.  To spin this differently though, Imagine him teamed with LJB towards the end and I'd bet that Detroit doesn't go to three straight!

[Fred Roberts]

It takes so many good breaks to win a championship . .. it's hard to say.

No doubt the Celts would have been a true dynasty in the 1990's, competing as a upper echelon team year in, year out.

There's no telling whether Bias would have been durable. All signs point to him being dominant. Having both he and Reggie take the torch from the 1980's team would have been a miracle. I'd say 2 more championships total.

[slamtheking]

my take on the possibilities:
-87 -- Bias allows for Mchale to get the necessary surgery on his foot rather play the season and lessen his career in the process.  Not sure C's get to the championship but it's not impossible.  Bias would have been able to match Worthy if they did but C's needed a healthy Walton to beat the Lakers without Mchale available.
-88 -- With a presumably healthy Mchale, C's have the front court to knock off the Pistons.   With any luck, C's would have jettisoned KC Jones in favor of Ford by now and he'd have worked Reggie into the rotation.  Probably doesn't happen but I could only wish since that would give us DJ, Ainge and Reggie as a solid 3-guard rotation against the Piston.
-89--Bird's out.  Bias and Reggie (assuming he was stuck on the bench thanks to KC) has his introductory year.  With a presumably healthy Mchale and now Bias and Lewis to pick up the ball for Larry, C's could quite possibly knock off the Pistons to face the Lakers.  would have been tough to beat them but would have loved to have seen it.
90--Hoping that Bias gives the C's a worse drafting position and therefore no Michael Smith disaster in the '89 draft, the C's might get  Shawn Kemp, BJ Armstrong, Vlade Divac or Cliff Robinson.   Heck, even Blue Edwards was serviceable.  In '90, with Bias, Lewis, a healthy Bird and Mchale and no Ainge trade for Pinkney and Kleine, C's are in position to knock off the Pistons and take the title against the Blazers.
91--Big 3 are still intact and Bird is relatively healthy.  Bias is in full bloom and Reggie is starting to blossom as a player.  C's have more than enough talent to take down the Bulls.
92--Same story - C's still have more talent than the Bulls.  Another title.
93--Bird's last year.  Mchale's still in pretty good shape thanks to having the surgery before his foot was severely messed up.  Parrish is slowing down but still more effective than any center on the Bulls roster.  Reggie and Bias are the team leaders and giving Jordan/Pippen all they can handle.  The C's win again thanks to the better/deeper team.
94--No Bird but C's still deeper (and have Reggie) than Bulls (assuming Jordan doesn't retire).  C's deeper than Houston although Hakeem makes it tough.  C's win again.
95--Mchale probably plays one more year.  Parrish is still here.  same results since Bias and Reggie are in their primes and the best duo with the best supporting cast.
96--assuming Mchale and Parrish have retired or moved on (Parrish), Bias and Lewis may not have the supporting cast now to get past Jordan and Pippen.  I'll be generous here and figure Jordan gets his first title.

[Prof. Clutch]

The crazy thing is that Reggie was taken with the 22nd pick in the '87 draft, so even if Bias had lived and the Celtics had been as dominant as they were in '86 , there's still a good chance we would have been able to draft Reggie. Red was such a brilliant GM, he played hand after hand correctly.

I don't know that Bias and Reggie would have been AS good as Jordan and Pippen, but they would have for sure been one of the best duos in the NBA.

[moiso]

I think McHale would have played on that foot regardless. 

[timobusa]

This is the mother of all Celtic what if's...

If Len Bias was able to play in the 1986-1987 season, I think McHale wouldn't have played on that broken foot, and the Celtics could've won that 1987 title, or maybe not, but McHale would probably have a longer and healthier career. A healthy McHale plus Bias could lead to more Celtic rings from 1988 to 1990. Bias could've also helped to ease things for Bird, and allow Larry to play a couple more years while being healthier, too.

Then, by the time Reggie was able to block Jordan's shot 4 times in a game, Bias would be in his 5th season. He was taller than Jordan, his jumper was better and he had that ferocity Jordan had. Then you add a rising star in Lewis and healthy yet aging McHale and Parish. Only Bird's bad back would stop you from thinking these guys would've crushed any other team until 1993. After that, two super stars in Bias and Lewis, plus a decent supporting cast could still be at the top of the East and the League.

I'd say Celtics could've won another 2 from 1987 to 1990, then a couple more until 1994 (Big 3 retiring). After that, depending on their suporting cast, maybe another one or two. Jordan probably doesn't retire in 1993, and the Bulls would still win 2-3 rings, because they were a great team, but a Celtic team featuring the Big 3 + Bias and Lewis would've been the best team in the 90s.

Totally agree.

I dig all your comments guys.

This was indeed the big what if of the Celtics Organization.

[DeeMeds]

The crazy thing is that Reggie was taken with the 22nd pick in the '87 draft, so even if Bias had lived and the Celtics had been as dominant as they were in '86 , there's still a good chance we would have been able to draft Reggie. Red was such a brilliant GM, he played hand after hand correctly.

I don't know that Bias and Reggie would have been AS good as Jordan and Pippen, but they would have for sure been one of the best duos in the NBA.

I think this is the biggest what if. If Bias doesn't die, everything changes all the way up to the present, its impossible to predict.

Also, what if Bias is a colossal bust?

A fun discussion, but again too many variables.