Mythology of the 2009 championship alternate universe

[TitleMaster]

There's an alternate universe p.o.v. that had Garnett and Powe stayed healthy, the Lakers would have been automatically beaten in the '09 rematch finals.

I'm not really convinced of that. In '09, both Ariza and Odom played their hearts out, unlike in '08. In addition, Bynum was healthy and contributing. That '09 Lakers was an upgrade from the prior year's *Kobe Ball* squad.

Next, the Celtics bench on '09 was inferior to the championship year

Here's the '09 bench … Moore, Marbury, House, T Allen, & BBD

versus '08

*Big Game* James Posey (basically, 6th man of the year), PJ Brown, Cassell, House, T Allen, & BBD

So the added advantage of us, tossing the kitchen sink at the Lakers, was reduced in the 2009 rematch, esp when Odom and Ariza were fighting for new contracts. We all know that Doc's rotations aren't the best in the league.

In my alternate universe, we lose in '09 but we clearly win in '10, as we had an Operation Fo'Fo'Fo' thing going on that year where pretty much, none of the opponents had a chance against us, starting in the first round. The Lakers winning that year was an abomination in officiating. The 2010 playoff run was the best in the post-Bird era, as we were undefeatable.

[Fafnir]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

[Section301]

Actually, in my alternate universe they won all three...you should come visit sometime, it's a very happy place.

[manl_lui]

speaking of alternate universe, the 2011 team if healthy would've won the championship too 

[mgent]

There's an argument that we win if Leon Powe stays healthy, even with KG down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdzEKPRsGOg

There's an argument that we win with ANY player of Powe's caliber instead of the unbeatable rotation of Perk, Baby, and Scals.

The way Rondo and Ray were playing that year, Fisher didn't stand a CHANCE.  All we needed was somebody to help put a dent in Rashard's 20ppg and Dwight's 16 and 17.

[Donoghus]

The '09 team is still the one that kills me for what ifs.  They were so strong out of the gate and guys were really hitting their strides.

Obviously, '10 hurts too but '09 was the one that really got away.

Back to Back would've cemented things too in the grand scheme of things.

[D.o.s.]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

[Donoghus]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

The '08 team was fun because they were dominant from the start of the season to the finish.  This one the one season where they didn't seem to coast and then flip the switch for the playoffs.

The switch is pretty much on the entire season.  Not too mention, that was the greatest defensive team my eyes have seen.

[BballTim]

There's an alternate universe p.o.v. that had Garnett and Powe stayed healthy, the Lakers would have been automatically beaten in the '09 rematch finals.

I'm not really convinced of that. In '09, both Ariza and Odom played their hearts out, unlike in '08. In addition, Bynum was healthy and contributing. That '09 Lakers was an upgrade from the prior year's *Kobe Ball* squad.

Next, the Celtics bench on '09 was inferior to the championship year

Here's the '09 bench … Moore, Marbury, House, T Allen, & BBD

versus '08

*Big Game* James Posey (basically, 6th man of the year), PJ Brown, Cassell, House, T Allen, & BBD

So the added advantage of us, tossing the kitchen sink at the Lakers, was reduced in the 2009 rematch, esp when Odom and Ariza were fighting for new contracts. We all know that Doc's rotations aren't the best in the league.

In my alternate universe, we lose in '09 but we clearly win in '10, as we had an Operation Fo'Fo'Fo' thing going on that year where pretty much, none of the opponents had a chance against us, starting in the first round. The Lakers winning that year was an abomination in officiating. The 2010 playoff run was the best in the post-Bird era, as we were undefeatable.

  The reason the 2008 team struggled (to the extent that it did) in the playoffs was that it was the first time they'd played together as a team in the playoffs and didn't really know how to assert themselves (as a team). That problem wouldn't have existed in 2009. Adding a healthy KG to that team would have made them much harder to beat than the 2008 version.

  The 2010 playoff team was close to unbeatable until Rondo picked up some kind of leg injury in the middle of the Orlando series. Up to that point we were cruising and on a 6 game winning streak, after that we struggled to beat the Magic and had obviousl problems with the Lakers.

[D.o.s.]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

The '08 team was fun because they were dominant from the start of the season to the finish.  This one the one season where they didn't seem to coast and then flip the switch for the playoffs.

The switch is pretty much on the entire season.  Not too mention, that was the greatest defensive team my eyes have seen.

Yeah. The coasting didn't bother me so much because I was so busy I only caught maybe 50 or 60 regular season games.

I just have bad memories associated with 08-09 because of the knee injury. I hate injuries in general, but unlike 2010 I couldn't lay the blame on anything like the refs.

[Fafnir]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

The '08 team was fun because they were dominant from the start of the season to the finish.  This one the one season where they didn't seem to coast and then flip the switch for the playoffs.

The switch is pretty much on the entire season.  Not too mention, that was the greatest defensive team my eyes have seen.

The 2007-2008 team could do it all, they could score, rebound, and defend like crazy.

The 2009-2010 was a weaker rebounding team that was all about defense and scoring "enough" points. A more balanced team as Rondo/Perk/Davis/Sheed were better than their counter-parts in 2007-2008 but weaker overall in my view.

[mgent]

The '09 team is still the one that kills me for what ifs.  They were so strong out of the gate and guys were really hitting their strides.

Obviously, '10 hurts too but '09 was the one that really got away.

Back to Back would've cemented things too in the grand scheme of things.

Ehhh, '10 hurts me more personally.  Every team knows going into the season there's a chance their best player will get hurt.  You could name a great number of teams that had a banner get away due to injuries, but I think it hurts more for it to get away due injuries AND wrong calls.  The number of teams that lost because of the refs (at least 5 now?) is starting to get closer and closer to that first number.

It's just stupid knowing you would have won if the right calls were made.  At least with health you don't know what would have happened.  At least health is beyond human control.

[BballTim]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

The '08 team was fun because they were dominant from the start of the season to the finish.  This one the one season where they didn't seem to coast and then flip the switch for the playoffs.

The switch is pretty much on the entire season.  Not too mention, that was the greatest defensive team my eyes have seen.

The 2007-2008 team could do it all, they could score, rebound, and defend like crazy.

The 2009-2010 was a weaker rebounding team that was all about defense and scoring "enough" points. A more balanced team as Rondo/Perk/Davis/Sheed were better than their counter-parts in 2007-2008 but weaker overall in my view.

  The 2010 team (as a whole) was much tougher mentally in the 2010 playoffs than the 2008 playoffs.

[D.o.s.]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

The '08 team was fun because they were dominant from the start of the season to the finish.  This one the one season where they didn't seem to coast and then flip the switch for the playoffs.

The switch is pretty much on the entire season.  Not too mention, that was the greatest defensive team my eyes have seen.

The 2007-2008 team could do it all, they could score, rebound, and defend like crazy.

The 2009-2010 was a weaker rebounding team that was all about defense and scoring "enough" points. A more balanced team as Rondo/Perk/Davis/Sheed were better than their counter-parts in 2007-2008 but weaker overall in my view.

  The 2010 team (as a whole) was much tougher mentally in the 2010 playoffs than the 2008 playoffs.

Makes sense--most of their rotation players had already been NBA champions.

[Donoghus]

The 2010 playoff run was the best post-Bird when we lost? We got beat solidly in two games in the 2010 Finals too. (game 1 and game 6 weren't in doubt late)

Considering that we won in 07-08 I'm just left shaking my head. That's the best playoff run.

The 2008-2009 C's were probably the best team we had because KG hadn't had his injury yet, Perkins was healthy and had developed, and Rondo was becoming a star player. The shallow bench meant we weren't unbeatable, but we were the best team till KG went down.

I actually think we had a better team in 2010, but the defending championship season hurts the most because of KG's injury.

The '08 team was fun because they were dominant from the start of the season to the finish.  This one the one season where they didn't seem to coast and then flip the switch for the playoffs.

The switch is pretty much on the entire season.  Not too mention, that was the greatest defensive team my eyes have seen.

The 2007-2008 team could do it all, they could score, rebound, and defend like crazy.

The 2009-2010 was a weaker rebounding team that was all about defense and scoring "enough" points. A more balanced team as Rondo/Perk/Davis/Sheed were better than their counter-parts in 2007-2008 but weaker overall in my view.

  The 2010 team (as a whole) was much tougher mentally in the 2010 playoffs than the 2008 playoffs.

Makes sense--most of their rotation players had already been NBA champions.

And Rondo & Perk were coming into their own (or already there) by this point as opposed to '08.