1987 NBA Playoffs: LA Lakers vs. Seattle Sonics

[kimv020887]

BRING BACK THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS!!!!

[ErikS1975FreeState]

The Sonics were overmatched by the Lakers in the 1987 Western Finals

[50331]

THA X MAN

[Cabbageboy316]

For all the talk of how great the Lakers were in the 80s, they didn't exactly have much competition in the West back then. In 1987 here are the teams they played en route to the Finals:

Denver (37-45)

Golden State (42-40)

Seattle (39-43).

Not exactly Murderer's Row there, huh? That might be why I find it hard to say the Lakers were better than the 90s Bulls. Up until the Finals they didn't play anybody good most of those years.

[cbaldwinjr]

@Cabbageboy316

It's real easy to take ONE year out and say that...how about in 1988 when they beat Utah and Dallas, both with 53+ wins? Real easy to cherrypick. The Bulls didn't exactly beat teams in 92 and 97...the Cavs and HEAT in the ECF? Please.

[Cabbageboy316]

@cbaldwinjr

I took a look and Utah was 47-35, not exactly amazing. The 1992 Cavs were actually 57-25, a better record than anyone the Lakers beat in 1988. And the 1997 Heat, while a dull team, were 61-21 (best record in Miami history). In fact the 1997 Bulls beat a 56 win Atlanta in the 2nd round, 61 win Miami, and then a 64 win Utah in the Finals.

[cbaldwinjr]

@Cabbageboy316

I spoke on Detroit and not Utah, my bad. However, I take the Bulls wins with a grain of salt as MJ's teams FEASTED on expansion teams (first the Magic, Heat, Hornets and T-Wolves), then the Grizzlies and Raptors the 2nd time around. Notice that four of those teams were in the East...and that's how a team like Miami could win 61 games. BTW...who CARES!?!? Are the 2007 Mavs an all-time team with their 67 wins? Like I said, try looking at other years instead of skewing your argument

[Cabbageboy316]

@cbaldwinjr

It's actually somewhat of a myth that the 1996 era Bulls feasted on the expansion teams. Toronto actually BEAT them once that year and Vancouver took the Bulls to the limit as well. Bulls went 5-1 against those two teams. Let's say they had a couple of non expansion teams for those 6 games and only broke .500 (3-3). They still win 70 games.

I still don't hear any debate that the West wasn't garbage in the 1980s. The Sonics of 1980 or so were the best team the Lakers played.

[IThinkThereforeIAm]

@Cabbageboy316 what about the Rockets, with the twin towers in Sampson and Olajuwon?

[FrsBigeasy]

This might of been the NBA Upset of the 1980's had the Sonics beat the Lakers in the 1987 WC Finals because the 87 Lakers might of been the best Team in NBA History & the Sonics had a Losing Record in 87.

[sc00ner]

was this the series where the lakers were up 3-0 and in game 4 at seattle they were down 30 in the first half? they came back and won by 10. greatest playoff game I ever saw. can't figure out why its never gotten that much publicity.

[cbaldwinjr]

No, I think that was the following year against the Sonics. The Lakers were down 18 at the half and came back to win...

[nonplayerzealot4]

The 89 WCSFs, Gm4. 

The Lakers were down by 29 pts and came back to win, but by 2 pts.

[Trancymind]

james worthy was a beast in 1987 and 1988 during his prime years.

[irgids]

He was more like Big Game James in those years... he had his best Playoff years those years... not overall in the season.

[naturalfinish]

His 4 best play-off years were 85, 87, 88, 89...Worthy averaged 22.2 in 34 Finals Games in his career...

85 reg season 17.6

85 play-offs  21.5

87 reg season 19.4

87 play-offs 23.6

88 reg season 19.7

88 play-offs 21.1

89 reg season 20.5

89 play-offs 24.6

[cbaldwinjr]

I LOVE that music. That's great sports music

[naturalfinish]

Showtime Lakers always had Seattle's number...Worthy probably had 20 dunks in this series...