@a7b7c78 Should've doesn't count when you get waxed in a Gm7 situation on the road. Jazz weren't ready for prime time. Detroit could've, but they were also down by 15 in Gm7 and the 3 pt margin reflects a close-but-no-cigar comeback attempt.
@Cabbageboy316 I don't think they were vulnerable, they just had a lot of mileage under Pat, especially w/ his 3 hr practices. He ground them down in the 89 and 90 seasons as well. The 88 Lakers won those series where their opponents were lacking - experience dept, clutch situations, strong HCA. They did struggle on the road for most of that season, however.
I mentioned this in the 1987 thread, but to be honest I don't think the Lakers had to play much of anyone in the 80s. Everyone points to them playing Boston, Philly, or Detroit in the Finals, but no one mentions the fact that the West was overall really lousy for most of the 80s. By the early 90s the Blazers were an excellent team, the Spurs had Robinson, the Suns had improved, the Jazz improved under Sloan, and the Rockets got it going again. The West was loaded in the 1990s.
Am I alone in this or did any of ya'll notice dat Dan Issel has some teeth missing?
GeraldB526 4 months ago
@a7b7c78 Should've doesn't count when you get waxed in a Gm7 situation on the road. Jazz weren't ready for prime time. Detroit could've, but they were also down by 15 in Gm7 and the 3 pt margin reflects a close-but-no-cigar comeback attempt.
nonplayerzealot4 6 months ago
@Cabbageboy316 I don't think they were vulnerable, they just had a lot of mileage under Pat, especially w/ his 3 hr practices. He ground them down in the 89 and 90 seasons as well. The 88 Lakers won those series where their opponents were lacking - experience dept, clutch situations, strong HCA. They did struggle on the road for most of that season, however.
nonplayerzealot4 6 months ago
!! CALVIN NATT !!
t90shooter 7 months ago
@ErikS1975FreeState If you were a fan of any other West team that year, it was an almost hopeless feeling.
chrisuncleahmad 8 months ago
It would have been interesting to see how that Denver team could have matched up against the Celtics.
Being a Western Conference NBA team fan in the 1980s was not easy- it was Lakers, Rockets, or bust.
chrisuncleahmad 11 months ago
Run and Gun!!! I hate the generic b.s. half-court game in today's offenses!! These two teams played the way the game was suppose to be played!!!
BigdogH201 1 year ago
@Cabbageboy316 Rockets in 81 84 86
chitownmo 1 year ago
No team in the West was going to stop the Lakers from getting back to the NBA Finals in 1985
ErikS1975FreeState 1 year ago
@a7b7c78
I mentioned this in the 1987 thread, but to be honest I don't think the Lakers had to play much of anyone in the 80s. Everyone points to them playing Boston, Philly, or Detroit in the Finals, but no one mentions the fact that the West was overall really lousy for most of the 80s. By the early 90s the Blazers were an excellent team, the Spurs had Robinson, the Suns had improved, the Jazz improved under Sloan, and the Rockets got it going again. The West was loaded in the 1990s.
Cabbageboy316 1 year ago