Suppose Michael Jordan never existed....

[D2Procon]

Who would win the finals (Eastern Conference Finals team moves to the finals)

1991 - Detroit Pistons vs L.A Lakers (Lakers in 6)

1992 - Cleveland Cavaliers vs Portland Trailblazers (Blazers in 5)

1993 - New York Knicks vs Phoenix Suns (Knicks in 7)

1996 - Orlando Magic vs Seattle Supersonics (Magic in 6)

1997 - Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat (Jazz in 5)

1998 - Utah Jazz vs Indiana Pacers (Pacers in 7)

Man as much as I like Michael Jordan, if he wasn't there boy would the 90's have been even better. Those are some nice matchups

[XFactor]

I would love to watch Knicks vs Suns and Jazz vs Pacers.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Knicks Suns would have been a great series. IMO the Suns win it largely cause of home court advantage.

[ChrisRichards]

97 Miami Heat is special. I love that team. Would be nice to see Mourning and Tim Hardaway win a championship ring in their primes.

[Pelicans78]

Michael Jordan was flat out evil and selfish. He could have shared some of his rings. Asshole.

[lefty]

1991 - Detroit Pistons vs L.A Lakers (Lakers in 6); yep, because Sisiah had a wrist injury

1992 - Cleveland Cavaliers vs Portland Trailblazers (Blazers in 6)

1993 - New York Knicks vs Phoenix Suns (Knicks in 7)

1996 - Orlando Magic vs Seattle Supersonics (Sonics in 6)

1997 - Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat (Jazz in 5)

1998 - Utah Jazz vs Indiana Pacers (Jazz in 6)

[baseline bum]

I could never see Orlando beating the 96 Sonics. I also would take Phoenix as a pretty strong favorite over New York. Utah / Indy in 98 would be an amazing series though. Still, I don't see any of those being as much fun as the matchups Chicago was in.

[MiamiHeat]

97 Miami Heat is special. I love that team. Would be nice to see Mourning and Tim Hardaway win a championship ring in their primes.

I'm beginning to think you have gone insane. Literally, clinically insane

[resistanze]

Of course, it's possible that any team the Bulls faced in their first two rounds could've also conceivably made the finals. But a Magic-Sonics series would be nice.

[ChrisRichards]

That was Hardaway's last and best season as a Heat. I always loved that guy even when during his TMC days. Can't say anything bad about Mourning. He's a warrior on and off the court. That was a great season.


Of course young kids like you would'nt know this. y'all are stuck in the Dwyane Wade era.

[ChrisRichards]

I could never see Orlando beating the 96 Sonics. I also would take Phoenix as a pretty strong favorite over New York. Utah / Indy in 98 would be an amazing series though. Still, I don't see any of those being as much fun as the matchups Chicago was in.

Matchups Brah. Shaq would eat Jim McIlvaine and Shawn Kemp in the post.

[Pelicans78]

Matchups Brah. Shaq would eat Jim McIlvaine and Shawn Kemp in the post.

Sam Perkins started at center in the playoffs and he would draw Shaq to the perimeter allowing the Reign man to roam free in the paint. Not sure if the Glove would have contained Penny, but Detlef was a top 5 SF during the time. It would have been a nice matchup.

[MiamiHeat]

Who gives a , you in the Kobe era.

it's the LeBron era.

[Pelicans78]

Actually it has been the Shaq and Duncan era since they won the most Finals MVP, but Kobe has the mantle right now. Can't be the Lebron era until he wins a Finals MVP.

[D2Procon]

I could never see Orlando beating the 96 Sonics. I also would take Phoenix as a pretty strong favorite over New York. Utah / Indy in 98 would be an amazing series though. Still, I don't see any of those being as much fun as the matchups Chicago was in.

Those Knicks Bulls series always went down to the final minute. I can't see the Suns beating the Knicks. Even the Bulls had trouble with them.

[23LeBronJames23]

Sonics would of won 96 Finals no doubt

[baseline bum]

Those Knicks Bulls series always went down to the final minute. I can't see the Suns beating the Knicks. Even the Bulls had trouble with them.

I remember that NY team getting the backdoor sweep from Chicago and then blowing the Finals the next year to a much weaker Houston team. That Phoenix team had an amazing starting lineup and then Tom Chambers, Danny Ainge, and Cedric Ceballos off the bench. I think they would have mopped the floor with New York.

[baseline bum]

Matchups Brah. Shaq would eat Jim McIlvaine and Shawn Kemp in the post.

2000 Shaq would have won that series, but not 96 Shaq.

[ezau]

Who gives a , you in the Kobe era.

When did the Kobe era happen? All throughout the decade, it's all about Shaq and Duncan. Kobe was just lurking in the shadows before he finally won a ring* with his team stacked to the nth degree. From this point on, Lebron owns the league and you know it brah

[D2Procon]

I remember that NY team getting the backdoor sweep from Chicago and then blowing the Finals the next year to a much weaker Houston team. That Phoenix team had an amazing starting lineup and then Tom Chambers, Danny Ainge, and Cedric Ceballos off the bench. I think they would have mopped the floor with New York.

That backdoor sweep was in 1992.

Patrick Ewing would mop the floor with Mark West.

John Starks and KG were practically the same that year.....

Barkley would own Charles Oakley, but dont underestimate Oakley's defensive rebounding.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

That backdoor sweep was in 1992.

Patrick Ewing would mop the floor with Mark West.

John Starks and KG were practically the same that year.....

Barkley would own Charles Oakley, but dont underestimate Oakley's defensive rebounding.

comparing KJ and John Starks.

[ezau]

Kobe was awarded player of the decade over Snaq and Gumby. He currently owns the le, and is primed for another 4-5 year run. Deal with it, son.

Athlete of the decade for riding Shaq from 2000-2002, while missing the playoffs in 05? That award is bull and anyone with half a brain knows that it means nothing. And what 4-5 year run? At the rate that his body is breaking down, he'd be lucky to extend his career for two more years. Mileage and time son, you can't escape it

[XFactor]

The Phoenix Suns would dominate the Knicks...... Remember the '93 Knicks did not have Mark Jackson or Xavier Daniels. And to say John Starks is better than KJ insulting....

[ezau]

Thats why we have Bynum, Pau, Odom, and Artest to carry him the rest of the way. We wont run him ragged like you guys did Duncan. Now he can't even take a without his ass hitting the floor first.

Son, admit that Pau is the Lakers' leader. Kobe is still their best perimeter player but he's no longer the Lakers' main guy. Admit it son.

[mojorizen7]

comparing KJ and John Starks.

That is pretty funny.

SUNS woulda mopped the floor with the Knickerbockers in '92.
As a matter of fact....they did.
http://breadcity.org/2009/07/13/knicks-vs-suns-1993/(complete version)

Ok it woulda been a close 7 game series but seriously....KJ/Barkley/Majerle>>>>>Starks/Ewing/????? Oakley? Mason???? Greg Anthony?

Riley was the only area the SUNS were outclassed in. The Knicks couldn't score with that SUNS team, and they played just enough defense to get by against the weaker offensive teams....like NY.

SUNS in 7

Reality: we're still 0'fer whatever the .....