NBA: NBA What-If's Part 1

[LkrFan]

Better passer than Vlade Divac, much better shooter than Rick Smits, almost as athletic as David Robinson, great rebounding and shotblocking instincts, a quick jump, 7'3" tall, I mean this guy would have likely won a couple of MVPs in the NBA before his knees went to playing in the Soviet Union. I mean damn, you remember how awesome a center he was in the 90s despite not being able to move at all? Dude was still a top center even though he moved like he was in quicksand. I mean a starting lineup of Sabonis, Buck Williams, Jerome Kersey, Clyde Drexler, and Terry Porter with Cliff Robinson and Drazen Petrovic off the bench would be one of the filthiest teams in NBA history. They would have dominated the West and would probably have a winning record against Chicago in the Finals. If you watched early 90s ball you can remember how Robinson used to dominate the Bulls. Now take an even better center and give him Drexler and Porter and you're talking a nightmare matchup for Chicago.

^^ Truth Bombz. The 2000 Lakers barely eeked past PDX that had a gimpy Sabonis. I could only imagine that dude in his prime.

[lefty]

Sabonis wouldn't have changed anything

Sure.

He and Duckworth were on the same level

[eyeh8u]

If Sabonis came to the nba, the availability of food would cause him to gain 50-70 pounds within a year, and his knees would have given out much sooner.

[SpurSwag]

Not just anyone. Schrempf was a boss and a HOF member.

yeah i know who he is, I just forgot who had said it. still thats big praise from a HOFer.

[spurraider21]

Shrempf is not a hall of famer

[Rogue]

Inglés es su tercera lengua.

Si, coreano es la segunda lengua de el, pero que es la primera lengua para el?

[ambchang]

Late 80s/early 90s Blazers with Sabonis would have beaten the 1992 Bulls, the 1991 Lakers (likely the 1991 Bulls) but I am not so sure about the 1990 Pistons.

The Bulls have always struggled with big men, that's why they were always pushed to the limit by the Pacers and the Knicks. The Bulls were a tremendous perimeter defensive team, and an adequate interior defensive team, but a player like Sabonis, who could shoot, pass, postup, and basically do anything on offense will destroy the Bulls interior defense. Especially his passing, which would be extremely effective when a player like Jordan or Pippen try to double him, he can pass it out to a cutting Drexler or Porter for an easy layup. The Bulls were so successful because Jordan and Pippen had the quickness and the length to cover huge expanses of the court, allowing them to double down low and then quickly recover on the pass out. However, Sabonis' vision and deft passing would allow him to just break those apart.

As for the Lakers, that series was so close, a Sabonis would have made the difference.

For the Pistons, they were just a strong defensive team all around before expansion and old age broke them down. The Blazers still wouldn't have anybody to match up Zeke, and the Pistons would still be able to shut down the Blazers guards. Players like Rodman, Laimbeer and John Salley would frustrate the heck out of Sabonis with their borderline dirty play.

[TDMVPDPOY]

sabonis legend is like those black players who dominated in a white mans league when it all started, t hen gettin hyped they are legends of the game...

[313]

Would have beat the Bulls, lost to the Pistons

[FYM]

The thing with the what ifs is you could also digress on adjustments the other teams would have made.

Sabonis in his prime would have been a game changer in the nba, his presence would have likely induced contender teams roster moves.

[Thread]

^I remember when he was going to be the next Shaq stopper. Daddy busted him, but, he didn't do a number on him like he did Mutombo in the Philly Finals. That was borderline criminal.

[DMC]

^Then you and your ilk subsequently threw Shaq under the bus and pretended rapist was the catalyst.