Magic Johnson's 1991 playoff run was his greatest performance ever..

[mitter]

I've often wondered what the Lakers would have done if Magic hadn't retired after the 91 season. I can imagine them possibly trying to get someone like a Barkley or a Nique to pair up with Magic and that could have possibly changed the course of NBA history. We may have gotten more of Mike vs Magic and maybe just maybe Mike wouldn't have gotten to 6 rings. But of course history played out differently and left Jordan as the undisputed goat.

The Lakers would have needed some more talent. The 1991 playoffs (and especially the Finals) felt a bit like a last stand. It was the Lakers surprising everyone and getting to the Finals and not going quietly into the night when it looked like they were done in 1990.


Worthy and Scott were declining.

I think Magic (without HIV) still had a few good close-to-prime years left, but he was carrying too much of a load and also would have slowly declined.

Before Magic's announcement, I remember he was excited about the acquisition of Sedale Threatt to back him up because it would help reduce his load.

So the Lakers hadn't exactly done much to upgrade going into the 1991-92 season.

 

[Hey_zeus]

Van Exel knocked a ref over a table, Magic came out and said something about it and than not long after his big ass went and bumped a ref

And Vlade said when Magic was a coach he threw Vlade’s pager against the wall and shattered it.

I still remember that game like it was yesterday.

 

[Erratic415]

The Lakers would have needed some more talent. The 1991 playoffs (and especially the Finals) felt a bit like a last stand. It was the Lakers surprising everyone and getting to the Finals and not going quietly into the night when it looked like they were done in 1990.


Worthy and Scott were declining.

I think Magic (without HIV) still had a few good close-to-prime years left, but he was carrying too much of a load and also would have slowly declined.

Before Magic's announcement, I remember he was excited about the acquisition of Sedale Threatt to back him up because it would help reduce his load.

So the Lakers hadn't exactly done much to upgrade going into the 1991-92 season.

I agree. Worthy declined kind of early and rapidly due to knee problems. It may be been just genetic but I wonder if Riley's practice schedules played a part in that. Riley was known for being a psycho control freak behind the scenes who ran crazy all-out practices.

His last games were actually played with Magic, when Magic was coaching.

 

[Piff Perkins]

edit: wrong thread

 

[Reggie]

The Lakers would have needed some more talent. The 1991 playoffs (and especially the Finals) felt a bit like a last stand. It was the Lakers surprising everyone and getting to the Finals and not going quietly into the night when it looked like they were done in 1990.


Worthy and Scott were declining.

I think Magic (without HIV) still had a few good close-to-prime years left, but he was carrying too much of a load and also would have slowly declined.

Before Magic's announcement, I remember he was excited about the acquisition of Sedale Threatt to back him up because it would help reduce his load.

So the Lakers hadn't exactly done much to upgrade going into the 1991-92 season.

That's why it's a what it. What if Barkley goes to LA in 92 instead of Phoenix if Magic was still there. Or what if they go after Nique earlier than the year he was actually traded?

 

[Reggie]

Barkley would’ve been a Laker in 92 if Philly didn’t back out

I remember hearing rumors about this. Wish it would have happened.

 

[Originalman]

OP some say his 1990 run was even better. Cause that was the first year without Kareem. But they lost to the suns in the playoffs that year.

Crazy thing is if Worthy doesn't get that high ankle sprain in the 1991 western conference finals vs the trailblazer they. That series vs the bulls probably goes longer than 4-1. But once worthy sprained his ankle all his explosive was gone. And thats one of the reasons magic even stated that the series couldn't go to a game 7 vs Portland. Cause with Worthy hobbled they had no a chance in hell.

But anyway Magic was so great controlling the pace of a game. If you remember portland was the most explosive team in the league. They would just go on runs creating havoc. But they were highly turnover prone and couldn't play at a slow pace.

Magic did the whole control tempo imprint on the series. And literally picked them apart. Making sure the lakers scored efficiently and made sure they didn't ignite the blazers with turnovers. Thats why even though they were outgunned. Magic could keep them in the game.

Also those young dudes on the lakers bench like Campbell provided defenseand running. They would come in give high energy and run with magic. Magic would get them easy layups and dunks on the fast break.

 

[Originalman]

That's why it's a what it. What if Barkley goes to LA in 92 instead of Phoenix if Magic was still there. Or what if they go after Nique earlier than the year he was actually traded?

Yep two things changed the course of the late 80s and the 90s in the NBA. Magic getting HIV and Len Bias dying. Both the lakers and celtics most likely win more rings if these two things don't happen.

You still had west and red running both teams. It was nothing for them both to reload the teams. It took major and I mean major tragedies to knock both teams off of pedestals.

There is no doubt in my mind the transition from magic to another star or bird to len would have been seemless if those tragedies don't happen.

 

[Rekkapryde]

I get it...he had multiple championship runs prior to this season, Finals MVP's and so on. But that 1991 playoff run?

1990 Lakers
I think Lakers fans know that setting at the time.

• Kareem was gone
• Team in transition
• 2nd year pout mouth center in Vlade Divac
• Rookie Elden Campbell
• Old man Terry Teague being the first man to come off the bench
• Tony Smith inconsistent flat top matching his play.
• Sam Perkins becoming a stretch 4.
• Worthy and Scott last year being effective.

The Lakers were pretty much already outside the championship window. The choking ass Blazers were fresh off a Finals loss to the Pistons the season prior.

Portland Chokers
The Blazers were in their formative years of being prime time pretenders and chokers and shyt. This was the year that ended with it being sandwiched between two finals appearances (90 & 92). They won the West two straight seasons, and at that time, there was a run where the loser of the NBA finals from the year prior took the next step to become winners.. The Lakers did that to the Pistons in 88'. Pistons did that to the Lakers in 89'. So it was supposed to be the choking ass Blazers turn in 1990. The Blazers led the NBA in wins that season. The Lakers came in third in the west and had the fifth best record in the NBA. Coming into the playoffs, they really weren't viewed as contenders.

Magic
This was imo, Magic's greatest run as an NBA player. This dude CARRIED....straight CARRIED that Lakers team. Gunning vs. Hakeem, going toe to toe with Chris Mullin...culminating with owning the Blazers and imo, making the smartest play I've ever seen to close an NBA playoff series.







the smartest play to end a 1 point game and end a playoff series in NBA history


Magic will always be my GOAT.

Repped

Earv

 

[Rekkapryde]

its crazy how all potential goats have some shyt that literally took years away from there career...

 

[Originalman]

I read in one book, I think Jack McCallum's Dream Team, that Magic annoys the hell out of people in pickup games. When he doesn't like the call, he will stand there, hold the ball, and have an incredulous look on his face and basically pout until he gets the call.

By his late years in the Lakers, teammates just grew accustomed to getting yelled at by both Riley and him.

The Euros got it the worst, Vlade on LA, Kukoc on CHI. Even Jordan said Pippen was hard on Kukoc. I can only imagine how bad it must be if Jordan of all people thinks someone is being tough on a teammate.

I remember MJ cursing at toni saying pass me the fukking ball. I don't give a shyt if you think I am open....

They treated toni like a 5 dollar hoe in that 1992 Olympics. Kats tried to prove a point to fat boy Krause...

 

[LezJepzin]

Didn't Portland started that '90-91 season going 19-1 too ?

 

[Originalman]

Didn't Portland started that '90-91 season going 19-1 too ?

Yep they did I believe. Rick Adelman was horrible. They would be turning the ball over late in games and he wouldn't even call a TO.

 

[viktordoomsecretwars]

Which is why this among many other things make Magic 2nd on my list all time. But some now think he only ever threw fancy passes on the fast break

 

[Amare's Right Hook]

Malone was wrong