Best Lakers Team from Magic Johnson Era?

[Iceman#44]

Whats the Best LAKERS team from the Magic Johnson Era (79-91, not counting 96)?


Let's see

[B]1980 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
OFF: 115.1 (2

[DetroitPistonFan]

None. They're overrated.

[Suguru101]

1982. At least offensively. You have two guards of 8+ assists on the same team. Jabbar was not far removed from his prime, and Wilkes.

[Iceman#44]

1982. At least offensively. You have two guards of 8+ assists on the same team. Jabbar was not far removed from his prime, and Wilkes.
Yes i agree

[Champ]

1987

The addition of Mychal Thompson and the maturation of Scott and Worthy are the difference.

This season also marks Magic's arrival as the game's best player.

[fpliii]

1980. Either the last or second to last year of Kareem's prime, and it's tough to pick against one of the GOAT centers playing at that kind of level.

[Iceman#44]

1987

The addition of Mychal Thompson and the maturation of Scott and Worthy are the difference.

This season also marks Magic's arrival as the game's best player.


While i agree your point about Scott and Worthy, and we all know that 1987 was Magic best season and his first season as the game's best player, was also the 1st season when we could see really KAJ's decline...
Also, in the 1980-1982 seasons you got Wilkes scoring more than 20 ppg and Nixon over 17 ppg, matching Scott-Worthy offensive numbers...just saying...

And i agree with fpliii bout KAJ and the 1980 season, its tough to not pick one of the GOAT center (TOP 2 IMO, i got Wilt at #1) at his peak.

Thats why i say 1982: Not far removed from peak KAJ, and Magic coming into his own with an almost triple double season.

[crisoner]

None. They're overrated.
Eat sh*t and die coward!!!

[Psileas]

Seems like all of them have at least a few arguments:

1980: Kareem still in prime form, him with young Magic, Cooper gave them underrated athleticism.

1982: Somewhat deceiving r.s record, lots of their losses were close, they very rarely lost clearly, dominated the playoffs.

1985: Incredible bench, with McAdoo, McGee, Cooper, Spriggs, Kupchak and Wilkes (unfortunately, he didn't stay healthy all season long). Kareem's last All-NBA season as a champion. Started 3-5, then blew away the competition. IMO, very comparable to the famous 1987 team.

1987: Peak and healthy Magic. Green and Thompson gave frontcourt depth, with Kareem in his last legit All-Star level season. Won more games than any team in a single season in the 80's except the '86 Celtics (2 games less) and '83 Sixers (tied for 2nd).

1988: Peak Worthy and Scott (F.MVP should still be Magic, though). This wasn't their most dominant playoff run, however, they proved they could still win it all despite having already played 2 7-game series in a row. They got lucky in the end, but the Pistons got their share of luck in the following season.

[LA Lakers]

'85 squad. Kareem still had alot of dog in the fight

[G.O.A.T]

1982 Had the most talent, especially in the starting five

1985 Faced the toughest challenges

1987 Was the best team.

In '87 everything fit together just right. Though Kareem declined, they a lot got better at the center position than they were in '85 or '86 by adding Mychal Thompson. They got better at PF by adding AC Green alongside Kurt Rambis. Scott and Worthy each took on bigger roles than the previous season making the SF and SG positions stronger and Magic had his best season at PG.

Also Sixth man Michael Cooper had arguably his best season posting his second highest career scoring total, finishing second in the NBA in 3-pointers made and winning the defensive player of the year award.

Their 65 wins were most during the Showtime era and their 15-3 playoff record leaves little room for criticism. Most of all winning the rubber match against the Celtics, which is what the '87 Finals were, the culmination of a four year rivalry between the leagues two best teams.

For those reasons take the '87 Lakers

[LA Lakers]

Also can't forget Bob McAdoo was on that squad.

[LA Lakers]

Showtime Era.

[SHAQisGOAT]

1987, then...


1980. Either the last or second to last year of Kareem's prime, and it's tough to pick against one of the GOAT centers playing at that kind of level.