1993 Suns with MVP Charles Barkley: how good....

[mehyaM24]

would they have been with a healthy, all-star caliber version of kevin johnson? everyone who watched the suns in the regular season knew they were the favorites out west, but would they have been favorites to WIN IT ALL with kevin johnson at his true form?

he was practically non existent in the finals (injuries).. you got to wonder how devastating he and charles would've been on p&r and, when healthy, exploiting defenses with his drive and kick outs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dB_xKFIJgg
underrated, great player

[The_Pharcyde]

They were favorites to win, Bulls were 2nd seed and didn't even win 60 games
And they looked so so against the Knicks

But then MJ killed them in the finals
Watch game 1 and 2, the couldn't contain him at all
Then game 4 there was no one who could stop him on this earth
Game sealing and 1 too

[mehyaM24]

They were favorites to win, Bulls were 2nd seed and didn't even win 60 games
And they looked so so against the Knicks

But then MJ killed them in the finals
Watch game 1 and 2, the couldn't contain him at all
Then game 4 there was no one who could stop him on this earth
Game sealing and 1 too

the bulls took it easy in the regular season because of 2 previous championships and olympic play in the summer of '92.

everyone had the bulls winning that series, but only because kevin johnson was hurt.

[SamuraiSWISH]

everyone had the bulls winning that series, but only because kevin johnson was hurt.
Actually Chicago was still underdogs. In 2x consecutive series v.s. NYC, and Phoenix. With good reason. Weaker regular season, fatigue, difficulty to 3-peat and facing the best offense, and best defensive teams that season.

KJ didn't perform great offensively per his normal standards, but beyond playing hurt he did a decent job guarding Jordan at times in those Finals.

The Suns wanted to use his quickness to negate Michael's dribble pentration against taller, longer, stronger players like Dan Majerle, and Richard Dumas. Whom MJ was obliterating attacking the basket.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Barkley with a healthy KJ likely take the Bulls to the brink (game 6 was as close as it got).

If I remember correctly, most major media outlets had the Bulls 3-peating (there was a special on NBC during game 1, talking about the Bulls making, at the time, history - and that Jordan would enter GOAT talks).

[mehyaM24]

If I remember correctly, most major media outlets had the Bulls 3-peating (there was a special on NBC during game 1, talking about the Bulls making, at the time, history - and that Jordan would enter GOAT talks).
yep like i said, the bulls were definite favorites. OT, but anyone got the gif of kj teabagging hakeem? :lol

[SamuraiSWISH]

Barkley with a healthy KJ likely take the Bulls to the brink (game 6 was as close as it got).
He put up 17 ppg 7 apg in the Finals, which isn't bad.

If he was healthy KJ though, he would've torched Armstrong / Paxson. Along the lines of his near 23 ppg / 12 apg. Then yea, Phoenix would've at least gone 7 games. That team was stacked, deeper in talent pool overall than the Bulls:

Barkley
KJ
Thunder Dan
Chambers
Ainge

even the long athletic wingmen like Richard Dumas

It's not a coincidence they were the number 1 offense in the league. Very dynamic team.


If I remember correctly, most of the major media outlets had the Bulls 3-peating (there was a special on NBC during game 1, talking about the Bulls making, at the time, history - and that Jordan would enter GOAT talks).
Pretty positive Phoenix was still the favorites. They talked about the at the time unique possibility of the first three peat since Russell's Celtics, but most didn't have Chicago winning against "the team of destiny."

Hell, most didn't have Chicago getting out of their own conference v.s. a surging Knicks team. A team that was near unbeatable on their home turf.

[Round Mound]

Had Barkley Not Gotten Hurt in Game 2 (after going for his own offensive rebound put back he landed on his elbow) They Probably Would Have Gone To 7 Games.

KJ was a Great Slasher and Scoring PG but He Was a "1st Drive, Then Pass or Create PG" Like that of Rose or Westbrook. He Did Not Peform Well In The 1993 NBA Finals and The Suns Actually Had a Higher Winning% Without Him

Here is the NBA Finals Stats

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1993_finals.html

Jordan: 41 PPG on 50.8% FG, 8.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG and 0.7 BPG
Pippen: 21.2 PPG on 43.9% FG, 9.2 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.0 SPG and 1.0 BPG

Barkley: 27.3 PPG on 47.6% FG, 13.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.2 SPG and 0.5 BPG
KJ: 17.2 PPG on 42.1% FG, 3.0 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.3 SPG and 0.3 BPG

[Bigsmoke]

They allowed their opponents to score a lot of points for a team that made it to the Finals

[HylianNightmare]

would they have been with a healthy, all-star caliber version of kevin johnson? everyone who watched the suns in the regular season knew they were the favorites out west, but would they have been favorites to WIN IT ALL with kevin johnson at his true form?

he was practically non existent in the finals (injuries).. you got to wonder how devastating he and charles would've been on p&r and, when healthy, exploiting defenses with his drive and kick outs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dB_xKFIJgg
underrated, great player

Sick

[OldSchoolBBall]

Amy reports/articles on what he was injured with during the finals? Because I never heard that before. They don't even mention it during any of the broadcasts, and usually they would if a player was playing below their standards due to injury.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Amy reports/articles on what he was injured with during the finals? Because I never heard that before. They don't even mention it during any of the broadcasts, and usually they would if a player was playing below their standards due to injury.

http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-09/sports/25964236_1_barkley-and-johnson-phoenix-coach-paul-westphal-kj
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/8/15/2362690/1993-playoffs-charles-barkley-phoenix-suns-los-angeles-lakers

Like Byron Scott in the '91 finals, KJ was hobbled (knee injury) most of the playoffs.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

He put up 17 ppg 7 apg in the Finals, which isn't bad.

If he was healthy KJ though, he would've torched Armstrong / Paxson. Along the lines of his near 23 ppg / 12 apg. Then yea, Phoenix would've at least gone 7 games. That team was stacked, deeper in talent pool overall than the Bulls

Give me 2 of the Top 10 players, including arguably the GOAT (3 of the 20 depending where you rate Grant, who had a VERY good season), experience and defense over marginally better depth.


Pretty positive Phoenix was still the favorites. They talked about the at the time unique possibility of the first three peat since Russell's Celtics, but most didn't have Chicago winning against "the team of destiny."

Negative. The phrase "team of destiny" was coined by Sir Charles, who thought his team was "better" and would "win it all".


Hell, most didn't have Chicago getting out of their own conference v.s. a surging Knicks team. A team that was near unbeatable on their home turf.

No doubt (NY looked like juggernauts after the first 2 games of that series), however, once Chicago beat them without HC, there was really no question about the finals (at least that I can recall).

[OldSchoolBBall]

http://articles.philly.com/1993-05-09/sports/25964236_1_barkley-and-johnson-phoenix-coach-paul-westphal-kj
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/8/15/2362690/1993-playoffs-charles-barkley-phoenix-suns-los-angeles-lakers

Like Byron Scott in the '91 finals, KJ was hobbled (knee injury) most of the playoffs.

Thanks, but both of those cite him being injured during the first round, not the Finals. I know injuries can linger, I just find it odd that an injury to a star player did not get mentioned at all in any of the 6 Finals game broadcasts that I can recall.

[sportjames23]

the bulls took it easy in the regular season because of 2 previous championships and olympic play in the summer of '92.

everyone had the bulls winning that series, but only because kevin johnson was hurt.


Yeah, and imagine if the Bulls didn't have to pace themselves because of Jordan and Pippen playing on the Dream Team. This was the only Bulls championship team that won less than 60 games--and they still won 57. Without having to pace themselves, this would have been another 60+ win team (probably 64 or 65 wins) with home court advantage through out the entire playoffs.

[sportjames23]

They allowed their opponents to score a lot of points for a team that made it to the Finals


Exactly. Throughout their history, the Suns have NEVER been a great defensive team. At their best, the Suns have always been able to score a lot of points, but they've never been able to stop other well run offenses. Add to it a team that could play defense as well as offense, and that spelled trouble for them (see Chicago and Houston).

[sportjames23]

Amy reports/articles on what he was injured with during the finals? Because I never heard that before. They don't even mention it during any of the broadcasts, and usually they would if a player was playing below their standards due to injury.


Thank you. Now all of a sudden, this is a thing. I knew KJ missed games during that season, but he didn't miss any during the playoffs that year. And by playoff time, ALL teams have nagging injuries to key players to deal with.

Naw, this is just another attempt by OP to discredit MJ. This the same dude that said Lebron is GOAT.

[Stringer Bell]

Don't know exactly how injured KJ was and how much it affected his game. KJ was fairly injury prone. Too bad, since he was fun to watch. Quick and explosive.

Phoenix really blew it at the end of game 6. With about 45 seconds left, they had a 4-point lead AND the ball. Frank Johnson misses an open 17 footer, Jordan then takes it full court, untouched for a lay-up.

Phoenix is still up 2 and can make it a 2 possession game. Dan Majerle gets a decent look at a 15 footer. Air-ball.

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Had Barkley Not Gotten Hurt in Game 2 (after going for his own offensive rebound put back he landed on his elbow) They Probably Would Have Gone To 7 Games.

KJ was a Great Slasher and Scoring PG but He Was a "1st Drive, Then Pass or Create PG" Like that of Rose or Westbrook. He Did Not Peform Well In The 1993 NBA Finals and The Suns Actually Had a Higher Winning% Without Him

Here is the NBA Finals Stats

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1993_finals.html

Jordan: 41 PPG on 50.8% FG, 8.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG and 0.7 BPG
Pippen: 21.2 PPG on 43.9% FG, 9.2 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.0 SPG and 1.0 BPG

Barkley: 27.3 PPG on 47.6% FG, 13.0 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.2 SPG and 0.5 BPG
KJ: 17.2 PPG on 42.1% FG, 3.0 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.3 SPG and 0.3 BPG

I always enjoy your posts :applause:

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Double post

[JohnnySic]

The Suns were missing a key piece in Cedric Ceballos.

[Artillery]

would they have been with a healthy, all-star caliber version of kevin johnson? everyone who watched the suns in the regular season knew they were the favorites out west, but would they have been favorites to WIN IT ALL with kevin johnson at his true form?

he was practically non existent in the finals (injuries).. you got to wonder how devastating he and charles would've been on p&r and, when healthy, exploiting defenses with his drive and kick outs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dB_xKFIJgg
underrated, great player

'93 Suns are one of the more overrated teams of the past. Struggled against a crappy 39 win Laker team in the first round and were down 2-0 to them at one point. They should have lost that series actually. Game 5 came down to a questionable non-call where Barkley committed offensive interference with a Dan Majerle 3-pointer. Horrible officiating.

Then they needed an NBA record 64 FTs to beat the Sonics in game 7 of the Conference Finals. Not surprised the Bulls smacked them around in the Finals. They weren't that great.

[Round Mound]

'93 Suns are one of the more overrated teams of the past. Struggled against a crappy 39 win Laker team in the first round and were down 2-0 to them at one point. They should have lost that series actually. Game 5 came down to a questionable non-call where Barkley committed offensive interference with a Dan Majerle 3-pointer. Horrible officiating.

Then they needed an NBA record 64 FTs to beat the Sonics in game 7 of the Conference Finals. Not surprised the Bulls smacked them around in the Finals. They weren't that great.

They Are The Only Team That Beat The 90s PRIME MJ-Pippen-Grant & Phil Jackson Chicago Bulls At Chicago Twice. Thats Pretty Impressive If You Ask Me. :confusedshrug: