1989 NBA Finals: Pistons sweep Lakers (Byron Scott, Magic injured)

[TheCorporation]

Is this considered a tainted championship because the Lakers lost their starting backcourt and #1 option?

Link
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-finals-lakers-vs-pistons.html

[jayfan]

No, because Detroit got robbed the year before, when LA was at full strength.

[Duncan21formvp]

No, because Detroit got robbed the year before, when LA was at full strength.

This!

[Psileas]

Is this considered a tainted championship because the Lakers lost their starting backcourt and #1 option?

Link
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-finals-lakers-vs-pistons.html

Generally no, because the Lakers aren't Jordan's Bulls for the media to make all kinds of excuses every time they lost. In actuality, it was obviously far from a fair battle, much more so than what happened in 1988. People may claim that the Pistons got robbed in '88, but the final result would be close to what actually happened regardless of circumstances, while the '89 series didn't reflect at all the real difference between the levels of the two teams (despite the Lakers still giving the Pistons close battles). Just imagine the Pistons having to start the series without Dumars or Laimbeer (pick one) and then lose Isiah too, while the Lakers play at full strength (Magic+Byron). Yeah, still looks like a sweep, but clearly favoring the other side now.

[StrongLurk]

Is this considered a tainted championship because the Lakers lost their starting backcourt and #1 option?

Link
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-finals-lakers-vs-pistons.html

Yes