Can a trio of Penny, Richmond and Shaq beat the 1997 and 1998 Chicago Bulls?

[Lebron23]

Shaquille O'neal stays with the Orlando Magic instead of going to the Lakers. They traded Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson for Mitch Richmond. Horace Grant is 100 percent healthy next season.

[JBSptfn]

I don't know about the 97 Bulls, but they would definitely beat the 98 Bulls. I don't see the Bulls getting by Indiana and then that Magic team in the ECF.

[Whoah10115]

Hell of a team.

Don't forget that Penny got hurt in 97. If that guy stays healthy, and they have him and Richmond in the backcourt, then Horace and Shaq up front...I mean...that's scary.

97/98 Utah beat an LA team with Shaq, Jones, Van Excel (all all-stars despite Kobe being voted in as a starter. Then Kobe 6th man, Campbell off bench, Horry and Fox...Fisher another good player off the bench.

They didn't have the starting lineup the Lakers had, but they had a terrific one, with more depth. They got swept.

Tho Richmond is makes them a better trio than Run TMC, with Shaq better than Mullin and a big man, plus Penny the better Hardaway (saying a lot).

No chance they beat 97 Bulls.

[GimmeThat]

if Larry Brown is coaching them, or a Don Nelson who isn't afraid of playing heavy minutes with his players. There's a case.

[light]

Shaquille O'neal stays with the Orlando Magic instead of going to the Lakers. They traded Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson for Mitch Richmond. Horace Grant is 100 percent healthy next season.

Not without Phil Jackson.

In that matchup essentially whichever team has Phil Jackson is going to win the series.

[Bawkish]

nah

Bull's defense would still clamp them (Harp, Pip, MJ, Worm)