Karl Malone 1997 finals is the biggest wasted opportunity ever by a ATG player.

[coastalmarker99]

As if he even plays average throughout that final series the Jazz win the title that year and he beats a 69 and 13 Bulls team as a huge underdog which would have skyrocketed his legacy.

[Lebron23]

As if he even plays average throughout that final series the Jazz win the title that year and he beats a 69 and 13 Bulls team as a huge underdog which would have skyrocketed his legacy.

If he has a Donovan Mitchell 2nd option the Jazz wins that series.

[coastalmarker99]

If he has a Donovan Mitchell 2nd option the Jazz wins that series.


Stockton was on fire in the 1997 finals and was the key reason why the Jazz even got back into the series into the first place as he was making all of the biggest plays for the Jazz in the clutch throughout that entire series so I personally don't think Donovan Mitchell wins that series for the Jazz if you replace Stockton with him.

[Lebron23]

Stockton was on fire in the 1997 finals and was the key reason why the Jazz even got back into the series into the first place as he was making all of the biggest plays for the Jazz in the clutch throughout that entire series so I personally don't think Donovan Mitchell wins that series for the Jazz if you replace Stockton with him.

Not enough of a good scoring option. I said if you replace Hornacek with Mitchell they likely wins that series.

[MadDog]

Was hearing sports talk earlier this morning, and there were several "analysts" saying Donovan was already better than Malone. Think I heard Max Kellerman say it recently too. A little early to make that kind of proclamation, but Donovan is a legit playoff score. The 97 Jazz would've probably won with him in place of Stockton.

[Round Mound]

I don't think he wasted his opportunity. The Bulls 2nd and 3rd options where much better than the Jazz plus Jordan is the best ever.

[MadDog]

I don't think he wasted his opportunity. The Bulls 2nd and 3rd options where much better than the Jazz plus Jordan is the best ever.

Pippen was never "much better" than Stockton. Both of them were Top 10 players then.

[Xiao Yao You]

If he has a Donovan Mitchell 2nd option the Jazz wins that series.

Hornacek a better fit. Mitchell 6th man

[Xiao Yao You]

Was hearing sports talk earlier this morning, and there were several "analysts" saying Donovan was already better than Malone. Think I heard Max Kellerman say it recently too. A little early to make that kind of proclamation, but Donovan is a legit playoff score. The 97 Jazz would've probably won with him in place of Stockton.

it's laughable. Hasn't even been one of their top two players this year. Compare him with Deron Williams maybe though he was the best player on his team

[aceman]

Pippen was never "much better" than Stockton. Both of them were Top 10 players then.

You know that is pretty true; Stockton was a truly great point guard. As an individual scorer Pippen was better & that's not mentioning Kukoc was probably better at creating his own shot than anybody on Utah not named Malone.

[2much_knowledge]

Nah. That belongs to barkley in 94 and 95

[kenneth_griffin]

Malone and Stockton are a product of each other. one without the other is practically useless. Malones mvps are just as much Stocktons as they are Karl's trophies. there is no individual legacy for them that could have been boosted

sorry

[Axe]

Pippen was never "much better" than Stockton. Both of them were Top 10 players then.
Never better but he's around top 20-25 in all-time rankings. Yikes. :ohwell:

[Axe]

Malone and Stockton are a product of each other. one without the other is practically useless. Malones mvps are just as much Stocktons as they are Karl's trophies. there is no individual legacy for them that could have been boosted

sorry
Well, basketball is a team sport in case you didn't know yet.

[LAL]

Well, basketball is a team sport in case you didn't know yet.

:facepalm

[Elosha]

As if he even plays average throughout that final series the Jazz win the title that year and he beats a 69 and 13 Bulls team as a huge underdog which would have skyrocketed his legacy.

Is this another thread to subtly put down Jordan so you can build up Wilt by implication? I think the Bulls' hard-nosed physical defense may have had something to do with Karl Malone's performance.

[coastalmarker99]

Is this another thread to subtly put down Jordan so you can build up Wilt by implication? I think the Bulls' hard-nosed physical defence may have had something to do with Karl Malone's performance.


Malone played outstanding in the 1998 finals so I don't think the Bulls' hard-nosed physical defence played a massive factor in Karl Malone's 1997 finals performance as he was often making silly mistakes throughout that series that vets of his level don't do in the finals.

[Airupthere]

If he has a Donovan Mitchell 2nd option the Jazz wins that series.

This is a Lebron solution. Quick and easy, just need to add another star. That jazz team competed with what they had. Showed you their brilliance in basketball without having the need to be the moat talented team out in the west.

[kenneth_griffin]

Well, basketball is a team sport in case you didn't know yet.


winning wise. not superstar/legend wise

[MadDog]

it's laughable.

Agreed. Way too early for those claims. Malone was a perennial MVP candidate, and led his team to 2 finals. Mitchell had a great bubble run. Right now he's also having a great postseason scoring run. But he's gotta up his body of work to be in that category.

[MadDog]

You know that is pretty true; Stockton was a truly great point guard. As an individual scorer Pippen was better & that's not mentioning Kukoc was probably better at creating his own shot than anybody on Utah not named Malone.

Stockton was a better shooter than Pippen. His problem was that he was TOO unselfish. That also made him one of the best passers in history, but Utah needed more scoring.

[HoopsNY]

Keep in mind, the Jazz were 2nd in PPG and 2nd in ORTG with that team. Their offense was just fine and it ran through Stockton. Replacing Mitchell with Stockton only upsets that and makes them an inferior offense. Malone lived off of Stockton and vice versa. Not to mention, Stockton was a great defensive player, something Mitchell isn't.

[Axe]

:facepalm
Oops sorry. Must've accidentally triggered another md from albania. :(

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Hornacek a better fit. Mitchell 6th man


Not even close. You trade Hornacek for Mitchell and the Jazz are the 97 champs. Hornacek could not score like Mitchell could and Hornacek's defense by the late 90's wasn't good. If you just add Mitchell, no way he is coming off the bench. To talk about the 97 Finals specifically, Hornacek had a pretty poor shooting series.



That is one thing the Jazz always lacked during those years was a reliable second option scorer. Hornacek had some moments, Stockton was a great shooter, but not a scorer and Russell had his moments, but wasn't consistent.

You had someone like Mitchell to that team and good night NBA. They win in 97 and 98 and maybe 99. Malone was the MVP in 99 and an up and coming star like Mitchell could have eased his load.

[Xiao Yao You]

Not even close. You trade Hornacek for Mitchell and the Jazz are the 97 champs. Hornacek could not score like Mitchell could and Hornacek's defense by the late 90's wasn't good. If you just add Mitchell, no way he is coming off the bench. To talk about the 97 Finals specifically, Hornacek had a pretty poor shooting series.



That is one thing the Jazz always lacked during those years was a reliable second option scorer. Hornacek had some moments, Stockton was a great shooter, but not a scorer and Russell had his moments, but wasn't consistent.

You had someone like Mitchell to that team and good night NBA. They win in 97 and 98 and maybe 99. Malone was the MVP in 99 and an up and coming star like Mitchell could have eased his load.

Mitchell can score and little else. Horny the better fit. Mitchell could be the 6th man