2001 Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron. Can they beat the 2017 Golden State Warriors??

[Lebron23]

Lebron, Kobe, and Shaq vs. the Golden State Warriors. Who wins in a best of 7 series???

[Lebron23]

I run a simulation using the whatifsports.com program


Game 1

Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors

131-94


Player of the Game

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
40 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk

https://www.whatifsports.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gameid=30381035&teamfee=-1


Game 2

2016-17 Golden State Warriors

112

2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers
101

Player of the Game

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
28 pts, 13 reb, 10 ast, 2 stl


Los Angeles Lakers

91
2016-17 Golden State Warriors
113

Player of the Game

Shaquille O'Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
27 pts, 17 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 7 blk

Warriors leading 2-1

[PeroAntic]

2001 Lakers could beat the Warriors without Lebron.

[Overdrive]

Lebron doesn't add much these Lakers need that would put them over the '17 Warriors if they were worse in the first place. Replace Kobe with Lebron and add another all star that plays off-ball?

[RRR3]

2001 Lakers could beat the Warriors without Lebron.
Lmao.

[bison]

2001 Lakers could beat the Warriors without Lebron.

This. 2001 Lakers had excellent perimeter defense and would lock down Klay and Steph. And then Warriors would have no answer for Shaq and Godbe. In fact Lebron would ruin team chemistry and offensive flow.

[FilmyCogTurner]

What if you added Wilt Chamberlain to the 92 or 96 Bulls?

[dankok8]

The Warriors smallball lineups would fare terribly against Shaq. They would have to play McGee/Looney because Draymond doesn't have the size to deal with Shaq. And of course constant double teams would have to be sent his way. Kobe would have a lot of room to operate and dangerous shooters like Horry/Fisher etc. would be open. On defense, young Kobe in his defensive prime could actually do a terrific job on Curry.

I think without Lebron the 2001 Lakers take the 2017 Warriors to 7 games with a definite shot at beating them. With Lebron obviously a much better chance, probably win in 5-6 games honestly. At least on paper assuming they gel well. Lebron could take 12-15 shots a game and just feed Shaq/Kobe and the shooters and exert more energy on D.

[FilmyCogTurner]

2001 Lakers as is I don't know who is guarding KD. Same thing applies to Shaq though on the other end.

Kobe would be better suited to guard KD because really there isn't anyone else besides Fox/Horry. Plus where will you stick Fisher if he's not guarding Curry?

[FireDavidKahn]

LMAO that wouldn't be a contest.

It'd be the GOAT team especially if you are talking about 15-16 LeBron. If you put 15-16 play off LeBron on that team they would most likely go 16-0 on the play offs

[Lakers Legend#32]

Dubs would not stand a chance.

[Spurs m8]

This. 2001 Lakers had excellent perimeter defense and would lock down Klay and Steph. And then Warriors would have no answer for Shaq and Godbe. In fact Lebron would ruin team chemistry and offensive flow.

I just can't help but agree with basically everything you say

:applause::applause:

[HoopsNY]

Of course they can. You're talking about 3 ATGs (arguably top 10) in the same lineup.

[King Baron]

2001 Lakers could beat the Warriors without Lebron.

Yep, Green and Looney would foul out by the end of the first half if not the first quarter.

[1987_Lakers]

I find it funny people who pick the '01 team to win (without Bron), always bring up how Shaq would dominate the Warriors, but fail to bring up he would be a defensive liability playing against this Warriors team.

[King Baron]

Lakers faced the 3 point shooting Rick Adelman Kings and Shaq was just fine there. Warriors aren't the first team to adopt this strategy, they've just perfected it with the best shooter in league history. The Don Nelson Mavericks existed back then too. It would be a competitive series sure but prime Shaq is unstoppable on offense, no one on the Warriors would be able to contain him. Players like Durant would be forced to double team Shaq and pick up fouls too.

[Bankaii]

I find it funny people who pick the '01 team to win (without Bron), always bring up how Shaq would dominate the Warriors, but fail to bring up he would be a defensive liability playing against this Warriors team.
You also have to remember that this is forum is trash.
In this thread alone one guy essentially said the Lakers wouldn’t improve much adding Lebron.
Another guy said the Lakers could stop Steph/Klay when AI put up 36 on them on his normal shooting splits.

[FilmyCogTurner]

I find it funny people who pick the '01 team to win (without Bron), always bring up how Shaq would dominate the Warriors, but fail to bring up he would be a defensive liability playing against this Warriors team.

Draymond Green.