How would these Celtics rank among MJ’s finals opponents?

[Neal Romer]

:yaohappy: :roll: :roll: :yaohappy:

[3ba11]

In most people's eyes, Magic is better than anyone Lebron faced... Shaq is too

Tatum would be like Worthy or something.. Maybe Ewing

[SouBeachTalents]

In most people's eyes, Magic is better than anyone Lebron faced... Shaq is too

Tatum would be like Worthy or something.. Maybe Ewing
You have Curry ranked ahead of both Magic & Shaq and LeBron beat him after a 73 win/unanimous MVP season.

[NBAGOAT]

Yea 1 and I wouldn’t think too hard besides maybe like 96 magic. Would take 18 rockets as non title team ocer them

[gengiskhan]

1991 MJ vs 1991 MVP-Runner Up
1992 MJ vs 1992 MVP-Runner Up
1993 MJ vs 1993 Season MVP
1996 MJ vs 1996 DPOY & Steals Leader
1997 MJ vs 1997 Season MVP
1998 MJ vs 1998 MVP-Runner Up

Take your picks.

[HoopsNY]

Yea 1 and I wouldn’t think too hard besides maybe like 96 magic. Would take 18 rockets as non title team ocer them

I think people have really forgotten just how good the '96 Sonics were. Aside from having a big 3 in Kemp/GP/Schrempf, they had McMillan and Askew off the bench who were great defensive players, particularly McMillan who was a DPOY vote getter in prior seasons and a 2x All-Defensive selection.

In addition, Hersey Hawkins was their 4th option. People forget that he was a legit 20+ PPG scorer.

In fact, Schrempf went down for about a month in the '96 season. During that stretch, he put up 19/4/3/2 on 62% TS%.

They also had a veteran presence and stretch big in Sam Perkins. That was a deep team and really good defensively. Their defense is forgotten because Chicago was the #1 defense that season.

Needless to say, the Sonics took 2 games from Chicago. Orlando took zero.

[NBAGOAT]

I think people have really forgotten just how good the '96 Sonics were. Aside from having a big 3 in Kemp/GP/Schrempf, they had McMillan and Askew off the bench who were great defensive players, particularly McMillan who was a DPOY vote getter in prior seasons and a 2x All-Defensive selection.

In addition, Hersey Hawkins was their 4th option. People forget that he was a legit 20+ PPG scorer.

In fact, Schrempf went down for about a month in the '96 season. During that stretch, he put up 19/4/3/2 on 62% TS%.

They also had a veteran presence and stretch big in Sam Perkins. That was a deep team and really good defensively. Their defense is forgotten because Chicago was the #1 defense that season.

Needless to say, the Sonics took 2 games from Chicago. Orlando took zero.

Sonics are maybe the best opponent bulls faced but no I’m taking Boston. Seattle one of few great teams that doesn’t have a big star edge over Boston. Porzingis/white/jrue has a big edge on detlef/jersey/Perkins. hersey was only a 15ppg by 96 he has argument over jrue but that’s it. Jrue also just had a great finals. sonics celtics a wash defensively relative to era but celtics offense is definitely better

Also think sonics matched up better and magic got unlucky with grant's injury so there's an argument with those 2

[eliteballer]

91 Lakers and 96 Magic had injuries to key players going into the series.

[Airupthere]

Wow branstans are working hard instead of just enjoying the finals

[90sgoat]

I think people have really forgotten just how good the '96 Sonics were. Aside from having a big 3 in Kemp/GP/Schrempf, they had McMillan and Askew off the bench who were great defensive players, particularly McMillan who was a DPOY vote getter in prior seasons and a 2x All-Defensive selection.

In addition, Hersey Hawkins was their 4th option. People forget that he was a legit 20+ PPG scorer.

In fact, Schrempf went down for about a month in the '96 season. During that stretch, he put up 19/4/3/2 on 62% TS%.

They also had a veteran presence and stretch big in Sam Perkins. That was a deep team and really good defensively. Their defense is forgotten because Chicago was the #1 defense that season.

Needless to say, the Sonics took 2 games from Chicago. Orlando took zero.

Yeah, they were a great team and one of the more notable one's from the 90s.

You could plug and play that team today, just move Kemp to C and Schrempf to PF and insert McMillan at SG, Hawkins at SF.

[1987_Lakers]

Sonics are maybe the best opponent bulls faced but no I’m taking Boston. Seattle one of few great teams that doesn’t have a big star edge over Boston. Porzingis/white/jrue has a big edge on detlef/jersey/Perkins. hersey was only a 15ppg by 96 he has argument over jrue but that’s it. Jrue also just had a great finals. sonics celtics a wash defensively relative to era but celtics offense is definitely better

Also think sonics matched up better and magic got unlucky with grant's injury so there's an argument with those 2

Meh, they underachieved a lot of times in the playoffs for my taste, in particular 94 and 95

West had a had bunch of good teams in the 90’s, but none of them really stood out as “great”. That’s including the Rockets who won back to back.

[gengiskhan]

Meh, they underachieved a lot of times in the playoffs for my taste, in particular 94 and 95

West had a had bunch of good teams in the 90’s, but none of them really stood out as “great”. That’s including the Rockets who won back to back.

Rockets were definition of GREAT team led by great leader with perfect starting line up with deepest of the deep bench.

when you add all the pieces together, they make a GREAT team. lead by a Great Coach.

to top this off, they added an ATG SG called Clyde The Glyde Drexler.

Nobody from 90s are beating 1994 NYK if they are not GREAT.

1995 Magic were so deep, 1995 Rockets aint beating them without adding Clyde that can negate Penny's 6'7" point-off-shooting hybrid Guard position.

[And1AllDay]

Wow branstans are working hard instead of just enjoying the finals

lebron

[ImKobe]

These Celtics are not better than the '93 Suns.

[Axe]

These Celtics are not better than the '93 Suns.
:roll:

[HoopsNY]

Sonics are maybe the best opponent bulls faced but no I’m taking Boston. Seattle one of few great teams that doesn’t have a big star edge over Boston. Porzingis/white/jrue has a big edge on detlef/jersey/Perkins. hersey was only a 15ppg by 96 he has argument over jrue but that’s it. Jrue also just had a great finals. sonics celtics a wash defensively relative to era but celtics offense is definitely better

Also think sonics matched up better and magic got unlucky with grant's injury so there's an argument with those 2

My point wasn't that the '96 Sonics > '24 Celtics. I responded to your point about the '96 Magic being the best opponent. As for Grant, then keep in mind his injury came in game 1, but people forget Chicago was already up by 20 in the 3rd quarter. That series was a wash with or without him.

Hersey averaging 16 PPG was more of being a 4th option than being incapable of scoring. Without Schrempf, he became the third option and put up 19 PPG on 62% TS%, in a slower paced era with far fewer 3s. That 19 PPG today would probably translate to 21-22 PPG.