Replace Dikembe Mutombo with 2010-2011 Dwight Howard in the 2001 Finals

[Milbuck]

they were sleeping and Iverson went apeshit.

-Smak

If apeshit means taking 41 shots and 9 FT to get 48 points, then yes.

I agree with your first point though. Lakers swept through the West and were not ready for battle.

[Magic 32]

A better question, in my opinion, would be how would AI have done with Hakeem?

AI & Melo = no chemistry
AI & Webber = no chemistry
AI & AI = no chemistry
AI & Wallace/Prince/Hamilton = no chemistry

I could take a wild guess.

[dr.hee]

They'd get more offense from their center, but it's AI's team first and foremost so I don't think Howard would get as many post ups or have as high a usage-% as 2011 (so it's a flawed question imo). Keep in mind Magic's team record went down in Howard's best scoring season (from 59 win seasons to 52 wins), his second half of the season was not as great. Not saying there's causation but Howard's season is a bit overrated imo. Atlanta deliberately single covered Howard in the playoffs that year and it worked to knock the Magic out of the first round; Howard put up points but he had 33 turnovers and like 3 assists the entire series. But with AI next to him they'd make a decent combo, still go far in the playoffs. Shaq would still destroy I'm sure.

Agree. I'd add that Mutombo was averaging 17/12 on 60% shooting in the finals, which isn't that far off from what I would expect from Howard playing next to AI.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

[QUOTE=Magic 32]That

[sundizz]

Lol. Deke is a much better defender than Dwight...and definitely a MUCH better defender of Shaq. Deke > Howard as a player when it comes to playing against a true great offensive center. Dwight is a better centerpiece to build around...but he definitely can't handle a beast like Shaq. Old Cavs Shaq made Dwight his ish

And it's not like Deke was slouching in those finals. He averaged 17, 12 and 2.2 bpg with 60% fg against Shaq with only 1 turnover per game. And to be honest a younger Deke would of done even better.

An old old old old version of Shaq vs. Dwight was even still a fair matchup. Their head2head from when 2004 to 2011 had it fairly even

Dwight: 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.4 bpg on 55%
Shaq: 16 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.8 apg, .5 spg, 1.6 bpg on 63%

And let's be honest...Dwight's complaining ways + AI's desire to shoot would of been an implosion. Deke was perfect for AI. Just wanted to wag the finger and play d. Dwight wants to be an offensive player...but is at best an offensive impersonator.

[Magic 32]

Again, scoring and "teamwork" on the offensive end had literally nothing to do with them losing.

They were just dumping the ball into Shaq in game 1. There was no offensive rhythm in the team (9 days break).

If you don't these FG% had anything to do with the loss, then

[imnew09]

When Shaq had his most dominant offensive game, the lakers lost.

It took a balanced effort to beat the 76ers, not Shaq going nuts on offensive.

Lakers looked down on basically every team that year because Lakers were that dominant. We lost game 1 because we didn't gave no *** to the Sixers and Iverson went ham on us.

[Magic 32]

Lakers looked down on basically every team that year because Lakers were that dominant. We lost game 1 because we didn't gave no *** to the Sixers and Iverson went ham on us.

41 points in regulation, only 11 in the second half (before the OT).

Nothing earth-shattering. Duncan had 40 in game 2 of the WCF.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

They were just dumping the ball into Shaq in game 1. There was no offensive rhythm in the team.

If you don't these FG% had anything to do with the loss, then

http://s11.postimg.org/llrljaz3n/Nyt_billede_1.png

And yet STILL scored over 100 points

What part of offense not effecting the outcome of THAT game don't you understand?

Their (Lakers) defense was atrocious. Iverson (and the Sixers) were subsequently shut down.

[Magic 32]

And yet STILL scored over 100 points

What part of offense not effecting the outcome of THAT game don't you understand?

Lakers averaged 105 points per game before the finals. They had scored 111 points in game 3 and 4 against the Spurs.

They had 94 points in regulation. on 44% shooting.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Lakers averaged 105 points per game before the finals. They had scored 111 points in game 3 and 4 against the Spurs.

They had 94 points in regulation. on 44% shooting.

AND gave up 107 points. The Sixers averaged ~90ppg the rest of the series (what the Lakers allowed prior to the finals).

[Milbuck]

Lol. Deke is a much better defender than Dwight...and definitely a MUCH better defender of Shaq. Deke > Howard as a player when it comes to playing against a true great offensive center. Dwight is a better centerpiece to build around...but he definitely can't handle a beast like Shaq. Old Cavs Shaq made Dwight his ish

And it's not like Deke was slouching in those finals. He averaged 17, 12 and 2.2 bpg with 60% fg against Shaq with only 1 turnover per game. And to be honest a younger Deke would of done even better.

An old old old old version of Shaq vs. Dwight was even still a fair matchup. Their head2head from when 2004 to 2011 had it fairly even

Dwight: 17 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.4 bpg on 55%
Shaq: 16 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.8 apg, .5 spg, 1.6 bpg on 63%

And let's be honest...Dwight's complaining ways + AI's desire to shoot would of been an implosion. Deke was perfect for AI. Just wanted to wag the finger and play d. Dwight wants to be an offensive player...but is at best an offensive impersonator.

This would could be the biggest problem, perhaps even more of a problem than defending Shaq.

[Boarder Patrol]

The better question, Milbuck, is what the outcome would have been if AI had peak Sanders/Henson

[SHAQisGOAT]

Same outcome. Peak Shaq would've killed him out there.

[Milbuck]

The better question, Milbuck, is what the outcome would have been if AI had peak Sanders/Henson

Sanders and Henson would be the ones accused of rape, not Kobe.