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Would Shaq have taken the Magic to the Finals if Jordan hadn't retired?
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:09 am
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:09 am
I was discussing this with a friend last night. Young, early 20s Shaquille was an unstoppable force, an outlier of strength and court awareness like the NBA hadn't seen from a big man in quite some time.
A lot of people believe that the only reason he was able to lead the Magic to the finals is because the NBA was sans Michael Jordan. It would have been great to see them square off in a couple Eastern conference finals. Yes, I know they beat Michael and the Bulls after he came back mid-season in 95 (I think it was 95), but Jordan was rusty and needed some time before he was "Air Jordan" again.
Anyway, we also came to the conclusion that Shaq will age incredibly well, and will be the perfect ambassador for LSU on a national/world stage. The media is going to lap up every word that dude says the older he gets.
Here's to Dale Brown for getting him here
A lot of people believe that the only reason he was able to lead the Magic to the finals is because the NBA was sans Michael Jordan. It would have been great to see them square off in a couple Eastern conference finals. Yes, I know they beat Michael and the Bulls after he came back mid-season in 95 (I think it was 95), but Jordan was rusty and needed some time before he was "Air Jordan" again.
Anyway, we also came to the conclusion that Shaq will age incredibly well, and will be the perfect ambassador for LSU on a national/world stage. The media is going to lap up every word that dude says the older he gets.
Here's to Dale Brown for getting him here
8
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:11 am to Honest Tune
nevermind
This post was edited on 4/10/15 at 9:13 am
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:13 am to Choctaw
Correct. Now get your door prize.
However, do you think he would have IF JORDAN HAD NOT RETIRED?
However, do you think he would have IF JORDAN HAD NOT RETIRED?
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:15 am to Honest Tune
Doubtful.
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:18 am to Honest Tune
The real question is, "would Shaq have led the Magic to the NBA Championship if a 90% free throw shooter didn't miss 4 free throws in a row with less than 12 seconds left in Game 1 of the Finals?"
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:20 am to Honest Tune
quote:
Correct. Now get your door prize.
However, do you think he would have IF JORDAN HAD NOT RETIRED?
i misread the question. but i edited first
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:21 am to Choupique19
Good point. Nick choked those away.
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:22 am to Choctaw
Door prize sucked anyway 
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:27 am to Honest Tune
It would have been cooler if Shaq stayed in Orlando
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:38 am to Honest Tune
As a lifelong magic fan it pains me to say no.
The same team pretty much got wrecked then next year by the Bulls.
Also, the series was over when Nick choked those free throws away. He never was the same player after that.
The same team pretty much got wrecked then next year by the Bulls.
Also, the series was over when Nick choked those free throws away. He never was the same player after that.
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:40 am to bigpetedatiga
I bet you've never once wondered what could have been with Shaq and Chris Webber on the same team!
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:46 am to Honest Tune
I wanted webber to stay and was pissed when they made that trade. They could have added a solid pg later but I was a Skiles fan too. Hell Scottie would have racked up the assists throwing alley-oops to Shaq and CWeb
I had a C-Band dish back then and watched the vast majority of the games in Shaqs first few years. I still have many on them on VHS.
I had a C-Band dish back then and watched the vast majority of the games in Shaqs first few years. I still have many on them on VHS.
This post was edited on 4/10/15 at 9:47 am
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:49 am to Choupique19
quote:
Choupique19
quote:
The real question is, "would Shaq have led the Magic to the NBA Championship if a 90% free throw shooter didn't miss 4 free throws in a row with less than 12 seconds left in Game 1 of the Finals?"
So you think those 4 Free Throws also lost the 3 subsequent games in a row as well?
Who knew FT's meant THAT much in the Association?
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:50 am to Honest Tune
quote:
I bet you've never once wondered what could have been with Shaq and Chris Webber on the same team!
Well, kind of apples and oranges.
I think Penny was ultimately the better fit for the Magic. It is fun to image, but who would have got them the ball, Penny was the point that made that team run.
Look at what he did when Shaq left. Even though I hated him for bailing (I don't blame him now), I hated to see him have to limp off the court for good.
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:52 am to GFunk
It just summed up their collective inexperience in the very first game. Houston, defending champs, knew they were going to win the series at that point. Whether it was a sweep or a tense game 7,
The Dream and Glide were NOT losing that series after being gifted game 1.
The Dream and Glide were NOT losing that series after being gifted game 1.
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:53 am to Honest Tune
quote:
but Jordan was rusty and needed some time before he was "Air Jordan" again.
In his 5th game back he put up 55 in the Garden. (it was on my sports calendar last week)
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:54 am to bigpetedatiga
Oh, I don't undermine Penny's importance at all. He was indeed a point guard for his time and place, a perfect humble sidekick for Shaq. Penny is a huge What Could Have Been without injuries.
It's just crazy to think how good the Magic could have been on the blocks with Shaq and C-Webb. As is, they duked it out on the West Coast, and those series were tough and fun as hell to watch.
It's just crazy to think how good the Magic could have been on the blocks with Shaq and C-Webb. As is, they duked it out on the West Coast, and those series were tough and fun as hell to watch.
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:55 am to TigerintheNO
Yes, he did, Great Great game. But, he wasn't the killer in the playoffs that he was before. Of course, their 96 team is the best ever, so he got it back right quickly!
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:58 am to GFunk
quote:
So you think those 4 Free Throws also lost the 3 subsequent games in a row as well?
Yes, it definitely had an affect on the series. The Magic were heading up 1-0 in the series with just 1 made free throw. When they blew it, and the Rockets won the game in overtime, it was a huge deflation. Lose game 2 at home and now you're down 2-0 and heading to Houston.... series over!
Posted on 4/10/15 at 9:58 am to GFunk
quote:
So you think those 4 Free Throws also lost the 3 subsequent games in a row as well?
I think you could make a legitimate argument.
Anderson alone was worthless after those FT's and losing him was a huge deal.
Nick Anderson scored 22 points in the first game.
He then went on to only score 12, 11, and finally 4 points in game four. He also was shooting 5o% in the first game, he dropped down to 30% the second game and ended up with a shooting average of 20% for the series. So, I'd say those 4FT's were a big deal.
Also, The first three games were decided by an average of 5 points.
This post was edited on 4/10/15 at 10:05 am
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