Another historical "What If?"

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:06 pm

Kareem and the Lakers faced Dr J and the Sixers three times in the NBA Finals, with the Lakers winning two titles to the Sixers' one. However, these two NBA greats could very well have been teammates.

With the 12th pick of the 1972 draft, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Julius Erving. The Bucks were a year removed from winning the NBA championship and boasted one of the league's greatest centres in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. But Dr J chose to sign with the ABA's Virginia Squires and thus the partnership never came to be.

The 1972/73 Bucks could have featured the trio of Kareem, Dr J and Oscar Robertson, which would have been an imposing three headed monster. Even with the Big O's departure in 1974 Dr and Kareem would have been an awesome duo.

How successful do you think these two greats would have been had they been teammates, assuming they played together beyond 1975 (when Kareem was traded to the Lakers)?

by **Matthew** on Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:39 pm

When I think about it, I'm reminded of the laker trio: Kareem, Magic and Worthy. Of course, Kareem with the Bucks is better than the Laker version, and imo, Magic is superior to Oscar. But in terms of roles, I think thats what we would have seen. Dr J breaking down his man in isolations, and Oscar and Kareem as key parts of the team offense.

by **Sauru** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 1:05 am

damn, i didnt even remember that andrew. nice job digging that one up. anyway whenever someone brings up a what if i always gotta mention, what if bias never died. i think that team could have owned the league. the thing with the kareem/dr j is, would they still have traded kareem is they had dr j? i dont think so simple cause they would have been title contenders/champs each of those 3 seasons prior to his trade. well imo anyway.

by **FanOfAll** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:47 pm

Crazy idea. I won't say automatic championships since there would be a lot of different factors, but man would that team win a lot or what.

by **Fresh8** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:44 pm

Yo Andrew... I reakon those three would have been awesome.... judging on their stats and achievements... but would they have functioned together???

But this to you or anyone who can answer me...

WAT IF:

1) Remember Horace Grant was decent in his seasons with Chicago. Did he win rings with the Bulls before leaving? And what if he never left. Would Michael And Pippen + Grant be awesome and dominate the 90's more than the actual Bulls did?

2) And about Pippen. There was a rumour he was gonna get traded to the Sonics (?). If that had happened... who would have the Bulls recieved and how well would that new team have gone in your opinion?

3) What if Grant Hill never went down due to his ankle? What would his reputaion be now in your opinion?

by **Rens** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:49 pm

Sit wrote:1) Remember Horace Grant was decent in his seasons with Chicago. Did he win rings with the Bulls before leaving?

This question is a disgrace to this thread. Grant was awesome in Chicago, 1st team defender, great rebounder.

by **Fresh8** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:05 pm

my bad rens... *bows head in disgrace*

I would need to rephrase... remeber if Horace was decent... thats wat i meant

and how is it a disgrace?

by **Rens** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:19 pm

Because it shows your very limited knowledge.

by **Fresh8** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:23 pm

sorry... i was very young in that era of basketball! :lol:

i only read about it in a book about MJ! lol

by **Old School Fool** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:30 pm

Andrew wrote:he 1972/73 Bucks could have featured the trio of Kareem, Dr J and Oscar Robertson, which would have been an imposing three headed monster. Even with the Big O's departure in 1974 Dr and Kareem would have been an awesome duo.

No it would have been an evil alien from the fiery bowels of Hell spit up by some evil dragon and into the NBA and people would be shot and killed by these 3.

Erm....Just stating an opinion....heh. :crazyeyes:

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Mon Sep 06, 2004 6:51 pm

Sauru]damn, i didnt even remember that andrew. nice job digging that one up.[/quote]

Thanks. It was purely curiosity - I had forgotten which NBA team drafted Dr J back in the early 70s and since I had my NBA encyclopedia handy, I thought I'd get rid of the nagging question.

[quote="Sauru wrote:anyway whenever someone brings up a what if i always gotta mention, what if bias never died.

I think the Celtics would have been better equipped to deal with the loss of Bird for various stretches over the next couple of years, especially the year he played only 6 games (1987/88 or 1988/89, I can never remember which).

I think they might have remained more competitive (ie a few more trips to the Finals, they certainly weren't terrible during the late 80s), but whether they'd be as successful as their three championship teams of the decade is questionable. It would really depend on whether Bird would be around. He did make a strong comeback after that season but the injuries had taken their toll and by the 90s he was somewhat limited. Still in good enough shape to produce some of the old Celtic magic though.

Sit wrote:1) Remember Horace Grant was decent in his seasons with Chicago. Did he win rings with the Bulls before leaving? And what if he never left. Would Michael And Pippen + Grant be awesome and dominate the 90's more than the actual Bulls did?

Grant was around for the 1991-1993 titles; more than that, he was a big contributor to their success in the early 90s. If that team had remained together, they probably still could have won at least six titles during the 90s but the second generation three peat nucleus was a great team as well.

Sit wrote:2) And about Pippen. There was a rumour he was gonna get traded to the Sonics (?). If that had happened... who would have the Bulls recieved and how well would that new team have gone in your opinion?

Pippen was supposed to be heading to Seattle for Shawn Kemp, which might have made the Sonics a little stronger come playoff time but ultimately I think the Kemp and Payton connection did a fine job and eventually managed to reach the Finals. Kemp is one of my all-time favourites but I don't think championships number four, five and six would have happened.

The Bulls were also rumoured to have been talking to the Suns about a Pippen for Dan Majerle and Wesley Person in 1995. That might have helped the Suns get back to the Finals and contend for a championship, but there definitely would not have been more gold in Chicago.

3) What if Grant Hill never went down due to his ankle? What would his reputaion be now in your opinion?

He would still be one of the top players in the league, probably regarded a little higher than he was back in 2000 having continued to play at a high level and perhaps gone further into the playoffs.

As for the original What If in this thread (which I now realise I didn't really answer myself), I think they'd definitely win some championships in the 70s and should Dr J and Kareem have remained together for some time, been one of the powerhouses of the decade. As it was, no team really dominated the 70s. The Knicks won two titles as did the Celtics, but everyone else won only one title during the decade - as it happens, each championship has been (to date) the team's first and only title.

by **Rip32** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:00 am

Another is what if the Sonics never traded Pip to the Bulls on draft day? In a few years it would have been Kemp, Payton, Pippen. That sounds pretty good too.

by **Incubus** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:26 am

Yeah.

by **Sauru** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:23 am

let me toss another celtic what if out there(yeah i mention them alot, sue me).

what if golden state never trade the chief and a draft pick for carrol. that draft pick later became mchale(or was it mchale and a draft pick? i always forget). where would the celtics have been without 2/3rds of thier 3 headed monster? do you think the great lakers vs celtics battles of the 80's would even be worth remembering today?

by **FanOfAll** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:38 am

Rens wrote:
Sit wrote:1) Remember Horace Grant was decent in his seasons with Chicago. Did he win rings with the Bulls before leaving?

This question is a disgrace to this thread. Grant was awesome in Chicago, 1st team defender, great rebounder.

Also, he made the All Star team during one of those years. You have to be more than decent to do that.

by **Matthew** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 9:32 am

Another is what if the Sonics never traded Pip to the Bulls on draft day? In a few years it would have been Kemp, Payton, Pippen. That sounds pretty good too.

Actually, as part of pippen going to the bulls, chicago included a future first rounder, which seattle used to draft kemp.

what if golden state never trade the chief and a draft pick for carrol. that draft pick later became mchale(or was it mchale and a draft pick? i always forget). where would the celtics have been without 2/3rds of thier 3 headed monster? do you think the great lakers vs celtics battles of the 80's would even be worth remembering today?

I got the feeling red aurobach (spelling) would have pulled somthing out of his arse and gotten help for bird. Another what if? What if Reggie Lewis didnt die...

by **Fresh8** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:58 am

1) What if Drazen Patrovic never died? Would he be awesome in our NBA?

2) What if Michael Jordan was picked by either Houston or Portland with the first or second pick... would he have become the G O A T??

by **Sauru** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:19 am

yeah red was good as pulling something off, infact he was the best. the reggie thing definetly hurt us. not just from a team stand point but he was huge in the community. one of those great guys that just makes everyone around him happier.

by **Gripni** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:39 am

Sauru wrote:damn, i didnt even remember that andrew. nice job digging that one up. anyway whenever someone brings up a what if i always gotta mention, what if bias never died. i think that team could have owned the league. the thing with the kareem/dr j is, would they still have traded kareem is they had dr j? i dont think so simple cause they would have been title contenders/champs each of those 3 seasons prior to his trade. well imo anyway.

Len Bias would own the league if he didnt do that crack shit. Len Bias is my inspiration to not do drugs. idiot crack head.

by **Sauru** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:50 am

yeah it sucks what he did my i would say the best person to look to for a reason to not do drugs would be earl managault. considered by many as the best to ever play the game and considered as the man with the chance to be the best ever by the rest. name it he could do it. of course after drugs had raped him of his talent and potential he will remain only a legend, a what if. imo we were all robbed by never getting to see what he could have done in the nba.

by **ATTENTIONWHORE** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:45 pm

What if M.J. never made any of his comebacks? How would that have affected the legaue?

by **Fresh8** on Tue Sep 07, 2004 4:21 pm

One things for sure.. Kobe wouldnt have skipped college! I'm not sure if Toni Kukoc would have become way better with MJ on his team...

Maybe less merchandise sales... less income for the NBA... Jordan was the NBA's main force in sales.

Another historical "What If?"

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