Showtime Vs. The Millennium Dynasties: Who Wins This Fantasy Lakers Matchup?
The Los Angeles Lakers is one of the premier NBA franchises, blessed with 16 NBA titles and some of the greatest legends. In fact, the all-time Lakers roster could hold its own against any other all-time franchise roster.
The team is the sole NBA franchise to have dominated 3 decades: the 1950s, the 1980s, and the 2000s. As I like to think about historical fantasy matchups, I thought it would be fun to compare a hypothetical matchup between the team’s two most recent dynasties: the Showtime Lakers from the 1980s and the Millennium Lakers from the 2000s.
Each dynasty has won five championships. In this matchup, I’ll break down the matchups by position.
Some ground rules that I used are:
1. Each team can only have twelve players and the teams must have at least two players at each position.
2. The players picked can only be from the championship years (for the Showtime Team, this includes 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. For the Millennium Team, this includes 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2010).
3. The stats used are the players’ career averages as a Laker.
4. This is a 7-game series with neither team having home court advantage.
Please let me know what you think in your comments. Does my analysis make sense? Do you agree with the outcome I project?
Without further ado, I present the Showtime Lakers vs. the Millennium Lakers.
Point Guards
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Showtime:
Magic Johnson: 19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 11.2 apg, 0.4 bpg, 1.9 spg, 52% FG, 30% 3FG, 85% FT
Norm Nixon: 16.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 7.9 apg, 0.1 bpg, 1.8 spg, 50% FG, 77% FT
Millennium:
Derek Fisher: 8.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.1 bpg, 1.1 spg, 40% FG, 38% 3FG, 80% FT
Ron Harper: 6.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.5 bpg, 1.0 spg, 42% FG, 29% 3FG, 69% FT
Analysis:
Is there any question who would win this positional matchup?
Magic Johnson is the best point guard of all-time. His versatility would allow him to play any position on the court at a high level and he would be a triple double threat on any given night.
Most importantly, however, Magic would ignite the Showtime Team with his fast break offense. And he was no slouch in half court sets either. With his post up offense and no-look passes, Magic would be able to setup all of his teammates with easy shots.
Norm Nixon would be more than capable of backing Magic up. Nixon was also a master at setting up half court offenses and would add an effective driving scoring mentality.
Trying to guard Magic might be near impossible but Derek Fisher and Ron Harper might be able to slow him down a little. Harper provides a big body and Derek Fisher is strong, despite his lesser height. Both players would use their veteran tricks to play solid defense.
Both Harper and Fisher were not known for their playmaking abilities. But both would be great at ball handling and initiating the offense. In addition, Fisher’s clutch ability and leadership would be monumentally important for the Millennium Team. However, in the end, his team would not have enough “magic” to win the battle of this position.
Advantage: Showtime
Shooting Guards
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Showtime:
Byron Scott: 15.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 0.3 bpg, 1.2 spg, 49% FG, 38% 3FG, 83% FT
Michael Cooper: 8.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 0.6 bpg, 1.2 spg, 47% FG, 34% 3FG, 83% FT
Millennium:
Kobe Bryant: 25.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 0.6 bpg, 1.5 spg, 46% FG, 34% 3FG, 84% FT
Trevor Ariza: 8.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.3 bpg, 1.5 spg, 47% FG, 32% 3FG, 71% FT
Analysis:
Like the point guard matchup in this series, this position would be somewhat of a mismatch. Byron Scott and Michael Cooper would be some of the primary recipients off of Magic’s passes, as they could run the floor with great speed. Additionally, Scott and Cooper would be able to help spread the opposing defenses with their outside shooting ability.
However, neither of these players were the most adept at creating their own shots within the half court offense. This could pose as a problem if the Showtime Team is unable to get all of the fast break opportunities it would desire.
Michael Cooper would bring the added bonus of stellar defense, as he was one of the best perimeter defenders of all-time with a Defensive Player of the Year Award on his resume. This facet of his game would be needed going up against Kobe Bryant.
As the second best shooting guard of all-time as well as one of the top 5 players, Kobe Bryant would be a handful for Scott and Cooper to defend. Kobe has perhaps the best offensive arsenal of moves ever seen and is able to get off shots others would deem near impossible. Kobe’s all-around game would allow him at act as a primary ball handler and playmaker, while limiting Scott and Cooper with his stellar defense.
Joining Bryant as a backup, Trevor Ariza would be able to add a slashing style offense as well as some clutch outside shooting. Like Bryant, Ariza’s defense could be highly effective against Scott and Cooper.
Advantage: Millennium
Small Forwards
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Showtime:
James Worthy: 17.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.7 bpg, 1.1 spg, 52% FG, 77% FT
Jamaal Wilkes: 18.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.3 bpg, 1.2 spg, 52% FG, 75% FT
Millennium:
Glen Rice: 16.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.2 bpg, 0.6 spg, 43% FG, 38% 3FG, 87% FT
Rick Fox: 8.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 0.3 bpg, 0.9 spg, 44% FG, 35% 3FG, 77% FT
Ron Artest: 11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.3 bpg, 1.4 spg, 41% FG, 36% 3FG, 69% FT
Analysis:
This position is one of the most interesting in this fantasy series matchup as the players all have different playing styles. On the Showtime Team, Worthy and Wilkes would provide a lethal combination as two of the three best small forwards in franchise history (next to Elgin Baylor).
Both could be the recipients of fast break passes from Magic Johnson. In addition, Wilkes had a deadly outside shot out to about 20 feet while Worthy could beat most defenders in the post and off the dribble.
Worthy was also one of the best fast break finishers of all-time. And people didn’t call him “Big Game James” for nothing. Worthy would find a way to play at his best in this classic matchup series.
If Worthy and Wilkes could be slowed down, Rick Fox and Ron Artest would have a decent chance at doing so. Both Fox and Artest would bring a versatile game with excellent defense and a decent outside shot.
If Artest could hold the NBA’s leading scorer in Kevin Durant to a mediocre series shooting 35%, he just might be able to prevent Worthy and Wilkes from having monster scoring games.
The Millennium team would also have the luxury of playing Glen Rice, who had one of the smoothest looking shots you’ll ever see. Although his outside shooting would open things up for the bigger players in the middle of the paint, Rice would also be a near liability on defense.
In the end, this matchup would be a case of 2 players being better than 3.
Advantage: Showtime
Power Forwards
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Showtime:
A.C. Green: 10.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.5 bpg, 0.9 spg, 50% FG, 71% FT
Bob McAdoo: 12.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.8 bpg, 0.5 spg, 49% FG, 76% FT
Kurt Rambis: 4.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.6 bpg, 0.9 spg, 55% FG, 68% FT
Millennium:
Pau Gasol: 18.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.4 bpg, 0.6 spg, 56% FG, 79% FT
Lamar Odom: 13.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, 0.9 bpg, 0.9 spg, 48%, 32% 3FG, 68% FT
Robert Horry: 6.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.0 bpg, 1.1 spg, 42% FG, 33% 3FG, 74% FT
Analysis:
While the power forward position has traditionally been the weakest area throughout Lakers history, these two teams would feature some talented individuals. Although Bob McAdoo was past his prime on the Showtime teams, he was one of the best sixth men in the game. McAdoo had a potent offensive game as he was one of the best shooting big men of all-time.
A.C. Green and Kurt Rambis sometimes were the recipient of the trailing fast break run by Magic Johnson. Green, the NBA’s ironman, played a solid, underrated defense and had a steady jumper out to about 18 feet. Rambis (aka Clark Kent) would provide all the hustle moves and be a spark of energy to his team’s bench.
However, the Millennium team would have too much length and talent to lose the battle at this position. Pau Gasol, the best overall big man in the NBA today, has easily been the best power forward in franchise history.
Having started his career as a point guard, the near-ambidextrous Gasol is one of the best passing and ball-handling big men of all-time. Recent seasons have seen him turn into an above average defender, holding his own and outplaying some of the best big men in the game, including Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer, and Amare Stoudemire.
Lamar Odom would provide an excellent all-around game off of the bench, coming up with the usual big plays when his team would need them. Robert Horry was a savvy veteran that could be used to spread the floor with his three-point shooting. And if the Millennium Team needed a big basket late in the game, we all know that Horry is capable of hitting clutch shots.
Advantage: Millennium
Centers
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Showtime:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 22.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.5 bpg, 0.9 spg, 57% FG, 74% FT
Mychal Thompson: 8.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.8 bpg, 0.5 spg, 51% FG, 68% FT
Spencer Haywood: 9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 0.8 bpg, 0.5 spg, 49% FG, 77% FT
Millennium:
Shaquille O’Neal: 27.0 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.5 bpg, 0.6 spg, 58% FG, 53% FT
Andrew Bynum: 10.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, 0.3 spg, 57% FG, 69% FT
Analysis:
What a dream matchup this would be! Kareem versus Shaq. Quickness, agility, and the unstoppable hook shot up against one of the most dominant and strongest players ever.
In his prime, Shaq was nearly unstoppable. There could be two forwards hanging off of him and he still would find a way to dunk the ball.
But if anyone could stop Shaq, Kareem would be a good bet. Although lacking in size and strength, Kareem would make up for it with his knowledge of the game. One of the smartest players of all-time, Kareem was a tremendous defender, being named to 11 All-Defensive teams.
While the Kareem and Shaq battles might be close to a push, the edge in this matchup would be decided by the reserve centers. Andrew Bynum would have his way against Mychal Thompson and Spencer Haywood with his size and strength.
Thompson and Haywood would provide some extra defense and scoring, but Bynum’s footwork, height, and post array moves would be too much to handle. How ironic is it that Kareem, the man the helped train Bynum, would have this position bested by his pupil.
Advantage: Millenium
Coaches
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Analysis:
This dynasty matchup would pair two of the greatest coaches of all-time against one another: Pat Riley and Phil Jackson. While at first, it may seem that Jackson might get the better of Riley being that Phil is arguably the greatest coach of all-time, one has to look at the particular scenario at hand.
The questions one must ask are: Can Phil Jackson with his triangle offense run his dynasty team more effectively than Pat Riley can run his “showtime offense” with his team? Are Jackson’s blue collar defensive schemes better than Pat Riley’s trapping game? I don’t think one can answer these questions so easily.
This matchup is the toughest one to call.
Advantage: Push
Final Prediction
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This series would surely be one of the all-time best fantasy matchups if fans had the ability to see this played out. These two teams represent some of the best players and coaches in NBA history. Yet, both teams have such a different style as to how they play both offense and defense.
In the end, this series would be close throughout as each team would exploit the advantages they would have. In the end, it would come down to a game 7 scenario with a tied game near the end. Either Magic Johnson would hit the game winner or he would pass out to Kareem for the winning sky hook shot.
Winner: Showtime Team wins 4-3
Do you agree or disagree with this analysis? Please share your thoughts in the comments field.
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