Which team is better? Personally, I'd have to say our Lakers. The dominance of the reigning MVP Shaquille O'Neal and the soon-to-be superstar Kobe Bryant with arguably the best 3-point shooter of the year, Glen Rice, was just unstoppable. Not to mention, great veteran leadership from Brian Shaw and Ron Harper. And, of course, who can forget the greatest player ever, Travis Knight? Dallas is good but they lack that amazing veteran leadership and a dominant big man like Shaquille O'Neal. If these two teams played against each other, Shaq would be the difference. To be fair I'm also posting this in the Mavericks forum.
Lakers they were a team that dominated, Mavs are good but they don't dominate like the Lakers did. I'm sure everyone would agree that Laker team was amazing. It could beat any teams in history!! Except the bulls that could go either way!
I posted this in the Mavs forum..If you were to compare both the teams 60 games into the season without knowing the 99-00 Lakers would win the title, I'd say the Mavs are the better team.
Well, Lakers had Kobe and Shaq, who, at that time, was nearly unstoppable. Plus, you have to take in consideration how easily the Lakers dominated all competition in the playoffs. I think they only lost once, and that was in the Finals against the Sixers
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Lakers had Kobe and Shaq, who, at that time, was nearly unstoppable. Plus, you have to take in consideration how easily the Lakers dominated all competition in the playoffs. I think they only lost once, and that was in the Finals against the Sixers</div> You're talking about the 2000-2001 Lakers who were dominant all the way. The 99-00 Lakers almost lost to the Blazers in the West finals. You need to compare both the teams at the end of this season. You had no idea Kobe was going to become a future HOFer and that team was gonna win the title and be a dynasty 60 games into the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Lakers had Kobe and Shaq, who, at that time, was nearly unstoppable. Plus, you have to take in consideration how easily the Lakers dominated all competition in the playoffs. I think they only lost once, and that was in the Finals against the Sixers</div> Hahaha, you got burn by dallasdude It's a tough choice but, the Lakers is slightly better. Here's my reason. Shaq, Kobe, and Rice were considered to be fire, ice, and water. You can say those three elements are better than Dirk, Howard, Terry. Then look at the role players. Harper and Shaw formed probably the best back court in the NBA, in term of veteran leadership. Then you add into the mix with a hard nose defender, Derek Fisher, that is one hell of a good back court you got there. At the forward, you got the big shot Robert Horry along with a physical defender Rick Fox, and a young energetic, hustle player Devean George, and the iron man, AC Green. For the Mavs, they have good depth with Dampier & Diop, Stackhouse, Croshere, Harris, Bucker, and George. The keys to this laker's victory rely upon Shaq was at his peak, Kobe was a fresh emerging superstar, and Rice was a proven all-star, a big time three point shooter. Also, that season, the Lakers went 67-15 with a 19 games winning streak. The Mavs, at best, had an 18 games winning streak. I doubt they would reached that 65 victory margin.
Pretty even if you ask me. The Lakers had the "big names" in Kobe and Shaq, but Dallas exceeds them depth wise IMO
<div class="quote_poster">dallasdude Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You're talking about the 2000-2001 Lakers who were dominant all the way. The 99-00 Lakers almost lost to the Blazers in the West finals. </div> Actually, the '01 Lakers weren't "dominant all the way" that season. They finished 56-26, losing 11 more games then the previous season. They also had a lot of chemistry problems during the stretch of the season, and before the playoffs, everyone thought the Shaq/Kobe thing would take too much of a toll on the team. However, the Lakers ripped apart the competition that year and had it not been for Iverson in Game 1, would have finished 15-0 during the post-season. so, in essence, they were only "dominant all the way" in the playoffs.
I really felt the Dallas team could win 70. But, they really don't have the nature like "here come the Mavericks." The 99-00 Lakers dominated the league in the regular season.
