The 87 Lakers, the 72 Lakers and the 01 Lakers… rank em! Also, this is a return of a series that some people seem to really like, but unfortunately it doesn’t tend to perform as well on the channel, so make sure to leave a like and/or comment if you want this series to continue!
It still amazes me the longevity some players have bit to keep playing at a high level into your late 30's is insane. LeBron definitely deserves his props for his play at his current age and I'm still amazed at how underrated Jordans 38-40 years were when avg 20ppg+ but I don't think people really comprehend how great Kareem was in his mid to late 30's. No wonder he is the all-time leading scorer.
@@microjordan448 LeFraud not even top 60 all time hahahahaha a self proclaimed queen got outscored by jason terry and outplayed by 178 jj barea in the finals while choking a 2-1 lead hahahahahahahahaha bum bum 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 mj 6-0, with one all star, 6 finals mvps, never ever allowed an nba finals game 7 to be allowed, mj only all star on his team in 1991 and in 1998, still 6-0, he dominated everybody in the 90s, he never choked, did not care about competition, never whined cried, he fought, played hard, gave it all, GOAT 🐐🐐🐐🐐
@The star Moses Brown and the Boston Celtics not at all Bill Russel's fancy team with Bob Cousy and John Havlickek playing against basicaly Wilt and a bunch of plumbers
@The star Moses Brown and the Boston Celtics You mean 8 HOFers and a HOF coach? Even if the Celtics didnt trade for Bill Russell, they would have won at least 8 chips
Lakers has so many great teams in history. 87 lakers are the most complete team in NBA history. They had everything almost. One of the greatest team in NBA history
No team ever would beat the 86 Celtics and the 87 Lakers. They were completely loaded. I don’t want to hear any garbage about Jordans Bulls beating either one of them or Currys warriors, they might win a game or two, but they’re not winning squat in a seven game series. End of story.
Fans today don't know or easily forget that the 80's Lakers and Celtics were better and won more than any super team in today's NBA. They dominated an entire decade between them and did it the right way by signing veterans to supporting positions and developing their draftees.
@@RonnyyyyAU Just sign some specialist like Troy Daniels, so he can shoot, and let everybody do everything else. Your best players don't need to space the floor.
I have vivid and beautiful memories of all 5 of the Lakers titles in the 80’s. This was their greatest team and most fun to watch. An absolute contender for the greatest nba team of all time. Mega talented, mega motivated after the disappointment of 1986. Truly iconic!! Love this channel, love this series!
Yep. I saw every one of those games vs Boston when they happened. Fatastic basketball. The Celtics had no answer for Worthy's speed. Kareem was insane for a 40 year old man. When people start talking about how great lebron is in season 20 they need to remember that at 38 Kareem was Finals MVP in the '85 championship and 40 in '87 wherein he was still a mjor offensive force. He led the Lakers scoring in the final game in '87. LeBron at 38 is right now out, injured and basically a negative force chewing AD out on the sidelines and wearing funeral black to the games.
@@sharkyrex_6192 Hey LeBron has been a completely different guy as a mentor since coming back from his injury. I admit it. But I also noticed that you waited until they made it to the Western Confeence Finals before you made your little comment.
The Lakers won the NBA championship in 85 and back to back in 87 and 88, I don't think the Celtics 86 team who beat Houston is in the same category. The Lakers beat the Celtics twice and a very powerful Detroit team
@@robertdudley1258 sorry, but you're wrong here. That Celtics team is probably one of the three best teams of all time, if not THE best.........................and I'm a lifelong Lakers fan. If the Lakers had played the Celtics in the 1986 finals, they would have lost.
This is same year of the famous game against the Sacramento Kings were the Lakers held them to only four points in the first quarter while scoring 40. I wish I could have experienced this era. My dad is so nostalgic for 1980s Los Angeles mainly because of the Showtime Lakers.
About time. This is the best team ever. This and the 85 squad which was deeper and played at a pace that would make today's league tired. The fire power of the bench with Bob McAdoo and Mike McGeee along with Coop. This 87 team had ever major players ppg rise, except Kareem, as Magic was in the prime.
83 also deserves a mention, since they probably had the most talent out of every showtime team, even though they didn’t win the chip. Magic was still there, Kareem was younger, still had Cooper and they also had Jamaal Wilkes (a hall of famer) and Norm Nixon (an all star). Worthy was also there but just super young.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 tripping. They were almost beat by a busted up and worn out Celtics side with 3 of its starters injured. That 86 Celtics team was the best ever. And uninjured would have rolled magics fakers like a fat dooby. They almost did it ANYWAY.
Thak you for mentioning AC Green. Green was an excellent player who worked really hard and sacrificed everything for his team whilst maintaining perfect moral integrity. Indeed a rara avis.
80's bball was the golden age, they played so so physica...what a joy to watch. They actually had to dribble. wow. Today, i dont know what you would even call that.
87 Lakers...... hands down..... greatest team ever.... would take prime magic over anyone..... mj included.... 26 a game with dimes and boards.... plus 2 steals.... 🐐
Being a Laker since 1978 I lived the whole "Showtime Era": say, to me, '87 team the best ever (among the ones I watched) and Magic definitely my best man
the 87 championchip hurts me so hard, become just to you to an fan of the 80s, but im truly thinks if Lenni didnt passed away R.I.P this could be change it all. The big 3 Celtics where all injured in the finals.
The 87 Lakers are my personal favorite. When comparing different franchises there really isn't a way to say who's best would beat who because everybody's game is going to be clicking at that moment... All I know is I would sell everything I own to see any one of those games🤑🤑🤑
Thanks for your excellent video exposition regarding the '87 Lakers! // I do not have the knowledge or analytical skills to rank teams from various eras. I only know that in the 80's they played magnificent basketball. // I was a Celtics fan "back in the day". Even so, I knew how great they were, and I watch the old games with tremendous admiration. Magic's court vision and passes were phenomenal and provided the lynchpin to their dominance. Worthy was like a gazelle in the fast break, dribbled hard so that the ball spent much of the time up against his hand where the defender could not get at it, and as you said, had that phenomenal quick step when he drove to the basket in half-court sets. Kareem, whom I consider to be the GOAT, and though well past his prime, played great D and still had his sky hook. // "Showtime" indeed!
As a newer NBA fan I really enjoy these videos because I get insight into the not so well-known players that were really instrumental in a legendary team's success.
I think this team is better, even though kareem is a little less productive in 87, both magic and worthy were better this season as they really entered their prime this year in my opinion being 26 and 27 this year.
@@isaksidenius7059 Magic would get locked down by Pip. Jordan would take Worthy. Harper would take Scott. And Rodman would guard old Kareem or whoever is at the pf spot. Magic is a liability on defense. No one on the Bulls is a liability on defense.
@@Krazywillz21 I got Lakers 4 Bulls 2 in a 7 game series. The closest reference there is would be the Lakers vs Bulls in 91 and that Lakers team was not 7-8 deep like the 87 team. Worthy was also injured of I recall. 96 Bulls team is too old and slow to run with a prime Showtime Lakers. Also when you look at the competition especially in the Finals that Lakers team legit superteams. MJ only beat dynamic duo's at best while being the Superteam.
@The star Moses Brown and the Boston Celtics The ass kicking went both ways. I hated those Celtic teams but had to respect them, even as a grade schooler lol.
@The star Moses Brown and the Boston Celtics Those 80's Celtics teams were great! But to say that they were kicking the Lakers behind is inaccurate. The Lakers beat the Celtics for the championship in 85 and 87, and won five championships to the Celtics three.
Thanks for recognizing Cooper. He gets overlooked. Unique player who could man 3 positions, defend, shoot outside and even fight. And those chase down blocks with that inspector gadget arm was a sight to see. Not sure about best team but I’d pay to watch a final four of 87 Lakers, 96 bulls, 17 Warriors and 01 lakers. And maybe a play-in game of 86 celts and 83 sizers.
I remember this Laker team vividly and recall the change in focus based on the prior season as Ralph Sampson’s flip shot knocked the Lakers out from defending their title. The 87 and 88 Lakers team came of age based on that disappointment.
As someone who got into the NBA as a 6 year old watching this specific season's finals, this was a very special video for me. I adore the Showtime era and can't get enough of that topic. Great work as always, dude.
@@user-jm7mm4lo7o I guess if your video idea actually had any merit you wouldn't have to piggyback your request onto someone else's comment that actually got a reply from Jonny.
This is why i love these things it gets my brain goin like a pinball machine. I dont care how good your team is on defense how do you stop the showtime run and gun fastbreak transition offense?!? If you can slow their tempo down no problem throw it down low to kareem the greatest center ever with the most points and the most unstoppable shot🤦♂️😂GTFO
Definitely an iconic team to say the least! Greatest playmaker of all time in league/finals MVP Magic Johnson. Earvin led L.A. in scoring for the first time by Coach Riley’s design and still led the league in assists! Kareem Abdul Jabbar the only 6 time NBA Most Valuable Player; All time leader scoring leader in league history and in playoff history at the time. The Captain was now a role player and played his role well. Career best seasons that year by Johnson, Worthy, Scott, and Cooper. Coop was Defensive Player of the Year off the bench! Mychal Thompson being acquired two days before the trading deadline was pivotal. Thompson was immediately a good fit for The Lakers and provided the the first real backup for Kareem at center. AC Green replaced Kurt Rambis at power forward giving the team a four man attack on the fast break! The Lakers also improved their defense considerably during the 1986-87 campaign and really made games on that end of the court. People forget what happened to Los Angeles the season before when they were unceremoniously dumped by The Houston Rockets in The Western Conference Finals. Jerry Buss and Dallas Maverick’s owner Donald Carter shook hands on a deal that would’ve sent James Worthy to the Mavericks for forward Mark Aguirre and a draft pick that turned out to be Roy Tarpley. General Manager Jerry West threatened to leave team if the deal were to go through. Pat Riley was imperative in preventing the lakers from succumbing to making panic trades after many had predicted Houston was now the team to beat in the western conference. Riley became truly a great coach this season and that’s what made this championship a reality for the lakers!
You would have had money to lose because the Lakers beat the Celtics 2/3 in championships and Magic beat Bird 3/4 if you include the NCAA championship. The difference maker for the Lakers was getting Mychael Thompson who cancelled out Mchale
@@robertdudley1258 mychiel thompson knew kevin mchale truckload low post moves ; kevin mchale blue print low post book in his back pocket ; mychial thompson
I think listing up all time greatest teams is even more difficult than listing up all time greatest players. Seasons differ from each other, there are injuries, stuff like that. That's why I won't put all these great teams into any specific order but simply state that when thinking about all time greatest teams there always are 4 that pop into my mind right away. They are the '83 76ers, the '86 Celtics, the '87 Lakers and the '96 Bulls.
This was my favorite Laker team. Not many squads can boast a possible hall of famer coming off of the bench in Michael Cooper. When the Pistons finally beat them it was due to injuries to Coop and Magic. Magic even said that it was like losing 8 players with him being able to play all 5 positions and Cooper playin 3. As good as Kobe was in 2001, I have no doubt that Cooper would have made him work. Kareem's not stopping Shaq but I don't see Shaq stopping Kareem either. Who's guarding James Worthy, Rick Fox? He was a decent defender but Big Game was Big Game for a reason. I gotta go with Showtime. The biggest edge that I give 2001 is Phil Jackson. As great as Pat Riley is Phil is the master of adjustments.
Loved Michael Cooper's game, particularly his defense. Quite a twist of fate though that probably the most well-known clip of Cooper is of him getting dunked on by Doc in the '83 Finals.
As a Celtics fan I’ve said it before this is probably my number one team. They beat us 2 times in the finals and it really comes down to 3 things in my opinion. One is the missed shot by bird in game 4 and having lost Lenny Bias. His youth and energy and athleticism would have been too much and we’d have won again. The last issue was we had a much harder path to the finals going through Jordan and the pistons and the entire east was tougher and it caught up to us eventually.
Yes, the '87 Lakers were the best single season team in NBA history. They literally had everything. The most interesting question would be who they'd put on Michael Jordan if they played the '96 Bulls: would they go with Cooper in a serious attempt to slow him down or concede Jordan's points and put Cooper on Pippen? Either way, I believe the Lakers win that series 4-2.
I do like the 71-72 Lakers! I listened to all but the first 3 games on the radio all the way to their first championship in Los Angeles! It was an exciting year BUT then again....33 in a row! Still a record. (69-13) stood for a long time!
This team arguably has the greatest Point Guard and Center of all time on it... as well as maybe the most underrated superstar in the history of the game in Worthy. Plus a defensive stud in Cooper who could drain the three and an athletic and consistent SG in Scott and the perfect role player in Green. They were loaded. I'd say they match up against any team ever.. and if anything this team almost always has at least one mismatch if not two.. Magic at point and Kareem at center. Then Worthy and Scott can be plugged in against almost anyone ever and hold their own on both ends. Hard not to pick them.
Great video! Personally, I think the 1985 Lakers are the greatest of the showtime era. Just based on the fact Kareem was still dominant and an elite NBA player as he proved in the Finals, while obviously Magic was in the middle of his prime. By 87 Magic was at his peak as a player but Kareem was clearly past his prime and more like the 3rd best player on the team. Also 85 was the first time they beat the Celtics, in very tough series no less. Anyway it’s a toss up between those 2 teams. 87 had the most wins and more iconic/dominant moments from Magic which is why think they are most peoples choice.
I'm not a Lakers fan but I admit that the showtime Lakers are a fun team to watch with their fast breaks and I wanna use their offense if I ever become a coach
YES, they were the greatest team of all time. (I've followed the NBA since 1963 - since the West/Baylor/Lakers - Russell/Celtic days ). I'm now a Warriors/Curry fan,. Earvin Magic Johnson is under-rated. Recognizing NBA basketball as an organized TEAM sport, I rank Magic as the GOAT NBA player.
Yet, nearly the exact same Lakers team lost the year before in 1986 to the Houston Rockets who practically only had Hakeem Olajuwon on it. The starters were all the same, but the bench in 87 was a bit stronger. The Celtics went on to beat the Hakeem led Rockets in 1986 and I actually think that the Celtics would have beaten the Lakers in 87 if Walton was not injured.
That physicality with DET did happen the next year in ‘88 and Showtime won in 7. Admittedly Isiah Thomas got hurt, but it happened. But I would love to see that Bulls matchup.
The only thing that keeps me from saying this Laker team was the best is the fact that it took them 6 games to beat Boston who had to play with mchale who had a broken foot, no bill walton who was injured and the best 6th man the year before. Parrish was banged up also. Despite all that the lakers beat the so I give them credit. I just wish we could have seen them play each other healthy. It could’ve happened in 86 if the Rockets didn’t beat them on tha Sampson miracle
