THE RUNNING GAME
Both teams are/were just about invincible on the run. Has there ever been a better finisher than LeBron? (Maybe Dr. J?) However, LA’s control of the defensive boards translates into more fast break opportunities. Indeed, coach Bill Sharman’s game plan was to run, run, and keep on running. That’s one reason why, back when hand-checking and banging cutters was still allowed, the Lakers averaged a whopping 121.0 points per game—five points better than the second most proficient scorers (Phoenix), and 12.3 points more than their game-to-game opponents.
COACHES
Both Bill Sharman (in the Hall of Fame as a player and a coach) and Erik Spoelstra are exceptional coaches. Might Sharman have the edge because he was a championship-hardened player with Boston, and therefore might have had a better understanding of his players’ psyches?
Sharman gets major points just for handling Wilt. His methodology was to make strategic suggestions, then act as though Chamberlain had made them.
Even so, call this matchup a draw.
QUALITY OF OPPONENTS
A team can only play (and beat) the teams on their schedule. Yet, as of this writing, 11 of the 30 NBA teams have winning percentages under .400—that’s nearly 37 percent. Back in 1971-72, six of the current 17 teams had equable records—35 percent. That’s a wash.
However, a more telling stat is that there are 450 players (at 15 per team) on today’s NBA’s rosters compared with a total of 204 (at 12 per team) 41 years ago.
Also, all of the players the Lakers faced had the experience of playing four years of intercollegiate competition. Today’s players might be collectively bigger, faster, and stronger, but yesteryear’s players were much more fundamentally sound.
THE RESULT?
Playing by today’s rules, the Lakers would win a 7-game series in six games.
Playing by the rules that they knew … Lakers in five.
Charley Rosen is an American author and former basketball coach. From 1983–1986, he was an assistant to Phil Jackson with the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association. He also served as head coach of the Patroons, as well as the CBA’s Rockford Lightning, Oklahoma City Cavalry and Savannah Spirits. A native of The Bronx, N.Y., the 71-year-old Rosen is the author of 16 books about basketball. He is known for his in-depth analysis and caustic views.
Well well well.
The 2013-2014 NBA Champions are the San Antonio Spurs. They destroyed Lebron and Miami in 5 games.
The key was that they played superbly on offense – everyone a willing passer to the open many. And on defense, the Big Fundamental Tim Duncan lead the team in strongly defending Miami. The Spurs beat Miami with the largest margin of victory ever in an NBA finals. The Spurs were the fundamentally sound team. As such they exposed all of Miami’s weaknesses – including the lack of a bench and center.
This tells me that the 1971-72 Lakers would SLAUGHTER the Miami Heat in 4 games given the presence of the Big Dipper Wilt Chamberlain and the sound fundamental game each of the Lakers had since they all completed college.
Only issue is I have is why there is such a gap between articles. I hope this improves for the playoffs
Good, solid article. After all, Rosen wrote the Pivotal Season, which covered the monumental season of the 1971-1972 Lakers.
The only other person who I imagine to have a credible opinion would be Pat Riley. He was a scrappy bench player on the 72 Lakers, and is now the dictator of the 2013 Heat.
He probably has better insights about the Heat, no question, due to his proximity.
However, Riley is still part of the Miami Heat organization, and that position requires him to be more political than objective.
Good article! This is why I love Charley’s writing.
Also, when I read the headline the first thing I thought of was Wilt looking down at Chris Bosh and saying, “And what position do you play, little man?” in that basso profundo voice. And boy, did I laugh at that.
Agreed. Wilt Chamberlain, a guy that made Arnold Schwarzenegger look weak, against the RuPaul of big men. Hilarious thought.
Lebron James recently complained about the physical play Chicago gave him when Chicago beat James and Miami a few days ago.
Physical play was more severe in the 1970s. Lebron would have to expect getting physically assaulted every game. There was no room for cry babies back then. Lebron also wouldn’t be able to move as freely since he would be hand-checked every minute he was on the court.
Miami is still vulnerable to teams with legitimate centers and rebounders since they have a huge hole in the middle. And they are vulnerable to teams that will aggressively and physically play them.
The Lakers have Wilt who blocked 10+ shots per game and averaged 19+ rebounds that year at center. With the physical play of those days, Lebron and Wade’s game would be limited to perimeter jump shots.
Yes, by 1970s rules, the Lakers would dominate Miami.